Need your expertise please!

Hello T-world, I just bought my first 2012 Toyota Tacoma last week and am wanting to do some mods to it. Let me start off by saying I have always been a jeep man and understand all there is to know about lifting things as we seem to be installing kits every other weekend on peoples rigs. with that being said I have never messed with or even looked at a Toyota newer than 1989. so on with my questions and any help would be great!

Im wanting to build a daily driver, NO offroading will be done in this truck.

1.) Im wanting to put a 3" lift on this and was wanting your guys input on what kind I should look at. suspension only. not interested in a body lift.

2.) im wanting to pull out the CD/raido and install a touch screen. not sure weather to go stock or after market on this.

3.) I just ordered a set of black anzo headlights....they say they fit. guess we will find out this weekend when they get here.

4.) I want to install a new set of black wheels and little more aggressive tires. I will be looking around at different rigs to get an idea of what I like but any suggestions would be helpful.

5.) I am planning on ordering the SC for my V6 because who doesn't want a SC truck. but any pro/cons u guys know would be great to hear.

6.) I cant find anything good on any type of performance chips. can anyone tell me if there are anything good on the market? then again with the SC I guess that would be a waste seeing who dealer will have to reprogram anyways.

7.) exhaust? what your guys thoughts on headers and the different types on the market.

sorry for all the questions but im looking at diving into this project asap. any help would be greatly appreciated. looking forward to reading any and all responses. thanks!

 

4X2 or 4X4?

If you're only a street queen, why lift? I know, you want to look good.

I would suggest going with a Revtech 3" lift. Designed with toyota engineers and covered by the warranty if you still have one. Not too expensive either.

Tires are tires if they are on a Jeep or Tacoma. My go to tire is always a long lasting great performing tire, BFG A/T's or M/T's.

SC's are nice, but loud. I would try to find someone with one in their truck and drive in it for a day, if possible.

You can search for exhaust and find a ton of information on here as to who has done what to the different rigs/set ups and let their experience guide you.

Definitely go aftermarket with the head unit. The factory unit will cost a lot and with the different years there are all sorts of different wiring harnesses. Plus, you can get a better performance set up for less money. Get one installed at the local car stereo place, or if you are quite knowledgeable, do it yourself.

 

1) 3" is by far the most common lift on here and every manufacturer makes one. If you are going for function go with fox, icon, or king coil overs up front and a new leaf pack in the back. If it's for looks or you're on a budget go with either the OME kit or switch out the OME kits nitro shocks for Bilistein 5100's. Avoid spacer lifts at all costs.

2)If you're going to sell this truck in a few years stick with a stock deck. They switched the deck over to touch screen in 2012 so I'm sure you could find something that'll fit. If your keeping the truck go with the aftermarket deck but keep in mind you'll need a few different pieces to make the steering controls work if you have them. I'd install the deck myself over using a shop. The labour and parts cost they charge is defined as rape in Canada.

3) I think those lights are kind of pos if I remember correctly like most tinted units. Glhf. If you want better kick ass lights retrofit in some projectors into the stock housings.

4) I like hankook dynapro ATm for there cost and wear. They kick ass in snow and mud but still work well and quiet on city streets. The rim back spacing on tacoma's is a bit of an odd size, so make sure you're rim guy knows what he's doing when he orders your new ones in.

5) I love my SC. Get it toyota installed if you want to keep your warranty. There is some noise but if you've had a SC before you know what to expect. My gas milage stayed exactly the same and the truck feels fast.

6) Unless you have a sever need for speeding tickets I'd just throw on a pulley kit from URD and there fuel pump upgrade to get the max power of of your supercharger before I'd mess with the computer. There's lots of horror stories about unichip and some other chips on here. Just google them.

7) Long tubes or don't do it. Performance y pipe from URD matched up with some good long tube headers will get the most out of your SC. That being said you'll have to delete your cats and run sensor dummies which voids warranty, is technically illegal for street use, etc, etc. I just did the y-pipe and a cat back exhaust (flowmaster) and I'm happy with the results.

 

Thanks for the help guys!
I will use all your information to make up my mind on this build. every comment is very helpful. and will post before and after pics as soon as I can. thank both again.

 

Better late then never.
Finally got around to installing my lift on my 2012 4dr Tacoma. Went with your guys advice and went with the ( TTHA-CK ) 3" Bilstein 5100 coilovers and the ( LR25570 ) light racing UCA's.

Could not be happier with the results. Stance is where I wanted it.

Have decided on painting my stock wheels black instead of buying new wheels as I like the look of the stock wheels. I have also ordered some 1.5" wheel spacers to bring the wheels out to match fenders.

Also plan on running 265/70R17's.

So next question I have for all you awsome people is do you see any issues with my tire size choice along with the spacers.

Working on "blacking out the headlights" next along with all emblems.

Thanks for all the info as it helps out a TON!