Planning my overland build

I'm planning an overland build for my truck. I'm recently retired and will be spending 3-4 months of the year on the road living out of my truck. I will not be doing anything over a class 6 trail, and don't plan on bombing it though the desert. After doing a lot of research and cruising this forum this is my plan. Let me know your thoughts.

- Go Fast Camper
- Deaver U402 Stage 2
- SDHQ Sliders
- Southern Style Off-road Slimline bumper with smittybuilt winch
- OME 2" Lift Shocks/Struts
- Nitto Ridge Grappler 2 265/75/16

Look forward to your thoughts!

 

any lighting?

 

Welcome to TW!

I had one of the first batch of GFC’s that existed and while it is a cool product you may want to consider other options if you are really planning on living in it for months at a time.

I switched to an Alu-Cab Khaya Camper but also considered the 4wheel Campers. Truth be told if I was going to even consider a long time living situation I’d be in a full size truck with a NuCamp Cirrus 720 or maybe a Lance 850. Either way the GFC is cool but it’s a tent on a truck cap, the idea is sound but you’ll be roughing it.

If however you’re set on a Taco and already bought your GFC than Good luck and I’m sure you’ll love it! Keep us posted.

Oh and most importantly. Congrats on your retirement!

 

When I buy the bumper I'll get it with the 20" HEISE LED, possibly new fogs in the future.

 

First off thanks - I'm enjoying the hell out of retirement.

Thanks for the advice @YOTA 4X4 , I drove up to Alaska (left 1 day after I retired) over the summer in my Cherokee and lived out of that for 3 months, so I'm no stranger to roughing it, and enjoy it. I figure for the next 10 years my body won't mind sleeping on a 3" mattress, I'm also not opposed to nights in a hotel for a hot shower and comfortable bed now and then. I'll look at those other options in the future though!

 

You know what? I have a Smitty built RTT we use over the cab and an MX ARE shell with a platform bed inside it too, a diesel powered electric heater so we can extend our camping seasons, and we do a lot of camping out in the desert and love our setup. But if I were going to be living in it for three months, I think it would be way too inconvenient and roughing it too much for extended living. You should seriously consider a pop up camper shell, something that has a good built-in heater system, lighting refrigerator, stove, possibly even a porta potty box, and a propane heated water system so you can take showers...

I would get something like this:https://fourwheelcampers.com/model/...per-leader-mid-size-trucks/swift-shell-model/

 

If you are still planning this build (or for anyone else), you may want to go check out the Alu-Cab group buy.

 

Add Diode Dynamics Pro Fogs.

The LED SAE J583 Fog Pod & Fog Light Review

 

Hoping this thread gets going. I’m going to be starting an overland build myself and some ideas would be nice

 

Dual battery kit and maybe solar if you will be parked for a day or two.

 

Not this this thread isn’t important but there are literally hundreds of Overland build threads on TW, to be honest you might want to check out ExpoPortal as well that website is more “Overland” or Expedition focused. Either way if you have an idea what you want to do I can post some threads for you to scan. There’s 1000’s of pages of Tacoma’s with tents and I’d be happy to point you in the right direction.


Here’s mine to get you started... wedge style campers like this are the current hotness but mid height bed racks and RTT’s give you much better Offroad prowess. Where do you live and where do you want to go (and for how long?)

 

I live in Colorado, my first trip after my build is completed will be from here to San Jose del Cabo. Plan on being on the road for 3 months, after that up the Alcan with many side trips.

 

Absolutely will - let's just say things will take longer than planned because of the current situation

 

I didn’t quote you on those statements, but seeing as you started this thread that’s fair enough.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/vagabond-drifter-camper-buildout-and-mods.540940/

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/taking-a-tacoma-around-the-world-need-advice.585792/

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/four-wheel-camper-fwc-thread.520138/

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/kimbo-campers-and-mods.651104/


https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/hondo-garages-new-thing.516490/


https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/wedge-campers-assorted-oddities.538935/

That should get you started. There’s so many awesome choices out there. I didn’t include my own but I have an Alu-Cab Khaya, after owning a GoFast I switched to this and am much happier. One of my absolute favorite things with the Khaya is it has 4 Jacks and can come off and be left in my garage and my tonneau cover back on in under 30 mins. With all the truck cap style campers that is simply not the case. GOOD LUCK!

 

Picked her up today, time to start the build!

 

Ordered the GFC today - going to be hard to wait 1 year for it! I'm thinking of a custom olive drab paint color. Thoughts?

 

AC! Good choice for the purpose.

 

Thanks - I plan on removing the rear seats and having a fridge and water tank in the back.

 

I sorta kinda regret the double cab. Well, that's not true. I kinda sorta wish I had an AC....



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And a double cab.

 

Congrats on the truck and it's my favorite color. As for the build, it seems like a good start. If you are planning on longer expeditions I second the idea of an Alu-Cab. There is quite a difference in price though and both can get the job done. A few things I would add to your build list for serious consideration.

- Aftermarket skids. Just get something better than the factory one.
- Gearing. All this extra weight will be felt.

Seems like you have most of the other essentials and anything else would just be based on your needs. But the two I listed go down as essentials for me.