4 Must-Have Items for Your Tacoma Overlanding Build

photo by ianmcdonnell via iStock

This article was last updated on May 1, 2024.

The Toyota Tacoma is one of the best overlanders that exists. It is capable, spacious, comfortable, and reliable. Exactly what people who love to travel by car want!

Because of its great traits, people love to modify it to make it even more livable and capable as a Tacoma overlanding build. 

As you would imagine with such a truck, the modification options are endless. Today’s article features a list of four of the most important mods for your Tacoma overland build.

Table of Contents

• A Tacoma Overlanding Build Modification to Stay Organized
• A Tacoma Overlanding Build Modification to Keep You Grounded
• A Tacoma Overlanding Build Modification to Get You Out of a Jam
• A Tacoma Overlanding Build Modification to Light the Way
• What Mods Will You Make to Your Tacoma?
• Other Overlanding Gear to Consider

A Tacoma Overlanding Build Modification to Stay Organized

The first item on our Tacoma overland build list is a bed gear plate by Aiden James Customs.

Having a pickup is great for overlanding, but finding a way to secure all the gear in the bed can sometimes be tricky.

This bed gear plate offers mounting points for all sorts of gear – Dometic fridges, TemboTusk slides, and even Pro Eagle jacks – all of which are important for a Tacoma overlanding build.

With this gear plate, you’ll have virtually endless secure mounting options for the majority of overlanding items you wish to install in the bed of your truck. 

The plate installs in the back of your Tacoma in under four minutes, too. It’s constructed from the highest quality Baltic Birch and comes with a 3mm-thick weather-resistant Rhino Lining to give it incredible durability. All the hardware to install the plate is included as well.

So right out of the box, you have an overlanding mod that gives you loads of functionality without any fuss or muss. 

Add the gear plate to your Tacoma bed, attach your favorite overlanding accessories, and hit the road knowing that you can keep your gear organized and secure whether you’re on or off-trail.

A Tacoma Overlanding Build Modification to Keep You Grounded

Tires are perhaps one of the most important modifications one can do on a 4WD. We recommend going for some BF Goodrich all-terrain tires wrapped around Method wheels for your Tacoma. 

The BF Goodrich all-terrain is arguably the most famous tire in the world, and for good reason. Its thick sidewalls mean it has great puncture resistance, and the aggressive tread provides great off-road traction but also manages to stay quiet on road. It is even great in snow and ice.

In other words, these tires enable you to take your Tacoma overlanding build near and far no matter the season!

Method wheels are also some of the most famous in the market. Their design and racing pedigree means that they do come at a premium. However, if you can afford them, we can assure you that you will not be disappointed.

The specific model we have in mind is the 502. This wheel has a 10 windowed design and features an 1850-lbs. load rating. Other features include a screw-on center cap, 16, 17, and 18-inch sizes, and a 5×4.5 bolt pattern.

From the center of a city to the deepest of forests your Tacoma overland build will look at home with these wheels. 

A Tacoma Overlanding Build Modification to Get You Out of a Jam

Our next modification for your Tacoma overlanding build is a winch. Peace of mind is one of the most important aspects of any overland trip. If you constantly worry about getting stuck, you will not be able to enjoy your time out properly.  

Therefore, it’s great to have a winch as a precaution. Once more, we would recommend you go for one made by a reputable brand like Warn.

Warn is arguably one of the best Winch manufacturers and when it comes to items you depend on, going cheap is not an option. 

The Warn VR EVO 12000 lb. winch not only has the power to pull your Tacoma out of any situation, but it will also do so reliably. 

It also comes with a synthetic rope instead of a steel one. This means that the winch itself will be lighter, the rope will be easier to spool out, if it snaps, it won’t recoil like a steel rope would, and it can be repaired on the trail easily. 

 All electrical components are IP68 waterproof rated, and the winch comes with a lifetime warranty on mechanical parts and a 7-year warranty on electrical. 

A Tacoma Overlanding Build Modification to Light the Way

Last on our Tacoma overland build modification list are some KC lights for those night-time overland trails. Plus, KC lights on a Toyota are cool. They bring back some Back to The Future vibes. 

The specific ones we have in mind are the 100 SlimLite LED black spot beam lights. These will do a great job of providing some additional visibility at night. 

Being produced and engineered by KC, you can be sure that they will last for a long time while also doing the best possible job of improving visibility when off-roading at night. 

What Mods Will You Make to Your Tacoma?

photo by ianmcdonnell via iStock

 A Tacoma overland build can easily become one of the most capable vehicles both on-road and off-road. 

Being such a great platform, it deserves great aftermarket parts that will last just as long as the truck itself. 

In our opinion, the products mentioned above will help you travel further while also being more organized. 

If you have any further questions regarding your Tacoma overlanding build or anything else off-road or overland related, post them in the forum section of our page. 

Other Overlanding Gear to Consider

• First Aid Kit
• Camp Grill
• GMRS Radio
• Camp Chair
• Camping Lantern
• Waterproof Tarp
• Camping Table
• Small Axe
• Solar Shower
• Camping Cookset

Learn More:

• Tacoma vs 4Runner: Which is Best for Overlanding?
• 6 Mods You Should Never Do to Your 4WD