First Tacoma - First Truck. "Must Have" Mods & Upgrades?

For a guy who is on his first truck, what are some of the must have mods and upgrades? Ive looked through the stickies and the shortcut bar above, and its mind boggling! So far Ive:

*tinted the front windows
*ordered a Access Roll-Up Tonneau

...and am looking at removing-cutting-replacing those monster mud flaps. Also considering running boards, sliders. etc
What are some mods & upgrades that are considered standard for Tacoma or Truck owners?

 

Depends on your taste.

For me, I HAD to have D-rings (I haul my dirt bike).
I also HAD to have a tonneau cover.
The tailgate lock / hose clamp mod (necessary) was easy and free.
The fog light mod (not necessary) was free.

One of my favorites was my window vent visors. I can crack the windows when I'm parked at work and the cab doesn't bake and no one can tell they are open.

I also love my tube bars but they are not necessary.



Have fun and make your truck the way YOU want it!

 

I totally missed that mod! Ive been looking online at locks. Ill have to check out that mod. Thanks bud!

 

Go to the Cheap Mods drop down above and find the link to redlinetuning. They sell gas strut hood supports - $US 69.95, Can +- $100.00 with currency exchange and shipping. Hood prop rod goodbye! Easy to install....read the directions and follow the pictures at least twice, measure twice, drill once.

 

BFG All Terrain tires, Seat covers & floor mats

 

Good list here...

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/7174-2nd-gen-tips-mods-more.html

Great list here...

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/technical-chat/4838-cheap-free-mods.html

 

Hose clamp mod for the tailgate and seat covers for sure, protect your investment. A/Ts or some kind of off road tires if you plan on taking it on any dirt cause the ones that come with the truck are crap, especially the bridgestones. What color is it?

 

Essential:

Weathertech floor liners
Rear Suspension TSB

 

Most common (really few are actually needed:
- Bed mat (rubber, you really really do need this for the bed, otherwise shit slides around on the composite way to easy)
- BHLM (black headlight mod, visual only but most like it, not all)
- Disable the seatbelt chime (easy)
- Ipod interface (if you use it)

Other than that, really as stock there's not a whole lot you NEED to do...

 

Depends....

My modifications are mostly convenience.

Seat Covers = I get very dirty at work.
Floor mats = I get very dirty at work and other dirty hobbies
Fumoto Drain Valve = Makes for easier oil changes
Tonneau Cover = For gas mileage and keeping things dry & covered.
Bed Mat = Prevents stuff from sliding around
Heated Drivers Seat = I hate the cold weather!!!
Homelink Mirror = I have two car garage and I hate separate openers
Ipod2Car unit = I don't have to carry any CD's with me
TSB springs = so the truck can handle load of mulch / hauling, etc.
Tailgate Lock = to keep things locked up (kinda)

Everything else because it looks cool, sounds cool, is cool, or just because.

 

Irish, let us know how the tonneau cover works. I was told I could not use one because of the bedliner on the sides of the truck

 

Really? Ive seen several threads on here about the Access Roll-Up and Luke at Truckalterations.com suggested it specifically for my Tacoma. Hmm...hope it works!

Do you guys suggest the seat covers even if Im not a big off-road'er? (yet)

 

Don't know who told you about it... but they're full of, well, you know BS. Maybe they were talking about how some of the covers - low profile ones - severely limit the use of the standard tie downs for the side rails.

BTW there is no bedliner - it's a composite bed (05's - 09's)

I have an access L/E tonneau on my '08 and it works GREAT and I love it.

 

Seat covers are useful as these seats stain when you look at them. For instance, I was an idiot and set down a pizza on the pass seat and some greese leaked out... got it out of course but......

 

What are considered the more popular seat covers around here? (if you know)

 

The most popular are the Wet Okole, probably followed by the TRD ones. They've done a few group buys for wet okole, I think they're gunna try to set up another one after the summer busy season is over...