Most Controversial Thread Since Oil Threads

This is a subjective thread, and I hope everyone stays friendly.

I have a 2014 TRD Sport.

I bought the truck as a reliable means to get to and from work (~42 each way through a notoriously snowy gulch in CO, from Monument to Centennial). I do not have to make that drive anymore. Here lately I only drive about 15-20 miles in a day, but it IS a daily driver and needs to be competent and comfortable on the road.

The truck appealed to my inner kid as it has a lift (I presume a 2") and a size up in tires with aftermarket wheels. It also has a fiberglass top with a Yakima Aero rack system installed, as well as some step rails (unfortunately they are not true rock sliders as I'd thought... I should have done a quicker inspection I guess). Those are really the only mods that I'm aware of; everything else looks factory. I do have a warranty for a couple of more years, so that may be something to consider as we get into this discussion.

I have ~$3,500 to put into the truck should I so desire. I'd like to get into some fairly mild to moderate overlanding and overnight-3 night camping excursions in the mountains. I would expect that this truck would be heading to Moab and the like (think ~8 hours from my home) via highway. I'm not interested in making the truck and extreme crawler because it also does truck things (hauling the odd construction materials/etc.).

There are a couple of things I KNOW I want, and some suggestions on the best quality for lowest cost is always welcome. For example, I KNOW I want/need more lighting as I only have the factory lighting right now (and one of my fog/driving lights is toast due to a poor bulb seal that has led to the housing getting trashed). I *could* spend $500 on a decent set of lights, but I could also replace some *pretty dang good* LED systems several times for that cost. I'd rather do the latter.

I'm also interested in the possibility of adding locking diffs, which I know would increase my overlanding capabilities but perhaps that's just more than I need if I'm adding other recovery gear.

Things I think I'll almost certainly add:

• Additional exterior lighting: light bar for the front and/or LED pods, side lighting, and a rear flood
• Replace basket with a flat carrier for the roof of the topper
• Snorkel
• Diff breather relocator
• Forward looking camera
• HAM (or similar) communications systems, either hard-mounted or handheld... yes I realize this is a can 'o worms.

 

Id add a hidden winch for when you're 8 hours from home alone. A nice baja designs light bar or even better two baja designs sae fogs. Then id get good recovery gear max trax, straps and what not.

 

Sliders.


I would get a better roof rack if you really want. Also a good purchase is an air compressor or some means to air your tires back up. That will eat all your budget between those three items.

Then as you offroad more, buy what you want/ need. Also, wheeling with others helps see what works, what doesnt, and what is pointless. Good luck and happy shopping!

 

For your lighting desires, just do the Ultimate Headlight Upgrade and add a set of Diode Dynamics SS3 fogs - either the Sport, Pro or Max versions. (All are great, some are awesome.)

The ultimate headlight upgrade H4 (not LED or HID) | Tacoma World

The LED SAE J583 Fog Pod & Fog Light Review | Tacoma World

 

I agree with the DD ss3s. Love mine!

 

I would start with items you need before want.

Armor:
Get it. I would recommend skids and sliders to start, upgrade to bumpers as you see fit (winch mounting location?). If either going, or not going with a bumper, make sure you have front recovery points. Whether that's built into the bumper, or the off road frame mounted hook. Get something that's rated for the potential abuse.

Locker:
I recommend a winch first. Winches can get you out of a lot of shit, while lockers get you into a lot of shit. Especially with little experience. In my opinion, if you have a locker, you should already have a winch.

Snorkel/Diff Breather:
Are you going to be traversing lots of dirt/dusty roads but no water crossings above your air box? Skip the snorkel, clean your filter every morning. Save $250-500. (add it to wants)

Diff breather is a requirement and cheap insurance. (<$20)

Camera:
Forward looking camera? Use a spotter. At the beginning you shouldn't be doing anything "extreme" alone. (add it to wants)

Cargo Capacity:
If it ain't broke, don't fix it. I would keep the basket until your needs are fulfilled, then spend the remaining budget on wants/cosmetics.

Radio/Coms:
Go with a CB radio, 90% of the people that have radios that you'll encounter use CB's, not HAM. If you are a HAM operator/licensed, get both. Just prioritize CB over HAM.

Camp Lighting:
Totally subjective. Buy the best quality your budget can afford. However, don't go overboard. Love(sarcasm) seeing those people with a bajillion lights surrounding their rigs totally lighting up a campsite. I camp to enjoy the stars, fire, grilling and beer. Fuck off with all that illumination. But you do you.

Drive Lighting:
Buy the best quality your budget can afford. I recommend either a combination of spots and flood lights, or start with an affordable combo flood/spot and add or change according to your needs. Ditch lights optional to required depending on how much offroading at night you actually end up doing.

