$500 to spend on upgrades, what would you get?

OMG The pricing on sliders is insane!! I don't even get it, it's not like we all don't have a pipe bender and welder floating around...right? Anyway, I'm going to pass on that insanely over priced pre-made option and make my own sliders. That's $350 plus that I could spend on something, anything really that would be a better value like sealing seven $50 bills under my clear coat to look like a baller!

Also passing on the winch, I'm still stock suspension up front and don't want the weight up there.

 

If you can make them yourself, that should have been your only option all along haha. Now if you need help in town, talk to @JeepAndrew. He's the local fab guy us Tucsonans use.

Next from there I would say skid plates or save for a good suspension (although there's always used stuff for sale that can save you a lot of money). In addition, check out @Benson X guides on DIY hi-lift & tool mounts as they will be very useful unless you're planning to keep that stuff in the trailer.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/diy-hi-lift-and-tool-mounts.260147/

 

Send the money to me for proper disposal. Cash. It's much easier to burn than gold bars.

 

Prinsu Roof Rack

 

You already have an ARB front plate bumper with stock suspension? With a $500 limit I would get some OME 886 coils with 5100's and an AAL out back. $500 is not a lot of money in the grand scheme of modding. I think you'll want suspension over sliders to start out.