Flares out. What to spend $600 on? TCAI?

My girlfriend bought me some fiberwerx flares for my birthday. I didn't like how they looked and didn't want to spend another few hundred on paint. So she returned them

I'm thinking about having her get me the URD TCAI and the MAF sensor.
Truck is a 2013 TRD double cab. Stock all around.
You guys have any thoughts around the 600 price range?

 

What do you do with your truck?

Do you offroad at all, is this a mall queen, do you want to keep the look stock and gain power?

Do you want bling or function?

URD CAI might add a tiny bit of power but the MAF calibrator is the gem item there. Keep in mind though it does nothing unless your foot is on the floor. It only works when the engine is in open loop.

 

Not worth the $600 to buy a CAI, don't do crap anyways. Plenty of other mods to spend that on.

 

URD is running a sale on both those items comes out to around 500.

Originally the flares were to be able put larger tires. I'm looking into a icon lift from the trade section.

it seems to scrape a bit when I'm hunting, can't be having that.

I figured I might try and pull a little more power out of the truck. It only has 30k on it.
Its my daily driver and my first "new" truck. I can think of a bunch of things I want to do like leather heated seats ect. But those are in the thousands. And I could throw in some cash. I thought about headlights. But 600-800 seems ridiculous.

 

^Gotta pay to play. See: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/tacoma-mods-how-much-have-you-spent.1883/

 

So would the TCai and maf be better if I were to add headers? Found a good deal on Doug thorly short tubes

 

Leave the intake, exhaust stock.
You will really only gain noise unless you supercharge.
Spend the money on more useful upgrades like tires or struts, shocks.
Or a new Stereo.

 

I put a K&N CAI on my Tacoma. Something like $300 and self installed.

Later I spent around $300 to put a Spintech 6000 Series muffler on.

Going back I'd do the muffler hands down - the CAI? Ehh.. it makes the engine louder when you get to 3k RPM and higher. At that point I can't hear the exhaust note anymore because the air induction is so loud. I can't say the CAI did anything for me so far as fuel mileage went. Though according to my Fuelly account I've been seeing steady but slow increase in fuel mileage since installing my muffler. Some of that is likely because it sounds better at low RPMs and therefore I drive more responsibly. Rarely do I ever go over 2k RPM now.

Ultimately it comes down to what's important to you.
CAI = Loud/Noise
Exhaust = Louder, deeper exhaust sound.
Tires = Mileage, Looks, Reliability, Traction, Ride Quality, Good Looks
Suspension = Ride Quality, Off-Road Capability, Prevent undercarriage damage, Good Looks, etc.

If you're using this truck for hunting I'd be looking at suspension and tires first and foremost. Louder engine just tells them you're coming!

 

If you are completely stock (including tires), about $700 will get you a set of Duratrac tires. Will significantly change the look of your truck to be more aggressive and improve offroad traction. Not my favorite tire but lots of people like them.

 

I'd put it into the stereo. That was my first upgrade on my truck and I'm so glad I did it. Stock stereos = garbage

 

I've done the expensive stereos in other trucks. I'm happy with the stock JBL I have

 

Well I ordered an icon lift today. So I'm thinking I'll do the URD Maf, CAI and then save up for a y pipe and exhaust

 

Sweet! Icon isn't cheap stuff. LOL I'm having a hard time biting the bullet on an Old Man Emu setup.

 

Are you supercharged? if not... save your money

 

+1

 

No super charger

 

then you wont see squat for power gains with all that money spent.

Stay stock intake, headers and exhaust then upgrade parts that actually matter.