- Augie’s Adventures new Toyota Tacoma is in need of upgrades.
Patience is not one of my strengths. I’ve been driving my new truck for almost a full month and I have yet to begin upgrading it worthy of Amazon Rain Forest travel. Oh, but I’ve burned my eye balls on the computer screen scanning places like AllPro Off-Road, CARiD, and other aftermarket part suppliers looking for the right Toyota Tacoma improvements.
After I sold the 95 Tacoma and sobered up from the pain of losing an old friend, I found and purchased a “new to me” Tacoma. My parking spot now holds a 2013 Toyota Tacoma access cab, V-6, auto, 4×4 TRD sport in metallic grey. The two year old truck had only 16,800 miles on it when I drove her off the lot.
Why a Toyota Tacoma ?
When choosing what vehicle to purchase, I believe it is important to honestly assess the intended use of the vehicle. In my case I assembled the following list that led me to my new truck.
- 4×4 was a must – I travel off road way too often and would be stuck way too quick without it.
- Track record of reliability – if Toyota’s are anything, they are reliable. Land Rovers look the overland part and I think it would be a cool vehicle to own, but I’ve heard too much about how good Land Rover drivers are at trail repairs.
In all her glory she celebrates 200,000 miles
- Pickup truck vs. SUV. – Before I owned the 95 Tacoma, I drove a highly modified Jeep Cherokee. She was a beast when it came to rock crawling and I was even able to pack the family in it for a week at the beach. However, I saw the interior degrade from hauling hunting, fishing and camping equipment that should have really been stowed in the back of a pickup. The sharp metal corners of tree stands and the mud from duck decoys tear up the interior of a SUV.
- Access cab vs. Double cab. – The majority of my driving is either solo or with one passenger. Not very often do I haul more than two people. In trade the larger truck bed gives me more space to haul my gear. The nice thing about the access cab is that when I do want to haul more than two people the option is still there and it offers a place to carry a few things that you don’t really want to toss in the back of the truck bed.
- V-6 vs. 4 cylinder – More power, need I say more?
- Automatic transmission vs. manual – I have found that I prefer an automatic transmission when off-roading and when dealing with Washington DC commuter traffic. I can still down shift to control downhill accents and when crawling over a rock garden, a two footed driver with an automatic is always a smoother driver.
- Mid-sized truck vs. a full-sized truck – I spend a lot of time driving tight trails through the woods of western Maryland and I am able to fit the little truck in places a full-sized truck simply would not fit.
Would a new Jeep Rubicon Wrangler been a cool new ride, oh sure, it would have been. I even looked at one. Would a Ford Raptor been a real head turner, you betcha’. But as I ran down the requirements for my next vehicle, it quickly became clear I needed another Tacoma.
Augie’s Adventures new Toyota Tacoma is in need of upgrades.
The Build
“My intensions are honorable,” I explained to the salesman. “I will do her no harm.” Of course that was before I gave him the link to this website.
The plans for the truck include a very similar build as the last one. Steel bumpers with winch, Full collection of skid plates, side rock rails, upgraded suspension and tires, additional fuel tank, kayak rack and a few other goodies. Different with this truck, I’m currently leaning towards a shell cap for the bed.
Back to the opening statement about having patience, this summer I’m planning to spend the first Sunday of each month on the street in Annapolis, MD selling framed photographs. And while I guess I could get and use a credit card to build the truck, I hope to make enough cash to assemble the parts by the end of the summer. Thus partly the reason for the cap on the truck, I would feel a lot better having the artwork and stuff safe out of the weather in the back of the truck while in route to the market.
So in the meantime, I’m driving an unmolested stock Toyota Tacoma, which takes some getting used to. Heck, I lost it in a parking lot the other day and almost climbed into the wrong truck. I jus’ ain’t used to driving a normal truck.
