Welcome back to another community poll. This is a column interview Q&A with independent owner-submitted feedback from the overland community – centered around one topic. Each owner has thoroughly tested their products through off-roading or overlanding and gives us their honest opinion review of their set-up.
We have five unique and different Super White Toyota Tacoma builds this week to help get you inspired, just in case you’re unsure where to take your build next. Even though we only have five Tacomas to feature this week, the variety is still here! We have a double cab long bed, a long travel TRD Pro, a full bed camper setup, and lastly, a rig that will turn darkness into light. Oh, and we can’t forget the flagship Trail truck. The Tacoma is a great platform for whatever build path you want to take your truck down.
Seeing these trucks this week gets me super excited to get some modifications onto my new build. I have lights, a roof rack, and some bed modifications coming. These five trucks are definitely an inspiration to get my build going! I hope you all enjoy this week’s Taco Tuesday!
Table Of Contents
1. Adam Margaris: 2019 TRD Off-Road
MODS LIST
Armor
- Ironman 4X4 Raid Series Armor Package – Includes front and rear bumpers, front and rear lighting pods, front light bar, Tacoma skid plate kit, 9,500lb synthetic winch
- AL Offroad HD Onyx Roof Rack
- Rago Fabrication DCLB DOM Rock Sliders (discontinued)
Suspension/Wheels/Tires
- Ironman 4X4 Foam Cell Pro Stage 2 Suspension – Includes 700lb front coils, high caster UCAs, 440lb leaf springs, front and rear 2.5″ shocks, driveline spacers
- Method Race Wheels Bronze 701’s 16×8 -12
- Toyo Tires Open Country AT3s – 285/75/16
Lighting
- Retrofit Headlights w/ Morimoto LED Halos and Bulbs
- Overland Equipped Auxiliary Power Kit
- USR Auto LED turns w/ DRL
Performance
- Sway Bar Delete
- CVC Tune
- K&N Filters Cold Air Intake
Appearance
- Custom Topographic Wrap from MyGarage
- Custom Decals
Miscellaneous
- Offroam Phone Mount
- Agency 6 Recovery Gear
Q&A – What Do You Like Best About Your Setup?
In its current state, the truck handles like a dream on the Ironman Suspension. The new Raid Series bumpers are seriously slick and have plenty of room for the winch and all the new lighting I’ve added to the truck. The 33″ tires clear with no rubbing after some plastic trimming, but 35s may be in the near future.
The AT3s have performed perfectly in all conditions and look too good with the Bronze 701s! I also love the custom touches around the truck, like the red accents, grille badge, retrofit headlights, and the decals/wrap. In just a few weeks, the bed area will get some love with the new Xtrusion Overland bed rack, an Ironman 4X4 Nomad RTT, and a 270° awning!
2. Rodell Esteban: 2016 TRD Sport
MODS LIST
Armor
- CBI Front & Rear Bumper
- CBI Skids Plates
- CBI Rock Sliders
Suspension/Wheels/Tires
- ADS Front & Rear Shocks
- Camburg UCAs
- SCS SR8 17” Wheels
- 35” Yokohama X-AT
Lighting
- Rigid Industries Lighting
Performance
- AFE Intake
- Magnaflow Exhaust
- 5.29 Nitro Gears
Camping
- CVT Shower Room
- 4 gallon Yakima Road Shower
- Super Pacific X1 Camper
- Roam Awning
- (2) Renogy 100W Flexible Panels
Miscellaneous
- ARB Dual Compressor
Q&A – What Do You Like Best About Your Setup?
I like the full CBI armor for protection on the trails. Their armor really gives me confidence for any terrain.
The 35” Yokohama tires for extra clearance and grip on the trials really stand out as well. The ADS suspension provides for a comfortable ride on and off-road. The Super Pacific X1 camper is the best; it lets me camp anywhere.
