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What are your favorite mods/improvements?

Discussion in '1st Gen Tundras (2000-2006)' started by FirstGenVol, Jan 14, 2021.

  1. Jan 14, 2021 at 1:52 PM
    #1
    FirstGenVol

    FirstGenVol [OP] Brake Czar

    Joined:
    Dec 13, 2018
    Member:
    #22934
    Messages:
    13,062
    East TN
    Vehicle:
    2002 AC
    What are your favorite mods, upgrades, or improvements that you have done to your 1st gen? It could be ones you've found most useful or ones that have improved the truck in some way.

    I'll list mine:
    • 285/70/17 BFG's with SCS wheels. Our trucks just look better with bigger tires.
    • ARE Camper shell. This made camping with the dogs so much easier.
    • Natika backup camera. Helped fix my lost visibility that the shell created.
    • White Knuckle sliders which look good and make a great step for reaching the roof and getting into the truck.
    • Honorable mention goes to to the interior LED lighting upgrades. Those original cluster bulbs were terrible.
     
    MS22, 1lowlife, Sunnier and 2 others like this.
  2. Jan 14, 2021 at 2:10 PM
    #2
    ezdog

    ezdog New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2020
    Member:
    #43363
    Messages:
    2,719
    Gender:
    Male
    Gateway To The West
    Vehicle:
    2001 RCLB V8,4WD 2015 RCLB 5.7,4WD
    My favorite I think was putting Strut in the Bed to be able to really attach crap back there without having to give it a second thought!

    Close behind for me is the Shell for sure though they really work together too.

    When I realized how nice the French Doors made it easier to reach farther into the bed and the Windoors took over from there I knew that my truck would just be the Work Truck that I had always wanted for working on the road far from home.

    928804B2-568F-4489-ADF3-767DA1082AEB.jpg

    B4FAC7FD-0BBB-4517-8108-D17FBC3CA258.jpg
     
    T4RFL, alb1k, MS22 and 7 others like this.
  3. Jan 14, 2021 at 2:29 PM
    #3
    jskeyes2

    jskeyes2 New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2020
    Member:
    #51898
    Messages:
    71
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jeff
    Carlsbad, CA
    Vehicle:
    2005 Limited AC
    ADS Shocks 35” Yokahama M/T
    Was the Strut a DYI thing? That looks pretty cool.
     
  4. Jan 14, 2021 at 2:31 PM
    #4
    ezdog

    ezdog New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2020
    Member:
    #43363
    Messages:
    2,719
    Gender:
    Male
    Gateway To The West
    Vehicle:
    2001 RCLB V8,4WD 2015 RCLB 5.7,4WD
    Of course!
    Strut is my life
     
  5. Jan 14, 2021 at 2:32 PM
    #5
    des2mtn

    des2mtn Third Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2020
    Member:
    #48721
    Messages:
    3,768
    Where my wheels stop rolling
    Vehicle:
    2004 Black DC Limited 4x4
    Tonto cover
    • Leer Camper Shell & Bed Carpet: Without a doubt I have received the most benefit from this mod over any others. This has been on the truck for pretty much its whole life and I have never taken it off.
    • Four sheets of 33"x12" 5/8" plywood; misc wood blocks: Use as traction boards, leveling boards, or to bridge tough spots.
    • Custom Bed Box: Built to my own personal specs to maximize storage potential and minimize amount of unpacking needed. I sleep on top of it.
    • Full size shovel
    • 285/75/16 KO2 E-rated tires and the ride height my current suspension provides
     
    alb1k, MS22, Sunnier and 4 others like this.
  6. Jan 14, 2021 at 2:38 PM
    #6
    des2mtn

    des2mtn Third Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2020
    Member:
    #48721
    Messages:
    3,768
    Where my wheels stop rolling
    Vehicle:
    2004 Black DC Limited 4x4
    Tonto cover
    Also removing my backseat was a good idea. More room for my fridge and now people can't beg me for rides.
     
