74Weld Portal Install + Procharger Install, Suspension Service, Steering Upgrades, Drivetrain Mods, Custom Fabricated Armor, Overland Mods, and 12V Integration
Brandon brought us his 2016 Tacoma with a clear goal. Build a reliable, high-capability truck that performs on and off-road. This Tacoma runs 74Weld portals, re-geared axles, upgraded steering, full suspension, lockers, brakes, armor, lighting, storage, bed systems, and a supercharger. Nothing was skipped. Everything was chosen for strength, reliability, and long-term travel use.
Below is a breakdown of what went into the build.
74Weld Portal Axles
The heart of the build is the 74Weld double shear portal system. With this setup, we see a gain in usable 4″ clearance, a reduction in load at the wheel bearing, improved torque at the tire, and significantly stronger housings.
Pro Charger Supercharger
The ProCharger HO intercooled kit for the 3.5 Tacoma adds real usable power with about a 35 to 45 percent gain in horsepower and torque.
- 7 to 8 psi of boost
- D-1SC centrifugal blower
- Air to air intercooler included
- Keeps factory air box location
- Street legal for 2016 to 2023 Tacoma
- Approx 300 plus hp on typical dyno pulls
- Noticeable torque increase through the full rev range
- Strong improvement for trucks running bigger tires or added weight
This Tacoma is now in a completely different category. Portals, 37s, big brakes, real steering, proper gears, lockers, supercharger, lighting, storage, air, armor, and a full overland system. The truck drives correctly, sits correctly, and is built for real use on Colorado trails and long travel days.
Wheel & Tire
We also set the truck up with five Method fully forged Bead Grip wheels in the 74Weld spec offset and matched them to 37-inch Kenda Klever RTs. The portals, tire package, and large + offset wheel spec work together to keep steering effort and scrub radius in check.
Suspension and Geometry
The suspension system is built around FOX Performance Elite 2.5 front coilovers and FOX 2.5 rear shocks. Up front, we installed ICON billet upper control arms with Delta Joints and added JDFab upper control arm double shear gussets for increased strength at the arm mounts.
Out back, the truck runs ICON multi-rate RXT leaf springs with the correct hardware and setup for supporting the weight in the bed.
To stabilize the front cam system, we added Total Chaos cam tab gussets, which prevent alignment slip under hard wheeling. The combination of gussets, arms, coilovers, and portals creates a very controlled, predictable front end.
Steering
Tacomas on 37s with portals need real steering support. The truck uses a Solo Motorsports Tundra rack conversion plus the Solo double clevis outer tie rod kit. This brings the entire steering system up to a level that can comfortably handle the tire size and the added leverage of the portals. Steering feel is significantly stronger and more consistent.
Brakes
Brandon opted for a Powerbrake six piston big brake kit. Portals and 37s demand better braking and this setup delivers. Larger calipers, larger pads, and rotors designed for Tacoma weight on real grades give this truck solid stopping power.
Cab Mount Relocate
To properly clear 37s on a portal Tacoma, we performed a DRT Fab cab mount relocate. This gives needed room without compromising strength at the mount.
Drivetrain, Gears, and Lockers
We re-geared the truck to 4.88s and installed new gear oil and clamshell support. Front and rear Eaton E Lockers were wired and tied into the Garmin system for clean control inside the cab. The gearing puts the truck back in the correct powerband with portals and 37s and the lockers make sure the truck stays controllable and predictable in technical terrain.
Roof Rack, Lighting
The Sherpa Grand Teton rack went on with Sherpa mounts, handle brackets, and a full Baja Designs lighting package. That includes a 40 inch S8 on the rack, a 20 inch S8 on the bumper, S2 sport pods, rock lights, ditch lights, and all mounts and wiring.
Switch
Control is handled through dual Garmin PowerSwitch units with a Blaze Off Road Toyota ready harness kit for clean integration. Everything is labeled, serviceable, and sealed.
Onboard Air
A MORRFlate TenSix compressor and a Quad hose system were added for fast and even airing across all four corners. This is a solid match for a Tacoma on 37s and portals where volume and speed matter.
Goose Gear Second Row Delete
Inside the cab, the truck now runs a complete Goose Gear second row seat delete system with driver and passenger plates and infill panels. This gives flat storage, stronger mounting options for gear, and a cleaner overland layout.
Armor and Exterior
The truck is protected with MTN Yotas rock sliders provided by our in-house fabrication team here in Denver in zero degree with kickout and top plates. The bed runs a Retrax PowertraxPRO XR cover to seal cargo and interface with the Leitner ACS Forged rack and storage system.
The Leitner setup includes a full accessory kit with GearPods, GearPod Dual, HydroPod, mounting plates, a rooftop tent kit, water storage, Rotopax mounts, and a Riversmith fly rod carrier. A CBI camp table and can carrier were added to the rear swing.
Electrical and Power
We added an Odyssey Extreme battery with SDHQ billet terminals for clean accessory wiring management. The engine received a full ProCharger HO system with intercooler, new belt, Toyota intake, NGK plugs, and needed accessory pieces.
This completely changes how the Tacoma drives on road and compensates for larger tires, added weight, and added drag from gear and accessories.
If you have questions about your Tacoma build, whether portals, long travel, steering upgrades, re-gear, lockers, superchargers, or full overland setups, Mountain Yotas can walk you through the entire process.
We serve the greater Denver Metro area and beyond with an insane level of attention to detail.
