The Tacozilla Tacoma Camper Is Retro Overlanding Perfection
The Toyota Tacoma is one of the most popular pickups among off-road enthusiasts, thanks in no small part to the massive aftermarket that exists to support the mid-sizer. Toyota itself is no stranger to building hardcore machines and its latest SEMA Show project is just the latest example of that know-how. Known as the Tacozilla Tacoma Camper, this retro-styled truck camper brings legitimate tiny house comforts with the mobility of a proper overlanding rig.
The Tacozilla is based on a Tacoma TRD Sport, though the team at Toyota Motorsports Garage has modified the platform significantly. The camper’s chassis was designed in-house, as the Tacoma’s frame wasn’t up for the job at hand. While it could have been possible to make a camper without a dedicated frame, the team wanted the rear compartment to be comfortable enough to stand in for people nearing the six-foot mark. The truck’s suspension also provides two additional inches of clearance over the standard units, bolstered by large 33-inch General Tire Grabber X3 all-terrain tires.
Toyota fans that remember the brand’s campers from the Seventies and Eighties should immediately recognize the point of inspiration for the Toyota Motorsports Garage. The white paint adorned with yellow, orange and bronze stripes scream back to those times, while still looking rather sharp on the modern truck’s facias.
The camper compartment is arguably the most impressive part of the build. You won’t find hard creases or straight lines marking up the flanks, as Toyota wanted to round off the edges of the camper to better suit the styling of the Tacoma. This attention to detail continues throughout the build in areas like the rear door, which required over 100 hours of labor to finalize. Step through the door and you’re presented with amenities like teak flooring, a full kitchen with appliances, a full bathroom with a hot-water shower, and of course a 3D-printed dining table. With the table stowed away as a piece of wall art, the camper provides plenty of room for lounging or sleeping.
While this may just be a SEMA Show concept, we won’t be surprised to see some homebrew Tacozilla builds start to take shape. As popular as overlanding is getting, Toyota might even want to consider selling the dang things direct from dealers.
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