[elhigh]

DrEMHmrk2, is the 2001 Tacoma bed metal? I've heard the '06 Tacoma beds are "plastic" (most likely because of the aforementioned impact of weight). If it is metal, you might be able to "pad" your weight budget by replacing the bed with the newer plastic one (depending on cost of replacement/weight/fitment concerns, of which I have no knowledge).

'01 Taco beds are steel. Since the redesign a couple of years ago, though, mounting points may have changed that new beds won't cross over.

My '87 has extra steel innerwalls; if yours has those and you don't do a lot of destructive loading, you could pull yours and save yourself twenty pounds. I have to have mine.

Here's a think: the spare is mounted belowdecks; pull it and stash it in the bed. That moves that mass inside the wheelbase for improved handling, and now you can close over that space with a partial bellypan.