Mod Ideas

Hey everyone, I just got hit and my 02 PreRunner was destroyed. Sad times indeed friends, sad times. Anyways, yesterday I took my sweet GEICO replacement check (thanks to my taco for holding her value all these years) and turned it into a one owner 2009 Tundra 4 Door limited (I think) w/ 86k miles. Beautiful truck. Leather throughout, spray in bed liner done, overall clean truck. Trying to figure out what I wanna do, obviously a 3" lift but after that I'm blank. Open to any suggestions!

 

Exchange/remove the chrome

 

Welcome!!
I would start with removing the chrome bug deflector, chrome mirror caps, and running boards and tint the windows. Then go from there!

 

Yep, first thing would be to remove that hideous chrome bug deflector and possibly mirror caps depending where your going with this build (keeping some chrome, blackout, etc.).

Congrats on the step up man that's a very nice Tundra! If you are unsure which package it is post some interior pics and I'm sure someone will be able to identify if it's Limited or one of the others!

 

just prepare yourself, as you'll get more ideas than you can do...and then you'll research each one to the point where you'll confuse yourself.

 

With respect to chrome, it really depends on what you like. In general, more people like chrome than dislike it. On Tundra forums like this one, there is overwhelming preference for dechroming. I happen to like the chrome look so I kept mine and added some more.

One thing that's relatively inexpensive and really change the look of the truck is window tint. That's was one of the first things I did.

 

GET...RID...OF...DEFLECTOR! Then work on your dechrome. Beautiful truck.

 

ewwww

 

Like this

Welcome by the way.

 

This place will drive you into the poor house if you aren't careful. How you intend to use the truck will inform your decisions as to what to mod, in what order. Do a lot of night-driving? lights, lights, lights! Off-road? suspension suspension, suspension. Camping?....well you get the idea.

For starters, you mentioned a 3" lift. Take it from those of us who have been there, and skip the whole spacer lift approach. The minimum viable lift (MVL?) would include Bilstein 5100s up front on the top setting. That won't get you quite to 3". For that you can add a coach builder shim above the shock towers. For the rear, avoid, blocks and consider coach builder shackles. (+2 = ~1" of rear lift).

Obviously with a lift, your existing tires will look puny, so you're gonna want to put on some 35's or thereabouts.

I see you've already got some steps, but if you like steps but don't like the look, consider AMP Research retractable running boards.

Now that I've cost you ~$4000, the real modding can begin.

 

Welcome bud. Be patient and plan it out. But you can start immediately with yanking the bug deflector.

 

The more appropriate question is what mods can I do for X amount of money? The list of what you can do is almost endless and I am finding it's more a function of my wallet. This place is great for getting mod ideas and the folks on here are the best. Sorry about the Taco but you got a nice truck. Welcome!

 

Welcome from Texas.

 

Okay so I dipped my chrome grill w plastic dip and actually like how it turned out. Now I just gotta get rid of the hunk of chrome around it!

 

While you get bombarded with suggestions, do you have a theme you want to go for or a specific use?

 

Well, as it's 2 wheel drive and I live in Florida, I won't be doing too much off-roading. Mostly aesthetics but I also like to pack up and take the lady and the pup up to the mountains. Right now, I'm just putting nice parts into it and maintaining the quality while blacking it out. Going to order some wheels in the next day or two and trying to decide between bf good' all terrains (which I had on my taco) or cooper stt pro. Also, how big can I go w out rubbing, trimming or lifting

 

Sounds like you're out to a good start and on a good path!

 

I am in the same boat you are in. December 15th my 02 Tacoma was hit as well, and I turned around and with my check and bought a 09 sr5 tundra! I'd like to keep in touch to see what you do to yours! Mine had some upgrades already done, a leveling kit with 33's with 20" hostage fuel rims and I love how it looks! It has some body damage on the bed and bumpers witch is why I got such a good deal on it. Keep me posted! I'm planning on adding a winch mount bumper like I had on my Tacoma with a tool box and probably some halos. All of course after I fix all the dents and put a wrap on the truck, then taking off the leveling kit and replacing it with an actual lift.

 

Update:
Alright, I added some after market blacked out headlights, got the windows tinted and dipped my grille (until I can find one I wanna spend the money on). I also took off the window shields and the side steps. I bought some black side steps off of EBay but haven't put them on yet. Buying new tires this week, either BF Goodrich All-Terrain or Cooper STT pro, haven't decided.

 

Now it's looking much better. I'd be tempted to leave it like is.

 

Decided to Plasti-Dip the chrome around the billet grill. Actually like the way it looks. Will have new BF Ko2 soon!

 

NFab prerunner front light bar??? NFab nurf bar side steps??? Check out dirtydeedsindustries.com exhaust kit...toytec.com boss 3/1 level kit...*********.com tundra audio specialists

 

BOSS kit....blocks or shackles in the back for 1-2" of lift, wheels, nfab or ICI magnum steps, bed bottle opener mount!!, tonneau cover.

Take a look at the mods DIY section...PLENTY of ideas!

 

I know I wanna do a new exhaust! And it's not too expensive. The lifts are just too expensive right now (all my money is in my Pilots license). Any ideas on a cheap way to get a little higher? Other than just blocks. If I'm gonna do a lift, I'll wait and spend the money on the whole suspension... idk, leveling kits are like the same price right?

 

Stay away from rough country readylift hard stuff ride I have Rough Country...

 

Wow!! Looking real good!!!! Great job on the plastidip! Since you've done the grille try and do the front bumper corners. Looks like a total different truck than when you brought it home. If you don't want to spend the cash right now on a real lift go with the Toytec 3" spacer and shackles in the rear until you're ready to really put some good suspension into it.

 

I wouldn't do anything that involves spacer lifts. Had one until a few days ago, now I have the BOSS kit (front coilovers only for now) night and day difference especially where I'm at in terms of road quality!
Could just do bilsteins in the front until you're ready for a really good setup. Would give you 2.5 lift in front and wouldn't break the bank.

 

The bilsteins 5100? Cool. Didn't know I'd get that much from just that. Thanks for the idea, I'll have to look into it. Ya I was wondering what the difference would be in ride with the spacers vs the coilovers. How much did you pay for install, or did you do them yourself?