The Toyota Tacoma is a reliable machine with great capability and amazing resale value. People buy these, love them, and then move on usually while recouping a lot of their dished-out dough. This is despite the fact that the Tacoma has the worst seating position of any modern car or truck on sale right now. Regardless, you often see a Tacoma out on the trail. And it’s usually wearing all manner of off-road or overland gear. But problems can arise on these trucks when folks start throwing tons of product at them. Friend of Hooniverse Wes Siler breaks it all down as to why this is a bad idea, and you should rethink your needs if you want to modify a Tacoma for adventure.

Wes does a great job of really diving into the issues at play here. This isn’t simply a piece meant to bash Tacoma trucks and their owners. Instead, Siler talks about the effect that bigger tires and overall vehicle weight has on this mid-size Toyota truck. Remember, this is a vehicle with a 3.5-liter V6 that’s designed for long life, decent fuel economy, and easy repairs. It’s not designed to pull 35″ tires up muddy hills. At least, not with the stock gearing in the axles.

You modify the pretty bits and not the dirty bits and you’re going to have a bad time. And that’s before we look at what you’ve done to the curb weight of your Taco. Once you start adding in your lights, protection, storage, sleeping arrangements, and anything else you want to carry with you, you’ve now created a vehicle with the potential for exceeding its gross vehicle weight rating.

Head to Outside to read Wes’ thorough explainer as to why a Tacoma might be the wrong truck for you.