Why I Trust RockTrix Wheels on the Trucks I Build as a Working Photographer
As a photographer and videographer, my truck isn’t just “my ride.” It’s a rolling gear closet, a mobile studio, and the thing that gets me to the locations where the best shots actually happen. Pittsburgh roads, gravel backroads, job sites, muddy fields, winter slush, my vehicles live in the real world, not just in a parking lot.
So when I choose wheels, I’m not picking them because they look cool in a render. I’m picking them because they have to work. They have to fit correctly, handle daily driving, hold up to rougher terrain, and still look clean on camera from every angle.
That’s why I run RockTrix.
Wheels Are More Than a Style Choice (When Your Truck Is a Tool)
Wheels sit right at the intersection of aesthetics and function. They affect stance, fitment, how the truck photographs, how it feels on the road, and how confident you are when you’re loaded down with gear and heading somewhere sketchy to chase light.
And if you’ve ever built a vehicle, you know the truth: wheels are one of those parts you don’t want to get wrong. Bad fitment leads to headaches. Cheap finishes age poorly. Weird offsets can ruin drivability. And anything that doesn’t hold up becomes a problem you have to solve later.
I’d rather do it right once.
My 2019 Tacoma: The First Time I Ran RockTrix
My 2019 Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport was my first real “all-in” build. I used that truck for years as a daily driver and as a work truck. It hauled gear constantly. It went to shoots. It got used on back roads and off-road locations. It was part of my content, my portfolio, and my day-to-day life.
On that Tacoma, I ran:
RockTrix RT110 – Classic Seven Split Spoke Mesh
And honestly, those wheels checked all the boxes for me.
They fit the truck the way I wanted. They looked aggressive without being over-the-top. They photographed clean. And most importantly, they handled the kind of use I put my vehicles through.
That’s the kind of experience that sticks with you. When a part performs well for years, it becomes a “go back to that brand” moment.
Why RockTrix Works for the Way I Use My Vehicles
There are a thousands of wheel brands out there. Some are all hype. Some are overpriced for what you get. Some look great until you start actually driving in real conditions.
Here’s why RockTrix earned a repeat purchase from me:
1. Fitment That Makes Sense
I care a lot about fitment because fitment affects everything.
I want the wheel to sit right in the wheel well. I want it to look intentional. I don’t want a setup that causes constant rubbing, weird steering feel, or “I hope this works” guesswork.
RockTrix wheels are built with common truck/SUV fitments in mind, and that matters when you’re trying to build something that’s functional and clean.
2. The Look Photographs Extremely Well
I shoot vehicles for a living, so I’m always thinking about angles—how the truck reads in a photo, what it looks like in a rolling shot, and whether the details feel intentional.
RockTrix designs have a strong “built” look: modern, aggressive, and clean enough that they don’t distract from the rest of the truck. They add style without turning the build into a gimmick.
3. Real-World Use, Not Just Parking Lot Flex
I’m not gentle on my vehicles. I drive them in bad weather. I take them places where pavement ends. I load them up with expensive camera gear and expect everything to feel solid and predictable.
If a wheel can handle daily driving plus the occasional “let’s go get this shot no matter what the road looks like” mission, that’s the standard I’m after.
From Tacoma to 4Runner: New Build, Same Brand
Eventually, I moved on from the Tacoma and picked up a 2025 Toyota 4Runner TRD Sport—a new platform, a new direction, and a new build plan.
New vehicle means rethinking everything… but when you already trust a brand, you don’t start from scratch. You start from what you know works.
I liked my RockTrix wheels on the Tacoma so much that when it came time to choose wheels for the 4Runner, RockTrix was already high on my list.
This time, I chose a different wheel to match my needs and fitment goals on this platform:
RockTrix RT107 – Six Split Spoke Mesh
17x8.5 | 6x139.7 | ET +25 | Matte Black
(Current setup on my 2025 4Runner)
And this is exactly what I mean by “building with intention.”
The RT107 gives me the style I want, but it also fits the 4Runner in a way that makes sense for how I drive and what I’m building the truck to do. It’s a clean, purposeful setup—one that looks right in photos and doesn’t create unnecessary headaches in the real world.
Why I Picked the RT107 for the 4Runner
The 4Runner build is still evolving, but the wheel choice was something I wanted locked in early—because wheels set the tone for the whole truck.
I went with the RockTrix RT107 because:
The design is aggressive, but still clean
The fitment is right for a daily-driven build
The matte black finish works with anything… and honestly, it’s my favorite color
It photographs well from every angle (and that matters more than people realize)
But there was another big reason behind this setup: I wanted to stay away from lifts on this build. I didn’t want to mess with the quality ride of the 4Runner or change the original geometry Toyota engineered into it.
After a lot of research and a lot of help from RockTrix, I landed on the wheel size and offset that made the most sense for my goals. The result is a setup that looks more capable and fills out the stance the way I wanted, without turning the truck into something it’s not.
With my wheel and tire setup, the 4Runner drives just as good, if not better, than stock, without sacrificing ride quality or MPG. And that’s exactly the balance I was chasing: a tougher look, clean fitment, and a truck that still feels right every day.
Being Picky on Purpose
I’m detail-oriented in my work, lighting, lenses, composition, color, all of it. And I’m the same way with my trucks.
If I recommend a brand, it’s because I’ve lived with it. I’ve driven it. I’ve worked out of it. I’ve put it through real use, not just “it looked good for a week.”
That’s why I’m comfortable telling people RockTrix is a brand I trust.
I ran them on my Tacoma, had a great experience, and when it was time to build the 4Runner, I didn’t hesitate. I just chose the wheel that fit the new platform and the direction of the build.
If You’re Building Your Own Truck…
My advice is simple:
Don’t choose wheels only based on what looks good online.
Think about:
how you actually drive,
where you actually go,
what you haul,
and what you want the truck to feel like day-to-day.
For me, RockTrix has been that balance of style and practicality, wheels that look right, fit right, and support the kind of real-world use my vehicles see as a working photographer.
That’s why I ran RockTrix on my Tacoma.
And that’s why I’m running RockTrix again on my 2025 4Runner with the RT107s that fit this build perfectly.
