kcjaz
SILVER Star
So I used tarrif fear as a justification to accelerate by previously planned purchase of a 2025 4th Gen Tacoma. I had planned to go full Trail Hunter, and didn't mind the hydrid but when I actually saw one and that the batter and subwoofer combo did to in cab storage, I decided I didn't like it and comming from a 2017 Taco, I thought I'd miss it. So, after being inspired by @Romer 's build thread, I decided to go TRD-Off Road and "build" a Trail Hunter (hence the copy in the thread title).
I had intended to order one with all the things I wanted but when talking to dealers, I couldn't get any clarity on potential tariff impact other than I could get my deposit back if the price went up. So, I searched for existing Tacomas on lots that were close to what I wanted. I couldn't find anything local and was being told that dealers were tightening up and less willing to send their inventory to other dealers w/o a trade back. I then thought to message Eric Sergeant to see what he had at Ed Martin and if he could do some Trail Hunter "mods" for me. So he found a bronze oxide Offroad with premium package and other things near what I had built myself on the build your own Toyota website at another dealer and worked out a deal to get it. A very fare price under MSRP. The truck came with some things I would not have done but it was close to what I would have spec'd in a custom build. Then, and this is the "lazy man" part, I asked if he could swap out the rear bumper to the ARB one, replace the front grill to the Trail Hunter grill and add a light bar and do the install. Plus he also happened to have a Trail Hunter OEM air compressor that he wanted rid off so he made an offer I couldn't refuse. He also had a set (5) of the bronze 18" Trail hunter wheels, so I added those as well.
Here are some pics of the bumper install:
Plan is to pick up the truck after Cruise Moab.
Future plans are:
1. Delete OEM aluminum running boards and add sliders (thinking CBI). The running boards is one of the items I would not have done.
2. I'll have to do new tires with the 18" TH wheels. Thinking K)3's but not sure.
3. Add Diamondback bed cover. I have one now on my 2017 and love it.
4. As this is the first brand new vehicle I have ever purchased for myself and its a retirement present to myself that I plan to drive for decade ot more as my daily, I'm going full retard and getting it ceramic coated from the get go.
5. I may at some point att real skids. For the immediate future, its not going to see much off road, that's what my 200 is for. It currently has the TRD front plate and a rear diff plate but oddly no tranny/transfer plate. I would have not done any of that if I had built it and spent the money on RCI or similar aluminum skids. I think I'll just pull that stuff off and try to sell them on FB or something.
I had intended to order one with all the things I wanted but when talking to dealers, I couldn't get any clarity on potential tariff impact other than I could get my deposit back if the price went up. So, I searched for existing Tacomas on lots that were close to what I wanted. I couldn't find anything local and was being told that dealers were tightening up and less willing to send their inventory to other dealers w/o a trade back. I then thought to message Eric Sergeant to see what he had at Ed Martin and if he could do some Trail Hunter "mods" for me. So he found a bronze oxide Offroad with premium package and other things near what I had built myself on the build your own Toyota website at another dealer and worked out a deal to get it. A very fare price under MSRP. The truck came with some things I would not have done but it was close to what I would have spec'd in a custom build. Then, and this is the "lazy man" part, I asked if he could swap out the rear bumper to the ARB one, replace the front grill to the Trail Hunter grill and add a light bar and do the install. Plus he also happened to have a Trail Hunter OEM air compressor that he wanted rid off so he made an offer I couldn't refuse. He also had a set (5) of the bronze 18" Trail hunter wheels, so I added those as well.
Here are some pics of the bumper install:
Plan is to pick up the truck after Cruise Moab.
Future plans are:
1. Delete OEM aluminum running boards and add sliders (thinking CBI). The running boards is one of the items I would not have done.
2. I'll have to do new tires with the 18" TH wheels. Thinking K)3's but not sure.
3. Add Diamondback bed cover. I have one now on my 2017 and love it.
4. As this is the first brand new vehicle I have ever purchased for myself and its a retirement present to myself that I plan to drive for decade ot more as my daily, I'm going full retard and getting it ceramic coated from the get go.
5. I may at some point att real skids. For the immediate future, its not going to see much off road, that's what my 200 is for. It currently has the TRD front plate and a rear diff plate but oddly no tranny/transfer plate. I would have not done any of that if I had built it and spent the money on RCI or similar aluminum skids. I think I'll just pull that stuff off and try to sell them on FB or something.
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if you are serious about selling the running boards then let’s take this to private message.
