Hi fellow Tacoma lovers!

OK, so a hearty hello to you all for starters. I hope I can be an asset in some ways to these forums and draw from your lessons learned as well.
I have owned Toyota trucks now for 40 years, starting with a previously owned1978 Longbed with an over the cab Davlin camper. Fun truck but gutless and top heavy. Ya learn as you go. Next was a used 1986 white 4 x 4 that I tricked up a little bit (larger tires and aluminum rims, K & N air filter). In 2001, I purchased a brand new Tundra Limited, 4 x 4 totally loaded to the gills and have been driving that for the past 18 years and loving it. I hunt and fish mostly here in Colorado, and sometimes get into narrow areas with buckbrush that scratches the clearcoat, but it's white and old (164k miles), so it's worked well for me and is still running like a sewing machine and spacious, so I've been reluctant to purchase a new truck, even tho my wife has been bugging me to. Just don't want to scratch a new one up.
All that said, I had a life changing event 2 weeks ago, where I came a sneeze away from buying the farm. Unlike other scary moments, this one lasted and stuck with me. I think I have a pretty good attitude in general, but from that event, I honestly now have a new attitude about life, family, not taking anything for granted, being more thankful, and enjoying each day as it was my last, and that's not a metaphore to me anymore, it's the real deal. Much higher appreciation for life, people and staying positive, happy and a more fun person. Sooooooooooooo, the first item on my change list was to immediately go out and purchase a 2020 Tacoma 4 x 4 off road, in Cement color. I got lucky and found one pretty quickly at one of 3 dealers, that wasn't overloaded with too many goofy options yet, and I would add them as I go, as I did to my last 2 trucks. I'm glad to make your aquaintances, and hope I can add some thoughts and ideas here and there. Right now I'd like to see what you've done to your trucks to give me a few ideas (such as after market vs. factory parts i.e., skid plates, running boards, and bed liners to keep things from sliding around back there). I'm thinking of a license plate name too, like GryGhost or Phantom, if you have any opinions on that, I'm all ears. Have a great, great day, make it yours!!

 

Welcome to TacomaWorld!

 

Welcome!

 

Welcome aboard

 

Welcome to TW!

 

Welcome to TW

 

Sweet! Welcome!

 

Welcome to the world of TW. I’m glad you’re still with us!!!

 

Thanks to you and everyone else for the welcome. And yeah, that was really something to experience and man, living every day as your last is, to me, NOT a metaphore ANYMORE, it's the real deal and all this happening truly has made me a more positive, grateful, thankful human being I kid you not one bit. I'm a different man now than 2 weeks ago. I had the "fireman-stick-ya-in-the-throat-with-a-bic-pen" thing going on there, a rare bacterial thing that makes your neck swell up like a buck in the rut but it doesn't stop.....squeezes the airway all the way to shut if you don't get treatment fast, and happened over 24 hours. No bic pen, btw, the ENT surgeon tried to put a breathing tube down my throat which stopped me from breathing while conscious (they can't put you under for the breathing tube installation OR the PVC pipe they had to cut me open to install, as all your muscles relax and that collapses the airway and they are then hosed!). I grabbed that tool in the OR and pulled it out of my little airway hearing them all say "no, no, no" and said "hey, I'm not dying on my watch". The ENT doc looked me in the eye and said "this is life or death RIGHT NOW, Myke.....yada yada". At that point, my O2 level dropped to 40 and they said I was blue and passed out. That's when they realized they needed that bic pen or I was a goner. This happens to 2 people in 100,000 so I'm SURE everyone here will never experience this, but the lesson I learned is one I hope all can appreciate. I was the happiest guy in the ICU they ever saw I bet, and tried my best to make people smile even when I was recovering. I always loved making folks smile anyway, but now it's more deliberate, and life is a WHOLE bunch more fun!!!! Lots of changes, hug my grandkids tighter, see them more, BOUGHT THIS TACOMA, going to see friends more often, more fishing, more hunting, more delegating and elevating. God bless all you guys, and thanks again for the kind words!!!! We'll be a talking!!!

 

Holy Crap !!!!

let’s see some photos of that 2020 TACOMA !!!!

 

The only pic I have so far really is my Avatar. I'll get the mudflaps and paint protectors on it Thursday and post a couple better pictures there, but thanks for asking!

 

Welcome!

 

Welcome to TW!!

 

Welcome!