Best way to buy new Taco, if I plan to upgrade wheels

I'll be getting a 2011 or 2012 Tacoma DC longbed 4x4.

I will be doing some mods to it right away.
- 17" or 18" wheels, matte black finish. I haven't decided which wheels, but something like the Pro Comp.
- maybe a slight lift - not too radical
- stubbs slider bars
- debadged

Still thinking about the supercharger.

Seems to me most of the value in the TRD Sport package is the wheel+tire upgrade. But if I'm buying aftermarket wheels then I don't need that upgrade. What else will I miss if I don't buy the TRD Sport? Is this a reasonable thing to do?

Are there dealers that will deliver a new vehicle with custom wheels and maybe a lift?

Any other recommendations?
thanks.

 

I like the sport because of the scoop an color matched bumper and grille but depends what you like man, btw welcome to Tacoma world

 

Buy it, pull off wheels/tires and post 'em up on TW or CL. Plenty of folks needing new tires who would gladly plop down $500 to $600 for your whole setup.

 

I think the sport wheels are more sought after. Not sure why though

 

Buy the base model with no extras except tow package. Get an old man emu 885 lift with toytec aal in nack and nitrochargers all around. Make sure you get the supercharger and don't hesitate at all on that.

Go to wheelers offroad or toytec for the lift but keep it modest. If you go more than 2.5 inches then you need to swap out upper front control arm to correct caster and ball joint angle.

If you stay under 1.5 of lift in the rear you will avoid drivelkne vibe problems otherwise your going to have to get an axle shim or a carrier bearinf drop kot to bring the driveline back into the right angle (3degrees).

BEWARE.....what you are about to embark on is an addiction. Once you start tweeking your truck there is no end
EVER.

 

I bought the TRD sport 5 years ago and regret wazting my money on crappy suspension and have replaced everything that I paid extra for except the locker. Lockers are readily available aftermarket so do.t worry. I say play the dealersbagainst each other and get the lowest price you can and spend what you saved putting together a decent truck instead of that dealership fluff that is really just crap.

 

my thought on buying a new truck is buy the base moldel and then add the extras. it will be cheaper in the long run (because ur not removing upgraded stock components) and u get exactly what u want.

 

Welcome th this site.....most forum users are really helpfull.....but there are some arse-hules that lurk on here and mess with you. Just ignore it. Those guys are loosers any way.

 

Hey thanks for all the tips, everyone.

Looks like all 4x4 DC models come with at least SR5, there is no "base model" in that body style. SR5 includes the Tow package: the receiver, HD battery, HD transmission cooler, oil cooler, etc. Good to have.

The next step up is TRD, which is another $3100. It gives me the lights-in-the-mirror and the hood scoop, Bilsteins, plus the upgraded silver toyota wheels and I guess some interior stuff. But for that kind of money I could get custom wheels & tires, a lift and sliders.

Yeah, I think the SR5 is the way to go. I can tell this is going to be an addiction, I'm already pretty charged up about it.

 

Upcountry, I noticed you're in Seattle. Where do you go for performance mods for your truck? Who do you know that's local that you'd trust to install the OME lift and get the shims right in the back?

 

Just noticed the Toyota website says the electronically lockable rear diff comes only with TRD OffRoad package. Cannot get that with SR5 apparently. Anyone know any different?

 

OP, I made my decision to buy the DCSB, 4x4, SR5 yesterday. My truck is being built on 11/11.

I debated weather to get the TRD Sport package too. The package perks for me were the seats, colored/lighted mirrors, color-matched grille, color-matched rear bumper. All the other stuff didnt really matter to me. (The 2012 scoop looks cool but... its a non-functional scoop. Not a biggie for me)

I decided that list of options wasnt worth what the extra cost of the package would cost me. So I'm going with SR5. That way I can color-match the front grille myself (or have it done, probably for < $200). And that ugly chrome bumper might convince me to buy that plate bumper I've always wanted!

