2021 Taco, Close to stock build as possible

As of April, 2025

As of September, 2024

As of July, 2024


As of June, 2024






As of February, 2024

Pulled the trigger with an even trade from 2020 Tundra with 44k miles to 2021 Tacoma with 27k miles.
I love both of them and would have kept the Tundra if it wasn't for my recent back problems.
Here is the picture of my Tundra on the day of being traded in.

(Tundra was on 37s, 2 inch lifted front and 4 inch lifted rear for additional weight, Harrop E-locker in the rear axle and a bumper with winch)

My plan for the Tacoma is to stay as close to stock setup as possible while adding personal touches. I also have a YouTube Channel called [4WD is Life], going to be documenting my taco journey on there as well.

Glad to meet you all.
Cheers.

 

let the journey begins. Trying to keep this taco as close to stock as possible.
Ordered Diode Dynamics Elite series yellow fogs with amber back lighting, and their hitch mount C1R reverse+brake light. I intend to wire the brighter brake function to an individual port on my auxbeam switch panel to use as rear fog light.
Also ordered a set of 4 Toyota Beadlock looking wheels in black, not going to mount them yet since I am waiting for the stock tires to go out first.
Also am working with xtrusion overland to get a bed camper/rack/cap setup that they are currently developing, should be similar with the Go Fast Campers weighing around 300-350lbs and way more modular and build it yourself.
To take all that weight, I am planning on a set of firestone or whatever brand airbags for the rear axle.

Excited! Cheers!

 

Just picked up the trd Beadlock wheels, however despite on the dealer parts website it said caps included, it’s not. Now I am on the list for new caps being made. Could take months.

 

It will be tough not to mod a Tacoma lol. Good luck! Love the color!

 

Thank you! and yea, I consider these mods "stock" upgrades lol

 

Just finally settling down to the new to me Tacoma, this past weekend I rushed to take all the modification parts (most of them anyway) off the truck and sold them within 2 days. Dealer really wanted my truck and gave me a good deal so I had to do it.
Used to have a ton of lights on my Tundra, Auxbeam, Novsight, Diode dynamics and Bajas. They will be waiting in the garage till I figure out a way to mount maybe a couple of them onto the tacoma (tastefully).


Sold the Decked Drawer system and a spare set of ICON rebound wheels on 35x12.5 r17 Geolandar G003 MT tires to this stock black tundra, best of luck!


Tundra is capable of taking 6 wheels/tires, all the Decked Drawer parts with just one trip, impressive, going to miss that part of it.

I have got probably close to 40-50lbs of wiring on my Tundra, and all had to be taken off for maximum return.

Truck look extra clean with all the parts coming off it.


sold the xtrusion overland rack to a fellow toyota lover, he has two lc100, one tundra trdpro, and lexus LS. big time envy.



Final form of my Tundra before I traded it in for the Taco.


Annnd the taco finally made it to my driveway.

 

Definitely new and exciting, I literally bought my Taco Dec 15th of 2023 and here is the before and after:
Before:After:

 

Why did you trade in the Tundra?

 

Back problems, maybe too stiff of a ride? Or too high to get in without back pain…

 

I modded the tundra to be an Offroad worrier however I had an accidental fall last year and had a disc herniation which put me in bed for a month and have been really careful since the symptoms are some what away now, climbing in and out of the cabin and bed has been a challenge, I know I can use steps but that’s just another place I could possible slip and fall. It’s sad that I babied since day 1 and the frame is spotless in terms of rust.

 

More of too tall. The tailgate folding down is about my chest height lol

 

Today was a long day, used my local garage “U wrench it” and my go to rust prevention product from rustoleum and CRC. First spot painted the rusty spots on the frame and parts, then painted CRC rust inhibitor to the entire frame.

 

List of accessories coming up
Dash phone mount - The Taco Garage
SS3 pro fog lights - Diode Dynamics
Rear fog C1R lights - Diode Dynamics
Vintage 4wd vinyl,trd vinyl,tacoma letter insert - TVD Vinyl Decals
Wheel caps - FN wheels
bumper cover - bumper shellz
TRD beadlock wheels - TOYOTA
nFab light mount
RCI Skid plates (Engine, transmission, transfer case, cats, gas tank)
MESO custom total taillight conversion kit
Truxedo Tonneau cover
Back seat cover
Auxbeam switch panel

 

Just using this as a place to store the installation instruction of NFAB tacoma light mounting bar Part number

$177 T164LB Gloss Black Light Bar; Light Tabs Toyota Tacoma 16-18

T164LB in case anyone needs to know, I received this product and there is no instructions, had to look very hard on google to find this.

 

Installed NFab light mount today.
I like how stealthy it looks and don’t need a full on bumper.

 

Nice was that a DIY or was the NFAB bar specifically designed for the Tacoma application?

 

If you look at the instructions I posted right before that post, I think it’s nFab made specifically for Tacomas.

 

I’m an idiot and just went to your most recent post. lol thanks! Looks great.

 

lol. All good. Thanks man. Going to be mounting some lights up there soon.

 

A recent trip had 80% highway calculated mpg to be 21.2. Not too shabby