3. Christian Mckay: 2017 TRD Pro
MODS LIST
Armor
- SDHQ Rock Sliders
- RCI Rear Bumper
- CBI Off-Road Skid Plate
- Prinsu Roof Rack
- Billet ABS Guard
Suspension/Wheels/Tires
- ICON Stage 9
- Billet UCA
- ICON Stage 3 S2 Secondaries
- ICON Rear HYD Bump Kit
- Volk Racing TE37x -20 Off Set
- 35” x 12.5 R16 Yokohama Geolander
Lighting
- Baja Designs
- (2) 30” onX6 Amber White Behind Grille
- 20” S8 In Bumper
- (4) S2 Sports Scene Lighting On Rack
- (8) Baja Rock Lights
- Xl80 Ditch Lights
- (2) S2 Pro Chase Lights
- (2) S2 Sports Reverse Lights
- (2) Squadron Pros Chase Lights
- Squadron Sport Fog Light Kit
Appearance
- Custom Seats
- Custom Steering Wheel
Miscellaneous
- MaxTrax Mount
- Hi-Lift Mount
- Warn 10s Platinum
- Pelfreybilt Group 31 Battery Cage
- X2 Power Group 31 AGM battery
- Pelfreybilt group 31 battery cage
- Switch-Pros OEM Key Pad Mount
Q&A – What Do You Like Best About Your Setup?
Everything to be honest. This is the perfect setup in my eyes.
It’s clean, mean, and functional, which I’ve been going for. Night trailing requires lots of light; I got that covered with my array of Baja Designs lights to turn night into day with a press of a button on the Switch-Pro.
4. Konrad Chojnowski: 2017 TRD Off-Road
MODS LIST
Armor
- RRW Rock Sliders
- RRW Front Bumper
- C4 Fabrication Rear Bumper
Suspension/Wheels/Tires
Wheels
- RRW RR6-H 17×8.5 -12 Offset
- TreadWright Guard Dogs – 285/70/17
- Spidertrax 1.25″ Wheel Spacers
Lighting
- AlphaRex Headlights
- Lightforce
- HTX 2s
- Nightfall LED Bars
- ROK LED Cubes
Miscellaneous
- AluCab Explorer Canopy
- AreaBFE Black Series RTT
Q&A – What Do You Like Best About Your Setup?
This truck serves as a test platform for many products that we test/review for Trail. It’s always changing, and I’ve got some massive plans for a complete overhaul in 2022.
In terms of what I like best? Man. It’s tough to say! The RRW products are super rad, the Lightforce LEDs are absolutely next level (especially those HTX 2s), and the AluCab and the RTT are probably the most functional mods I’ve added to any build to date. I love where I’m at, but it’s time to make some big changes.
5. Dimitri: 2017 TRD Pro
MODS LIST
Armor
- C4 Fabrication Front Bumper
- Outgear Solutions Rear Bumper
- RCI Off-Road Skid Plates
- RRW Rock Sliders
Suspension/Wheels/Tires
- Front
- Total Chaos Fab +3.5 *Long Travel Race Kit*
- 2.5 Diameter Total Chaos Spec King Shocks w/ Adjustable Compression
- TC Spec Second 8″ King Triple Bypass
- Rear
- Archive Garage Shock Relocation Kit
- Hammer Hangers w/ Shackles and Crossbar
- King 12″ Triple Bypass
- Stage 1 Deavers Leaf Springs
Wheels
- RRW RR6-H 17×8.5 -12 Offset
- Yokohama Geolanders 35 x 12.5 17
Lighting
- AlphaRex Headlights
- Roof Rack Lights – KC Hilites Pro6
- Bumper Pods From Desert Armor UltraXs
Bumper Center From 30″ Baja Designs S8
Performance
- ECU tune by @sibi.built
- Rippsuperchargers Ignition Coils
- 4.88 Nitro Gears
Appearance
- Satin White Pearl Wrap
- Carbon Fiber Seibon Hood
Miscellaneous
- McNeil Racing Fiberglass Wide Body Kit
Q&A – What Do You Like Best About Your Setup?
It’s a truck that’s a jack of all trades. It’s also a master at being crap at everything.
It can do anything but just worse than other vehicles. The only thing I like about it is it fits in my garage.
Final Thoughts
For such a basic color, these five Tacomas truly knocked it out of the park with their builds. I like how each truck was built specifically for each owner’s purpose, and they were all so functional as well. As I do more and more of these Taco Tuesdays, I get more and more ideas to build my Tacoma. I hope you all did too.
Each week, we will be choosing a different topic. Some weeks it will be very generic like this Taco Tuesday or we will dive deep into items like Wheels/Tires Setups. Regardless, everyone with a Tacoma can submit their truck to be featured here on Trail Tacoma.
If you want to be featured for Taco Tuesday on 1/4/2022, submit your build through TrailTacoma.com/Feature. Next week’s Taco Tuesday will cover Rear Bumpers. We’re looking for awesome rigs to showcase. If this is you and you love your setup, send in your rig and details because we want to see it.
Thanks for reading guys. I’ll see you next week!
