Expedition Overland just got a new Tacoma!!!

While not super in depth, they usually have an extra build video or two outside of the episodes.

 

yup
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EQ67VyvOKI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fum9QTOMyUU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0l4_6hKnID0

 

I'm not neasesarily excited about the new season. The first season with the prep was great. It was real. The second season to Alaska was epic. Then the big money sponsors came in and no longer made it relatable to the everyday man.

I will certainly admit to being a little jealous about their opportunities, but if any of us were to receive the same amount/ volume of goodies, they have. It would no longer be interesting. It becomes just like the other shows on cable/ satalitte with corporate sponsors throwing money at something.

I've talked with Clay and Rhonda at past expo events and really like them on a personal level. The stories of their travels, I could listen to for hours. However, the sponsors have all but killed the show for me.

 

Yeah they just aren't super detailed. I'd love to see some write ups and what not.

 

And as we speak!

 

I hope they wheel this truck. Not seeing front bumpers on the 4runners was a disappointment. I knew they couldn't really wheel those things.

 

Yeah they said it was to not get to much attention at border crossings.. But it was disappointing that they didn't have one

 

This is my exact feeling. Really loved the first season. Alaska was good but kinda touristy. This last season was like watching a bunch of dudes on a road trip. I will always support XO but kinda seems like they sold out. I wanna see adventure. I wanna see backroads, getting lost, getting stuck, dealing with tough choices, people exhausted from working all day to get through tough terrain that has been untraveled.

 

I'm pretty sure they negated any attention their bumpers would've drawn with their vinyl wraps. If anything draws your eye more, it's a vinyl wrap with sponsorships

EDIT: Not knocking the show, I actually really enjoyed following these guys. I agree with what everyone has said so far. The first season was by far the best. There was a real sense of adventure...setting out with a plan and motivation to achieve a goal. The family aspect of bringing the wives/gf's along was cool, too. Everyone had a specific role and that role was pretty crucial to the success of the team. I come from an le/military background, so maybe this just appeals more to me, but I really enjoy that team aspect and understand first hand what can be achieved by it's proper use and deployment.

 

I am a big fan of the series, as well. I own a '06 4Runner and now a '16 Tacoma. They've given me plenty of inspiration for future builds, trips with the family, etc. One thing that shocked me was the weight of the vehicles when fully loaded. During the builds before the Central America trip, they said they had to have ICON make some one-off springs that will hold the weight on the 4Runners. Then later in that series, when the Tacoma was trying to cross a rickity old bridge in the rain, they were really worried about the weight, and had the (2) 4Runners with winches attached to it. They had mentioned the Tacoma weighed in at something like 8500lbs! If that is true, that's like 4000lbs of gear...what? I can see maybe a 1000lbs extra gear,...but that is crazy. It's nice to have some camping and recovery gear with you on a trip, but I thought lighter is better? Obviously, I don't know a thing about overlanding.

 

I think their situation with gear weight is a bit unique considering they're filming a "professional tv series"...batteries, extra camera gear, tripods, miscellaneous equipment on top of the standard overlanding gear + multiple occupants

 

That's part of the National Luna split charging system (dual battery system). 5 minutes after you start you truck the solenoid will open and the alternator will charge both batteries, it will close once the truck is shut off (batteries are no longer connected). This way your accessories won't drain your starting battery. I've run NL systems in 3 trucks (currently using this setup in my Land Cruiser). They aren't cheap but they are worth it.

 

It connects the front battery with the rear batteries (or aux battery) for charging, power draw, winching, etc. The National Luna kit offers automatic and manual engagement

 

Don't I count?

 

Whoa I didn't look at your account! From your pics I thought you owned the shop that installed that system! Sorry!

 

Yeah that's what I figured. People don't realize Kurt runs cruiser outfitters nor that he was in the Central America expedition group

 

I really liked their Alaska Season. Lots of sweet deep river crossings and lots more 4x4 action. I liked them going to the small towns also and talking to locals, very cool. But now seems like every episode is getting less and less off roading. The South America session was disappointing to say the least. Baja is a vast area and all they did was try to traverse it as fast as possible. I really like what they do and I wish I can get a group of my buddies and do the same, but as more and more sponsors get involved like Toyota maybe they are forced to do things they do not want to do?

I would like them to slow down and take the more challenging 'overlanding' routes and not the pavement. They need to take more risks and take the harder route on the next season.

Now with their current build. Aluminum sliders, aluminum front bumper, and without hoops? Really? If I were going around the world for an overland trip like these guys I would at least want a steel front bumper with loops for any animal strikes. In their Alaskan season they had a encountered a branch that nearly took our their radiator. I understand for this build they want to keep the weight down, but I would at least want a steel front bumper.

 

i think they had limited time on the central america trip and really wanted to get to the darien gap. They had specific dates that they had to be places so naturally it was rushed. Therefore they didn't offroad quite as much as the other seasons but It was still much more entertaining than anything else on TV. Hopefully, next season will be full of offroad adventure. I think all of the aluminium is simply for weight. The payload capacity for the tacoma, as we all know, is sub par...

 

Which current build are you talking about? The new Tacoma? I didn't see any armor on it.

Anyway, I think part of the reason they were more on road this season was that they were in not so great places. If they really broke something on the way to the Yukon, they are at least in the US or Canada and can get a tow and fix pretty easily. I wouldn't trust the murder capital of the world to come tow my ass to a shop haha.

 

Yes I am talking about the current 2016 Tacoma.

Right now they have a aluminum front CBI bumper, aluminum sliders, and rear bumper.