Over the past 30 years, the Toyota Tacoma has become a fixture of the off-road performance segment. Introduced as the successor to Hilux (which was simply referred to as the Toyota Pickup in North America), the Tacoma ushered in an array of comfort, safety, and capability improvements while still retaining the legendary durability that has become a hallmark of Toyota engineering and design. And that unyielding focus on reliability has resulted in pickups that tend to stay on the road for a lot longer than many of the Tacoma’s competitors.

“I think that’s a big part of its appeal,” says Ryan Flanders, Senior Product Manager for Holley Performance. “Everyone knows someone who has a Tacoma with more than 200,000 miles on it. They might not set the world on fire in terms of performance, but that approach also means that it’s harder to break components. And as a result, they’re pretty much bulletproof.”

Shop all Holley Truck & Off-Road Performance Packages here.

And as with just about any mass-production vehicle, there’s also some room for improvement with aftermarket components that can help tailor the truck’s capabilities to your needs. But Flanders also offers a word of caution for those who’re about to jump in with both feet.

“You only start running into problems when you go overboard on things like tire size and mismatched modifications. It’s a slippery slope, so it’s important to ensure that the upgrades you’re doing are actually going to have the intended effect.”

With that in mind, we’re taking a closer look at the Holley Off-Road Performance Packages for the second, third, and all-new fourth-generation Toyota Tacoma. These packages give enthusiasts the ability to buy proven performance parts combinations in one simple bundle. Not only does this take the guesswork out of the upgrade process, the packages are also offered at a 10% discount as compared to buying each component individually, and shipping is free. Let’s check out what each one gets you.

Holley Off-Road Performance Package For Second-Gen (2005-2015) Toyota Tacoma

The introduction of the second-generation Tacoma for the 2005 model year saw the pickup’s footprint expand to mid-sized proportions. This, along with its beefier look and upgraded mechanicals, resulted in a more sophisticated truck overall.

“The second-gen is so much better off-road,” Flanders tells us. “You have this more robust frame, but the suspension designs largely carried over with the refinements that come from years of continuous development. It all works together really well. But at the same time, you also have to come to terms with the fact that some these trucks are twenty years old now, and the parts are finally starting to show their age.” Accordingly, this Performance Package includes components that simultaneously offer tangible performance improvements and address common maintenance items.

“These ADS Mesa-series shocks are direct-fit replacements for the factory dampers, but they’re much more capable than the stock units both on and off-road,” says Flanders. “The larger 2.5-inch diameter of the ADS shock body is going to provide room for a much larger piston in the shock, which results in 56% more surface area on that piston. That increased surface area provides a greater range for the valving, which translates into better on-road ride quality as well as better off-road manners.” The increased diameter of the shock body also allows for a larger amount of oil in the shock for greater resistance to fade and overheating during longer stints on the trail.

“One thing that’s really cool about this design is that because you have this larger surface area, the shims have more fluid running across them, so the shock doesn’t have to be setup as stiffly in order to perform the same amount of work,” he notes. “And that means the shock is actually more compliant out on the street.”

The package also includes ADS tubular control arms that address a very common issue with lifted trucks.

“If you do a lift with the factory control arms, the truck’s suspension geometry is going to be way off,” Flanders says. “That’s going to create bump steer, excess tire wear, and generally poor handling both on and off-road. These control arms will get the geometry back where it’s supposed to be, so camber and caster can be brought back into factory specification. That gives you a lifted truck without the adverse effects.”

Shop Holley Off-Road Performance Package For Second-Gen (2005-2015) Toyota Tacomas here.

These control arms are designed to accommodate lifts up to four inches, but Flanders says that the sweet spot is around 2.25 to 2.5 inches.

“You still want the suspension to have plenty of droop, and you want the piston in the shock to be in its most optimum position. This height will give you the ideal amount of up-travel as well as down-travel.”

A Flowmaster Outlaw cat-back exhaust system comes as part of the deal as well. Not only does this system provide more power and an aggressive performance tone that will transform the truck’s character, it will also improve its off-road capability.

“This is a high-clearance design that tucks everything up near the frame rails,” he points out. “That protects the system from damage, and because the exhaust tip is also tucked up there, it will improve the truck’s departure angle as well.”

The last piece of the puzzle is AEM’s Throttle Control Module for the second-generation Tacoma, which addresses a common complaint about the truck’s factory calibration.

“The idea here is to give owners control over how touchy the throttle pedal is,” he says. “Having the ability to adjust how the power comes on when you’re rock crawling with a manually-shifted truck, for example, makes it much easier to be precise with your inputs, so you’re not spinning tires or bogging the engine. There’s kind of a ‘dead section’ at the top of the pedal’s travel with the factory calibration, and that can be tricky to work with. This lets you dial in the pedal’s response to your preference.”