    Hamster14, alb1k, Hooptytrix and 4 others like this.
  7. Jan 14, 2021 at 2:44 PM
    #7
    N84434

    N84434 In the Frozen Tundra

    Joined:
    Jan 22, 2020
    Member:
    #41580
    Messages:
    1,087
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jim
    Milwaukee WI.
    Vehicle:
    2001 Limited TRD
    I guess mine would be one of 2 things. Either the frame repair stiffeners that I fabricated to replace the crappy factory ones that were completely rusted out:

    BD268723-2D7A-46E6-B116-AC57E8EEF36C.jpg

    B4787683-8814-4611-A15A-EF57A6EC673E.jpg

    39010FF4-480A-4843-A7E6-FD4F2C77AF54.jpg

    7EB1B137-EDE5-4AC1-8C2E-9B9F4FFC2978.jpg

    35A1B68C-E971-4197-AB44-DC6AC1F9A2A3.jpg


    Or the other mod/improvement would be the leveling kit. It just makes the truck look good.


    1743C99A-78A6-43C4-833A-B97234DF6994.jpg


    Or maybe the backup camera...
     
    alb1k, MS22, WILLINH and 6 others like this.
  8. Jan 14, 2021 at 2:47 PM
    #8
    Darkness

    Darkness Allergic to white

    Joined:
    Jul 23, 2018
    Member:
    #17315
    Messages:
    9,976
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Luis
    All over SoCal
    Vehicle:
    The darkest
    It's really dark
    Gears and speedo correction for me.
     
    alb1k, two2cal, Hooptytrix and 4 others like this.
  9. Jan 14, 2021 at 2:50 PM
    #9
    N84434

    N84434 In the Frozen Tundra

    Joined:
    Jan 22, 2020
    Member:
    #41580
    Messages:
    1,087
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jim
    Milwaukee WI.
    Vehicle:
    2001 Limited TRD
    That's something I'd like to look into... Speedo correction.
     
  10. Jan 14, 2021 at 2:59 PM
    #10
    Darkness

    Darkness Allergic to white

    Joined:
    Jul 23, 2018
    Member:
    #17315
    Messages:
    9,976
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Luis
    All over SoCal
    Vehicle:
    The darkest
    It's really dark
    Its very easy for a 2001 model.
     
    N84434[QUOTED] likes this.
  11. Jan 14, 2021 at 3:10 PM
    #11
    TheBlackPearl

    TheBlackPearl Newish member

    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2020
    Member:
    #50730
    Messages:
    329
    Gender:
    Male
    La Gulf Coast
    Vehicle:
    2020 Black TSS Crewmax 4x4
    • RetraxPRO XR bed cover (been wanting one since my 2010)
    • Console charging tray (no brainer...phone stays in it)
    • Nextbase dashcam (too many times I've said "I need a dashcam")
    That's basically all I've done so far, but if we're going with favorites, this must be them because that's what I went with first. The rest of the "to get" list is long...
     
    alb1k likes this.
  12. Jan 14, 2021 at 6:07 PM
    #12
    MrDirtjumper

    MrDirtjumper Ol’ dickhead

    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2019
    Member:
    #32133
    Messages:
    1,053
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Josh
    Slam Angelo, Texas
    Vehicle:
    06 DC TRD, 2wd to 4wd Conv.
     
    tacoguybill, alb1k, two2cal and 6 others like this.
  13. Jan 14, 2021 at 6:15 PM
    #13
    FrenchToasty

    FrenchToasty The Desert rat, 6 lug enthusiast

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2019
    Member:
    #36156
    Messages:
    15,569
    First Name:
    Mo
    The SoAz
    Vehicle:
    2006 DC 4.88s Elocker and some other trippy stuff
    None
    Are you a sparky?
    I like the strut idea, spring nuts and all the bracketree are usually easy to come by in the shop.
    How many anchor points do you have on the length of those?
     
  14. Jan 14, 2021 at 7:12 PM
    #14
    RR60

    RR60 New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 10, 2017
    Member:
    #6290
    Messages:
    312
    Vehicle:
    2003 SR5 Tundra long bed
    I also have to say my best one was the RetraxPro. Pricey but I expect to have my Tundra long term so worth it.
     
  15. Jan 14, 2021 at 8:30 PM
    #15
    Brown Bear

    Brown Bear New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 31, 2017
    Member:
    #9374
    Messages:
    434
    Gender:
    Male
    Nor cal
    Vehicle:
    03 TRD offroad
    -6" RCD lift in front. -Custom leaf springs in rear 4" lift. -17" race line, raptor wheels. -35" Goodyear Duratrac. -4.88 gears. -ARB rear air locker. -ARB air compressor and tank. -Custom front sway bar quick disconnect -Custom one piece driveshaft -Black Oak Led 40 watt ditch lights.
    I made my boat rack out of unistrut. 20200818_163811.jpg 20201025_120409.jpg
    My favorite mods in order.
    6in RCD lift.
    Custom leaf packs.
    35 inch Duratrack.
    4.88 gears.
    ARB rear locker.
    Air compressor.
    Boat rack.
    Sway bar quick disconnect.
    Black oak led ditch light.
     
