Most Important Mods?

Just like the title says, what are the most important mods to have to make a Tacoma even more off-road capable/reliable? I have a mostly stock 2019 DCSB TRDOR, and already have bolt on sliders, some recovery gear (tow strap, shackles, hi-lift jack, & basic tools), and plan on getting some good AT tires next in 265/75/16. What should I do after that? And because I know someone will ask, I mostly plan on using my truck to go camping, take some “aggressive” fire roads, and some light to moderate trails. TIA.

 

Armor for gas tank and skids up front. They add a lot of weight and will lead to a suspension upgrade.

The tacoma offroad really is capable stock with a good set of tires and sliders. I'd say drive it as is and find out yourself what you need.

Personally my biggest wish was the "rear locker anytime mod" for the trails when I had my O/R

 

The most important mod to make your Tacoma more capable and reliable right now is driver experience (I'd guess, since nearly all of us have trucks that are more capable than their drivers).

Your truck as it currently sits, and especially with AT tires, is more than capable of everything you mentioned and more. Get out there and enjoy the experience. If you get uncomfortable or find a place where you're pushing the limits (of the driver or the truck) and figure out from there, what more you need.

Mod-ing this way will save you so much money, and give you such a better (more tailored) result, that it's not even funny.

Stay safe out there, and HAVE FUN!

 

The nut behind the wheel.

Invest more in driving time than all that cool looking crap you see on instagram.

Aside from basic safety gear, you don't "need" any of that stuff.

The more you drive, and the more experience you gain, you'll be able to tell exactly what you actually need based on your skill level and the types of trails you drive.

Tires, lift, sliders, or skids. None of that make you a better driver.

 

My vote would be split between a locker and a winch. Lockers will put you places you never thought you would go.

 

based on your needs, you probably have enough recovery gear as it is. Only thing I would add to it is traction boards and shovel.

I would add armor under the body, suspension, and a portable air compressor. Armor to protect from deeper than expected ruts and kicked up rocks, suspension to support the added weight, and air compressor for obvious reasons, because taking fire roads at on-road PSIs is basically self-inducing a seizure at full mental capacity.

That being said, I'll parrot what other posters have said in here. Take your truck out to the trails, and see what you actually need. You may not want to take harder or rockier trails that might need a lift or skids to pass. Buy once, cry once applies here, but also don't buy things you really don't need. Or you'll just rue the funds you could have used towards mods you actually do need.

 

Find a compromise between what you actually "need" and what you really "want. We all like modding out our trucks, it's addicting, but at some point it starts to get silly.

 

I already have the factory rear locker, and don’t really want a front locker due to how they can damage the IFS/Front axles. Plus, MTS can kind of mimic a front locker. As for the winch, I would eventually like to get one, but I feel that it might also give me a false sense of security too early on.

Traction boards are definitely on my short list, probably followed by a front skid to start.

In regards to improving 4x4 driving skills, does anyone recommend a school or class, or just time behind the wheel and off the paved roads on my own and with friends?

 

I would try to find some experienced guys and started riding with them some. Learn how to tackle certain things off the road.

 

Front lockers don't break IFS. Plenty of people have them and don't break stuff. Plenty of people withOUT front lockers break stuff too. It's more about how you drive, and knowing when to and use it and when not to.

As for classes and what not, that's a regional thing. You can just google off road driving classes in your area, and there's more than likely a club nearby or something. But honestly, just heading out with friends, or better yet, other more experienced drivers (joining a club is great for that) is the most practical option. Those driving courses tend to be expensive. Also, there's always forum members going out wheeling, most of us are pretty cool people (except that @Kwikvette, can't trust a guy with a 4runner ).

There's no replacement for seat time.

As for the winch, how would having safety equipment give you a false sense of security? I don't really understand that line of thinking. Do you not carry a first aid kit for the same reason?

Traction boards: depending on where you go wheeling, they really aren't necessary, IMO. I've done quite well stacking logs or rocks I find nearby. I've used floor mats in the sand. Those expensive bright orange ones sure do look cool mounted on an overlander rack, tho.

What ever you get, make sure you know how to use it properly. Winches, jacks and all that stuff CAN be dangerous if misused. Anything that you don't know how to use properly is not safe.

Another benefit of going with friends is that all you need is a tow/snatch strap (in most situations). If you go alone, get a winch for sure.

