Retro-1980s-Inspired 3rd Gen Tacoma “Build”

Nice to see something else besides all the overland built bullshit. Well executed!

 

https://silodrome.com/back-to-the-future-toyota-hilux/

 

Wow, this took me back to the 80's! Great job, it truly looks great.

 

Very sweet

 

Last suggestion from me: recreate the hubs?

 

I’m in the process of designing and building 3”tube bumper and roll bar for 3rd gen. Going to be welded stainless. These pictures are a rendering of the 3D design using Solidworks. I can keep you updated on progress if you’re interested in a set.

 

do you have pictures of how toyota did the BTF 3rd gen tribute truck? there was also a video when it was released as well that shows a lot of techniques during the build. i've got a ton of pictures of the setup from when it was at the chicago auto show if needed. though i mostly focused on the bed setup.

i'm interested in the roll bar setup. though specifically, i need it to be mounted outside of a tonneau cover, and not restrict rolling up my cover all the way. i also want to make it load-rated as a winch point, which is going to require at least schedule 40 pipe and additional reinforcement to the bed structure...

i was considering contacting heavy metal offroad to see if i could get some pre-bent bars without the tabs welded on, though i'm not entirely happy with the OD of the pipe they're using from an aesthetics standpoint.

https://heavymetaloff-road.com/taco...oma-pair-bare-steel-heavy-metal-off-road.html

 

I don’t have any pictures of that build, just some clips I got from a video of it. Would love to see what you have!!

Using that BTF build as inspiration. I’m updating the shape of the front bumper from the BTF tribute by adding a few more bends that wrap around the front styled like the original smittybilt. Also building a real rear bar that mounts to the bed similar to the original. The BTF one clipped into the rails.

Smittybilt used 3” thin wall tube on the original bumpers with a 4.5” bend radius.
I considered pipe, but Using SCH 40 pipe with a similar OD would make these insanely heavy.

Looks like those heavy metal rails are 1.75” OD tube with .12 wall. those do look a little small. I’m not a huge fan of using pipe for welded structure. You can get equal if not better rigidity using larger OD thin wall tube vs smaller OD thick wall pipe, depending on the structure design.

I’m planning on using these ACE RACE pre-bent 3” tube elbows and straight tubes on mine and doing a multiple pc welded structure vs a single bent tube.

 

Might I ask why you plan on drilling the bed? Is it for authenticity for some other reason?

The only reason I ask is my old 93 has a bolt through the bed style and my old 2013 and current 2016 bolt to the rails and I find that solution way better. You don’t lose any cargo space on the base of the bed that way. Packing the bed with the bolt on bar was much more of a pain than with it just sitting on the rails.

I really like the design, I’m just curious.

 

I’ll take the original

 

I’m new here and I know this is an old thread but I love the look of the white wheels. Just had Black Rhino Solids put on recently. Reminds me of my dad’s 86.

 

Yeah same here. I know this is an old thread but God dayummm that's a beautiful truck.

 

I love your truck! Well done.

 

Looks amazing!!!

 

It’s 2025 and the builds have only gotten crazier. I scrolled through a recent video of Overland Expo and the amount of junk was nauseating. I’d consider my self a gear nerd but the crap people bring into the woods is hilarious.

OP nice build!

 

I had a 1983, so those graphics certainly bring back memories

 

i second the 4x4 mud flaps. I love this build!

 

Wow, I'm happy to see I'm not the only one with the love of old Toyota Pickups. Here's mine that I've been working on for a few years now.

Started as a stock TRD Sport and loved the Sandstorm color on both new and classic trucks.

-Reproduction graphics that are slowly starting to UV fade, adding to the vintage look.
-Steel wheels are OEM TRD Sport spares. Some engineer at Toyota just for the TRD Sport designed a 17" spare to look like the factory steelies on 60's Toyota Pickups. $70/ea at the dealer and some white powder coat and the TPMS sensors even bolted in. (then sold the OEM aluminum wheels for more than the above combination, including swapping the tires over)
-Push bar is from a 90's 4Runner I pulled from a junk yard. $50 later and I bent and fabbed the attachment points so it bolts to the factory bumper bar.
-KC Daylighters I put some lower power LEDs inside and triggered them from the parking lights. So they glow at nigh but aren't bright enough to melt holes in the covers. (I melted a pair on a previous Tacoma after I bumped the power switch)
-The white cap is the same ARE aluminum cap they've been making for 50 years.

A 1" lift and the 4 WHEEL DRIVE decal on the tailgate round it out.
Also looking through my pictures to find these, I should remove the Tacoma badgers from the doors.

 

Mook I had to look at your pics twice before realizing It was a 3rd gen. Love the retro style.

 

Yep - the steelies and the aluminum cap go great together, and the stripes are spot on. It’s like looking at an old truck that someone put 3rd gen parts on.