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# Toy-Inspired Car Makeovers
Tonka Made an Overland SUV Look Like a Life-Sized Toy Monster Truck

By Charlotte Joyce Kidd | Published 2015-08-12 | Autos
Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/overland-suv
References: [truckyeah.jalopnik](http://truckyeah.jalopnik.com/tonka-built-the-overland-suv-of-your-ritalin-addled-chi-1723156324) & [funrise](http://www.funrise.com/tonka-micro-site/pro-2-l-p_responsive.html)

Tonka has built the dream truck of little boys and overland SUV enthusiasts alike.

There's been a recent surge in the popularity of overlanding: a style of traveling where participants trick out their trucks or SUVs with roof-top tents, roll-away kitchens and other accessories to essentially transform their vehicles into moving campgrounds. Inspired by this movement, Tonka created the ultimate overland SUV. Sporting 10" lifts, 38" tires and a side ladder so its crew can climb up to their roof tent loft-style, the modified [Toyota](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/toyota-trailhunter) [4Runner](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/2025-toyota-4runner) looks like a life-size toy truck, or something out of Mad Max.

The Tonka overland SUV will accompany Tonka's sponsored Pro 2 racer, Myan Spaccarelli, as he travels to off-road events all over the States, fueling the excitement of toy truck connoisseurs and extreme campers everywhere.

## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter)

- Score: 4.3/10
- Popularity: 73% | Activity: 48% | Freshness: 8%
- Audience gender: 90% men, 10% women
- Primary generations: Gen Z, Gen Alpha, Millennial
- Top markets: North America

## Categories

[Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Autos](https://www.trendhunter.com/autos)

## Key Themes

### What Makes This Trend Stand Out

- **Overlanding Truck Builds:** The surge in popularity of overlanding truck builds presents opportunities for toy companies to create scaled-down versions of these modified trucks.
- **Toy-inspired Customization:** There is a trend of creating custom overland SUVs that resemble life-sized toy trucks, and this presents an opportunity for car customizing companies to capitalize on the trend.
- **Extreme Camping Gear:** With the rise of overlanding and modified SUVs, there is a trend towards the development of more practical camping gear for these types of excursions.

### Sectors Adopting This

- **Toy Manufacturing:** Toy companies can capitalize on the popularity of overlanding truck builds by creating scaled-down versions of these modified trucks.
- **Automotive Customization:** The trend of creating custom overland SUVs presents opportunities for car customizing companies to offer unique modifications that resemble popular toy designs.
- **Camping Equipment:** The rise of extreme camping trends and modified SUVs presents opportunities for companies that specialize in creating practical camping gear for these types of excursions.

## Related on Trend Hunter

- [Off-Roading Truck Trims](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/toyota-trailhunter.md)
- [Extreme Terrain Truck Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/arctic-trucks-toyota-land-cruiser-250-at37.md)
- [Life-Sized Electric Toy Cars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wild-one-max.md)
- [Car-Branded Toy Collectibles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/starbase.md)
- [Adventure-Ready Open-Air SUVs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/toyota-land-cruiser-rox-concept.md)
- [Extreme Overlanding SUVs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/isuzu-basecamp-at35.md)
- [Extreme Performance Overlanding Vehicles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hennessey-mammoth-1000-trx-overland-edition.md)
- [Minimalist SUV-Inspired Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/land-rover-icon-model-01.md)
- [Cross-Country Camper Trucks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/camper-truck.md)