LAS VEGAS (November 2, 2021) – Inspired by the growing trend of overlanding and the charm of vintage Toyota campers, the all-new Tacozilla Tacoma Camper emerges as a bold concept, blending compact living with rugged adventure. Toyota’s Tacozilla, built upon a Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport pickup, made its debut at the 2021 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas. This unique “micro-house” rig pays homage to the iconic Toyota campers of the 1970s and 1980s while offering a modern take on backwoods exploration.
Lisa Materazzo, group vice president of Toyota Division Marketing, emphasized Tacozilla’s significance: “Tacozilla perfectly embodies Toyota’s commitment to ‘go-anywhere’ for our adventurous owners who are passionate about overlanding and outdoor activities. Its striking presence will undoubtedly capture attention, whether at the SEMA show, a campsite, or conquering an off-road trail.”
The Tacozilla Camper is the brainchild of Marty Schwerter and his team at the Toyota Motorsports Garage, who undertook a fully custom design and build. Schwerter explained their design philosophy: “We consciously avoided the typical ‘refrigerator on a truck’ aesthetic. Instead, we opted for rounded edges and smooth aluminum surfaces to harmonize with the Tacoma’s sleek lines, creating a more cohesive and refined appearance.”
While sharp edges might have simplified the construction, Schwerter believed that rounded contours would enhance the visual appeal and integration of the camper. “Our objective was to engineer a vehicle with structural integrity and undeniable visual appeal,” Schwerter stated. “Drawing from my background in race cars, where aesthetics are paramount, I wanted to bring that same cool factor to camper design.”
The project commenced with the removal of the Tacoma’s bed to assess the spatial requirements and identify components needing relocation. Schwerter noted the necessity of lowering the camper floor below the frame height to achieve sufficient interior headroom. “To allow someone over six feet tall to comfortably move inside, we needed to maximize vertical space while incorporating all essential camper amenities,” he explained.
The Toyota Motorsports Garage team then constructed a preliminary camper frame to evaluate the initial dimensions and fitment. This prototype stage allowed for fine-tuning and reinforcement of the frame, ensuring structural integrity and a visual connection to the Tacoma’s design language. The camper’s tapered shape, narrower at the top and bottom, was intentionally designed to improve maneuverability on trails, minimizing the risk of collisions with trees and obstacles.
Alt text: Front three-quarter view of the Tacozilla Tacoma Camper, a retro-inspired overlanding vehicle, showcased at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, featuring a white and orange color scheme and Toyota branding.
The tapered form factor, while aesthetically pleasing and functional, presented fabrication challenges, particularly for the rear door. Although a flat door would have been simpler to manufacture, the team prioritized seamless integration. Schwerter revealed the extensive effort invested in this detail: “We dedicated over 100 hours solely to designing the rear door to ensure it matched the camper’s overall design ethos.”
Another critical engineering hurdle was creating a robust pass-through opening connecting the Tacoma’s cabin to the camper. This structural interface demanded substantial reinforcement to withstand the stresses of off-road driving. The design needed to allow both cabin and camper to flex independently on uneven terrain without compromising vehicle integrity or safety.
Capitalizing on the Tacoma’s existing components, the team cleverly repurposed the original rear fender flares, integrating them into the camper’s wheel well openings. They also enhanced the Tacoma TRD Sport suspension with an additional two inches of lift, and equipped the Tacozilla with 285/70/17 General Tire Grabber X3 all-terrain tires for optimal traction in challenging environments.
Alt text: Tacozilla Toyota Tacoma Camper side view, highlighting its white and retro orange stripe paint, all-terrain tires, and compact overlanding form factor, built for off-road adventures.
Custom builds often evolve during the fabrication process, and Tacozilla was no exception. Midway through applying the aluminum skin to the camper structure, the team decided to incorporate a large pop-up Lexan skylight. This addition serves multiple purposes: flooding the interior with natural light, enhancing ventilation, and providing extra headroom. Further customizations include a fuel tank filler relocated and isolated from the camper to prevent fuel vapor intrusion, and a secondary battery installed in the Tacoma’s engine bay to augment power without encroaching on the camper’s limited interior space.
Complete Customs in McKinney, Texas, a trusted Toyota partner, collaborated on the project, providing customization expertise and executing the paintwork. The Tacozilla’s exterior features a white base coat accented with a vintage-inspired yellow, orange, and bronze color scheme, evoking Toyota’s camper heritage. The fully insulated interior lives up to the “micro-house” concept, boasting teak sauna-style flooring, a complete bathroom with a hot-water shower, a fully functional kitchen equipped with a stove and sink, and a 3D-printed dining table that ingeniously transforms into backlit wall art. Ample sleeping space completes the thoughtfully designed living quarters within the Tacozilla camper.
Alt text: Interior view of the Tacozilla Camper, featuring a compact kitchen area with a sink and stove, warm teak wood flooring, and ambient lighting, showcasing its micro-house design.
¹It’s important to note that the Tacozilla is a prototype project vehicle, modified with non-genuine parts and accessories. These modifications may render the vehicle illegal for road use, void the manufacturer’s warranty, and potentially affect its safety and performance.
