Help me surprise my husband!

My husband will be home soon from deployment, and I really want to have some work done to his Tacoma to surprise him.

The truck is a 2013 Tacoma Limited. It’s 100% stock aside from a new 2” leveling kit on the front. As far as use, it has never and will never see anything but pavement.

We loved the limited for the features, but now he’s super jealous of his friend’s TRD, so I want to make his look more youthful. He already needs tires, so I’m thinking I’ll upgrade his tires and wheels for him. But I’m pretty much clueless, and while I know I can go to a Discount Tire or whatever, I like to have an idea of what I’m doing beforehand.

Wheels: the Limited has stock 18”. I don’t really want to go any smaller. I love the look of the DX4 7S, but for some reason, every website is saying those won’t fit his truck. I can’t figure why. 6x139.7 bolt pattern. 18x9. 25mm offset. What’s the issue here? I don’t understand where the problem is, so if someone could please explain that...

Tires: of course dependent on the wheel, but I like the Falken Wildpeak at3w (a friend has them and highly recommends) but again, if I’m missing something please let me know.

I know basically nothing about any of this despite lots of research, so please steer me in a good direction!! Thanks!

 

Welcome to TW

@Discount Tire

 

Welcome to TW. Someone will chime in.

 

....I mean there’s so many other great things you could do for him rather than mess with his truck. It’s such a hit or miss thing. I don’t dare give advice on how to surprise-mod another man’s truck.

I think you underestimate just how happy he’ll be to be home with family. I wouldn’t venture too far out of stereo or wheel territory.

 

+25 offset is for the Chevy trucks with that offset on the tacoma you'll hit the UCA/spindle with the tire and possibly the frame at full lock. You can get them and then get 1" or bigger spacers to put them to a 0 offset so to speak. If you go more spacer then it'll be like running a negative offset wheel.

Hub bore may also be a reason but usually aftermarket wheels in this lug pattern bore the wheels out to the yota bore size since it's the larges for that lug pattern so they can fit the widest variety of vehicles.

 

I was really happy to come home to my truck having a fresh wax and inside wiped down.

 

Welcome to TW

 

I definitely should’ve touched on that. He knows I’m “messing with” his truck and he’s super excited. He’s not the type who would ever do it for himself, but he wants it done. He’s suggested that I let my sister (who has done a couple of great Jeep builds) modify his truck. I’m 100% positive that he’ll be thrilled. I do get the concern, however, as I would be completely pissed if anyone messed with my vehicle — but he’s totally different.

 

Don't touch his truck. Instead, cook him a nice dinner and discuss truck mods with your husband over dinner.

 

Have him come back to his truck with 4 flat tires. Then show him where you had the onboard air compressor mounted

 

Do it!!!!! This could be like your version of the TV show overhaulin'.

A group of us got together and built a 68 camaro for one of the guys BIL. Now this is dating back to the early 2000s and Afghanistan and Iraq just kicked off he was deployed for almost 3 yrs. fighting overseas. So we stole his car and built it for him. Thankfully we got sponsorships from some really great companies along the way. This was also when Overhaulin' was huge and companies were all about that stuff for the soldiers.

 

Thanks! I’ve had the maintenance done. It’ll be detailed and I had the front windows tinted to match the back, which he’s said he wants. Unfortunately, we’ll only be seeing each other for a few days once he’s “home”, so I’m sure we’ll go somewhere fun! Thanks for the suggestions

 

For starters, you sound like every man’s dream wife. Good job! As many others have stated, applying mods to a guys truck can be tricky as some of us are picky. Besides the detail, snag him some brighter LED interior lights. This will make the cab seem much more appealing and “newer”. Here’s a link:

$18 iBrightstar Super Bright LED Bulbs Package Kit Accessories Fit for Toyota Tacoma 2005-2021 Interior Map Dome Lights + Vanity Mirror Lights + License Plate Lights + Back Up Reverse Lights, White

https://www.amazon.com/iBrightstar-...&sr=8-6#aw-udpv3-customer-reviews_feature_div

 

Picking out wheels is like picking out a suit. You might like one thing and he may like the other. Maybe he won’t mind what you pick, but it’s not something I would really want to risk. I would agree with the others. Do something else for a surprise and maybe have a sit down and come up with something together.

 

Having been deployed many times over, I would recommend getting some insights from his fellow service members on deployment with him. You’re husband would’ve disclose some of this MODS he’d been dreaming about.

 

He doesn’t off-road, not a big need for a compressor

 

If you’re willing to drop down to a 17” wheel, check these out: https://www.stealthcustomseries.com/

 

Lots more choices in the 17" realm and better/more tire choices too.

 

All great suggestions.

I have talked to one of his best friends (from a previous ship, the TRD taco owner) and I’ve run things by him and will continue to do so.

I wish I had a better way of explaining my husband’s personality, but even given the chance to choose his own wheels, he’d ask me what I’d pick. (I even picked out the truck to begin with...) I have asked his opinion on ones we’ve seen out and about, so I’m taking that into account, of course. He doesn’t know a lot about things like this (he grew up in a different country and wasnt ever exposed to modified vehicles until he came around my redneck family, haha) but he’s told me what he likes. I’m confident that he’ll not just be okay with whatever I choose. He’s a wonderful man who never does anything for himself, so if I don’t do it while he’s gone, he’ll find something else to spend the money on...I’d rather do something nice for him.

 

I have noticed that there are tons more options with 17”...definitely something to consider.