Rate It: A Toyota Tacoma Built for Traversing Glaciers on the Weekends

Colin
By Colin Wood
Aug 25, 2020 | Toyota, Rate It, Arctic Trucks, Tacoma

The Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro may already be a capable offroad vehicle from the factory, but the wilds of Iceland can be unforgiving for even the stoutest machines.

What was there to be done, then, for one owner who wanted to Iceland-proof their Tacoma? Enter Iceland-based outfitter Arctic Trucks, the company to go to when you need to cross the most inhospitable places on this planet by vehicle. (It's also the very same company that helped "Top Gear" get to the north magnetic pole).

The owner in question wanted a truck comfortable enough for daily driving but capable of spending the weekend traversing glaciers. To accomplish that, Arctic Trucks started with a completely stock 2017 Tacoma TRD Pro and tacked on massive fender flares to cover the 44-inch Nokian Hakkapeliitta tires wrapped around proprietary 17-inch Arctic Truck steel wheels. The suspension and powertrain were also upgraded with Fox remote-reservoir shocks on all four corners and ARB air lockers for each axle.

Even though Arctic Trucks doesn't appear to have any North American-based operations as of yet, its lineup of purpose-built and modified vehicles includes a Jeep Grand Cherokee, a Ford F-350 and even a Kia Sorento.

Since we're on the subject, what's one vehicle you'd want to give the Arctic Trucks treatment to?

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Comments
pheller
pheller UltimaDork
8/25/20 11:13 a.m.

Love the grill cutouts for those lights. I also dig the fact that these trucks are dressed up with superfluous add ons like huge bumpers and what not. Their use demands big tires, and that's about it, so very little lift over what is neccesary to accomdate the tires. 

iansane
iansane GRM+ Memberand Reader
8/25/20 11:24 a.m.

I'd definitely let them whip their magic on my ute.

That sounds funny.

Dieselboss15
Dieselboss15 New Reader
8/25/20 12:03 p.m.

i'd treat a prius. with a diesel. or a hellcat lol

hobiercr (FS)
hobiercr (FS) GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
8/25/20 12:17 p.m.

Iceland glacier crawlers are very cool. We saw this one when we were there in 2006.

David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
8/25/20 3:38 p.m.

I am digging it. 

irish44j (Forum Supporter)
irish44j (Forum Supporter) MegaDork
8/25/20 7:03 p.m.

Good for what it does, for sure. Those things are all over the place in Iceland. 

Here in the US, bros would love those tires to make sure they get to the mall safely in their big pickups....

iansane
iansane GRM+ Memberand Reader
8/26/20 10:10 a.m.
irish44j (Forum Supporter) said:

Good for what it does, for sure. Those things are all over the place in Iceland. 

Here in the US, bros would love those tires to make sure they get to the mall safely in their big pickups....

Nah, the wheels aren't big enough.

Mndsm
Mndsm MegaDork
8/26/20 10:12 a.m.

I'm happy every time I see an Arctic crawler. 

nocones
nocones GRM+ Memberand UltraDork
8/26/20 10:48 a.m.

I always think they look like Monster truck puppies.  Big massive Paws but haven't grown the lift kit yet.  

 

I think those flares would be great on a TRD Sport dropped low with 355/30/19 stickies.  

pinchvalve (Forum Supporter)
pinchvalve (Forum Supporter) GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
8/26/20 10:49 a.m.

Can someone pronounce Hakkapeliitta for me? I want a set just for the name.

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