Cali Raised's 4th Gen Tacoma: Complete Rig Breakdown

The 2024+ Toyota Tacoma is the most capable base truck Toyota has built in a generation, and Cali Raised LED built one from scratch to prove it. This is the complete breakdown of our 4th gen Tacoma build: every part installed, the reason each one was chosen, and how it all functions together as a finished rig ready for the trail or the highway.

If you own a 2024 Tacoma or are planning your build, this post covers everything from rock sliders to roof rack, ditch lights to skid plates. You can also browse the best Cali Raised LED products for Toyota Tacomas for the full catalog overview.

What Makes the 4th Gen Tacoma a Different Build Platform?

The 4th generation Tacoma (2024 and newer) arrived with a new ladder frame, revised body mounting geometry, and a composite plastic bed. Those changes mean third-generation accessories do not carry over. Rock sliders designed for a 2016-2023 Tacoma will not bolt to the new frame rails. Bed MOLLE panels built for an older steel bed will not mount to the composite sidewalls of the 4th gen.

Cali Raised LED started development on 4th gen-specific products alongside the truck's launch. Every bracket, slider, rack, light kit, and skid plate in this build was engineered specifically for the 2024+ frame and body. Nothing here is adapted from an older product. The fit is exact, the mounts are purpose-designed, and the finished build looks like it came from the factory that way.

The build strategy organized upgrades into four categories: protection, cargo capacity, lighting, and control. Here is the full breakdown.

What Rock Sliders Did We Install on the 2024 Tacoma?

The Step Edition Rock Sliders for the 2024+ Toyota Tacoma are the first thing you notice on this build. These are full frame-mount sliders, meaning the main structural tube connects directly to the truck's frame rails, not to the body panels. That distinction is critical: body-mount sliders fold the rocker inward on impact, damaging the very thing they are supposed to protect. Frame-mount sliders transfer the load to the strongest part of the truck and hold their position. For a comparison of all rock slider options for the Tacoma, see our complete guide to the best rock sliders for Tacoma.

The step design adds real daily utility to a lifted truck. The 4th gen Tacoma with even a modest leveling kit sits high enough that a step becomes useful, and the integrated step tube handles that without adding a separate accessory. The kick-out option extends the slider further outward from the body, providing additional clearance on side slopes and protecting the rocker panel on aggressive terrain.

Every CRL rock slider is laser-cut, robotically welded, and available in raw steel or powder coat. The build runs powder coat, which makes sense on any truck that will see mud, rain, or road salt regularly.

Rock Sliders

Step Edition Rock Sliders For 2024+ Toyota Tacoma

Frame-mounted rock sliders with integrated step, available in kick-out and no kick-out configurations.

$1,069.99 Shop now →

What Bed Rack Did We Choose for the Build?

Overland builds live and die by cargo capacity, and the Overland Bed Rack for the 2024+ Toyota Tacoma handles that category. The rack mounts to the composite bed using purpose-designed isolation mounts, which prevent the steel rack legs from point-loading the plastic bed walls. That detail matters on the 4th gen Tacoma more than it did on previous generations with steel beds.

The rack creates an elevated platform above the bed floor for a rooftop tent, Jerry cans, recovery boards, a spare tire, or any combination of trail gear. Height options range from low profile to tall, letting you match the rack to your specific rooftop tent or gear layout. The design does not block tailgate access, so you can still reach the bed without removing anything from the rack. For more on how a bed rack changes what a truck can carry, see why every overlander needs a bed rack.

Pairing the bed rack with the Front Bed MOLLE System for 2024+ Toyota Tacoma completes the bed organization. The MOLLE panel mounts across the cab-side wall of the bed and gives you a flat attachment surface for recovery tools, bags, first aid kits, and any gear you need accessible without digging through the bed floor.

Bed Racks

Overland Bed Rack For 2024+ Toyota Tacoma

Multiple height options designed for rooftop tents, Jerry cans, and recovery gear on the 4th gen platform.

$849.99 Shop now →

What Roof Rack Did We Install on the 4th Gen?

The Premium Roof Rack for the 2024+ Toyota Tacoma adds a full-length load platform to the top of the build. It bolts directly to the factory roof mounting points on the Double Cab Tacoma, requires no drilling or headliner modification, and ships powder-coated.

The adjustable wind fairing at the front edge is the feature that makes this rack practical on a daily driver. A roof rack without a fairing creates significant aerodynamic drag at highway speed, which adds up to real fuel economy loss over a year of driving. The CRL fairing adjusts to clear different light setups and cargo heights, cutting drag while keeping the light bar or lights mounted up front unobstructed. The 360-degree light cutout perimeter around the rack lets you mount lights at any position without fabricating custom brackets.

