How a Wildland Firefighter Crafted the Ultimate Off-Grid Basecamp

When you spend 15 years building and refining an adventure rig, something magical happens. Every trip teaches you something new, every modification gets you closer to perfection, and eventually you end up with a truck that’s so dialed in, it’s like watching a master craftsman at work.

That’s exactly what happened with Ben’s ‘00 Taco. This isn’t just another build - it’s a rolling testament to what happens when you actually use your truck for serious adventure instead of just talking about it on forums.

Ben works for the US Forest Service on a hotshot crew, which means he spends six months of the year chasing wildfires across the country with basically zero time off. But when fire season ends, he’s got the other half of the year to disappear into the backcountry. That unique work schedule shaped everything about how he built this Taco - it needed to be a legitimate basecamp that could get him deep into remote areas and keep him comfortable for extended periods.

The truck started life as a pretty basic ‘00 Taco with 100,000 miles, but Ben’s been methodically upgrading it ever since. The front end sports a Craigslist-scored bumper with a Warn 8000 winch that’s seen more action tearing down double-wides and dragging firewood than recovery work. He keeps steel cable because he uses it more like a utility winch than a trail recovery tool.

The suspension setup is where things get interesting. Up front, he’s running Icon coilovers with their upper control arms featuring the newer delta joints instead of uniball joints. The rear runs Old Man Emu Dakar leaf springs with an extra leaf to handle all the weight he’s carrying, plus Bilstein 5125 shocks that are actually meant for a different application - they’re 10" stroke shocks that give him extra droop travel, paired with Timbren bump stops to prevent bottoming out.

Rolling on 285/75R16 Toyo AT3s, this truck strikes the perfect balance between highway manners and trail capability. Ben puts serious highway miles on this rig getting to trailheads, so he opted for all-terrains over mud tires. Smart choice when you’re driving 400 miles just to reach your starting point.

The electrical system is where Ben’s skills really shine. He’s running a dual battery setup with a clever twist - the starter battery is in the stock location, while the deep cycle battery lives in the fender well where cruise control modules usually go. A solenoid isolates the batteries when the engine’s off, so everything except the starter, winch, and air compressor runs off the auxiliary battery. Solar keeps it topped off, and the whole system is wired through clean Blue Sea fuse blocks with proper bus bars.

Inside the cab, Ben ditched the useless rear seats and installed a custom 6-switch panel controlling everything from light bars to the backup camera. The glove box houses the main electrical distribution, and there’s even a magnetic phone mount made from scrap metal. It’s all very functional and clean.

But the real magic happens in the back. Ben ordered a custom ARE contractor shell that’s three inches taller than cab height with hatches on both sides. The key insight was making the shell non-load-bearing - instead of mounting gear to the shell walls, he built a rack system around the shell that carries all the weight.

The sleeping setup is pure genius. There’s a hinged cot that folds up against the wall when not in use, giving you full access to the bed. When deployed, it creates a proper sleeping platform with room to sit up underneath. For two people, there’s an extension piece that creates a second sleeping area. The whole system maximizes every cubic inch of space in that small shell.

Storage is handled by a 4’ plywood bin instead of the common 6’ setup. This leaves space at the front where you can actually sit upright - a game-changer for livability. There’s also a smaller bin for easy access to frequently used items.

The electrical system in the back centers around a small compartment housing the solar charge controller, an 800-watt inverter, fuse blocks, and even a hair dryer for drying out ears after surfing. LED reading lights are hardwired in, and there are computer fans on dimmer switches for ventilation and mosquito control.

The 25-quart Dometic fridge is the perfect size and runs constantly off solar power. Ben added a flat wooden top to replace the awkward rounded factory lid, giving him a proper surface for prep work.

The rear swing-out is all custom fabrication, carrying two Jerry cans - one for fuel, one for water. There’s also a recovery box with all the essential gear, plus a clever trash bag mount that keeps things tidy.

But the awning system is where Ben really outdid himself. It’s a roll-out design using telescoping tubes - inch-and-a-quarter tubing slides inside inch-and-a-half tubing, creating a trombone-like extension. Pillow block bearings from eBay make it roll smoothly, and the whole thing is rock solid even in serious wind.

The awning can be enclosed with custom-sewn panels, creating a proper vestibule off the back of the truck. This turns the whole setup into a legitimate outdoor living space that sheds water and blocks wind.

What makes this build special isn’t any single modification - it’s how everything works together after years of real-world testing and refinement. Ben didn’t build this truck in his garage over a winter. He built it trip by trip, solving problems as they came up, refining systems based on actual use.

The result is a truck that’s perfectly suited to its owner’s needs. It’s not the flashiest build you’ll see, but it’s probably the most functional. Every modification has a purpose, every system has been tested, and nothing is there just for show.

You can follow Ben’s adventures on Instagram at @double.o.turtle, and check out his side business at Sharks Aren’t Real. This is what happens when you build a truck to use it, not just to look at it. After 15 years of constant refinement, Ben’s Taco proves that the best builds aren’t born - they’re evolved.