 

More on road than off road, but a dash cam (front and rear).

 

Most important mods?

Seat time.

Seat time seat time seat time.

I'm having this same conversation with another member off the forum and continue to remind him that experience will get you by a lot.

Quality tires, with the ability to air down and back up is probably the best mod you can do (purchase-wise).

Tacoma's are very capable trucks, much more capable than most drivers behind the wheel.

It's like extended range shooting, you can buy the best pieces of gear money can buy, but if you don't know how to read, create and follow your DOPE charts, and have the proper technique, your lead will never hit the target.

 

Oh and yeah, don't trust people that drive a 4Runner; fortunately mine identifies as a Tacoma

 

I don't want to hijack the thread or put words in OP's mouth, but what I think the question he's trying to ask is more along the lines of what mods should a new person just getting into offroading have so we are protected from our own inexperience while getting that seat time.

My newbie kit so far is:

• Snatch strap, tow strap, two hitch pins, 1 soft (would like more) and 2 hard shackles
• Air compressor and tire repair kit
• Recovery boards and shovel
• Ham radio

Things on my short list:

• Fire extinguisher / first aid kit (last one got stolen after leaving my doors unlocked)
  
• Sliders (though I've never needed them, I feel I should have these before going anywhere with narrow trails / higher rocks / off camber spots with trees close etc (am I off on this thinking?)

 

Yup, pretty much this.

 

That doesn't really change my answer, and that seemed to be what most people who responded were thinking as well. The more you drive it, the more you'll find where its weaknesses are based on your driving abilities and the types of trails you like to drive. For a novice driver, there is literally nothing you "need" to do to the truck. The driver is the main weakness. If you're driving trails where you "need" sliders, skids, lockers, etc... as a novice driver, you're probably in over your head, or just braver than me, lol.

I can definitely see the line of thinking of protecting your vehicle when offroad, and see a desire to immediately outfit your truck with bumpers, sliders, skids, etc... That said, I drove for many many years on trails that definitely made me pucker, but rarely if ever encountered obstacles where I scraped my front bumper on steep approaches, or ran through rocks big enough to hit my doors. Part of my decisions was also that my truck was a daily driver, and didn't run trails where I felt there was risk of significant breakage that might prevent me from getting to work the next day.

You're definitely on the right track by prioritizing basic safety and recovery gear, but I guess I just don't consider those "mods". Fire extinguisher is definitely a good idea. I've had one in my truck for ages. Honestly, I should have one in my daily driver as well. I do have 1st aid kits in all my vehicles.

If I had to choose between sliders or skids, I'd choose skids. I did it the opposite way, and probably shouldn't have. I was always planning on skids, but then on one trail hit a log that bounced up and hit my rocker panel below the door. To prevent that from happening again, I decided to get sliders instead. Then (on the same trail, lol) I hit another log and this time it flipped up past my sliders and hit my door. What I should have done is stuck to my original plan on got skids first. Having a small dent below my door kinda sucks, but a rock through my transmission oil pan is kind of a deal breaker.

I'm more an advocate for something like a Spot or the Garmin inReach devices for emergencies. HAM is cool, but even that isn't available everywhere. A simple press of the SOS button and people will know your exact location, almost anywhere in the world.

 

2wd lo mod was the most important, for towing a kubota with backhoe.

 

I don't think the OP was asking about towing tractors...

 

FIFY

This is the same for me, hence the desire to spend money to protect myself from, 'er, myself.

Thanks for this... as well as the other bits of wisdom.

 

Yeah, the way I protected myself from... myself was to just drive more cautiously than maybe I otherwise would have. Adding all the winches, sliders, skids, tires, etc adds a HUGE amount of weight and air resistance, and not something I was willing to deal with for a daily driver to commute to work, and the truck we used for family vacations that didn't involve wheeling (i.e. towing a popup trailer for 3000 mile road trips).

Plus, I was of the mindset that I wouldn't modify or add something until it was apparent I actually needed it. Like my sliders. I ran for more than a decade and never needed sliders, or a trans skid. So I would have essentially been carrying around those sliders for a decade and never used them. The irony is that even after I got sliders, the exact same thing that convinced me to get sliders happened again, and that *didn't* protect my truck, lol. oh well.