    alb1k, two2cal, MS22 and 17 others like this.
  16. Jan 14, 2021 at 9:48 PM
    #16
    artsr2002

    artsr2002 2005 Tundra DC SR5

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2019
    Member:
    #35520
    Messages:
    1,787
    'Yonder
    Vehicle:
    Red-Maroon-Something 05 DC 4.7 4x2
    Audio upgrades (Kenwood double din Android Auto, amplifiers, sub box) and comfy seat covers for me.
     
    BlueRibbon4x4 likes this.
  17. Jan 14, 2021 at 10:26 PM
    #17
    BlueRibbon4x4

    BlueRibbon4x4 Let’s color match it

    Joined:
    Aug 16, 2018
    Member:
    #18204
    Messages:
    3,016
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Geno
    Vehicle:
    2015 Blue Ribbon 4x4
    Happen to have pics of your sway bar quick disconnect? From your other mods, I assume it’s fabbed by you?
     
    Sunnier likes this.
  18. Jan 14, 2021 at 11:55 PM
    #18
    empty_lord

    empty_lord They see me rollin'

    Joined:
    Feb 1, 2019
    Member:
    #25441
    Messages:
    10,030
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Dan
    Indiana, Chicagoland
    Vehicle:
    05 rollover special
    custom body work, Billies with taco ARB springs, Icon AAL, TRD FJ trail team wheels, 2019 Toyota 86 radio, Blacked out interior, Added factory power everything, heater mirrors, ETC
    Fixing the previous owners small dent
    [​IMG]

    2019 86 radio, adding factory power options and keyless entry... loving this shit
     
    alb1k, abcinv, MS22 and 12 others like this.
  19. Jan 15, 2021 at 12:11 AM
    #19
    empty_lord

    empty_lord They see me rollin'

    Joined:
    Feb 1, 2019
    Member:
    #25441
    Messages:
    10,030
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Dan
    Indiana, Chicagoland
    Vehicle:
    05 rollover special
    custom body work, Billies with taco ARB springs, Icon AAL, TRD FJ trail team wheels, 2019 Toyota 86 radio, Blacked out interior, Added factory power everything, heater mirrors, ETC
    They made a rubber mat for the 8 ft??? Fuck I need to find one
     
  20. Jan 15, 2021 at 12:24 AM
    #20
    CodyP

    CodyP Such a n00b

    Joined:
    Oct 27, 2018
    Member:
    #21047
    Messages:
    3,048
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Cody
    CDA, ID
    Vehicle:
    2006 Tundra 4x4 DC
    My favorite is being able to drive past the 2nd n 3rd gens sitting in driveways while I back into my garage :)
     
  21. Jan 15, 2021 at 5:04 AM
    #21
    ezdog

    ezdog New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2020
    Member:
    #43363
    Messages:
    2,719
    Gender:
    Male
    Gateway To The West
    Vehicle:
    2001 RCLB V8,4WD 2015 RCLB 5.7,4WD
    More of a LV "Commie" but the stuff is often the same!

    So each vertical stick is attached with 3 5/8 Rivnuts so that I could find flat spots to mount them blind and then the horizontal long section blind nuts to those. I can then of course move the horizontal stick up or down as needed on the vertical sticks and I can always add to any of it too.

    Yeah I just used stuff that I already had laying around at the time.
     
    Sunnier and FrenchToasty[QUOTED] like this.
  22. Jan 15, 2021 at 5:06 AM
    #22
    ezdog

    ezdog New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2020
    Member:
    #43363
    Messages:
    2,719
    Gender:
    Male
    Gateway To The West
    Vehicle:
    2001 RCLB V8,4WD 2015 RCLB 5.7,4WD
    I love that thing,and I bet you know which one I mean!
     
