Martec's 2nd Gen Tacoma Transformed: Meet the Ultimate Do-It-All Off-Roader

When you think about the second-gen Toyota Tacoma, rock crawling probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. Most of us picture these trucks bombing through desert whoops or tackling fire roads. But Nick Maher from Martec Engineering had a different vision - and the results are absolutely wild.

Nick’s approach to building the ultimate rock crawler started with a simple observation: there was a gap in the market for a proper 2nd Gen Tacoma rock crawler kit. While plenty of companies were making long travel setups for desert running, nobody was really dialing in these trucks for technical rock work. So he rolled up his sleeves and started fabricating.

The foundation of this build is a complete front IFS delete. Nick cut out all the factory independent front suspension components and replace them with custom frame plates that are keyed and slotted to hold everything in place. The real trick here is that he managed to keep the shock towers inside the engine bay instead of cutting into it. Most builders end up making a huge mess of the engine compartment, but Nick’s design keeps everything clean and functional.

Up front, he’s running a 99-04 Ford F250 Super Duty axle with a matching rear setup. Going with one-ton eight-lug axles means this thing can handle 40" tires without constantly breaking parts. The front coilover is a custom-ordered Rad Flow 2.5 with 12" of travel, specifically built with a short body to get the collapse length just right for maximum up-travel.

The rear suspension is where things get really interesting. Nick went with a three-link setup with a panhard bar instead of a four-link, and his reasoning makes perfect sense. He didn’t want to mess with relocating the gas tank, which would mean losing bed space to mount it elsewhere. The three-link design lets him run an off-the-shelf 12" shock on the trailing arm that delivers 15 inches of wheel travel - more than enough for serious rock work.

The real test came when Nick took his personal build to King of the Hammers for some proper torture testing. This wasn’t just a casual trail ride - this was full-on technical rock crawling with a truck that had never seen this kind of abuse before. Watching him navigate the gnarly terrain at Johnson Valley, you can see how well the suspension geometry works. The truck flexes and articulates through obstacles that would stop most rigs cold.

What’s really impressive is how Nick approached the whole project. This isn’t just a one-off build - he’s developing a complete kit that other second-gen owners can bolt onto their trucks. The front kit is obviously for people who are ready to commit to some serious modifications, but the rear setup is designed to work with any front suspension configuration. Whether you’re running a long travel desert setup or just want to upgrade from leaf springs, the rear kit will work.

The attention to detail is what sets this build apart. Nick sourced off-the-shelf brake lines instead of making custom ones, which means you can carry spares and actually find replacements when you need them. He converted everything to -3AN fittings to get away from the metric stuff that’s harder to source in the field. Even the exhaust routing was carefully planned to clear the upper link while still evacuating gases away from the cab during slow-speed crawling.

Running 40x13.50x17 Nitto Trail Grapplers on gold-powdercoated Dirty Life Roadkill beadlocks, this truck definitely stands out on the trail. The tire choice might seem heavy for a rock crawler, but Nick’s philosophy is that the extra weight actually helps with traction and stability when you’re picking your way through technical sections (some like it light, some like it heavy).

The powertrain is completely stock - just the factory 4.0-liter V6 with an automatic transmission and the original transfer case. Nick figures if it breaks, he’ll upgrade to an Atlas, but for now the stock stuff is holding up fine even with quarter-million miles on the clock. The only real additions are a PSC ram assist steering setup (absolutely necessary with 40-inch tires), upgraded motor mounts to keep everything in check, and a scan gauge to monitor transmission temps.

What makes this build special isn’t just the technical execution - it’s the philosophy behind it. Nick wanted to create something that could do everything. This truck can crawl rocks, hit whoops at speed, power slide through corners, and still haul the dogs around town. He doesn’t like how so many builds end up being single purpose. Then they site in the garage because they’re just a little too specialized for regular use.

The King of the Hammers testing session proved the concept works. Nick was able to follow other experienced crawlers up technical lines, learning the truck’s capabilities while putting the suspension through its paces. Yeah, he scooped up a boulder-sized rock in the fender and put some character marks on the front bumper, but that’s all part of the development process.

Want to try out one of Nick’s kits on your Taco?

You can follow Nick’s progress on Instagram @martecengineering or check out his YouTube channel for more build details and testing footage. His website martecnv.com has information on current products and upcoming kit releases.

This build proves that with the right approach and some serious fabrication skills, you can turn a humble second-gen Tacoma into a legitimate rock crawler that still works as a daily driver.