With nearly 50,000 miles on the road, we are excited to feature Joey Mercado in this 67 Designs’ Customer Spotlight. Joey, born and raised in the Bay Area, California, has embraced the overlanding lifestyle in his 2019 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro. Over the past 4.5 years, Joey has used his truck to explore the great outdoors while working remotely as an Executive Assistant for a venture capital firm.
Proud owner of: 2019 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro in Super White
Customer of 67 Designs since: 2021
Featured Upgrades:
Armor & Support
- ATH High Clearance Rear Bumper
- Cali Raised LED Rock Sliders
- Cali Raised LED Front Stealth Bumper
- Runnin4Tacos LCA Skids
- UpTop Mid-height TRUSS Bed Rack
- Uptop Bravo Roof Rack
- Lil B’s Bed Stiffeners
- Meso Customs Overhead Hexrack
Tires & Suspension
- BFGoodrich KO2s, 285/75r16
- Full Size Spare Tire
- Stock TRD Pro Fox Shocks
- DuroBumps (front + rear) Bump Stops
- Deaver (stage 2) Expedition Series Leaf Springs
- Westcott Designs (front) Lift Kit
Camping & Storage
- Roam Vagabond RTT w/ Annex
- Roam (5ft) Awning
- Dometic CFX3 45 Electric Cooler
- Custom Built Cooler Slideout System
- Pelican Vault Cases
- KickAss Shower Awning
- Kickass Water Pump
- Ironman (13gal) Water Tank
- WheelEveryWeekend RTT Security Mounts
Lights
- Diode Dynamics H11 SL1 LED Headlight Bulbs
- Diode Dynamics Stage Series 2" Pro (combo) Chase Lights
- Diode Dynamics Interior Light Kit
- Rigid Industries D-SS Pro (driving) A-Pillar Lights
- Rigid Industries Stock Fog Lights
- Form Lighting Smoked Tail Lights
- Meso Customs Ultimate Turn Signals
- Runnin4Tacos Raptor Grille Lights
- Runnin4tacos (roof rack) Rock Lights
Power & Performance
- Genesis Offroad Dual Battery Kit
- Switch-Pros 9100 Switch Panel Power System
- Cali Raised Off Road Switch Pro Mounting Panel
- CVC (@chanvchau) Tune
- OBDLink MX+ (OBD2 Bluetooth) Reader
Comms & Recovery
- Midland MXT 500 GMRS Radio
- Midland GXT1000VP4 Handheld Radios
- Garmin inReach Mini 2 Satellite Communicator
- ARB Twin Air Compressor
- CBI Tacoma ARB Compressor Mount
- Maxtrax MKII Recovery Boards
- MORRFlate Quad+ 4-Tire Hose Kit
- Moose Knuckle Split Shackles
- Bubba Rope (3/4" x 30ft) Kinetic Rope
- Bubba Rope Synthetic/Soft Shackles
- Smittybilt Tow Strap
Mounts & Misc.
- 67 Designs TacoRail, Phone Mount, and Universal Tablet Mount
- ARB Rear Diff Breather Relocation
- AC Drain Hose Extension
- TacoVinyl (TRD & shaka) Grille Badges
Early Inspiration: Joey’s passion for overlanding was sparked by childhood camping trips to Pinecrest, Yosemite, and Strawberry. Growing up, his grandparents would take him, his cousin, and his sibling camping, giving him an appreciation for nature and adventure. In 2017, Joey’s uncle, an experienced overlander, invited him on a 5-day trip to the Mojave Desert with Overland Bound. This was Joey’s first experience camping outside of a designated campground, and it opened his eyes to the world of overlanding. That journey along the Old Mojave Road with his uncle and cousin, who both drove Jeep Wranglers, ignited a lasting passion for hitting the open road and exploring remote landscapes.
Early Adventures: One of Joey’s first significant overlanding trips was to Bald Mountain, east of Fresno, where he took his stock Tacoma on a medium-rated trail with his uncle. While the Tacoma emerged with some scrapes and damage, Joey embraced the challenges and soon outfitted his truck with sliders, a lift, and new tires to prepare for future adventures.
Recent Adventures: In the last nine months, Joey has ventured to Death Valley, Sedona, the Pacific Northwest, and the Northern California coastline. Sedona, with its stunning landscapes, hiking trails, and steep 4x4 tracks, provided one of the most thrilling experiences, especially when he tackled a staircase-like descent. Joey also enjoyed waking up to hot air balloons landing near his campsite—a surreal and memorable moment.
Most Memorable Adventure: One of Joey’s most memorable trips was camping along the Northern California coastline. As he was packing up one morning, two Roosevelt elk grazed just 50 feet from his campsite, creating a peaceful and surreal atmosphere. Sharing the experience with his best friend made it even more special.
Challenges Faced: Weather has presented some of the toughest challenges for Joey. From battling extreme heat in Anza-Borrego, where temperatures hit 110°F during the day, to enduring torrential downpours in the forest, Joey has learned to adapt and overcome. One trail repair experience stands out—when his buddy’s Chevy Silverado had a tire pop and a rear differential leak, the group worked together in the rain to set up a canopy and fix the issue.
Lessons Learned: Joey emphasizes the importance of preparation and community in overlanding. Whether it's sharing locations with your group or ensuring everyone knows how to navigate back, teamwork is key. Joey’s goal is to always be self-sufficient and reliable on the trail, with a focus on safety and sustainability.
Upcoming Trips: Joey has his sights set on Moab, Utah, and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon for future adventures. He and his uncle also have an ambitious plan to traverse the entire Sierra Nevada mountain range without using highways, hopping from trail to trail over the course of five days.
Dream Trips: Baja California, Mexico, is at the top of Joey’s bucket list. He dreams of driving down the entire coastline and venturing into Central and South America to experience the diverse terrains and rich cultures.
Community Involvement: While Joey hasn’t led any groups yet, he has been part of the Overland Bound and Tacoma World forums, finding valuable insights and building connections with other overlanders.
Fun Fact: Joey’s license plate, “VEN7R,” represents his love for adventure and exploration, and the name was his first choice when he purchased the Tacoma with the sole intention of venturing into the wild more often.
Connect with Joey: Follow Joey’s overlanding adventures or connect with him at
- Instagram @joe.y88
This Customer Spotlight is by Meg Klavitter.
This series was envisioned and created by Kate Della Pietra in the summer of 2020 when she worked for 67 Designs as a marketing intern.