New-ish to Expedition Portal

doubleroses

Adventurer
Hello my fellow Overlanders! My name is Joe. I've been checking out this forum for about a year now and I figure its time to introduce myself.

My ride is a 2013 Toyota Tacoma TRD OR 4X4 Spruce Mica. I have owned this truck for just over a year and love it! I was stationed at Ft. Eustis, VA for a while but recently got orders to Kuwait for a year. I moved my wife and 1 year old daughter back to Colorado to stay with my parents while I'm gone. Luckily my parents are kind enough to let me keep my truck parked inside the entire year!

I know it sounds kind of lame but what really got me interested in Overlanding was the Expedition Overland series that was broadcasted on Youtube. I instantly fell in love with the idea of going on an adventure with my family and experiencing the world.

I don't know if you would count traveling back and forth from CO to Va "Overlanding" but those were my major distance trips. Before I left for Kuwait I spent some time with my wife in Ouray and Telluride, CO. The San Juan Mountains were amazing and I couldn't have been more happy with my stock truck. It was a short trip but I was able to check out Black Bear Pass, Imogene Pass, Yankee Boy Basin, and a couple other small exploring Basins. My skid plates sure got a workout on Black Bear Pass but overall I was very happy to not fall to my death! :D

As far as my philosophy on modifying my truck….

Owing more than $30,000 on my truck is reason enough to justify not spending money on modifications, rather most of the extra money be sent paying off the truck. That said, I have only added a few extras to the truck for functionality and not looks. I plan on having the truck paid off before I return home from Kuwait this time next year.

So far this is what I have:

- An ungly, but functional, Jeraco camper shell that currently doesn't color match my truck.
- Got some used Wrangler Duratracs for a couple hundred which I was extremely thankful while coming down Black Bear Pass.
- Picked up some Steelies for $50 from a guy in the Navy. HOOYAH!
- My favorite addition would be my Camo Wet Okole's that I got for $300! Complete back and front from a guy who had them for 6 months!
- Lastly was my OEM roof Rack.

Here are some pictures from my adventures!

http://tinypic.com/r/263ghfp/8

http://tinypic.com/r/maure8/8

http://tinypic.com/r/2cqz5zk/8

http://tinypic.com/r/k15zb/8

http://tinypic.com/r/zlop04/8

http://tinypic.com/r/ose2ys/8

http://tinypic.com/r/2888bxv/8

http://tinypic.com/r/16hotav/8
 
Last edited:

nickexperience

New member
Welcome!

Thanks for the post; I actually really enjoy seeing what stock vehicles are capable of since mine is mostly stock as well.
 

FullTankHank

Adventurer
Welcome to Expo! That last pic is great. And as Nick mentioned, it's cool to see you really using your Tacoma, even in stock form.
 

Scott Brady

Founder
Welcome! Great choice with the Tacoma
16hotav.jpg
 

doubleroses

Adventurer
Thanks for the positive feedback everyone! It's killing me not being able to do any Overlanding. Even when I was in Virginia I would take trips to Harrisonburg, which is roughly 4 hours from Ft. Eustis, to do some actual trips in the mountains. That's also where I scratched the living hell out of my truck but oh well. memories last forever, scratches can be buffed out!

My goal is to make a trip to Alaska. I really want to do something similar to the Expedition Overland group but throw some different twists into it. I first need to get my ride ready. My wife thinks she may be pregnant again so hopefully I'll still be able to accomplish my dream of being a dad as well as my dream of being an Overlander!

I don't know about you guys but I really love Land Cruisers. They are so common here in Kuwait. It's more common than a Honda Civic in the states, seriously. They have the Prado version too which would be pretty awesome to have back in the states. I am pleased that we have the new 4 runners and they don't. Then again, they have these tan, single cab, Land Cruisers with a truck bed. They look awesome! They're old school but brand new. I'll take a picture of some and post it on here.
 

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