SEMA 2020: Toyota Unveils Supercharged Overland-Ready Tacoma
SEMA 2020 is virtual, but there are still plenty of killer builds to cover, like Toyota’s Overland-Ready Tacoma!
It’s that time of year, and fortunately, even a global pandemic can’t stop the annual SEMA Show. Historically, everything kicks off on Tuesday, but Toyota has already dropped info on a killer overlanding build done for the big show.
Produced in partnership with the folks over at 4WD Toyota Owners Magazine, there’s loads of aftermarket kit that’s been added here, though since they started with a TRD Pro model, lots of the basics have already been covered. To help up things in the power department, a Roots-type Magnuson supercharger has been installed on top of the stock V6. That means instead of 278 horsepower and 265 lb-ft of torque, this rig has 370 horsepower and 330 lb-ft on tap.
Some of the bits, including the intake, exhaust, locking diff, and hood, come straight from the wizards at Toyota Racing Development. But for the front and rear bumpers, the builders turned to CBI Offroad Fabrication. The unit upfront is an aluminum T3, while the one in the back is all-steel, and features dual swing-out racks for the Hi-Lift jack, PowerTank P10 compressor, and spare tire.
CBI also fully armored the undercarriage with steel and aluminum skid plates, and a set of rock sliders round out the protection.
Of course, when you’re out in the sticks, visibility is important. So this build is also equipped with a host of auxiliary lighting from Rigid Industries, including 40-inch LED light bars, and four rack mounted lights. All come from the company’s Pro LED series, and should be able to turn the darkest night into day time.
To help stranded folks, or help pull the rig out of a sketchy situation, there’s also a ComeUp SEAL Gen 2 winch, which is rated at a whopping 9,500 pounds. Since this baby is meant to travel far from civilization, Rotopax also provided four gallons of additional fuel storage, and two gallons of water storage. Eagle-eyed folks will also notice there are a pair of traction boards from MaxTrax mounted to the rack above the cab.
I really wish there were some pics of this baby in action, but the sterile studio shots were the only ones attached to the press release. Oh well.
Now, for the record? Camping really isn’t my thing. The idea of spending time and treasure to travel to a place where you can’t walk to a Thai restaurant or a bar simply doesn’t compute for me. That said, I love vehicle-based shelters, like the Yakima SkyRise tent mounted on the bed of this rough-and-ready Tacoma, and if I was going to have to sleep in the middle of nowhere, this is how I’d want to do it.
There’s obviously a rainfly for when the weather goes sideways on you, but when conditions are ideal, there are windows on each side and a pair of skylights. To ensure optimum comfort, there’s also a wall-to-wall inflatable mattress, with a removeable, washable cover. According to the Yakima website, the whole setup can be installed without tools, though a lockable security system means thieves can’t just walk off with your home-away-from home when you’re exploring the great outdoors. With accommodations for three, and a weight of just under 100 pounds, it seems like an addition to any overlanding rig.
Watch the video below for all the info on what went into this build, and hit me up if there’s anything specific you’d like to see from the show. Stay tuned for more coverage of SEMA 2020!
Photos: Toyota