Would You Spend $100,000 Modifying Your Truck? See Why He Did

Maxx Powell has been dropping some serious coin on his 2016 Toyota Tacoma, and after watching his latest adventure, it’s clear the investment is paying off in spades. We’re talking about a truck that’s seen over $100,000 in modifications - yeah, you read that right - but the results speak for themselves when it comes to pure capability.

The heart of this build revolves around the Marlin Crawler RCLT HD kit, which stands for Rock Crawling Long Travel. This isn’t your typical bolt-on suspension upgrade. The kit pushes the wheel assembly forward two inches and allows for massive 40-inch tires while maintaining highway manners. What makes this setup special is the 200 series Land Cruiser steering rack that’s been modified to fit the Tacoma - Toyota’s strongest rack available, engineered to handle heavy rubber without breaking a sweat.

But the real game-changer is the dual transfer case setup. Powell ditched the finicky electronic transfer case that kept giving him grief for a bulletproof FJ transfer case with manual shifting. No more having the truck refuse to engage four-wheel drive when you need it most. Paired with that is Marlin Crawler’s legendary Taco Box - a secondary transfer case that drops the gearing so low you can literally crawl at idle speed.

The suspension package from Locked Off Road is where things get really interesting. We’re talking coilovers, air bumps, bypass shocks, and secondary bypasses all working together. This isn’t just about wheel travel - though there’s plenty of that - it’s about control. The truck floats over terrain that would have it bouncing around like a pinball with lesser suspension.

Those 38-inch Mickey Thompson Baja Pro X tires aren’t just for show either. Mounted on Relation Race Wheels beadlocks, they provide the traction needed to make use of all that suspension travel. And when Powell airs them down to 3.5 PSI, they transform into traction monsters that grip everything from slick rock to loose dirt.

The real test came at Tahuya Off Road Park, where Powell put his newly built rig against some serious competition - a solid axle swapped Tacoma and a Jeep Gladiator. What’s impressive isn’t just that the IFS Tacoma kept up, but how it handled the terrain. The ground clearance from the RCLT kit allowed it to float over rocks that should have been major obstacles.

Watching Powell work through Yellow Jacket and the 55 Trail, you can see the confidence that comes from having reliable equipment. No more worrying about whether the transfer case will engage or if something’s going to break at the worst possible moment. The truck just works, and it works well.

The custom armor from Walker Fab Lab deserves a mention too. It’s not just about protection - it’s about maintaining approach and departure angles while keeping weight down. The tube work looks clean and purposeful, not like an afterthought.

What really stands out is how this build addresses the three main uses Powell had in mind: comfortable highway driving for overlanding trips, high-speed desert running, and serious rock crawling. Most builds excel at one thing and compromise on the others. This Tacoma seems to handle all three without breaking a sweat.

The price tag might make your wallet weep, but Powell’s approach makes sense if you’re serious about off-roading. Instead of constantly upgrading and replacing parts that break, he went straight to the bulletproof stuff. The RCV axles, the Land Cruiser steering rack, the manual transfer cases - these are components that can handle abuse and keep asking for more.

For most wheelers, this level of modification is overkill. But if you’re the type who pushes equipment to its limits and gets tired of trail fixes, Powell’s approach is worth considering. Sometimes it’s better to cry once at the parts counter than cry every time something breaks on the trail.

The real proof is in how the truck performs. Powell mentions this was probably the most fun he’s had wheeling in a long time, and you can hear it in his voice. When your equipment works the way it should, you can focus on the adventure instead of worrying about what might break next.

You can follow more of Maxx Powell’s adventures on his Instagram where he continues to document the ongoing evolution of this incredible build.