What would you do to your stock 3 Gen with $3,000?

Let's say your brand new truck just rolled off the lot and you have $3,000 burning a hole in your pocket.

What upgrades do you value the most?
What gives you the best bang for your buck?

The answers can be based on you as an individual. I'm not looking for the standard "Well it depends on what you plan on doing with the truck."

What would YOU do with $3,000?

 

Well since you want to know specifically what I’d do to my truck; I’d fill the tank, and take the other $2,200 down to the credit union and take nearly a year off my loan.

 

Okay, well since I'm King of this question, I hereby outlaw financial responsibility. It is now illegal going forward.

Also, damn $800 to fill up your gas tank? Times are tough.

 

If it was me,,, I'd put a decent lift on it then save up for tire and wheels.

 

Do you think you can get a decent lift installed for $3,000? That's what i've been looking into lately.

 

a set of gram lights wheels and new tires = $3k

 

Pretend that I'm done only to set off on a looooong expensive road of mods... But that's just me, right guys?

 

Positive equity

Besides that, lift and tires is a solid place for any build to start.

 

Tires (I like stock wheels) sliders, 2 inch lift.

 

Can you recommend a lift?

 

Floor mats
Seat covers
Bed mat
Front & rear dash cam
Cat shield or skids
Cosmoline undercarriage
Tires
Sill protector vinyl
Tint

 

Well you're probably not going to get kings, or high end Icons or high end Fox but there are decent lifts out there. Probably not installed either. But there's a wealth of info on TW to figure it out. Enjoy the ride!

 

Get a nice suspension kit that matches the type of off-roading that you are going to do

 

https://runnin4tacos.com/products/bilstein-mid-travel-suspension-kit-2005-2020-toyota-tacoma-lift-kit?variant=42210722840827

Describes the stages if you scroll. I’d go stage 3 with an ICON AAL and never touch it again

 

Better tires and a case of touch up paint!

 

You can get a nice lift/suspension for less than that. I was able to buy a Billstein 6112'(coils preassembled), Freedom Off-Road UCA'a, Billstein 5160's in the rear along with an Icon 1.5" add a leaf. There was no tax or shipping at Suspensionlifts.com when I ordered mine last month.

Bilstein B8 Assembled 6112 Coilovers 0-2" Front 0-1.5" Rear 5160 Lift Kit for 2016-2022 Toyota Tacoma (suspensionlifts.com)

ICON 1.5" Lift Rear Expansion Pack AAL for 1995-2021 Toyota Tacoma (suspensionlifts.com)

Front Upper Control Arms for 2-4" Lift #FO-T701FU - Freedom Off-Road (freedomoffroadusa.com)

 

I did a dash cam because people suck and Bakflip MX4 to my truck so far.

 

If you're not going to beat it off road or just forest service/trail roads Westcott makes a decent spacer lift that is very affordable. You can add tires and wheels after that.

 

Take a trip or three, or six. Generally my week long camping trips cost me $500-1000 depending where I go.

 

Definitely this:
https://tacovinyl.com/collections/3rd-gen-tacoma/products/glove-box-key-blackout

Just kidding. I'd start with new tires.