Photo-heavy Intro for my T/X Baja

After a few years of abusing the living heck out of lifted Subaru Forester, I was tired of smoking the clutch and saying goodbye to CV axles. I'd wanted a 4x4 for years, but when I needed a car while finishing up school, finances didn't quite line up for a Tacoma so the the Subaru came into my life. After nearly being stranded in rural NV during the Thanksgiving blizzard of 2019, I began seriously considering a Tacoma.

I was on the fence between an early 3rd gen or a later 2nd gen with the requirements of 4x4, a V6, a long bed, well under 100k miles, and under 25k. Over the months, a few good trucks came and went in California and Arizona, but between work and my location in rural CA, they were bought up before I could snag one. A good looking 2014 T/X Baja caught my eye on an Autotrader search one day. That prompted a google search to figure out what the heck that weird looking thing with the giant decal was. A few minutes later, I was sold and began making arrangements. Unfortunately, the dealer said the truck was off its lot and into the wilds of Craigslist. After some wrangling and a 9 hour bus trip over icy mountain passes from Bishop, CA to Reno, NV and then to Sacramento, CA; I finally laid eyes on the truck. After a quick test drive, money was exchanged at a Chevron and its maiden voyage back to the Eastern Sierra, Bishop and the 395 began.


Badlands above Ventucopa, CA on CA 33
(not my mud... previous owner ran out of time to wash it)

A dinner stop in Sacramento with a friend who'd test driven it the week prior & a quick ogle from some fellow Toyota friends in Stockton lead to a late night camped in some oilfield down in the Central Valley halfway between Sac and Ventura. After an unexpectedly chilly night in the bed of the truck, I finished the drive up the next morning taking CA 33 for a scenic detour and Pacific Ocean views on the way into Ventura. Saw some more friends and a cousin there, made it to Los Angeles for another round of friends, an art gallery, and brunch before hitting the road for the desert and home.


On the way back though... dirt roads shooting straight up the brown hills out of Rosamond tempted me. Knowing I wouldn't get home before dark anyways, I pulled off and spent an hour climbing and descending steep 4x4 tracks that had me alternatively staring up into the blue sky wondering where the road went or sliding off the seat on steep downgrades. The views were amazing as I'd driven that stretch of CA 14 for years and never been able to climb these hills.




Sunset on the first weekend of Tacoma ownership


Arriving home in the dark, I don't think I really realized how much bigger the Tacoma was than the Forester. The side by side parking job sure made that clear.



Within the first week, I knew what mod #1 was going to be. Armed with a heat gun and 45 minutes of daylight, it was time for the BAJA to go.

Before

After

In the first three months here, it's taken me to Death Valley 4x, Tahoe 2x and many more local adventures in the Sierra and White Mountains. I built out a camper setup in the back as well, but that'll be a thread for another day. Loving things so far!




Five feet of snow fell this weekend in Tahoe. The Tacoma was plowing through things fine until snow starting coming over the hood on one particularly deep street and I got into an old bank of plowed icy crap. ​

 

Welcome to TW!

 

Welcome aboard new member

 

Welcome to TW

 

Great intro those shots are majestic and the truck is cool too. Maybe your an English or journalism student ?

 

Nice truck, good find.

 

Welcome to TW!

 

Welcome to the TW, nice truck.

 

Welcome to TW!

 

Thank you! I am neither, but have enjoyed taking pictures and writing for many years now so glad you enjoyed.

 

Here's a very belated thank you to all of you who wished me welcome, much appreciated!

 

Welcome fellow red tacoma owner!

 

Welcome from SE VA! Awesome! keep in enjoying the journey!

 

Welcome to the best damn Tacoma forum on the interwebs Ben

Great introduction!

 

@Hobbs, I found a neighbor of yours.

 

Welcome to The Forum neighbor!
Looks like you found a nice truck.
I will likely see you out in the wilds!


Thanks @RobP62

 

Good morning Brother! You know as soon as I saw Bishop, Ca. I immediately looked at his front end

 

Ha! Usually folks look at out rear ends.....

 

Well...............

 

Saw your post in the Death Valley thread. Welcome to TW. Jelly of where you reside having so much to see and do at your fingertips. Looking forward to seeing your adventures.