Holley Off-Road Performance Package For Third-Gen (2016-2023) Toyota Tacoma

More of a refresh than a clean-sheet redesign, the third-generation Toyota Tacoma incorporates revised styling, updated tech, and improved ergonomics with the mechanical elements of the preceding generation. As such, you’ll note that the ADS Mesa shocks and tubular control arms included here are identical to the ones provided in the Performance Package for the second-generation Tacoma.

But while this Flowmaster Outlaw cat-back features the same high-clearance design and performance advantages found above, this particular system is tuned for 3.5-liter V6 that supplanted the four-liter mill that was offered in the second-generation truck. Flanders says that’s an important distinction.

“We picked up horsepower and torque with the move to the 3.5-liter V6, but the power comes in a little higher in the rev range. And once you add the additional rotating mass of larger wheels and tires, the engine has to work lot harder at low RPMs get things moving. The increased performance offered by this cat-back is really helpful in that regard because it was specifically tuned around the characteristics of the 3.5-liter engine.”

Shop Holley Off-Road Performance Package For Third-Gen (2016-2023) Toyota Tacoma here.

Holley Off-Road Performance Package For Fourth-Gen (2024-and-newer) Toyota Tacoma

After nearly two decades of production on the same basic vehicle architecture, Toyota decided to take a clean-sheet approach with the fourth generation Tacoma. Now riding on a new platform that’s shared with the 4Runner and Land Cruiser, the latest Tacoma benefits from a raft of improvements that include an entirely revamped look both inside and out, a new 2.4-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine that’s also offered with a power-adding hybrid system in higher trim levels, and high-strength steel frame members that increase structural rigidity. And, in a rare win for three-pedal enthusiasts, it’s still available with a six-speed manual transmission.

“The only thing that carries over is the logo,” Flanders says with a laugh. “It’s a fundamentally different truck, so a lot has changed. But I think what people notice the most is the new turbocharged engines. Paired with the eight-speed transmission, these things are peppy in a way that older Tacomas are not.”

The introduction of Tacoma’s new architecture also gave Toyota engineers the opportunity to rethink its rear suspension design, which is now coil-sprung like the full-sized Tundra.

“This setup should provide more articulation and better on-road manners,” Flanders says. “You sacrifice a bit when it comes to towing, but the benefits to the truck’s other capabilities are undeniable.”

And with the introduction of the fourth-generation Tacoma’s more advanced design comes the need for a more advanced Performance Package. Here Holley has outfitted the kit with motorsport-derived ADS 2.5-inch adjustable coilovers for the front and rear. While these coilovers are direct-fit components like the Mesa-series shocks, these units take the truck’s off-road capability to another level.

“These shocks are adapted from full race suspension systems,” Flanders explains. “All of the components on these units are use on vehicles that are actively competing in races. That means you get things like a hardened chromoly piston rod shaft, a race-ready piston in race-ready oil, high-performance springs from Eibach, and 20 clicks of adjustability for the compression and rebound settings. And unlike other coilovers you’ll find out there, the fluid is running through a full shim stack instead of just cutting off flow via an orifice, which allows for better feel and a greater range of adjustment. This stuff has proven itself through years of punishment out in the desert.”

The coilovers also feature remote reservoirs that further enhance their off-road capability with the additional fluid volume that they provide, which improves resistance to fade and overheating.

“This reservoir is going to give you the ability to go fast on the trails for a very long time. And that’s why we paired with ADS control arms that can handle same amount of abuse.”

The package includes billet upper and lower control arms for the front and rear of the fourth-generation Tacoma which correct the suspension geometry of lifted trucks and provide an additional measure of durability.

“These are stronger and lighter than the stock arms, and the Delrin bushings give you a bit more compliance than you would have with full-race Heim joints on body side. But it’s still much more robust than the vulcanized rubber factory bushing. And the fact that you’ve got a uniball joint in the knuckle gives you a control arm that can handle the same level of abuse as the coilovers.” As with the other packages, these control arms with accommodate lifts of up to four inches, but Flanders recommends a lift of about two and a half inches for the best performance. A Flowmaster Signature Series cat-back exhaust system also comes as part of the deal. Like the other systems mentioned here, it provides real-world improvements in horsepower and torque, but this system produces a more nuanced soundtrack than the Outlaw series does.

Shop Holley Off-Road Performance Package For Fourth-Gen (2024-and-newer) Toyota Tacoma here.

“The Signature Series is not only about performance and sound, it’s also about quality craftsmanship and delivering a premium look,” Flanders says. “These mandrel-bent systems are built from 304 stainless steel, they’re TIG welded, and they have brushed finish that eliminates any marks that are created during the manufacturing process. That gives them a really upscale appearance.”

And for those who’re just starting their modification journey, Flanders suggests ditching the forums in favor of more reputable sources.

“Talk to builders, shops, and folks like us. They’ll ask you things like, ‘What are your goals? What are you planning on doing with the truck?’ The answers to those questions will get you where you want to go a lot faster than the forums will. And you’ll probably save some money along the way.”

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