    Brown Bear[QUOTED] likes this.
  23. Jan 15, 2021 at 5:07 AM
    #23
    ezdog

    ezdog New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2020
    Member:
    #43363
    Messages:
    2,719
    Gender:
    Male
    Gateway To The West
    Vehicle:
    2001 RCLB V8,4WD 2015 RCLB 5.7,4WD
    "We can fix that,My Dad has an Awesome set of tools"
     
  24. Jan 15, 2021 at 5:21 AM
    #24
    Outbound

    Outbound SSEM #2.5, Token AmeriCanadian

    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2016
    Member:
    #4064
    Messages:
    12,345
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Aaron
    Northern Alberta
    Vehicle:
    2022 CrewMax TRD Off Road, MGM of course.
    My fav mods in order:

    - LED headlights
    - Thule TracRac SR and Truxedo tonneau combo
    - TRD SEMA wheels with Cooper ST Maxx tires
    - Bilstein 5100s
    - LED interior lights
     
    alb1k, MS22 and BlueRibbon4x4 like this.
  25. Jan 15, 2021 at 5:49 AM
    #25
    Rex Kramer

    Rex Kramer Vinyl Spinner

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2017
    Member:
    #7181
    Messages:
    6,620
    Gender:
    Male
    Georgia
    Vehicle:
    2002 4.7L RCLB 4X4 2007 5.7L RCSB 4X2
    I have owned this '02 since '03...

    • TRD off road front coil springs
    • JBA short tube headers to replace cracked manifolds
    • LED headlight bulbs
    • Wet Okole seat covers
    • Hellwig rear anti-roll bar
    • TRD/Kazuma LSD
    • Bilstein Yellow 4600 series shocks
    • Michelin tires
    • Line-X on multiple surfaces
    • 2005 taillights
    • ARE commercial high wedge cap
    • Ceramic tint, front & sides
    I am considering those fancy fuel injectors.

    IMG_8109.jpgIMG_7746.jpg

    https://www.tundras.com/threads/2002-sr5-4wd.70271/
     
    Last edited: Jan 15, 2021
    Haggis777, 1lowlife, saybng and 4 others like this.
  26. Jan 15, 2021 at 9:20 AM
    #26
    TheBlackPearl

    TheBlackPearl Newish member

    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2020
    Member:
    #50730
    Messages:
    329
    Gender:
    Male
    La Gulf Coast
    Vehicle:
    2020 Black TSS Crewmax 4x4
    My bad...didn’t realize you couldn’t post in certain subs unless you had specific years. :(
     
    alb1k, MS22, Darkness and 2 others like this.
  27. Jan 15, 2021 at 10:19 AM
    #27
    rock climber

    rock climber New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 7, 2019
    Member:
    #37106
    Messages:
    1,613
    Gender:
    Male
    Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2001 Sequoia 4X4, 2000 AC 4X4
    By far my favorite, Replacing the heater control bulbs with led!

    Stereo upgrades, HID headlights and 4runner trail rims
     
    N84434 likes this.
  28. Jan 15, 2021 at 10:19 AM
    #28
    HBTundra

    HBTundra New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2019
    Member:
    #38908
    Messages:
    658
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2006 DC 2wd
    I've kept my 06 DC stock as much as possible, except for a few 'add-ons'.
    #1. Snug Top 'Super Sport' shell. Dig the frameless window and rear pop-out.
    #2. 3M Crystalline window/full windshield tint. I went light for safer night driving, but man what a difference!
    #3. Weather Tech Floor mats front and back . . . they're killer.
    'On Order'- Full set front and back Carhartt Precision Fit Seat covers in grey.
     
    MS22 likes this.
  29. Jan 15, 2021 at 10:29 AM
    #29
    artsr2002

    artsr2002 2005 Tundra DC SR5

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2019
    Member:
    #35520
    Messages:
    1,787
    'Yonder
    Vehicle:
    Red-Maroon-Something 05 DC 4.7 4x2
    HID retrofit for me also. :D
     
  30. Jan 15, 2021 at 11:07 AM
    #30
    chunk

    chunk New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2015
    Member:
    #1897
    Messages:
    383
    Gender:
    Male
    110 miles north of Los Angeles, Ca.
    Vehicle:
    SR5 2001 Tundra, original owner
    Bone stock
    A rubber mat in the bed and new strut assemblies and shocks, the first set since new, almost 20 years now. This is the longest I've had a vehicle. Still only at 95K miles. I ride motorcycles most of the time, and for a long time I had a Suzuki Swift 3 cylinder mileage maker. Had it for 15 years. Hard to beat Japanese cars. I bought the Suzuki with 50K miles on it used, and it had over 240K miles when I sold it. Still running fine and using zero oil. It just got so cosmetically challenged I was embarrassed to drive it.:thumbsup:
     
    N84434 and HBTundra like this.

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