Lightweight Daily Driver Build "The Satchel" (12 Viewers)

[Crab Sack]

Looks great, the truck sits pretty darn level with the trailer in place. Any idea what the tongue weight is?

I have not weighed the tongue weight but I am guessing right around 800 lbs. based on dry weight plus 2 6 volt golf cart batteries and 60 lbs of propane. plus the dry weight of 525 lbs per the manufacturer.
I usually tow with a weight of 5600 lbs without filling the 80 gallons of fresh water.

Loaded with weight distribution my fender to ground heights are:

Front 38"
Rear 37.8"

Unloaded fender heights:
Front 38"
Rear 39"

 

[LCMemphis]

Thanks for sharing....I'm looking to do something very similar in terms of lightweight build. I'm torn between TD and OME suspensions. Question....I thought you went with 2722 rear springs but then saw you did 2721. Why?

 

[Union]

Nice tires

 

[Crab Sack]

I was torn between the same 2 lifts. The only advantage to the TD lift are the adjustable shocks. That is a huge advantage. If I were to do it again I would use the OME lift with the TD rear shocks. I felt the 2721 progressive rate rear springs would give me best of both worlds with a smoother unloaded ride and the stability when loaded down with a trailer.

 

[Crab Sack]

Finally after a long winter, I have had the opportunity to tow both the camper and boat.
I was worried that the short wheel base of the 200 would cause a squirrely white knuckled ride but I was shockingly impressed in how well it actually tows.
I use the equalizer hitch on the camper and it was rock solid and even towed better than a stock Tundra.
The 2721 rear springs did a great job handling the light load and the progressive portion of the rear springs performed great with the trailer.
The boat towed just as well as the camper.

 

[reddog90]

Awesome. Goals for my future 200.

 

[catastrofe]

Great thread. A lightweight build is what I plan to do at some point, primarily for towing our Casita.

 

[onemanarmy]

Those wheels and tires are lighter than the stock wheels and tires? I would think a more road-bias tire would weigh less than a load range E oversized off road oriented tire.

 

[Crab Sack]

Those wheels and tires are lighter than the stock wheels and tires? I would think a more road-bias tire would weigh less than a load range E oversized off road oriented tire.

Tires are definitely much heavier but the load range e tire stabilizes the truck while towing. Taller tires also did not help the gear ratio but it tows the trailer just fine especially when using manual mode on the shifter. I can now camp and wheel on the weekends. I called it a lightweight build because I haven’t added bumpers, aux tanks, drawers,....

Future enhancements will most likely include ARB skid shields, metaltech sliders, and ARB recovery points.
I am also debating milling a few millimeters off of the oem strut spacers and reinstalling them to gain a half inch or so more out of the front end.