Hello Taco Folk!

Getting ready to purchase a new 2021 TRD Off-Road Trail Special Edition. This will be my 4th Tacoma and 2nd TRD. I put 250K on my last one before I rolled it and totaled it. I'm gonna load this one with everything. Any thoughts on factory must-haves and a waste of time? Needs to pull an 18' boat. What would you put on this new rig? Money is not an issue. (As long as we're not talking something ridiculous like gold plating or some such nonsense). Just things I can have factory-installed and if not available there, then somewhere on the private market. Sound system? Leveling kit? Lift kit? Rims & Tires? Canopy? Roll Bar? Winch/Brush Guard, 5 or 6 ft. bed? etc., etc. The color will be black. How would you build this truck? I live in Oregon, am retired, and an avid outdoorsman. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Wayne

 

Welcome to TW Wayne!

I would get an OEM bed mat and some better 265/75/16 AT tires if you are into the outdoors. Also LT tires seem to do better if you are planning on towing.

Stock off road taco is plenty capable, you might not even need a lift to take you to places you need. Maxtrax are fantastic for those solo trips.

Here is my truck, maybe that will give you some ideas. Great color choice by the way!

Good luck!

 

I'd just option out the off-road w/tech, sunroof, heated seats, all that stuff. Having a 5ft bed myself, sometimes I wish I got the 6. On the sound system you can search on here and see where people have swapped out the factory speakers for Kickers _ I did that and it sounds awesome. I stuck with a 2017, the newer models added in more stuff like the adaptive cruise or lane departure and I was just afraid it would mess up off-roading and cost too much $$ to fix. Also, get the Ov Tune done.

 

Money no option and want to pull your 18’ boat and maybe double axel trailer and your bigger tires and stuff and more stuff....I’d do some research on a top quality, well known engine rebuild shop and have that engine pulled. Rebore the cylinders, upgrade valves and springs and higher velocity cooling system and maybe an upgrade cam if they make them, THEN put on the super charger.

(edit add on’s)
Your engine will be better built and tuned than factory, it’ll handle the HP and heat increase better. Also, regear the diffs.)

 

Just buy the OR loaded up, get the Ovtune and a supercharger. You're done until you need tires.

 

Your suspension/tire/wheel is just on point. Beautiful truck

 

Thank you ma'am! Its actually just stock sport suspension with 265/70/17 tires. Gets me anywhere i need to go

 

Welcome to TW!

 

Unless you don't care too much about how your truck looks, don't get black - you'll be washing & polishing after every drive. Just MHO.
I opted for an Access Cab, 6 foot bed. A Leer cap is on the way. I don't need or want the extra cab space that a Double Cab offers, AND I wanted the 6 foot bed without the extra wheelbase length of a Double Cab long bed.
You don't say what your boat & trailer tips the scales at, so towing capability and its impact on payload capacity needs to be examined. A brake controller will be a must have.
Sun roof - why put another hole in the cab that offers more places for water to intrude and lowers the 'ceiling' height?
Factory tires ain't that bad - run 'em until you need new ones and then upgrade.
All of the other goodies you mention add weight and reduce GCVWR, which will affect towing capacity. Your call on the impact.
The factory build ain't too shabby. I went with a 6-speed auto from a 6-speed manual - the 'gear hunting' that folks bitch about is nowhere near as objectionable as they mention. One has to remember that the 3.5V6 has a higher rpm power band than the 4.0V6 in my '06 TRD.

Those are my thoughts. I'm your age or older. I care about function more than building a truck to impress others. Don't much care what others think. My plan is to add mods as I get convinced that they'll be useful for MY needs.

 

BTW, Welcome to TW!

 

Excellent band!

Well, except for that radio gaga song...

 

So here's a serious answer. Everyone builds theirs differently. The people that build theirs twice are the ones that start modding right out of the gate, and usually its based on threads like these where everyone else tells them what the "must haves" are.

If you want to spend money without wasting money, where you build it once and you build it right, I suggest driving the truck stock for a while. Let your habits and use tell you what you need. Ignore what I, a rando screaming yahoo, has to say about your truck and what you should have.


But first, buy a bed mat.

 

I'll second that thought!
BTW I did get a bed mat - almost a no-brainer to me.

 

oh wow. from pics looks much more lifted!

I just did a calculation between yours and mine.

 

Yes, once i removed the damn air dam and installed an inch bigger tires, it really made a difference!

 

If you are an avid outdoorsman and plan to off road the crap out of it, I would definitely stay away from black. My desert sand OR is the first non black pickup I’ve had in over 20 years for precisely that reason.

 

Welcome to the forum fellow Oregonian! As others have said just get a bed mat and then go play. Mod as you discover what would serve you better such as more aggressive tires. If you plan off road adventures I’d suggest Maxtrax traction boards, a shovel and axe on board and a small air compressor.

 

Welcome to TW, these are fun trucks to have!