New to the Taco World

Hey,

My name is Steve, I just recently purchased a 2023 Tacoma TRD Sport 4x4. I finally got the truck I've been wanting for years. I'm very new to this world so I'm trying to do as much research as possible and learn a thing or two from everyone. I've started a list of mods I want to gradually do to my truck. First off are suspension, wheels, and tires. I plan on hitting some trails but this is also my daily driver, so I don't want to get too crazy on the mods. After that, it would be cosmetic things like headlights, tail lights, and fog lights. Next would be a rock slider and skid plate. I also plan on doing some camping with my truck so I will start looking into camping gear. Not sure what I want to go with, either a rooftop tent or a truck bed tent. I'm super excited to start building up my truck. I welcome any suggestions as I said, I'm green to this and I want to learn as much as I can.

 

Suggest you don't change anything until you recognize that the change will 'fix' something the truck won't do stock.

Use it as is first.

A good set of tires and driving skills will take you plenty of places. Suspensions are 'sometimes' needed and useful, but your lowest ground clearance, axle lines, is not raised by anything but tire diameter.

 

Thanks for the info! Good to know. I don't plan on rushing into these mods, want to feel comfortable with the truck first. Would you recommend maybe going with wheels and tire upgrade first? I've been looking around and I would like to go with a 285/75R17. It seems to be the common go-to.

 

Welcome to TW!

 

Welcome to TW!

 

Thanks for the warm welcome!

 

Welcome!

 

Welcome to TW…

 

Tires, yes. Wheels, what's to 'upgrade'? Looks, maybe. Otherwise they fit eveything and clear everything as they should, right?

Why? It's always good to know 'why' you want to do something, other than that's the cool kid trend. For example, a 265 would work very well, isn't significantly less width, and clears everything (on OE wheels). And consider how the truck will be used 90% of the time, and select what works well for those conditions, allowing 'looks' to be a secondary element of your choice.

For example 'I want to look aggressive' doesn't do squat for a pavement pounder, other than wear out faster and have less grip.

 

Welcome to TacomaWorld! Spend a few months or so driving your stock truck. You'll learn what (if anything) bugs you about it and that will lead you towards what might be worthwhile upgrading. I take my truck off-road mostly on Forest Service roads and Jeep trails (some a little challenging) leading/getting to the good remote fly-fishing spots. My truck is completely stock and easily handles everything I've encountered so far. Only thing I would seriously consider upgrading is the rear shocks to cure the tire-hopping chatter on washboard dirt roads and true/better M&S rated tires (Michelin). Read as much as you can here and ask questions.

There is a ton of information in here from people who have done just about every mod you can name and what was good, bad about what they did, even including some that regret what they did and went back to stock.

Enjoy your new truck! Acquiring a last-year of production Tacoma generation is seldom a bad thing.

 

Second this. I was able to do a ton of trails in a stock '16. I ended up upgrading only because the trails I wanted to do required bigger tires that I couldn't fit them with the stock suspension. Then went down the rabbit hole of adding bumpers, sliders, and a topper.

Another thing, since this is your daily driver. Think about how much you commute. Mine was a daily driver and I commuted about 80 miles a day (roundtrip). My truck after all the mods got around 15 mpg...I was coughing up a ton of money in gas. Also, the heavier the truck is, the heavier you have to hit the accelerator and for daily driving that can get annoying as well, especially if you live in a hilly area.

Welcome to the community!

 

Welcome to TW! I agree with waiting.

 

Welcome!

 

Thank you for the advice! Part of the upgrade is to look cool, I won't lie. Lol! But I also want to keep it minimal as car thefts are rampant where I live. I also would like to hit some trails and do some camping out of the truck. But I will take your advice and test out the needs first and then make a decision.

 

Thank you so much for your input and advice. I'm taking my time to do anything to the truck for now. Just trying to learn as much as I can and get to know my truck. I love this community!

 

Thanks for the advice! Put some things into perspective for me. Thankful for this community!!!