Recovery Gear:
Didn't see this listed, but I would suggest a complete set of straps, kinetic ropes, shackles, limb savors, etc. Don't forget about tire repair too. A decent plug kit with a compressor can be a life saver. You don't need a fancy mounted one to start with either, a basic 12VDC that you can throw under your seat or in a tote works just as well, just not as fast as the top dollar branded ones (looking at you ARB).


I advocate that you start with basic recovery gear and a buddy and after the first few trips see what you're lacking. Add and change items between your wants/needs as you see fit. I see a lot of "influencers" and TW members that go all Gucci with their shit buying the best of the best to mostly run dirt roads and camp a few weekends a year because overlanding has turned into a fad. Most overlanding can be accomplished with a stock rig. I recommend you peruse the build thread and see what the people who actually use their vehicles use and adapt that to your anticipated application. But, most importantly take this list with a grain of salt. It is 100% opinionated by a long time TW lurking, youtube watching, keyboard warrior.

 

Man, that's a great response! Thank you VERY much for taking the time to write this up. I've embedded my responses in your answer; I've already consumed too much of your time, but if you have more in you, feel free to expound on my answers.

Yup, that's on my first-to-do list; I just forgot to mention it. Good call!

That right there just sounds like solid advice. The only reason I was thinking a locker(s) is for general safety in snow/loose stuff and yanking other vehicles out. While the latter can certainly be done with a winch, the former seemed like good self-rescue/recovery where no anchors might be present. 100% a locker will not replace the external capabilities of a winch.

After doing some quick maintenance after a just a couple of trips up my most common trail (dirt road) I discovered an absolutely staggering amount of dust and debris in my previously clean air filter. Plus, while it is technically a 'want' I really like the way they look and as this is also a daily driver, I think I can give myself at least one 'want' on my list

100%. I may get to that this weekend. I was looking at the ARB option but at $70 it seemed a little nuts for something that's effectively a check valve on a tube. I think other options would work better (or at least as good) for a fraction of the cost, and on that note, it would seem that keeping the breathe tube as high as possible would be the ticket

I don't generally have a spotter or a co-driver. Plus, it helps when I'm moving the car around the garage or in tight parking areas; sounds weird but that's just a normal part of the Taco's current duties and is more of a need than it probably seems to most. You'll have to trust me on this one, so if you know of a good system that won't break the bank, I'm all ears.

This is another thing that is more complex than it seems. I can't remember the system, but the 'flat modular platform' systems would be hugely advantageous for me. The current basket touches and rubs the seal on my garage and is the absolute maximum; if I overpressure my tires it will actually rubs HARD on the way into the garage. Having the ability to quickly carry a canoe, fly rods, or other odd gear would be a big deal for me, and not having that extra height gives me more of a safety margin in the garage; all I have to do is roll over something someone left laying around and I've pulled my garage door off. This one is nearly mandatory, if for my heart and nerves than no other reason.

Most of the HAM options give you a lot more juice than a CB and almost all of them will operate down in the CB spectrum; two-for-one. I'm a USAF electronics/avionics tech in a prior life so a license isn't any big deal; I just need to do it. With that said, I think handhelds are probably the first order of business simply for the rare event that I am out with another driver or the rarer event of having a spotter. As this is also the SHTF vehicle (coupled with my wife's 2019 4Runner) having communication between vehicles that doesn't rely on cell towers is nearly necessary; though to be sure that's tangential to the Taco discussion at hand... yes, I know I brought it up but primarily to find a good hard-mount option and to see if that was even advisable vs. the handhelds.

The 'around the truck' lighting is in a very similar vein to the forward camera; I find myself in really tight places and needing to be well illuminated to avoid damage/injury. My thoughts are ditch lights and side lights (floods) on the top, toward the back of the truck. I'm 100% with you when I'm camping; if it isn't from the campfire or a small head light/handheld, I'm not interested. When I'm camping, I'm out there to get away from distractions and 'modern convenience' (to include lights).

Referencing my former electronics: Most of the difference in quality is in the housings and testing. I've seen some really expensive lights that might last a lifetime but throw garbage light, and some really cheap ones that have great light but garbage housings. IMO there are places for cheap lights (like side lighting) and places for more refined lights (driving/forward flood/fog). Typically, one light will not do two things as good as two lights which are purpose specific. Some cheap(er) amber fogs will probably augment a more expensive/developed set of driving lights.

Yup, recovery gear is in there (or was added, I kept editing as things popped into my head), and this is #1 (or maybe 1.5 after drive lighting). I have a little compressor and a tire repair kit I keep, though I wonder if there aren't more offroad-centric tire repair kits than the generic plug kit (think autozone) that I currently have; again, open to suggestions here). I have several tie-down straps and a couple of very stout ratchet straps (same as I would have used to tie down cargo on my C-130s. I do need to get a couple of snatch blocks and appropriate cable (another area where I'm not sure what's good/worthwhile and I'm open to suggestion from those who know). Limb risers for sure (that's on the short list and I can fab those for just a few bucks).

