This build has been a long and adventurous process. But good quality takes a little bit of investment of time and money. Knowing what you want and making it a reality aren’t always as easy as it sounds. But, I feel fortunate to have learned a lot along the way. And, this Tacoma is ready for almost any adventure that you might be willing to tackle.
From the beginning, we knew that we needed a vehicle to handle sun, sand, snow, and so much more. We wanted simplicity and a modular configuration, because complications eventually cost more in the long run. We wanted a setup that could change just like the seasons. We wanted something to take to the mountains for a day of skiing/snowboarding. But, the same vehicle would also have to be ready for a trip to the beach, getting the bikes to the trailhead, plus work well as a daily commuter vehicle. We also knew that as the family grew then the ability to jump in and go would really make it easier for more adventures in between our busy schedules.
I learned through years of travel up and down the mountains about the benefits of a manual transmission. It allows you to effectively manage the torque and regulate the transfer of power to the wheels. This helps the longevity of crucial parts and it also helps keep the vehicle securely planted on the desired path ahead. It also helps us from riding the brakes while headed down the mountain. And, we're even able to get a little extra oomph when we're climbing up the mountain. And, it's really not that bad when you do find yourself in stop and go traffic.
We also knew the benefits of keeping an easily deployable camping setup. We needed something that would help us better handle our different four-season adventures. We love to chase snow, head to the beach, and get out away from it all, so we needed a setup that could handle many of the different conditions we'd experience throughout the year. After a lot of research, we chose the AT Overland Habitat. It’s an all aluminum construction camper built to keep the weight down and the elements outside. It also allows us the ability to have sleeping quarters for five people, as well as our dog. We can stand up inside and take shelter when it's blustery outside. Or, we can enjoy the outdoors and use the integrated awning to escape the sun. AT Overland’s customer service and their willingness to stand behind their product really instilled confidence in our purchase. It’s been worth every penny. And, it doesn't look much different than the first day we picked it up from AT Overland.
We really needed to make sure that our “home on wheels” wouldn’t let us down or leave us stranded on or off the road. So, we made sure to find the best suspension modifications for handling many of the roadless areas that we like to explore. We also added equipment that would aid recovery efforts, including airing up/down tires. Each of these components were chosen to help protect our investment and maintain the form and function for years to come.
So, take a close look at our current list of modifications:
189,xxx miles - Original owner with all service and fuel records
4.0 V6 engine with a 6 speed manual transmission
5 Foot Bed
TRD Off Road Pkg
TRD Cold Air Intake
TRD Exhaust
Bluetooth phone controls
AM/FM/Sat/Aux/MP3 Multi CD with JBL audio and subwoofer
Power windows, power door locks, sliding rear window
Rear backup camera
E Locker - Electronic locking rear differential
ATRAC stability control
400w onboard power supply in truck bed
285/75/16 General Grabber ATX load range E (mountain/snowflake rated) tires - 4300 miles
16x7 KMC black wheels
ARB Deluxe Bull Bar #3423030 with winch mount and LED fog lights
Smittybilt XRC 9.5k winch with synthetic rope
CBI Bushmaster Steel Plate wraparaound rear bumper with high clearance receiver hitch and additional backup lights
Off Grid Engineering DC to DC dual battery split system with Redarc BCDC 25 to charge the secondary Odyssey AGM 35-PC 1400T, plus it has solar capability
Prinsu Design Studio Habitat roof rack with a Cali Raised LED 40” Amber light bar and 2 Xbull recovery tracks
Trigger 4 Plus switch with Bluetooth capability, as well as rocker switches mounted below AC controls
ARB Twin Stack Compressor mounted with Expedition Essentials mount in the driver’s side cubby in the bed of the truck
Iceco JP 42 fridge/freezer (brand new/never used)
Bedrug insulated/padded bed liner
Suspension Upgrade October 2018 - 26,000 miles
Icon Delta Joint UCA
Icon LCA skid plates
King Shocks 700lb Coil
King Shocks 25001-121A Remote Reservoirs For Rear
King Shocks 25001-119EXT Adjustable Coilovers For Front
OME (Old Man Emu) Dakar leaf spring pack in the rear #CS047R
Firestone Ride-Rite airbags with Schrader fill valves routed above rear license plate
Daystar Cradles to allow full articulation of rear suspension
FK29 Driveline Spacer Kit
Carrier Bearing Drop
* 2017 AT Overland Habitat
Front slider window
Passenger side half slider with screen
Rear hatch window
Fully carpeted
Nemo Tent
Rooftop L-track with 3 crossbars mounted
12v accessory package includes cigarette lighter outlet and 2-5amp USB outlets
2 white pillar mounted LED lights
2-24” wide removeable sleeping platforms to allow for full capacity sleeping up top in the Habitat
Multiple mesh storage pouches on the side, as well as an overhead attic storage setup
This has been an amazing vehicle for us. Unfortunately, it’s getting a bit tight for us to pack into with two adults, three growing teenagers, and our dog. So, we’re a bit reluctantly listing it for sale. If finances were no issue, then we'd love to keep this vehicle until the day that it dies. But, that's all a bit selfish and wouldn't be fair to a vehicle that has been so good for our entire family. We hope to see it go to another great home.
This vehicle has been the most reliable vehicle we’ve ever owned. In fact, we still have another older Tacoma that we plan on keeping until it eventually dies. But, for our camper setup, we’ll be moving into a full-size rig to handle our growing teenagers. That means that we'll be passing this awesome vehicle onto someone else looking for a new adventure vehicle to follow their dreams.
We've listed the setup on Expedition Portal for $42,000. But, we're listing it here for $39,000 OBO. If you'd like more information, additional photos, or to setup a showing, then please send an email to TahoeAdventureTrex@gmail.com.
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