Meet Josh Oats and his wife Mackenzie from Seattle Washington, standing in front of their newly-purchased Cement Gray 2019 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-road. We asked Josh what started his passion for off-roading. Here’s what he had to say:
“I’ve wanted a Tacoma since I was 13 years old. But when I got my driver’s license, I jumped into the car scene. It wasn’t until after I got married that my wife and I bought a Tacoma. She knows I can’t keep anything stock, so I started modifying the truck a piece at a time. From day one I was hooked!”
Josh is your typical off-roader. To say he has spent a few bucks on his rig would be putting it mildly. No doubt, it’s probably just the tip of the proverbial iceberg.
In his own words, he gave us a rough idea what he has done so far:
“My rig is a 3rd Gen Tacoma with a 3 inch lift and 295/70/17 Yokohama Mud Terrain tires. I’ve equipped it with a bunch of goodies, from bed racks and recovery gear to protective sliders and skids. What can I say? The truck is my hobby and my happy place!”
We wanted to know where they’ve traveled, and asked Josh what he thought was their best trip so far:
“My wife and I drove from Seattle to San Diego taking Pacific Coast Hwy 1 most of the way. The views and stopping places along the way were incredible. We wanted to camp a little more than we did, but the tent we ordered didn’t arrive in time for us to do so.
“We will do another long road trip next year with more overlanding and exploring for sure. When our tent arrives next month, we’ll do a little exploring closer to home… maybe with some of our friends, hopefully in the snow!”
When we asked what kind of life lessons the adventure lifestyle had taught them, he became quite philosophical:
“Take your time and enjoy the journey. Don’t just see things… observe them and admire them. Life isn’t going to stand still, and we aren’t promised tomorrow. Enjoy each day and every trip like it’s your last..”
Awesome!
About 4 months ago Josh installed a set of Timbren Active Off-Road Bumpstops on his Toyota Tacoma. Here is what he has to say about the product:
“I’ve had the pleasure of using the Timbren Active Off-Road Bumpstops for about four months. I’ve tested them on service roads and technical trails, even getting the truck off the ground. When I go flying down a service road at 60mph jumping the truck, my landing is so much softer now. It’s the Active Off-Road Bumpstops… I love these things! They’re actually absorbing the shock. Also, when I’m on trails, I’ve noticed that my suspension travel is much more predictable.”
Click here to watch him install his Timbren SES kit on YouTube!
To find out what Josh is up to, you can use his Instagram handle @the_dark_yota. He also plans to create a YouTube channel soon that will include vlogs of trips, installation videos and off-road adventures. Stay tuned!
