MESO TACO

That question became a mission. A Tacoma cab stripped to its bones became the foundation for something unthinkable—a machine that fused Toyota’s proven toughness with Dodge’s supercharged chaos. What followed were years of late nights, TIG sparks, and desert dust, ending in a creation that turned heads first at Toyo Tires’ Treadpass during SEMA 2024 and again a year later under the Lock Off-Road banner at SEMA 2025.

At the center of this monster sits a 6.2L Hellcat V8, an engine built for speedways and drag strips, now breathing desert air through a custom titanium intake and K&N filter. It’s anchored by solid motor mounts and exhales through TIG-welded headers and CookCraft mufflers that let out a mechanical snarl somewhere between a jet and a thunderstorm. Keeping that kind of heat in check required an entire ecosystem: a CBR dual-pass radiator and oil cooler, FI Interchiller supercharger pump, Mishimoto heat exchanger, and a Canton coolant tank, all working together in perfect harmony. Fuel is delivered from a Fuel Safe 60-gallon tank through a Radium surge pump and Aeromotive regulator system, plumbed entirely with Vibrant AN lines and fittings. Every piece of it looks like it belongs on a trophy truck because most of it could.

The bones may be Tacoma, but the skin tells another story. The front clip and rear bedsides were modeled after a third-generation Tundra, molded in fiberglass, and sprayed in OEM Toyota Lunar Rock paint. The transformation is seamless, and the proportions are perfectly balanced between factory familiarity and custom madness. The body wraps around a hand-built tube chassis with a full cage, dual spare-tire rack, and ammo can storage system, because practicality still matters when you are sending 700 horsepower through sand.

That power is managed by a ZF 8HP90 eight-speed automatic with a PCS TCM2600 controller, sending torque through a billet Behemoth NP205 divorced transfer case. From there, power splits into a Currie nine-inch full-floating rear axle with 40-spline axles and a Dana 44 front differential geared to 4.88. It’s overbuilt, overengineered, and absolutely necessary.

What truly defines the stance are the Lock Off-Road “Canyon” prototype forged beadlock wheels—the first set ever produced. Machined from 6061-T6 aluminum and secured with titanium hardware, these wheels were tested, punished, and perfected on this very truck before making their official debut. By the time it rolled back into Las Vegas for SEMA 2025, it was no longer just a display piece but a proof of concept that helped create a new generation of forged beadlocks. Wrapped in Toyo R/T PRO 40×12.50R18 tires, the Canyons make the truck look planted even when it is airborne.

The suspension system is where engineering and art collide. A Solo Motorsports I-beam kit was cut, turned, and widened four inches, and anchors King 14-inch coilovers and 3.0 bypasses up front. The rear features Solo’s 60-inch trailing arms controlling King 16-inch coilovers and 8-inch 3.5 bypasses. Every shock has been Cerakoted in MultiCam Black with gold anodized hardware that adds a touch of motorsport luxury. Limit straps, Eversen sway bars, and King bump stops fine-tune the chaos into precision. At speed, it floats. On landings, it plants.

Lighting comes from Baja Designs, including Squadron Pros, an S8 grille bar, S1 roof pods, and S2 rears, each switch managed by a Switch-Pros 9100. Power is supplied by dual Odyssey batteries running through a REDARC dual charger, ensuring nothing flickers—even deep into the night.

Inside, it’s all about function, with just enough comfort to make the desert feel civilized. PRP Comp Elite bucket seats stitched in MultiCam fabric hold the driver and passenger in place, while a Terra Crew steering wheel and Madtrace paddle shifters bring a motorsport feel to the cockpit. The carbon fiber dash, fitted with billet bezels, houses a Hellcat gauge cluster and OEM touchscreen—a subtle reminder of the engine’s roots. The PCI intercom, Kenwood radio, and Garmin Tread XL navigation system keep everything connected, while the starlight headliner adds an unexpected sense of calm above the chaos.

This truck was never meant to sit still. It was not built to pose under show lights, even though it has done that twice now. It was built to move fast, loud, and relentlessly. From its Tacoma foundation to its Tundra panels and Hellcat heart, every weld, wire, and bolt was chosen with purpose.

When the supercharger screams and the Kings cycle through their travel, it’s not just a machine; it’s a statement. A rebellion against compromise. A collision of worlds that should never coexist but somehow do.

Born as a Tacoma. Shaped as a Tundra. Powered by a Hellcat. This project is much more than a build; it’s proof that limits only exist until someone decides to ignore them.