Hello! Please help me deck out my new ride!

To whomever is reading this: I can tell you about the water pump issues in late 90's Volkswagens, the thermostat and head gasket problems in 2.5 early 2000s Subarus, and the ignition recalls in mid-2000s Jeep Commanders BUT I know nothing about my new 2016 Tacoma. Please help me learn the quirks.
I see notes about the tailgate locking thing. I need help here. I do photography for a living and travel with my gear. With 3 dogs, leaving my gear in the back seat just won't do. What I bought has a soft tonneau cover but that seems like somebody could cut it and grab my stuff easy. So I was looking at the hard covers . . . how does that inhibit what I can haul? The bed seems super tiny so I don't expect to be hauling my building supplies in the bed so what's the verdict on a tall rack system? And which one? I build things (like rental houses) so I tend to have random things on my roof often. But this roof is shorter than a Jeep or Subaru so I'd imagine I need something from the bed and then on the roof too. But I don't want a ladder rack. I also saw the slider drawers. Who has those and would they hold a rifle case (my light stands live in a rifle case for easy transport).
And beyond the stuff to haul stuff, what do I need to know about any engine quirks or notorious things that go wrong. Every vehicle has something, I just want to be prepared. Anybody have a manual? Any clutch issues? I'm finally coming back to a proper transmission instead of these damn automatics I was forced to have for the last 4 years.

Thanks strangers!!

 

It’s junk. Go ahead and just give it to me. I have a 1999 Mitsubishi gallant to trade you.

 

Welcome to TW!

Check out the decked system https://decked.com/pages/midsize. Strong enough to carry heavy items on and locking ability to store your camera gear. With a locked tailgate it would be very secure. Lots of options for bed racks but you'd probably want a roof rack also and have them matching height so its a smooth transition between the 2.

 

Welcome!

 

I'd love to add photos . . . but it won't be delivered till next week. I missed the transport truck by a few hours and just don't have time to run 4 states over to get it. Photos next week. Promise. 'Cause he's a handsome truck; long, dark, and mean looking! I'll check out that link. Appreciate it!

 

Hey! I'm new as well but I have had my taco for a couple months and have been online window shopping heavily. I'm in a near identical situation of being a photographer but I, on the other hand, only have one dog. Still, I have been looking at bed rack systems, soft canopies, and hard canopies. I'm not purchasing yet but I think I made up my mind as of 10 minutes ago. I really wanted a bed rack at first but changed my mind due to the fact not many racks out there can just be slapped on along with a bed cover. Usually one of them needs additional modifications. So I nearly went hard canopy due to the fact its still very secure, can fit everything inside but still have a tent on top. As of 10 minutes ago though, I found these guys (https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/max-modular-bed-racks-by-kb-voodoo.562144/) and they make a bracket to fit a bed cover with their rack. So I think I am going with that.

 

Acceptable. Most will tell you good choice with the Manual. I went Auto for reasons and it sure is different. These truck have to rev high if you need power the peak at max power around 4.5k RPM. I'd would have loved a manual but cant have one as my DD.

 

I run a KBvoodoo mid rack. Its a nice product but I have experienced and read about others also having issues with poor powder coating. I've had mine a year or so and in areas that I never scratched or damaged the powder is flaking off and is now rusting. I need to sand it down and repaint it.

 

Welcome!

 

Ah, might have to look into that. Don't want to hijack this guy's thread too much but I am going to be admiring your build thread for a bit now.

 

Dude! We need to be friends! Oh, and get more dogs, life is short. I saw those racks but am not sure. I think I could have my welder make me something specific for those prices. Let me know how it goes if you get that style rack. There is a guy in town that has the hard cover with all his gear mounted on top. Looks badass. But there isn't tall enough parts if you do the larger tent. My brother has one of those on-the-top tents for his family. It's freaking sweet! I so want that too, but I need to fire myself from work first for the time off to justify it.

 

Can't just use an acid etch pen and piss can it? I'm in the salty winter roads of Michigan and am REALLY hard on gear, so I'm totally going to scratch powder coat.

 

KB only sells it powder coated. Still a nice rack and I'll just sand it down and rattle can it like my skids, sliders and front bumper. I also need to tear it apart from a tree that jumped out behind me a few months ago. It took a couple bends that are easily fixable. I didnt even noticed the bends until I removed it from my truck a couple months ago.

What Part of Michaigan are you from? I used to go up there every winter when I lived in Cinci for the NAIAS in detroit.

 

The pinky finger. If you know Michigan, you know we express where we are from by pointing to places on our hand . . . Detroit is like another country from up here. We are the sportsman side of the state. With killer beaches, low crime, and too many tourists.

 

Welcome to TW!

 

Welcome

 

Welcome to TW!!

 

Welcome and congrats on your M/T Tacoma!

 

We now offer aluminum racks that solve the problem of corrosion in salty environments. Steel will rust in certain areas, no matter how it's coated:

https://www.max-modular.com/shop-max-modular/

 

Welcome, we need some pics of the truck!