A Sleeper Taco on 35s/16" Travel/Supercharged That Does It All

Morgan’s desert-built Taco proves that sometimes the best builds happen when you throw your original plan out the window and just keep going. What started as a simple relocation kit project has evolved into a proper desert runner that’ll eat up miles of sand and rock without breaking a sweat.

The ‘10 TRD Off-Road started life as a capable truck, but Morgan and the crew at JD Fabrication took it way beyond Yota’s intentions. The front end sports a mid-travel setup with 2.5" King coilovers paired with 3" bypass shocks and hydraulic bump stops. That combination delivers 16" of wheel travel up front, which means you can hit whoops and drops without your fillings falling out.

The rear suspension tells a similar story of function over flash. They went with a spring-under setup that nets 18" of travel back there, controlled by another set of 3" bypasses. Morgan’s still running the stock Taco axle with some spacers, though he’s eyeing JD’s 9" rear end for future upgrades. The beauty of builds like this is they never really end - there’s always another improvement waiting in the wings.

Under the hood sits a Magnuson supercharger that transforms the 4.0 liter (1.06 gallons) (1.06 gallons) V6 from mild-mannered to properly aggressive. Morgan admits he forgot to clean the air filter for two years (!!!), which speaks to how bulletproof these setups can be when done right. The JD quick-steer kit and hydraulic assist steering make wrestling 35" tires through deep sand feel effortless.

The attention to detail shows everywhere you look. JD’s inner fender well kit provides extra clearance while strengthening the core support - crucial when you don’t have an engine cage yet. The fuel system upgrades and tucked wiring harnesses prove these guys think about reliability as much as performance. Nobody wants to walk out of the desert because a wire got pinched.

Inside, Morgan made the smart call to go with three seats instead of four. That center passenger gets an unobstructed view of the action and won’t spend the day staring at someone’s headrest. Plus, it leaves more room for gear and coolers - both essential for serious desert running.

The cage integration showcases JD Fabrication’s attention to detail. Rather than slapping in a bolt-together kit, they built something that flows with the truck’s lines while tying the whole chassis together. You barely notice it’s there until you remember how much confidence it adds when you’re sending it through technical terrain.

Morgan’s cooling setup runs on a thermostat, keeping things idiot-proof when the desert heat kicks in. The spare tire rides in the bed for weight distribution, and everything from the bypass lines to the electrical work stays tucked and protected.

The 35" tires fill out the wheel wells perfectly without requiring major surgery. JD’s approach focuses on maximizing capability while maintaining reliability - you can drive this thing to work on Monday and hit the dunes on Saturday without missing a beat.

The incremental improvement philosophy makes sense for builds like this. Rather than going crazy all at once, Morgan and JD focused on creating a solid foundation they could build on over time. The next engine cage and rear axle upgrade will push this truck even further into serious prerunner territory.

For anyone considering a similar build, this Taco shows what’s possible when you work with builders who understand desert running. Every modification serves a purpose, and nothing feels like it was added just for looks. That’s the difference between a show truck and something you’d trust your life to in the middle of nowhere.

Check out more of JD Fabrication’s work on Instagram at @jdfabrication.