New to the Low Lux Life

Hello all,

Reformed, I suppose, Ranger guy here, just bought a 2015 Taco, 4cyl., 2WD, Access Cab. Light silver, whatever the Big T calls that color. With the tiny 4 spares Toyota put on it, I call it the "Low Lux".

So, as introduction, a bit about me: I've been a Ford man since way back. An '84 Mercury Lynx (same thing as an Escort) nearly cured me of that (major POS) but a brand new at the time '90 Ranger was the start of a line of Fords that lasted up until a month and a week ago. At long last, Ford abandoned me in favor of big profit on big trucks few purchasers ever really use. I loved my '11 Ranger and it is now in retirement with a friend. I have visitation rights.

I work out of my truck and play in my truck. I pile miles on. 5 weeks into my Taco and it has 3400 miles on it. Yeah. I must say, this Tacoma rides better than any truck I've ever driven before. Smooth. Quiet, even at interstate speeds. Nice seats. Responsive for a 4 banger.

So far, I've put in a BedRug and a Thule Xsporter rack. A word of warning about the Xsporter. It is built strong and it will fit the Tacoma but only with an adapter kit that's an extra $50. But, it will not adjust up and down as it is supposed to do. The sides of the Taco bed interfere with the travel on the stanchions. I've cut it down to size some and may cut it some more. The photo of it attached shows the Xsporter as far down as it will adjust and that's after cutting 5 inches off the stanchions.

Planned: Wheels, of course. These absurd donuts they put on it have to go. Since I have to work out of this thing, I'm staying stock size or at most one size up. I want to add a "gap guard" thing available online to cover some of the open space around the back wheels, if it can fit a 2WD truck. Billet grill, fog lights (mostly because I hate those plastic knock outs in the bumper), stereo improvements (there's a sub between the rear jumper seats right now but it isn't yet hooked to anything). Oh yeah, I'm going to plasti dip the rocker area black to cover the unsightly spot welds there. Some other things but nothing too crazy.

My truck is my partner in crime, my transport to trails for me and Beast (my mountain bike), my ride of choice for "date night" with my wife (she's got a Fusion but I'm just not a car guy and she doesn't care, of course), my office, my source of income and one of the ways I find what's around the next corner.

200K or bust.

R.I.P. Ranger