2016 Tacoma Build, Light Overlander Everyday Driver in Oregon

I’ve wanted a Tacoma since I was 16 years old. Back then my $3500 car budget in high school was never gonna allow me to get a Toyota. So my car journey started, so so many. I think my wife and I have had 17-18 cars just as a couple, granted we got together at 17 so that gives us some extra time. But in that time I’v had, used and built out a bunch of rigs. K5 Blazer, Honda Element, VW Weekendder Van, Range Rover Classic, an amazing 100 Series Cruiser, 1st gen Tundra w/ a Four Wheel Camper that we lived in and traveled the west for a year.

When we decided that it was time to get a Tacoma, the 3rd gen’s had been out for almost a year and I’d seen them all over the place. Its what I wanted. So we pulled the trigger a few days before Christmas of 2016, a white 16’ TRD Off Road short bed. I knew it would be a slow burn for us, but I knew what I wanted. My main goal was to make it as functional as possible both as a daily driver around town going to work, getting groceries, trips to the airport, etc. But I also wanted to make a very capable overland rig that would allow us to get out every weekend like we try to do and the occasional 2-6 week road trip.

We surf, fly fish, climb, backpack, camp, adventure, etc. I made a lot of choices based on owning things like a RTT, a FWC, ground tents small and big, slept in the bed, etc. Big drawer systems, fridges, stoves, solar, etc. Its so easy to overbuild a rig. I remember my 100 was so good, locked front to back, steel front to back, drawers with sleeping platform, fridge, etc, etc., but going to the grocery store was a pain, I picked up some friends with their bags at the airport and I remember strapping half of their luggage to the roof rack with tie downs and ratchet straps. The same bags would have fit in a Honda Accord without question but I struggled with my big off roader. So, I wanted to keep it simple. I know I’ll teeter on the line of gadgets to functionality to simple. Its a game. But here’s my journey as it started, as it is now, and what’s to come. I also installed as much of it as I could myself. Waited for sales, gathered gear for months before installation, waited on group buys, craigslist, forums. I feel that will all the things I probably only spent 60% of total cost if I was just to go out and order everything, I didn’t pay full price for a single item.


2016 Toyota Tacoma, TRD OR, Short Bed

Exterior:
-4Runner Pro wheels & tires
-Mobtown sliders w/ 10 degree angle (new)
-Southern Style Offroad Slimline Bumper w/ basic light
-Smittybuilt X20 winch
-Factor 55 Splice Flatlink (new)
-Cascadia Flipster
-RCI aluminum front skid plate
-ARB awning w/ front wall
-Canopy w/ Rhino Rack bars & tracks
-HD splash guards from @cnote4l

Suspension:
-ARB Old Man Emu Heavy Kit w/ Dakar leafs

Electrical:
-Odyssey battery
-Off Grid Engineering battery tie down
-Switch Pro system
-ARB Dual Air Compressor w/ tire kit
-Slee Offroad compressor mount
-Blue Sea power block for rear bed
-Snomaster 56L Dual Zone Fridge (in mail)
-LED bed kit from @mattgecko

Interior:
-Bed mounts from @Zac of all trades
-Krazy Beaver shovel
-BedRug kit for floor & tailgate
-custom canopy ceiling bungees
-custom window covers
-Hondo Garage phone mount

Things To Come:
-BFG KO2’s
-Go Fast Campers pop up camper (so excited for this)
-bed storage (waiting for camper, want something that can be removed easily)

 

Nice truck I want those same wheels!

 

Alright, fine! I'll follow this one, too.

 

Great build!

+1 for Oregon white Tacomas.

 

Do you have a link to the battery tray? I also have an odyssey battery and currently have it strapped in all janky to the oem tray.

 

I used the stock battery track but the Off Grid Engineering battery strap.

 

Credits to your photo^ and the badass rig you drive!!

 

Thanks man, its a car in the making since I was a kid. Hope it inspires others to put their rigs together they've always wanted.

 

The world needs more guys like you!!! Looking forward to seeing what else you add in the future

Sidenote * from the pic your guards look to be holding up great! Just a lil suggestion hit up Walmart for some Star Brite vinyl guard spray. It conditions the material to keep it looking brand new and has UV properties in it that prevent the guards from any premature wear and tear

 

Following. I'm in WA, and hoping to have a dual purpose adventure vehicle/daily driver. I look forward to watching your progress and what options you go with.

 

+1 as well for Super White in Oregon.
Looking forward to watching your build.

Maybe we'll cross paths someday.
Do you kayak?

 

Thank you, good tip. I assumed I would get rubber ones to replace them but they seem to be good so far.

 

I haven't kayaked in while, love to get into it again though, buying a house and hopefully that allows for some more space for toys =). I did buy a inflatable last summer for the wife and dog, its actually pretty rad and isn't much bigger than a big backpack.

 

Yesir. If you take care of the guards our guards will take care of you!!

 

What part of Oregon are you in?

I'm on the west side out in Forest Grove, and spend many hours each year killing fish in the oven via kayak. Always looking for more fishing buddies.

Now that I have a new truck to play with, I need to build myself an over the bed rack system.

However, I need to get a Softopper first to know how wide and high I need to make the rack tubing.

 

Any issues mounting the ARB Twin and manifold on the Slee mount? I know some people have it mounted in such a way they aren’t able to open the air box.

 

Looking good man!

 

No issues so far, its a tight fit but otherwise able to function. I just took my time making sure everything went in and was clean, I could see that not taking the time to install them in the best holes for fit that it may cause trouble.

 

how did you mount the awning to the crossbars? They look like the rhino heavy duty?