MaxTrax seem to be the king of the game, however the Amazon offerings sure seem near enough to make zero difference; provided they're of similar or superior material, the physics is all the same. The MT options seem to be extra $$$ though. Worth it?

There's a 4x4/rescue/recovery group here in Monument and I finally have some time to actually get involved with them as we get a lot of snow and this is an aging population (emergency trips, etc are common requirements here). I appreciate the grain of salt there; it shows objectivity and I have a lot of respect for that. My idea is to keep the rig as modest as possible. My world gets VERY dark at night and additional light/camera is near mandatory. My garage, for whatever reason, is a bit short so the roof platform is a load off my mind to save the inevitable costly repair. I carry a little decent compressor for a host of reasons. I carry a rather well equipped medical kit (in addition to electronics, I was also a first aid/SABC instructor with a bunch of advanced med training and worked with the hospital frequently. If I'm being utterly honest, I could probably buy a clapped out Subaru and do some rewarding overlanding, but I also love the way my Taco looks and like the idea of also being a reliable 'project car' (which I don't currently have). I don't mind over-building it a bit just for the joy of seeing a cool looking truck that satisfies the 10 year old boy in me. I suppose I'm straddling the line between want/need but that's okay too; a few of both with a focus on the former sounds like a good, rewarding plan. Hopefully I'll get all of both before too terribly long.

 

You done opened more than one can of worms

 

Go big or go home, right?

 

This man, wise words.



I was going to suggest torsen differentials, that may not be a popular opinion though. I like the wide useability range (functional on and off road without user input), little to no maintinance requirements beyond gear oil changes, and I think the working principles are cool (albiet irrelevant for practical application).

 

If I was getting paid minimum wage for all the hours I have spent digging my dumb ass self out of something stupid I could have winched out of in minutes I could have bought the most bas ass warn winch set up twice over.

Get a winch they're worth it. I don't know why I fought it for so long.

 

I see no controversy here!

I think you need a Jeep

 

Put your $3500 into a low fee S&P500 index fund.

 

For communications, Go with ham. I can testify how useful ham radio has been for me many times.... From using my handheld while backpacking the CDT (Continental Divide Trail) to getting help in the backcountry while elk hunting. At home, using HF frequencies, I have made contact with scientist doing research at the South Pole. For a mobile dual band hard-mount rig(VHF/UHF), You can go expensive (Icom or Yaesu), or go cheap (a Chinese copy).... either will work. Handhelds: I'm now carrying a $29 Baofeng chinese radio when on foot (as apposed to my $500 Yeasu)..... and it doesn't matter if I lose it or drop it over the side of the boat. The license is ridiculously easy to get now.... the Tech license only has 35 basic questions.

 

I was looking for controversy and just found a thread with questions and answers that have been addressed at nauseum.

 

You're probably thinking about the Decked platforms, or something similarly ExPosexual. I'd recommend making something out of plywood. It will be lighter, cheaper and you'll lose less space. One of the guys I've worked with has installed two Decked systems for friends. He says they're neat but not nearly as efficient as you'd think. He'll help install them, but he won't install one on his own truck. Payload on these trucks is crap. No sense in going with something heavier than it needs to be.

ARB makes a tire repair kit that has some nicely made tools in it. Not sure that there's much of a difference between the other parts of it and cheaper kits. Keep an eye on your compressor, especially if it comes with one of those plastic coiled air hoses. Mine looked fine until I pulled the hose out of the bag to use it and it promptly disintegrated. Wound up mounting a compressor in my bed side and plumbing it to a quick-connect on my rear bumper. I have a 25' air hose that can reach all 4 tires + the tires on the trailer, or all 4 tires on a truck parked alongside me.

 

I was able to build up my 2nd gen on a pretty tight budget; buying stuff used, and waiting for sales. The things that I need and use every time I wheel are my full skid plates, sliders, and my steel bumpers. HC rear comes in clutch very often. My rear locker is next on the list.

 

That's interesting. They're all the rage here in CO, and they look like nothing but advantage (and I'd assumed they were significantly lighter; they certainly could be engineered to be so... I may just wind up making my own out of C-channel aluminum). I'd have thought the aero advantage and potential to spread a longer longitudinal distance would have been present with those designs. I may be going into business... LOL

Yup, the compressor I have is just barely a consumable and not expected to do a lot of work for tires (but I'll kill it as I see fit). Ultimately I'll get a much more capable one and hard-plumb to each side (if not each corner and rear) with QD fittings. For now, I'm rolling the dice and I know it, but I want to take my time and make sure I have something that works very well for future applications that I can also swap or easily pull if needed for failure in tubing or compressor side, or for off-truck use.

 

Re-reading your earlier post, I think I got my thoughts crossed. You're talking about roof racks I'm thinking about bed storage. Carry on

 

Put the money in a savings account,your truck doesnt need anything !