You have a blank canvas 2017 4x4 OR and 3k, what do you do first?

I installed the tires after the lift and only needed to remove the front OEM mud flaps. I probably could have done a melt mod or something but 4WP took them off and I never put them back on. I will say that the truck kinda runs like shit with the bigger tires and almost never goes into 6th gear on the highway. As a result I am averaging around 11-13 mpg . I am about to schedule a re-gear to 4.88. If I did it again I would have done 1 of 2 things.

1) Keep to the stock tire size: The additional height doesn't provide that much more clearance and now needs to be re-geared; that will be like an $800 for tires and $1800 for gearing.

or

2) Go all in: Install 285/70R17 + Cab Mount Chop + Regearing

Then they are re-gearing the truck I'm going to have them do the ECGS bearing, CMC and the 4.88's. At some point after the holidays I will pull off the 275s and install 285's ( I got the tires at 4WP during the march madness sale for $800 OTD).... I have an xterra that needs to tires do will install the 275's on that rig.

 

Wow, that sounds like it's def not worth it with that trouble. Is this expected/normal on a lift? What kind of lift did u do.

I really like the 275/70/17s but heck that kind of trouble is not worth it to pay the cash to lift and put new tires on.

 

I think the main issue is the gearing that Toyota put out with the TRD OR, They geared it towards fuel economy. Stock mine would shift between 5th and 6th while cursing on the highway stock. Bigger E ply tires and the lift didn't make it any better. Because I put the lift and tires on at the same time I don't know if the lift or the tires are at fault for the poor economy. I'm sure its some ratio of the two, but my gut says that the tires made the bigger difference. I installed the OME BP-51's (Link below), Its from a big name (ARB) and wasn't cheap... I think its their flagship suspension kit.

https://www.arb.com.au/products/old-man-emu-4x4-suspension/bp-51/

 

Does it have rails that sit on top of the bedsides? I've been looking for a low key rolling cover, but I don't like the rails that stick up

 

Always recovery.

The stock suspension and tires are fine and will work on easy and moderate trails.

Sliders, front bumper, winch, and a set of maxtrax or Treds will get you in and of more than a suspension and tires will.

 

Grille guard and stash the rest for tires down the road. They don't last forever.

 

A case of this and the rest on a trip to Vegas.

 

5th gear with 33's is similar to 6th gear with stock tires. you won't get any MPG increase with 4.88's. You will get better take-off torque.

 

I have read some of the comments from others that have reported that the 4.88s have helped to restore some of the lost MPG. Although this is not the intent it seems to be a nice side effect. Have you installed 4.88's? If so what have you noticed?

 

No i have not on my 17... keeping stock tires for awhile. I've had experience with gears on older trucks.

If you think about and do the math, doing gears will help with acceleration. Why would it increase fuel economy? It just makes the speedo accurate again - maybe that's how people think they are improving MPG. 5th gear with stock gears vs. 6th gear with 4.88's will be a very similar ratio, so why would it effect MPG at all?

 

No

 

Wheels / Tires / Sliders / Tacoma tailgate letters (+25HP)

 

Tires$800
Sliders$600
Recovery$200
Ome/5100 2" lift $1500

That's $3100. And solid upgrade in performance/capability. Take advantage of black November sales here.

 

Wheels and tires . Don t listen to the people saying leave it alone. That' why you bought a Tacoma ! Mod It Up ! It' your money.

 

I've never done gears before, I have read here on TW that some have commented on their MPG increase. The truck computer is reporting between 11-13pmg.... Maybe it was wishful thinking mixed with a lack of experience. I will report the changes after the 4.88 install next week.

 

I have recently seen a flat black Mercedes AMG and a flat Blue telsa X. I don't know if there were plasti-dip jobs or something else. It looked really damned cool though.

 

Yup.

I'd say start with tires, then add armor - rock sliders and skid plates first. Then look at bumpers. Especially if you aren't doing any crazy rock crawling the stock height will do a fair amount, or bump clearance up an inch or so with new tires.

 

Yes, because the speedometer was off by 15%. When you install your gears, it corrects your speedo, but the actual distance you travel will be very similar. 1st gear will come back to life.

 

Sliders, High lift jack, shovel, recovery points, a snatch em Strap and good long jumper cables. A tire repair kit and decent portable compressor ( I use a superflow MV50). A good gun and something to sleep in.

The truck will go everywhere you want to go unless you really want to go hard core. If you do that it is more important to take another truck with you.

Sliders keep you from paying for expensive mistakes and give you a place to use the high Lift jack. That's the first thing I put on my truck.

 

Tires
Sliders
Armor
Recovery