My Taco Life (Tacoma Build)
While food is awesome, I should let you know right now that I am not talking about the deliciousness that is the taco. I am talking about my Toyota Tacoma, aka “Taco.”
It is funny for me to think back to just a few years ago when I never imagined I would be living in anything but an apartment or a regular house. I have been extremely blessed in my life, able to live in these very nice places with whatever I really “needed,” and even though I imagined myself to be somewhat less than materialistic, boy, did I have a lot to learn!
My journey took me from a fancy one-bedroom apartment in Cincinnati to living out of hammocks behind a hostel in Moab, Utah. We ended up living in a 14-foot 80’s camper that summer, which was an adjustment in itself. That I absolutely loved. I began to learn what I really wanted versus needed, especially since we did not have running water. I have to admit, I loved that camper. Rough though it may have been to the eyes, it holds a solid part in my heart.
Around this time, Noah, my partner in crime at the time, and I had begun discussing Van Life, which led to discussions on Truck Life as well. He had quite a bit more experience and knowledge than myself, but I listened and learned, taking physical and mental notes on the subjects and putting them into my vision boards and whatnot. These things were going to happen! To be able to travel with your home and gear, to be that minimalistic and free… it was only a matter of time.
This past winter came and started to pass, which lead to some drastic reconsiderations and adjustments. I was living in Ohio for the winter, as my sister Jordan Anne was pregnant and I wanted to be there for the birth of my nephew, Holten. I made my plans known, and with the amazing amount of help gathered from my family and community, things fell into place rather quickly.
My Dad (John) and I sat down and discussed what kind of truck I wanted. I was well aware- the Toyota Tacoma. Specs that I desired?
4 Wheel Drive
Automatic (unless someone wanted to teach my manual, which did not occur at this point)
Extended Cab
Full Bed
V6
This was a tall order, but Dad and I were on the hunt. He once told me that no matter where he was going, if he saw a car dealership he pulled in and looked at all of them. I quite easily could not have made this happen without him.
He ended up finding one in Akron, OH, just 3 miles from his childhood home. We planned to go up the Wednesday after he had found it, but Jordan Anne put us on lockdown since she was about to have Holten. Which was a good thing, because she had him that day! So, we went up that weekend, test drove it and knew it was the one. I had found my taco!
Next step- finding the right shell.
On our way home from Akron, we stopped into a shell dealership outside of Hillsboro. Honestly, they could be super wonderful people, but the vibes were definitely off that day. They quite blatantly did not see eye-to-eye with what I was dreaming up and even laughed at some of it. They quoted us $3,500 for the most basic shell I wanted… a bit out of my price range. And I did not care for the vibes- which is really important to me. I do not care to partake with people where the vibes are off. It is basically your internal voice telling you to listen up – something’s off!
That night I was at my Dads house, discussing the set-up with him, Andrea and Johanna. We were all debating on ideas when one of Dads friends found what seemed to be the perfect shell on Craigslist. Deep in Mccarr, Kentucky.
It was a risk- we had no idea if the shell would fit, or match, or even be in decent shape! But we took the chance, and fit in some good ole bonding time. It was an amusing drive, as it took us through Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia and back into Kentucky on some serious backwoods roads. But the way it worked out, has me laughing to this day.
We met two of the nicest guys I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. They were sweet as could be and helped us install the shell, which was beyond perfect. It had everything I had requested from the dealership that laughed at me about it! Down to the color- same shade of silver.
When I told them my plans to live out of the truck, they surprised me even further. Turns out the man they had gotten the shell off of had put together a bed/storage structure for the bed of his Tacoma! While Dad and I had been debating on ideas for the build on the inside, this solved all of that. And they threw it in for free! Truly, two of the nicest people I have had the chance to meet. Thanks, Bob from Craigslist! 😀
Things were building up quick, but we still had ways to go. That weekend I drove down to Cincinnati with Johanna, Dad, Andrea and Alex to pick up the rack. Yet another Craigslist find- an aluminum ladder rack for an extended cab truck. How perfect! We met up with Brian (the seller), who was yet another wonderful human being! This was all coming together fantastically. We strapped the rack to my Dads truck and headed back to Hillsboro to get to work.
I actually left town for about a week in this time period, due to a Stand-Up Paddle Board Yoga training, but was in communication with the build the whole time. While I was gone they got the pieces in for the rack (we had to elongate the legs so they fit on the tall shell), and rigged it on! In this time they also installed the wire meshing on the rack so that nothing would actually touch the top of the truck or shell. There had been a PVC pipe in the middle of the rack, but we could not come to an agreement on how to make it into a solar shower, so we removed it for the time being.
When I got back we kept truckin’ along! (Pun intended). We added the diamond plating for me to walk on and distribute the weight, and also the treated wood on the back so we could put the generator and gas can on the rack. We made a ladder out of a smaller one from our friends at Sherwood, welding and painting it to match and work for the truck. Brent created a box for the generator (as you can see in the video), that allows easy access and proper protection. We also put a motion detector light on the back for a warning mechanism, if Ocoee was not enough. :p
Now for the inside!
I invested in neoprene seat covers from Wet Okole, so as to protect the seats from our dirty and wet lifestyle. Living as a river guide with a dog- yeah, the seats needed it.
String lights are a must! And these ones set the mood as you can dim them, or brighten for reading. Heck, they even strobe for those times at Bonnaroo!
Velcro. Velcro everything. With the shell being lined inside with carpet, it gives me the extra advantage that I can velcro most anything to it. i.e., my phone.
We added a cargo net on my inside roof, allowing for a little extra storage for lightweight things.
Milk crates make wonderful storage units for shoes and miscellaneous items.
The clothes rack is great for my nicer clothes! And gives a bit more coverage on that side of the truck for privacy.
One thing my Dad has been trying to instill in me for some time now is that it’s not what you know, it’s who you know. And man did that shine through on the rest of this endeavor.
HUGE thanks to:
- Ren & Dave Allard for not only checking out the truck to make sure she’s sound but also doing various work on her and letting us make use of your sweet ass garage set up. She would not be where she is without you.
- Brent Zink– this simply could not have been done without you. Without your welding experience, there would be no rack set up, and not nearly to the extent that it is at that! And my front porch was your doing as well. Oh, and the generator box. Really, you are an irreplaceable piece to this puzzle. Thanks for all your help!
Dad & Brent - Sherwood guys– thanks for letting us have the ladder that we made into our very own!
- Johanna– thanks for your awesome clothes rack idea.
- Andrea– your constant support and help along the way. Holy crap, couldn’t have made it happen without you.
- Jack– your experience and ideas helped a ton!
- Jeff– I still wouldn’t have the seat covers on without you.
- Mom– Your support & helping me trade in the car. You rock!
- Noah– I would not have even known about this lifestyle or had the balls to go for it if it had not been for you. Thanks for the inspiration!
- & of course… Dad. Johnny Pondo. It was so awesome to be able to put her together with you. There is not a doubt in my mind that it would not have happened if not for you. You are an integral piece and she’s just as much yours as mine. I cannot thank you enough for the support and love that you put into this build.
