SoCal Truck Spotting - Stalking for Some =P

This 2nd gen on the 805N identifies as a 3rd gen.

 

That's my neighbor! I'm guessing he leaves the stuff on because of lack of storage. I leave the overlanding stuff on because of apartment style living and just not wanting to keep taking the stuff off and putting them back on with the frequency I like to go escape the city.

He likes Toyotas and his brother likes Jeeps. They see dirt. I guess they just like to keep their vehicles clean when they're not out in the wilderness. Some of you guys really dislike "overlanders" and like to judge people. What's up with that? I'm kinda new to forums and trucks in general. I find it interesting how there's these elitist type comments here. Maybe, I'm just thinking about it too much. Or, maybe, some of you are just jerks. Haha! Anyway, whatevers. It's a free country and amen for the 1st Amendment. I guess it's relaxing and a good way for some to unwind by criticizing others. Enjoy your trucks and hope you have a good life. Edit: With all the earthquakes going on and us being over due for a "big one" in SoCal, it might be useful to have a truck that's ready for bugging out/escaping the urban areas that have recently been hit by a big earthquake. Or, your rig can be more ready for you to go out and help family, friends or neighbors in an emergency situation from a natural disaster. With our rigs and/or man power, my other Tacoma, Jeep and FJ Cruiser friends (not this particular neighbor, nor his brother) have helped people who got their 4Runner and Volvo wagon stranded from water logged engines in Big Bear and a family whose car got stuck in the sand trying to make a u-turn out near Ocotillo Wells at Anza-Borrego DSP. Those situations could have easily occurred in flooded areas or a mudslide affected road in our communities.

I don't know who this person is, but I see that truck from time to time on the 405 on the weekdays.

 

LT first gen on PCH earlier today

 

Around midday at the Pizza Factory parking lot in Bishop yesterday.
It's kinda hard to see, but there's a white Tacoma back there, too.

 

At the 4 Wheel Parts Truck and Jeep Fest in Long Beach last Saturday.

 

All good man, no one is being an asshole, just good old poking and prodding. At the end of the day, we're all truck people and we're a community. Maybe some people get butt hurt because they can't afford the high end items, and i'm sure there's a lot of hostility rooted in that for some. For me, I get stoked to see people tricking out their trucks and showing them off. I wouldn't take anything too serious or personal on the forums.

 

Amen, brother.

 

@BattlecryTaco personally I think the generalized hate on the overland community is directly related to the majority of “overlanders” on IG and the small yet completely oblivious group here that buys every bolt on possible only to ask questions like “what size lift to clear 33s” or “ who can install my bed rack for me”. The majority here can for the most part change their oil, understand how to drive on a trail and the advantage of lockers over light bars, yet there has been a definitive shift (I’m pointing at you 3rd gen guys) that are just not in tune with off road exploration and actually fight the learning process.


That being said, there is also the converse group of elitist that will troll and flame anyone not using the search bar and refuse to help point newbies in the right direction for rudimentary questions that any fresh face will have when getting into a new “scene”. It’s the nature of the beast unfortunately

 

But let's be clear, it is in fact ridiculous to spend $2,000 on a tent! Plus how ever much you have to pay a year in gas by leaving it on your truck.

 

I don’t have a dirty truck. I even have armorall on my mudflaps sometimes.

 

You’re special

 

@Thesandaddict I hear you, man. I see similar situations in the paintball community at the paintball fields and paintball forums (namely, pbnation) when it comes to newbs.

While I appreciate getting help from others in the forums, I also try to learn stuff on my own by doing research on YouTube, websites, asking friends/family/shop staff who are already into the thing I'm just getting into, take classes, etc., or using that good ole search bar. I practiced that when I learned how to snowboard, mountain bike, shoot guns, go off-roading and overlanding within the past three years (the activities that helped me want to drive a truck to haul that stuff and stay out there longer to have a good time with others). It's cool, though, when I meet people who are gracious & patient (sometimes, even enthusiastic), who take the time to talk with me about their experiences, and who can listen to & answer my questions.

I'm seeing it's case by case situations on the individual, both the newbs and the experienced enthusiast, with regard to how they go about the learning process, sharing their excitement about a thing, how they conduct their show-and-tell stories (like the IG peeps), or with their advice giving. Sometimes, it can get annoying dealing with people's pride or ignorance. I get that. I just hope we can help each other learn our respective hobbies safely without hurting ourselves or others (...at least not too much, since we gotta sometimes feel some pain to learn some lessons). I'm grateful that my overland Tacoma neighbor was around (and still is) when I started to get more into the off roading and overland scene. The first truck I started to drive was a 2014, 2WD Tacoma Pre Runner. It was great until we got stuck in Big Bear one time after snowboarding in the morning and a snow storm came unexpectedly and quickly later in the afternoon. Luckily, we were able to get some chains to get outa there. After that truck, I really wanted to get a 4x4. Since I liked the Tacoma, I thought I'd try getting one of their new ones, but a 4x4 version. I liked the Pyrite Mica, but none of those were available for the new ones, the infamous 3rd Gens. Haha.. so, a Quicksand it was to be to keep it in that brown theme. The 4x4 opened up new doors for sure. I'm grateful for this forum, the people commenting in it, my neighbor, my off roading friends, youtubers, IG folks, Facebook groups like SoCal Trail Buds, people I randomly meet out on the trails, off-roading groups, overlanding groups, off-roading stores, in general, anyone who's helped me to learn and get better at knowing the Tacoma truck.

 

Let's be clear that it's your opinion. As mentioned by others, some people dont have the space to store the tent or the means to load and unload a 150# tent every trip. MPG with the RTT on isn't any worse than having 33's on your truck, and I'm sure most of us don't remove our 33's after each trip either. Just live and let live.

 

idk but in socal I can't go more than 5 min without spotting another taco, this is the only vehicle I don't feel jealous about spotting another owner,

 

I think it's ridiculous to spend $400+ on a pro grille. At least a tent will have a lot of function rather than form. The good thing is, no one is forcing anyone else to buy anything. My mom wanted a luxury car her whole life, started as a character at Disney and worked her way up to being a production/marketing manager while putting herself through college. Last year she got an Audi Q3 and it was a really cool moment. Sometimes you might not need it but want it, and as long as you work hard to get it, that's enough.

And at the end of the day, we in SoCal probably all overpaid for one thing.

Our trucks

 

5 north near San Clemente
Kaaaaaangs

 

damn right

 

Identity crisis.

 

Taco putting in work at the launch