What would you do first.

Hey there folks! I picked up my 2014 last winter and I am almost completely in love. I say almost because, even before I bought it, I knew I wanted to do some things to it. It's a basic SR5. The only real upgrade the previous owner gave it was the TRD dual exhaust. Sexiest sound ever! But my budget is pretty much blown on my monthly payment and fuel. However, I have a little bit of fun money coming and I'm like a kid in a candy shop! I have my own ideas about what might come first, but I'd love to hear how you all might attack this!

I don't offroad, but I live in the sticks. I am a Carpenter/Handyman and use the truck for work. What I really envision the truck as, is a Swiss army knife of a truck. Capable of offroad and get me in and out of anywhere. Mostly backroads New England during mud-season. (Challenging enough for any offroader!) My last vehicle was a 2002 Tacoma. That thing was a tank! So far this Tundra wants to be a tank, but isn't there yet. Here's my wish list. No particular order and still figuring out brands, etc.

New tires: Something A/T leaning towards Mickey Thompson Baja Boss. 33"-34". I'll need new tires before winter anyway. But might have to go stock size.
Wheels: Love the Method 18" 316 in matte black.
Suspension: 3-4" lift with rake. I like the look of the Ironman Foam Cell if they could figure out the coilover rub issue.
Winch front bumper. I really want the CBI Baja bumper, but would also dig the Coastal Offroad DIY bumper.
Catalytic converter cover: This might make it to the top of the list, cause it seems like those SOB's are everywhere!

There are plenty of other things I want for this rig, but these are the biggies I am looking at for now. I'm just curious how any of you would approach this. I've been up and down this forum and absolutely love what y'all are doing. If you have suggestions great, and yes, I know where the search function is. I'm just having fun dreamin stuff up. Thanks!

 

Cover those cats first.

 

I found a cover I like the look of. And it’s not an Eagle or a Viking. I’ll avoid that kettle thanks.

 

I’d get tires over anything else. Best upgrade in my opinion. And you can fit a 33 with stock suspension.

 

Cat cover then diamond back tonneau cover…
Protect the cat and tools first, then tires and lift.

 

I have the CBI Baja bumper, so I say go for it. You'll need beefy springs though. Wheels and tires first

 

Yeah, the cat cover is up first. The tires I’ve already factored in for this autumn. Anything will be better than the worn Yokohamas on there now. I’ve never had good luck with them.

 

I met a guy today with a diamondback in his Tacoma. It’s a little out of my range at the moment. But sound advice given my profession. I’m locking most stuff in my backseat.

 

I would love it! I’ll wait to do anything heavy upfront until I get the lift and springs sorted.

 

IDK how you keep all the tools in the back seat without stretching up all the plastic…lol

 

I recently bought a new to me decked system for my Crewmax. I use it to organize my tow rope, ratchet straps, motorcycle tie downs, etc…

Not sure what type of tools you haul and if you need your full bed depth, but having a way to organize and lock up in the bed is a must have for me.

 

I do facility maintenance and I started a side gig doing carpentry and handyman stuff and I have a small homestead. Lots of little stuff, odd jobs and some bigger installs. Im trying to get it up to full time. So for now just saws and hand tools and hay But once I go full time, I’ll look into a trailer.

 

Well without good tires how do you expect to get to all those job sites

 

You should look into doing the rear seat fold down mod. It’s easy. It’s free. And it gives you access to a bit of storage space.

 

Tires then upgrade your headlights to the oem led ones for the homestead

cat protection and tool storage/protection for your side gig.

suspension/wheels would appear to be cosmetic upgrades based on your needs so I’d put those at the end.

 

I Kind of like this solution. Even though this is a Crewmax. This is basically how I am using my back seat most of the time anyway. I could put some molle on the folded up seats to expand storage. Credit to @EatSleepTacos for the mod.

 

Tires for sure. The lights are definitely on the list, but will have to wait for the next influx of funds. I shouldn't have gone on the Diamondback website. That is one slick system.

 

I’ll do head lights first then tires.

 

Suspension lift first. If you go out and buy tires now, you will have wished you went bigger once you lift it. I would go:

1. Lift
2. Wheels and Tires
3. Bumper

 

Have a 14 myself; first thing I did was better tires in the stock size. I figured that I wanted the least expensive option to make sure I wanted the truck and like everything about it, and after a winter trip w stock tires, was irritated at the lack of performance. I then loaded the armor on w engine and t-case skids, gas tank skids, and sliders. Only suspension change was airbags, and then I drove the hell out of it and wheeled it well to get to know it. Bumper and lift were next once I knew I'd be keeping the truck longer than a few years. I've got in dialed in now, minus the cat protection.

 

I'm not sure how double cabs back seats are setup or if you ever have passengers back there, but in my tacoma I fully removed the seats and did a similar (more secure) platform. Having a large flat surface is SO nice. That track is called L track and is very versatile if you need to strap anything down.

 

This has been my dilemma exactly. If a set of MT Baja Boss tires get 50,000 miles, then I'm looking at living with them awhile. That is unless I sell them. But honestly that has never worked out in my favor. I actually happen to be getting a little more $$ than anticipated, so I am looking at an entry level type lift. I am leaning toward the OME setup that @300BLK has. Not too extreme to start with and allows for a really beefy look. I'll probably need to wait on the wheels though. If I can get away with the stock wheels with some 33s or 34s and upgrade the wheels later, I will. Big IF!

 

I'm pretty smitten. This is just the truck for me. I tend to run my vehicles till they give up the ghost. I follow your build thread eagerly. Looks like some great times with your kids. My son is 22 so we see each other for about 5 min a day. I always research the hell out of the things I do to my vehicles. That's what is so great about this forum. Loads of experience to learn from on here.

 

I second the tires. Honestly, if you did tires and wheels you'd get a look improvement as well as performance in mud/snow. May scratch the itch until you have more $. 275/70 fit stock and look good without losing fuel as much IMO.

 

I don't have passengers often, but I don't think I want to remove the seats. I could, however, figure out a way to put in a secure platform that is also removable if we take a trip with the fam. (Increasingly unlikely. But still a possibility.) I am going to check out the L track. That might have applications in other scenarios.

Ironically I just sold my retired old Tacoma yesterday. I listed it on Craigslist and 4 hours later it was gone! It is pretty rusty and beat up, but I am happy with what I got for it.

 

I like that, scratch that itch indeed!
One way or another I gotta get tires. I got stuck in the mud not long after I got the truck! No matter what it will be an improvement over what’s on there now!

 

275/70-18 don’t even need lift…put a 1” spacer on the hub, you could ride it til you get some +25 offset rims, or score some pro takeoffs…

 

(1) Install MillerCat catalytic converter guards.
(2) Tint the front windows.
(3) rebadge the truck

 

haha, i am doing this exactly - waiting on the millercats to arrive next week, had the stealership tint the front windows for the sale, already pulled off one tss badge - rest of the badges are blacked out - so keeping lol