Toyota Tacoma · 3rd Gen

The Ultimate Camping Build

The 3rd Gen Tacoma (2016-2023) is the most-built mid-size truck for camping, and half the fun is making the bed your own. Start with a way to sleep and keep food cold, then add storage, power, and a kitchen until the bed turns into a basecamp you can take anywhere.

Toyota Tacoma Camping build blueprint

The Smart build sleeps in a rooftop tent on a bed rack and runs off a portable battery box.

The Dream build steps up to a pop-up bed camper with a hard-wired dual-battery system.

1

Tires & Suspension

Tires

Next-gen all-terrain from Falken with best-in-class snow stopping distance and top-tier ice braking. Deepest tread depth of any A/T tire for maximum trail and winter longevity. Successor to the beloved AT3W.

48 lbs55K mi warranty3PMSF
$688set of 4
Air Compressor

Best budget portable compressor for overlanding. Small enough to stash in a glovebox, powerful enough for 33-inch tires, and reliable enough for years of trail use. Pairs perfectly with a MorrFlate kit.

5 lbs25 min at 30 PSI duty1.97 at 0 PSI CFM
$104
2

Recovery & Safety

Recovery Kit
$139

Note: Boards and a tire repair kit handle almost anything. Skip the winch early, it's the most regretted buy.

3

Sleep & Shade

Bed Rack

Best aluminum bed rack option for Tacoma owners already in the Prinsu ecosystem. Half the weight of steel alternatives with matching aesthetics to cab rack.

39 lbs
$1,100
Cab Rack

One of the only racks specifically engineered for camper cap setups, the side plates follow Tacoma cab contours precisely rather than being a universal rack adapted to fit.

50 lbsAluminum
$649
Sleep System

The correct budget RTT recommendation. Plan on spending $50-80 on a mattress topper and replacement straps, after that, you have a tent that owners use for 100+ nights a year without issues. Gen2 fixed the Gen1 quality problems.

120 lbs
$1,067
Awning

Best bang-for-buck 270 awning with LST fabric that actually blocks all light. The freestanding, one-person deployment makes it ideal for solo overlanders who want maximum coverage.

51 lbs270° coverageSets up in 1-person deploy
$1,095
4

Power

Power System
$669

Note: No wiring and no install, you can pull it out or top it off at home. The catch is capacity, run a fridge hard for a few days and you'll be chasing sun or a plug.

5

Storage

Bed Storage

The most popular bed storage system in the overlanding world, the ability to organize gear in drawers while still having a full-strength deck on top is the best of both worlds.

177 lbsComposite/aluminum1000 Lbs on Deck
$1,700
6

Food & Water

Fridge & Kitchen

Best value 12V fridge for overlanding with SECOP compressor reliability, 5-year warranty, and a price point $200-400 below comparable ARB or Dometic units. Handles 40-degree tilt angles for off-road use.

49 lbs45L0 to 50°F
$559

Note: A powered fridge skips ice and meltwater, worth it past a few days out. It runs off the power system above; a cooler is cheaper for weekends.

Fridge Slide

Drop-in slide made for the VL45 already on this build, so the fridge pulls to the tailgate without a universal-fit guess.

$269

Note: On the open-bed Smart build the fridge rides exposed on a locking slide. A quality 12V fridge handles rain and dust fine, and the Decked drawers keep the rest of your gear locked and dry. Add a fridge cover or cable lock for dusty or high-traffic spots.

7

Lighting

Camp Light

The most reliable camp lantern on the market, the AA battery backup means you'll never be in the dark even if you forget to recharge, and the build quality is bombproof.

2 lbs225 lumens75hr runtime
$40

Looking for camping accessories?

Owner-recommended gear that rounds out your setup.

Comfort
Kitchen
Power
Water
Storage
Lighting
See all camping accessories

Ready to build your Toyota Tacoma?

Get a personalized build plan with compatibility checks, install order, and budget planning.

Custom build plan