Gen 2.5 Upgrade Help - New Guy

Hey everyone.
I'm doing lots of reading and seeing many options.
In the past I've thought I made right choice and later regretted it.
So I'm going to post what I'd like to do and see if anyone can point me in best direction the first time.

1- I want a tablet or head unit that can also provide OBDII information - mpg transmission temp etc
As it gets to minus 40 up here in Saskatchewan I'm thinking ba tablet is best as it can come inside overnight.
I just worry I will buy tablet setup then find out there's a head unit I should have gotten.

2 - Front Grille - anyone know best place to order TRD pro style grille(preferably with LEDs) for the 2015?
I see every year but.
I am in Canada also.

3 - Best bolt on sliders or side steps. My daughter needs a step and I prefer look of sliders.

4 - What else should everyone do to their Gen 2?

Thanks for the information.
Looking forward to more searching and reading.

 

Just wanted to welcome a fellow Canadian

 

Most modern double din head units can display OBD info with some additional hardware. Need to get a maestro and harnesses. I bought a Ken wood demo unit for a few hundred buck from eBay, ordered the maestro and accessories from crutchfield.ca. I also ordered a TRD style grill from eBay as well. Came out of Oregon I think. Don’t remember the price, but all in with shipping was less than $200, and I’m in Alberta.

 

As for any other mods....something that I wish my X-Runner came with from the factory....heated mirrors.

This guy builds kits for them and it's one of my to-do mods. Just have to save up the money for it.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/heated-mirrors-kit-interest-update-thread-pic-heavy.377840/

 

There's a bunch of us that purchased the faux Pro grille from CaliRaised. No complaints with the quality and fit, and cheaper than OEM.
There's a bunch of rock sliders out there and it's a lot of personal preference. I have the Mobtown Offroad sliders with a kickout and love them.

 

I have a Tacoma Tech Deck for my phone and I think it would be great for mounting a tablet as well. IMO with the proper ram mounts its in a really good position for data displays or maps, maybe better than a head unit because it's adjustable. I have mine set up to hold driver/passenger phones and a little bracket for a ham radio microphone. Very sturdy too. I've thought about getting a full size tablet or XL phone to keep on the mount for use with GaiaGPS.

 

eBay has TRD pro style grill inserts with LEDs for about $140. I just installed the non led version on my 2014 and the quality was pretty good. Just unsure about shipping up north

 

Welcome to tw fellow Canadian
For sliders i vote @CaliRaisedLed 0 Degree with filler plates

 

Thanks everyone.
Appreciate the information.

I can't seem to find 2015
Every year but.
So annoying lol

 

Much appreciated.
I have some magnet mounts and if they don't work I will try this route.

 

2012-2015 are all the same grills so if you found any of those years it will work.

 

Update;

So I now have a Samsung Tablet mounted for my OBD Fusion Guages, Spotify, and Google Maps.
It's a 7" I had around so I'll watch marketplace for a 10" cheap locally.

Ordered Tyger Side Armor and JTP TRD Pro style grill.

I want to add LEDs to the grill but wait until it arrives to decide.

Living the Taco so far.

 

I would be interested in seeing how you tablet mounts up and looks inside the truck. When you get a chance post some pics.

 

Dash setup with OBD Fusion Guages using the Toyota downloads.



Audible is great way to listen to books when I travel. Here are a few of the apps I use.


And when switching songs it still displays below.
Calls also mute music and display on cell.



What I've learned;
This tablet size is perfect and the scocshe magnets are extremely strong. I did some light 4x4 and they didn't budge.

But I need a tablet more easily rooted so I can set it to power off automatically when the charger powers down.

And I need Android 5 or higher to run android auto.

For now I run GPS/Spotify/Obd Fusion on tablet.

And I use the phone as a phone. Works great. I think an 8" with Android 5 or higher will be perfect.

I know there is techdeck and other stuff out there but shipping to Canada sucks, and I don't 4x4 my 2015.
I 4x4 my 83.


Look forward to doing an update when I get my side steps.

 

Hmm.
Wrong photo.
Thus one shows the switching songs display.

 

Sorry to sidetrack, but it looks like coyote hunting is good out there in the prairies. Man do I ever miss coyote hunting. I used to hunt with dogs, do you use them, or call them in?

Sweet setup with the tablet.

 

Very good.
I took 90 this year - all off of bait sites using snares.
Cattle farmers here love me.
Last 2 years of trapping bought me the 2015.

First year bought me the 83
I plan on doing the 83 in Barcelona Red and giving them both retro vinyl stripes.

 

Took some trial and error but I figured it out.