The sport wheels were a negative to me. I just dont like the way they look. The stock 16" alloys look much better if you ask me!

And I just absolutely love the interior of the 2012's! I'm super stoked to be getting my SR5 - it's got all the basics, plus great 'luxury' perks like backup camera, etc. I may put a zombie hunter SR5 sticker on the bedside

 

Don't let the dealer put a lift on...It will more than likely be a spacer lift and you will be overcharged. If I could do it all over again I'd get the SR5. Going to end up changing most of the stuff anyways...

 

Che-

I strongly suggest doind as much of the work yourself or being as closely involved as possible, having a concrete understanding of the truck and its moving parts is essential with a modified vehicle for the purpose of safety and for the purpose of cost. I have modified vehicles before, and i learned as kid in my dads shop where he builds classic hot rods - so I felt comfortable with it. I did all the work myself except the front coil over assemby (you need a hydraulic press). If you buy a coilover setup from Wheelers or Toytec they can send the coilover assembly pre-pressed, and it litterally is just a swap out of the stock coilover strut assemble, which requires some muscle to get out (or a big rock bar).

There used to be a shop on the Eastside in Kirkland called Eastside Custom Truck, I beleive they moved to Port Angeles. I think there is a shop in Kent, but cant remember the name. I know 4Wheel Parts in Lynwood selld AND installs lifts for Tacomas.

Of special note, the ARB (who owns and sells Old Man Emu - OME) main office is down in Renton. They make qaulity lifts and parts that even Toyota sells out of their parts departments now (I can buy OME or ARB at the dealer now), I suggest calling up their main office and going down there and talking to them and looking at some of the vehicles they have on display in the parking lot. They dont have a showroom but they have some pretty sweet tricked out vehicles and can go over the different types of lift kist and off road upgrades. Having these guys here in Seattle is a great benefit as a resourse and becuase you can avoid paying shipping on some of the bigger items like bull bar bumpers....just pick it up at the wharehose where it ships from! Save $100+!!

After about a year of owning the truck I convinced myself that it was OKAY to start to modify a perfectly good under warranty truck (make sure you read the Magnuson Moss Act: http://www.impalaclub.com/naisso/magmoss.htm ).

I just paid it off a few months ago, so now it is game-on.

Current mods I have done (while I was paying off the truck at $565 a month):

Front suspension mods:

OME 885s
OME Nitrochargers
Toytec 15MM top plate
Wheelers bumpstop
Light racing uca

Rear Suspension mods:

OME aal
OME Nitrochargers

Allpro extended brake lines
Allpro sliders

285/70/17s

AR Mojave Teflon Black Wheels

Fiberglass camper shell

Max legal tint

Hilift mounted in bed

M101a2 Trailer

Next mods:

OME 886 with wheelers off-road 10 mm top plate (Plan to order from Wheelers offroad next month)
Allpro expedition leaf packs and U-bolt flip kit (Just got delivery yesterday)
SPOD Source and dash switches (Sitting in my house, need to install)
Lighting upgrades (HID and Halogen - need to order after SPOD install)
ARB bull bar bumper and 9,000# winch(Santa? Please? I've been good !!!)
ATO skids (After the above)

 

Che- This is the best thread that truly addresses the rear driveline vibration that I have seen:

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/153050-just-fixed-driveline-vibration-free.html

I am going to do an install of some Allpro expedition weight leaf springs this weekend or whenever it is dry enough to be outside, and will be following the directions in this thread. I even ordered up one of these to have available should I get a bad vibration problem:

Bevel Box Magnetic Angle Cube Sensor

http://www.amazon.com/Bevel-Magnetic-Angle-Cube-Sensor/dp/B0057OKP7M

I have a shim and carrier bearing drop kit from OME, but I may end up having to get the Beefedtaco sollution if I cant get the angles back within the 3 degree tollerance ( http://www.streetacos.com/Products.html ).

 

If you're planning on a lift and wheels... SR5 4x4 is the way to go. I wouldn't bother with the TRD.