Considering modifications...not sure where to start.

So I think my ability to maintain restraint is waning, and I'm considering breaking my own "rules" and may start to modify my Tundra. I have really convinced myself to not let this turn into a money pit as I have a family, and I'm big on saving for a new home/land as well as retirement. At the same time, I know saving everything and not enjoying the now isn't anyway to live. Have to find a balance.

Now with that being said, I'm a little torn as to where to start or with what.

I'm working with a '16 DC SR5 (4wd) with Safety and Convenience, as well as NAV. I've added a bed mat, Tri-fold, Husky contours (front and rear), Iron Cross steps, and a Center console organizer. That's it.

This is my daily driver (~40 miles roundtrip daily for ~182 days of the year as I'm a teacher). I really love how it rides now, so I'm a bit hesitant to go the level/tires route for fear of the mileage decrease and noise.

Things I would like to improve or dislike currently not having it:

• Spray-in liner
• Heated Seats
• Leather (possibly)
• Change the wheels (I loathe the stock SR5 wheels...in fact it's the number 1 aesthetic item that makes me cringe when I look at it)
• Get a better tire for all seasons
• Level (most likely just Bilsteins up front on .87).
• Remote start
• TRD Pro Full Front Swap (Bulge, Grille, End Caps, Lights)

I'm not doing it all at once. Just a list of items I would like to accomplish for now. I'm torn as to start with the comfort items first since they're what I will notice the most spending as much time as I do in the truck, or the aesthetics first. My tires are still in good shape, but are terrible on everything but pavement.

Budget is flexible, but I'm not sure the wife would be happy with a splurge all at once, but I'm not pinching pennies right now, either.

So, thoughts? Just want some opinions, honestly. Maybe some will look at this from a different perspective and shine some light on things I should prioritize that I'm not seeing.

Thanks!

 

I'll add that I no longer offroad. I use the truck on the road 90% of the time. The other 10%, I'm offroad hunting, cutting firewood, camping, etc., but never hardcore offroading...nothing you couldn't do stock. I do haul in the bed regularly.

 

I would say do the useful mods first like bedliner / remote start but since you hate the rims maybe you should start looking into what rims you might want. Once you select a rim (and a tire size) that will tell you what suspension mods you will need and if you can get by with just new rims for now or if you need to go ahead and add new tires at the same time.

Use classifieds + craigslist as much as you can to look for good deals. I didn't really have any specific order for my mods I just added whatever was on sale or whatever I found a good deal on at the time until I had the look I was going for. Now I'm finishing off the useful mods such as remote start, sway bar, etc.

 

Thanks. If I upgrade the wheels, I'm upgrading the tires. The tires are as weak looking as the wheels

If I go wheels, I think I would go with the KMC Skitches as they're a rare 8" wheel at +35mm. I like Borla's truck over on TT with this setup. However, if I go down this rabbit hole, I know I want tires. But a highway tread tire is going to look odd on these wheels. I like the KO2s, but I feel like my mileage will drop fast (I'm currently average 15 mpgs). See the conundrum?

 

There's a guy on here selling a set of leather covers (oem) off of his tundra. I think they were grey and appeared to be a reasonable price. Check the marketplace on this forum. I thought about buying them, but my wife thinks leather seats are too hot based on our experience with our other car.

 

What I like to do (which keeps the wife from beating you in your sleep and keeps saving on point for a plot, retirement, etc) is set a monthly allowance and if there's something you really want, save up for it or if you get a nice bonus or income tax, talk about it and agree on a percentage of what you'll take and what goes towards whatever else.

Oh yeah, spend some on your wife. Nothing wrong with a little butter every now and again LOL

 

This is the Tundras.com version of "JUST THE TIP"!

 

If you're cringing everytime you see your wheels, you better start with that. Wheels, tires, lift/level. Then bed liner. Then grille. TRD sway bar?

 

bed liner is a good investment and brings value to the truck as well. I'm partial to Line-X

 

also the Viper alarm system is great. It has remote start too. My friend has it and I keep drooling over it..lol

 

I went with all the small convenient stuff first, although i did have the dealership add leather prior to signing the papers. From there it's been sub $200 stuff. ESP storage (which you don't need in a DC), floor liners, tint, LEDs, decals, USB port, Raptor lights, plastidip bumpers... I'm buying the TRD Grill today though, ha. Deciding if the wife will kill me if I pull the trigger on the Retro Headlights.. ha

 

the interior LEDs is cheap and nice feature to have.

 

Thanks, everyone. Definitely some great points made.

Sent from my Turbo 2.

 

A nice simple mod that costs nothing and adds significantly to available space on your DC is the rear seat back fold down mod. Allows you to get to and use the room behind your rear seat.

 

Save $$, just get heated seat pads. $25 for a pair. Works great!

 

Sometimes it's necessary to ask for forgiveness rather than permission lo l

 

ToyotaTundraMike is right, IMO, to look for deals, sales, craigslist and FB Tundra classifieds etc. I found a great deal on my TRD dual exhaust and Fox shocks through these media. The deals kinda dictated the order of the mods. Best of luck.

 

If you do mostly street/highway driving like I do, the rear sway bar is something you'll notice and love right away. Maybe after new wheels and tires? (I'm a teacher too)

 

Check out this thread. Plenty of ideas there, bud. And welcome from CO!

https://www.tundras.com/threads/diy-mods-tutorials.257/

 

I got a great deal on my trade so I was able to get the bigger mods done very quickly. Once the dust settles, I will see what's up next. Good luck brother!

 

so many mods, so little money....story of my life.

 

Yup! I came in like a boss..new rims,tires,steps,weather techs, esp, viper alarm..now I'm ballin' on a budget...thank God for pay pal