He Bought a Recovery Kit and Won a Toyota Tacoma

He Bought a Recovery Kit and Won a Toyota Tacoma

When Gene G. picked up the FaceTime, he didn’t know it was about to be the best phone call of his year. Gene’s a Tacoma guy out of Battle Mountain, Nevada. A while back he picked up some Yankum SWAG and a recovery kit for his rig, and that purchase put him in the running for our second giveaway.

The first person Gene called after he got the news was his wife Dawn. Her response, in her own words: “Get the [bleep] out of here.” Then “Are you kidding me?” Then “No, you’re full of [bleep].” She came around eventually. The truck helped.

The Build

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This wasn’t a bone-stock Tacoma when it left HQ. The base was a 2024 Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport with the 2.4L turbocharged i-Force engine, locking rear diff, 4WD with terrain modes and crawl control, adaptive cruise, lane assist, heated seats, and a 14-inch screen with wireless CarPlay. Then every sponsor below pitched in to make it something else entirely:

  • 35” Nitto Trail Grappler tires on Raceline beadlock rims
  • Peak Suspension lift kit
  • Chassis Unlimited front bumper and bed rack
  • CBI Offroad rock sliders
  • Prinsu roof rack with an FSR rooftop tent
  • Rig’d swingout rear spare tire carrier
  • Bellfab jerry can holder with RotopaX gas and water storage
  • Midland MXT575 MicroMobile two-way radio with Canyon Edge bull bar antenna
  • EZ Flate onboard air compression system
  • Fck Lights custom lighting setup
  • TackForm dash phone mounts
  • Red Dog Tools tool roll
  • OnSpot Saved By Spot satellite comms
  • Taco Vinyl Hyper Strip decal kit and door panel logos, installed by Wrap Matrix
  • onX Offroad lifetime Elite membership and SWAG

APEX Offroad ran point on the build, putting in the hours to get every piece installed and dialed. Massive thanks to them and to every brand on that list who showed up with gear for this truck.

The FaceTime Call

Here’s the call itself. We won’t spoil it.

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Gene and Dawn made the trip up to HQ in Burley to pick the Tacoma up in person, which is always the way we hope these go. We gave them a tour of the shop, grabbed lunch, then headed out to the off-road course outside Twin Falls so Gene could put the build through its paces before driving it home.

Want In on the Next One?

Two giveaways in the books, two real Yankum customers walking away with rigs they’ll keep forever. This is why we do these. Want to be the next one? CLICK HERE to see our current giveaway and throw your hat in the ring.

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