RIGS WE DIG: TOASTY “TODDY” TOYOTA TACOMA CONVERSION

Name: Dylan Bromley

Location: Portland, Oregon

Rig Nickname: The Hot Toddy Cabin, Toddy for short 

 

Year Make & Model: She’s an '03 Toyota Tacoma

HEST Products:The Dually Long &  HEST Pillow

 

Critical Dimensions

Length: ~ 72”

Width: ~ 25” (at its narrowest) and ~ 45” when the bed is extended, 

Height: ~ 24” 

 

 

Is this your daily driver or getaway car?

This truck is my everything-mobile. It’s been my home from time to time, my grocery run rig, weekend getaway rig, whatever really. I try to keep it as stationary as possible while I’m home in Portland, but feel free to honk if you see me whipping around town. 

 

What do you like most about your rig?
Well, my favorite feature used to be the pop top roof, but that project never got finished before the rain and winter came through. The wood stove and the dry heat plus the cedar walled interior does really make it feel like a tiny cabin which I really dig. Hard not to be stoked when you got a little fire going and your gear is drying out or you’ve got some warm coffee brewing. It’s a tie between that and the Dually/Pillow combo now. A fire is nice but good sleep is better at this point in my life. 

 

On your average weekend adventure, what is the gear set up you bring with you?

My stock gear list for almost any getaway is: 

• My cooler (prechilled and filled)
• Goal Zero battery and solar panel
• Towel
• Couple gallons of Oregon’s finest spring water
• Sleeping bag and an extra blanket
• Frisbee
• Hacky sack
• Slingshot
• Binoculars
• Your standard utensils and cooking equipment
• Lil camp stove & propane
• Jetboil
• Whole bean coffee & a coffee grinder without question
• Shovel, hatchet, hand saw & wood
• Wet n dry bags
• Hammock
• Personal hygiene goodies
• A good book and my sketchbooks
• Camp chair
• Obviously the dually and pillow 

 
Probably forgot some stuff but that's also typical for a weekend getaway. 
 
How did you navigate gear storage needs into your rig set up?
In terms of storage I’ve got a little over-cab section that can hold a good amount of gear, some under bench storage, a little cabinet and utensil drawer, a little sling to hold all the fire necessities. Living outta the truck definitely maxes out the storage so that can be tricky to navigate, but for a normal weekend outing all that gear has a home and I’ve got enough room to do what I gotta do. 

Any cool custom details you’re proud of?
Some little custom things I am stoked on are things like this little pull out cutting board I have built into my kitchen setup. I insulated the cabin with a hemp flax material that works super well and gives me a little peace of mind and I thought was pretty cool. Obviously the wood stove is a chiller. I was also pretty stoked on how the exterior came together. I pulled off the cedar I originally put up, burned it, then tacked it back up and sealed it giving it that shiny black look. Cool technique to use and it looks pretty cute too. I built it on my own pretty much (thanks to anyone and everyone who helped) so I’ve come to love all the little small things.

Coolest place you’ve taken your rig to?

Hmm, well the Alvord Desert was a pretty awesome place for me to see. I’m much more of a mountain and coast guy, but that desert with the Steens Mountains in the background was something else for me. I haven’t taken it on too many lengthy journeys so there are plenty of places I want to visit and haven’t yet. That being said, there are also some spots that I frequent around the PNW that never get old so I suppose anywhere the rig goes is the coolest place I’ve been to. 

 

Any projects in the pipeline to get your rig even more adventure ready?

Sooooo many projects haha. Too many almost. Roof rebuild, solar shower, maybe a little side awning area, making it removable? Who knows what I’ll get into. I do need to edit the bed setup a little to maximize the potential of the Dually so that’s probably got the top spot on my list as of now. I'll keep ya posted though!