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2018 · TOYOTA · TACOMA TRD OFF-ROAD · DOUBLE CAB

DESERT
STORM

Four years of building. Twelve thousand miles of dirt. Every mod earned its place the hard way — on a real trip, not a parking lot.

MR
Built & Driven By
MARCUS REYES
TRD
+47Photos
Built Since
2021
~4 years on the platform
Mods Logged
42
Across 9 categories
Trips Logged
28
9 multi-day, 19 day trips
Trail Miles
11,840mi
Off-pavement only
Maint. Records
86
Last entry: 12 days ago
Build Sheet 42 Specs Maintenance Log 86 Trip History 28 Owner's Story
Every Mod, Documented

BUILD SHEET

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SUSPENSION & LIFT 5 mods
Old Man Emu BP-51 Front Coilovers
3" Lift
Old Man Emu BP-51 Rear Shocks
Adjustable
Deaver U402 Rear Leaf Pack
+2.5" Lift
Total Chaos Upper Control Arms
Uniball
Wheelers Sway Bar Disconnect
Front
WHEELS & TIRES 3 mods
BFGoodrich KO2 All-Terrain
285/75 R17 (35")
Method Race 305 NV Bronze
17×8.5 · -12 offset
Bora Wheel Spacers
1.25" / Hub-Centric
BUMPERS & ARMOR 5 mods
CBI Off-Road Covert Front Bumper
Steel · Hoop
CBI Off-Road Classic Rear Bumper
Tire Carrier
RCI Aluminum Skid Set
Engine, Trans, Fuel
Cali Raised Rock Sliders
Bolt-On / Kickout
BAMF Diff Skid
3/16" Plate
RECOVERY 5 mods
Warn VR EVO 10-S Winch
10K lb · Synthetic
Maxtrax MKII Recovery Boards
Pair / Bed Mount
ARB Tire Deflator
E-Z Deflator
ARB CKMA12 On-Board Air
12V Compressor
Factor 55 ProLink XTV
Soft Shackle
LIGHTING 4 mods
Baja Designs S8 30" Light Bar
Roof / Combo
Baja Designs Squadron Sport
A-Pillar Pair
KC Hilites Ditch Light Set
Cyclone V2
Diode Dynamics SS3 Fog Pods
SAE Fog
COMMUNICATIONS 3 mods
Midland MXT500 GMRS Radio
50 W / Mobile
Garmin inReach Mini 2
Sat SOS / Tracking
Yaesu FT-2980R 2m HAM
80W · KK7XYZ
CAMP & LIVING 6 mods
Roofnest Falcon Pro RTT
Hardshell · 2-Person
Alu-Cab Shadow Awning
270° / Driver Side
Front Runner Slimline II Rack
Bed Rack / 1/2 Length
Dometic CFX3 45 Fridge
Bed Mount / 47L
Snow Peak Pack & Carry Kitchen
2-Burner
Helinox Camp Chair One
×2
STORAGE & DRAWERS 4 mods
Goose Gear Storage Drawers
2-Drawer Module
Decked Drawer Topper
Bedslide
Front Runner Wolf Pack Pro
×4 Cases
Rotopax Fuel & Water Pack
2 gal Water · 4 gal Fuel
ELECTRICAL & POWER 7 mods
Goal Zero Yeti 1500X
Portable / 1516Wh
Goal Zero Boulder 100 Solar
Briefcase / 100W
National Luna Dual Battery Kit
Intelligent Solenoid
Optima YellowTop D34/78
Aux Battery
sPOD SourceLT Module
8-Switch / BlueSea
Anderson SB50 Plug Pair
Bed / Engine Bay
Blue Sea Fuse Block 5025
12-Circuit
Factory Numbers

SPEC SHEET

ENGINE & DRIVETRAIN
Engine
2GR-FKS V6 3.5L · DOHC · Direct Injection
Power
278 HP @ 6,000 RPM
Torque
265 LB-FT @ 4,600 RPM
Transmission
6-Speed Automatic A750F · Sequential
Drivetrain
Part-Time 4WD 2H / 4H / 4Lo
Transfer Case
VF4B Electronic 2.566:1 Low Range
AXLES & DIFFERENTIALS
Front Axle
IFS · Open Diff
Rear Axle
Solid · 8.75"
Rear Locker
Factory Electric Locker TRD Off-Road Standard
Gear Ratio
4.30 Re-geared from 3.91 for 35s
A-TRAC
Active Traction Control Selectable in 4Lo
DIMENSIONS · OFF-ROAD
Ground Clearance
11.5" w/ 35s + 3" lift (factory: 9.4")
Approach Angle
38° w/ stubby front bumper
Departure Angle
29° w/ rear bumper
Breakover Angle
23°
Wheelbase
127.4"
GVWR
5,600 LB Curb weight estimated 5,200 w/ build
FUEL & RANGE
Tank Capacity
21.1 GAL
Aux Fuel
8 GAL 2× Rotopax bed-mounted
Real-World MPG
14.5 MPG Highway · w/ 35s + RTT
Trail MPG
9–11 MPG Logged across 28 trips
Effective Range
~420 MI Including aux tanks
Verified Service History

MAINTENANCE LOG

View All 86 →
APR 162026
Differential Service · Front & Rear Routine
Drained, inspected, refilled with Mobil 1 75W-90. No metal in either drain. Rear locker actuator tested OK.
Self-performed · 0.6 hrs
86,420 miOdometer
MAR 042026
Re-Gear · 4.30 Ratio Modification
Re-geared front and rear from 3.91 to 4.30 to compensate for 35" tires. Nitro Gear & Axle ring & pinion. New crush sleeves, bearings, seals. Performed at Tier 1 Land Cruiser, Phoenix.
Tier 1 Land Cruiser · $2,840
84,180 miOdometer
FEB 122026
Brake Pads & Rotors · Front Routine
PowerStop Z36 Truck/Tow pads, drilled & slotted rotors. Original pads at 4mm, replaced as preventative for 35s.
Self-performed · 2.0 hrs
82,940 miOdometer
JAN 242026
Engine Oil & Filter · Mobil 1 0W-20 Routine
5,000-mile interval. Replaced cabin air filter at same time.
Self-performed · 0.5 hrs
81,870 miOdometer
DEC 102025
Wheel Bearing · Front Right Repair
Slight grind audible on left turns at 60+ mph. Replaced both front bearings as preventative. OEM Toyota part.
Toyota of Tempe · $680
78,210 miOdometer
NOV 022025
CBI Front Bumper Install Modification
CBI Covert front bumper installed, Warn winch transferred from old bumper. Required relocation of fog light wiring.
Self-performed · 6.5 hrs
76,540 miOdometer
SEP 182025
Frame Recall · Cap Repair Verified Recall
Toyota frame inspection per recall 22TC02. Frame passed inspection, no rust intrusion. Recall sticker affixed.
Larry H. Miller Toyota · No charge
74,100 miOdometer
Why This Rig

FROM THE OWNER

I bought this Tacoma stock from a dealer in 2021. The plan was simple: build something I could actually use, document every mod honestly, and never touch a part I couldn't repair on the side of a trail. Four years later that's still the plan.

The build is intentionally modular. Suspension came first because everything else rides on it. Recovery and comms came before lights and storage because none of the fun stuff matters if you can't get out or call for help. The RTT was the last addition and I'd argue the most life-changing.

"Every part on this rig has dirt on it. Nothing was bought to look good in a driveway." — Marcus