When Toyota rolled out its redesigned Tacoma in 2005, it was with much fanfare and the slogan "moving forward." Longtime Toyota owners weren't so sure. Was the new truck one step forward or two steps back? The powerful 4.0 V6 was a welcome addition, but the added girth of the new Taco' made for clearance problems when the trails got tight.
Wyatt Scott was one Tacoma owner who moved forward with Toyota and embraced the change. For Wyatt and his newly purchased prize, it was an opportunity to prove two things: One, that the new Tacoma was a worthy successor, and two, that Wyatt and the team at DeMello Off-Road have the in-house talent to transform the latest Tacoma into a trail beater. The end result is a dirt-worthy Tacoma that's every bit as good as the highly touted version that came before it.
As it sits, Wyatt's Tacoma is part prerunner and part crawler. Up front, Bilstein coilover shocks work in tandem with racing-style limit straps, but they're connected to a Dana 60 solid axle in place of the factory IFS. At the stern it's a similar story: Long-travel Deaver leaf packs and smooth-body Bilstein shocks bolt to another Dana 60. In the drivetrain department, the 4.0 V6 has the guts to go fast, but the transfer case has been augmented, Marlin-style, with the goods to go slow. This truck straddles both worlds and does it with style.
Thinking about a new Tacoma? The truck on these pages proves the newest Tacoma can be just as trail-capable as those that came before it. Any questions? Just ask Wyatt.
 Toyota claims 236 peak horsepower...  Toyota claims 236 peak horsepower and 266 peak lb-ft of torque from its latest 4.0 V6. |  Wyatt upped the intake flow...  Wyatt upped the intake flow and filtration capabilities using an advanced Flow engineering (aFe) system. The custom DeMello engine crossbar goes around the front of the motor, allowing easy access for maintenance. The crossbar is removable via a pair of billet tube clamps. |  The DeMello front bumper is...  The DeMello front bumper is simple but shows clean lines and high-quality construction. Acro HID lights brighten up dark trails. |