Once again SEMA surpassed expectations, showcasing an even more impressive array of trucks and cars than in previous years.
Last year felt like the year of the Bronco, and while Broncos were still well represented, this year saw a noticeable rise in Jeep Wranglers and Toyota Tundras. Full-size trucks were the stars of the show. I’ve noticed many off-road enthusiasts shifting from compact SUVs and Tacomas to Tundras and F-150s.
There’s a huge aftermarket ecosystem supporting full-size trucks, and more people are realizing it’s often impractical to heavily modify an already underpowered Tacoma. Instead, buyers can start with an F-150 Lariat or similar model and equip it without spending a fortune on suspension upgrades. Trucks built with proper payload capacity and highway manners offer a safer, more enjoyable driving experience than lugging around an overloaded, underpowered vehicle.
To be clear, I’m not dismissing the Tacoma entirely. It’s an excellent truck when used for its intended purpose—reliable, capable, and perfect for everyday transport of people and gear. But for serious overlanding and hauling heavy equipment, larger trucks often perform better. That said, SEMA featured a huge variety of remarkable builds across many platforms.
Kudos to the many brands and builders who poured their passion and skill into these projects. Some builds were tasteful bolt-on upgrades, while others were full custom jobs with paint and wraps so pristine you’d hesitate to take them off-road. I’ll share highlights of the best gear spotted at the show, but honestly, much of what I saw would be welcome additions to my own trucks.
On a different note, I only spotted about one 100-series Land Cruiser and a handful of 200-series Cruisers. With the 200 no longer sold in the U.S., those models are becoming less common on the show floor.
Enjoy the photos!
Truck Photos from SEMA 2023
