Toyota’s custom camp-y Tacozilla concept is ready for overlanding

This retro-styled one-off Tacoma built for SEMA 2021 packs up to pack out

Any of our readers who enjoy the trifecta of camping, off-roading, and retro design cues will surely appreciate this SEMA build by the crew at Toyota Motorsports Garage. Based on a Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport pickup, it’s an RV fit for overlanding — with a nod to Toyota campers from the ‘70s and ‘80s.

Another structural challenge? Creating the pass-through opening between the truck’s cab and its camper structure. The solution required installing enough support and bracing for off-road driving, enabling the cabin and camper structures to work together and twist on uneven surfaces without shredding itself to pieces or twisting into interesting but terrifying shapes.

Inside the custom camper, one will find a fully insulated interior with teak flooring that looks like it came from a sauna, and there’s a full bathroom with hot-water shower which removes the need to smell like a gym bag just because you’ve been overlanding for a few days. A fully operational kitchen with a fridge and stove keep all hands fed. In a fit of creativity, that 3D-printed dining table can convert to a backlit piece of wall art when not in use. Campers will bunk in a sleeping space above the cab.

Drivetrain parts remain fairly stock, with a familiar 3.5L V6 under the hood making 278 horsepower. TMG added two inches of clearance to the standard Tacoma TRD Sport suspension, pairing that with a set of 285/70R17 General Tire Grabber X3 all-terrain tires to help raise the truck slightly skyward. And, naturally, that’s a six-speed manual stirring the pot.

No, this won’t appear in Toyota showrooms. However, it’s always neat when automakers plow time and money into a one-off creation. Even if only one item makes it to the order sheet – peep that neatly integrated front winch – then it was worth the effort.