Wisconsin Tacomas and bad financial advice

Bed rack and overland tent will probably set you back about 3-5k based on my research. Tents are stupid expensive for the nice ones.

 

Gears. Get em.

$34 coleman tent from Wally world works just fine.

 

Welcome!

As @hotdog-taco pointed out, tires and armor are great investments!

A bed-rack will allow you to mount a RTT lower than if it were on a cap, so this will help with the fuel economy.

 

Very True on the gas mileage lol!

 

I know I need to re-gear.

as for tents I’m talking about the rooftop tents that go on overland rack / bars that everyone and their Uncle has in Moab.

 

Yeah I feel that. I am a very avid pheasant hunter so I love topper to keep the wind off the dogs. But you are right about the topper.

 

You guys are regearing for 32" tires?

I'm on 285/70/17's and no problem. I'm also getting up to 18 MPG highway, usually 16 around town.

Weird.

 

I suppose the standard peasant tent that goes on the ground will do as well. LOL!

 

The topper will be ok as well. You might want to get a tent you can remove easy enough to not run around with it all the time. Just put it on for trips.

Or, set up your shell as a sleeper.

 

Only if you’re 4’ 8” or have a 6 foot bed lol

 

I know so many choices what to do. But think I would take it off and just put it on for weekend trips and etc.

 

I guess if you’re over 6’ you’re screwed for sleeping in the truck bed.

Unless you’re wasted after a night on water street and sleep with the tailgate down in the summer.

 

I am leaning towards a long bed or do you guys think its not needed. Really need some input on this before I sign the dotted line.

 

Everyone and their uncle also drives automatic JKUs in flip-flops at Moab

Nope. I'm just saying if he has a bunch of weight andbig tires and he's getting 14 miles per gallon, he might think about regearing. since I'm in a manual I should be good through 33s unless I add a substantial amount of weight, but even with my 32's and armor everywhere, I'm still netting 22 mpg average tank. Most likely I'll eventually regear to 4.88s... But that's a ways off.

6 ft bed is worth it, especially if you're doing a topper. Makes camping and hauling things so much nicer.

 

Do you have kids? Take that into consideration. Taco not the best kid hauler.

We have one child and just make it work with the 5 foot, but man I wish a had a real truck with an 8’ bed sometimes.

 

Welcome dude!

Just my opinion here, but take it slow with modifications, assuming you'll go through with the purchase. Arguably the most useful, everyday things I've added have been all-weather floor mats, door sill protectors, and a mat for the bed.

Take your truck out stock (barring icy conditions, with your stock tires) and get to know it. We've had plenty of people go off pavement, bone stock, without issue.

That said, arguably the best initial upgrade you can make will be a quality set of all-terrain tires and some basic recovery/emergency gear. Our discussions about armor, racks, gears, suspension, etc. are all well and good, but it can be very easy to think you "need" thousands of dollars in mods to go camping/wheeling when, in reality, you may not.

 

Everyone thinks that..until they’ve done it and see how much of a pain it is.

personally I’d get a good ground tent that’s quick to set up. You can get a real nice one and save a few grand plus a while lotta weight.

 

They make tents that extend past the cap, and you can lay down the tailgate. That gives you over 6' with a short bed, I think.

Agreed with @CygnusX191 . I would go long bed if I bought another Taco.

 

This.100%. Everything here is so true.

Also say goodbye to your money now.

 

^what he said. I’ve been all over in my fairly stock truck. These trucks are very capable right off the lot.

some AT tires and a compressor is more than sufficient to start with