Roof Racks

Premium Roof Rack for 2024+ Toyota Tacoma

Full-length load platform with adjustable wind fairing and 360-degree light cutouts for Double Cab models.

$849.99 Shop now →

How Did We Set Up the Lighting on This Build?

Lighting on this truck runs two separate systems designed to cover different zones. The first is the 32" Lo Pro Grille LED Light Bar Kit for the 2024+ Toyota Tacoma. The bar mounts behind the factory grille opening using custom laser-cut brackets. During the day, the bar is nearly invisible behind the grille. At night, it outputs 300 watts through a dual-row configuration, covering the trail ahead with a wide flood or long spot beam depending on the option chosen.

Mounting the bar behind the grille, rather than on the bumper, keeps it protected from road debris and rocks at highway speed. A bumper-mounted bar takes direct hits from stones and debris on every highway mile. A grille-mounted bar sits behind the factory plastic and takes none of that damage.

The Ditch Light Bracket Kit for the 2024+ Tacoma handles the second zone: peripheral coverage. Ditch-mounted pods cover the area just beyond the front quarter panel on each side, which is the blind spot for any forward-facing light bar. That coverage matters when you are navigating a tight forest road switchback, checking for a drop-off on a trail edge, or spotting obstacles at the edge of your headlights. The bracket kit mounts to the 2024 Tacoma cowl area and includes LED pods, so nothing else needs to be purchased.

Ditch Light Kits

Ditch Light Bracket Kit For 2024+ Tacoma

Cowl-mounted brackets plus LED pods for full peripheral lighting coverage, no drilling required.

$169.99 Shop now →

Grille Light Bar Kits

32" Lo Pro Grille LED Light Bar Kit for 2024+ Toyota Tacoma

Hidden behind the factory grille with 300W dual-row output, custom brackets, and full wiring harness included.

$384.99 Shop now →

What Skid Plates Did We Add to the Undercarriage?

The Transfer Case Skid Plate for the 2024+ Toyota Tacoma is the most critical protection piece on this build. The transfer case is the most expensive drivetrain component exposed to potential rock contact, and a direct hit to an unprotected housing can crack it and dump the fluid. The skid plate uses heavy-gauge material, either steel or aluminum, and bolts directly to the frame using existing mounting points. No welding is required. For more on the case for full undercarriage protection, see our guide on why every Tacoma and 4Runner needs skid plates.

The steel variant handles the most aggressive terrain. The aluminum variant saves weight for builds already carrying a full rack system and tent. Both use the same mounting pattern and take under an hour to install with basic hand tools.

Combined with lower control arm skid plates, the underside of this build is fully covered from the front suspension components back through the transfer case. That coverage means you can crawl over rock ledges, splash through creek crossings, and run technical trail terrain without a single bad line ending the build.

Skid Plates

Transfer Case Skid Plate For 2024+ Toyota Tacoma

Heavy-gauge steel or aluminum protection, direct frame mount, no welding required.

$349.99 Shop now →

Frequently Asked Questions About the 4th Gen Tacoma Build

Do 3rd gen Tacoma accessories fit the 2024 Tacoma?

No. The 4th gen Tacoma uses a new frame, new body geometry, and a composite bed. Rock sliders, skid plates, bed racks, and MOLLE panels all need to be purpose-engineered for the 2024+ platform to fit correctly.

Are the CRL rock sliders body-mount or frame-mount?

Frame-mount. The main structural tube attaches directly to the truck's frame rails, which is the correct load path for rocker protection on a serious off-road build.

Can I run both a bed rack and a roof rack on the 4th gen Tacoma?

Yes. The bed rack and roof rack are independent systems that do not conflict with each other. Running both gives you the most flexible cargo configuration available.

Do the 2024 Tacoma ditch light brackets require drilling into the body?

No. The CRL ditch light bracket kit for the 2024+ Tacoma uses existing mounting points and requires no cutting or drilling.

What is the difference between a lo pro grille light bar and a bumper-mounted bar?

A lo pro grille bar mounts behind the factory grille opening, staying hidden during the day and protected from road debris. A bumper-mounted bar is externally visible and takes direct hits from rocks and debris at highway speed.

How long does it take to install the transfer case skid plate?

Most installations take under an hour with a standard socket set. No welding or cutting is required.

Written by The Cali Raised LED Team