Cresthaven's Nothing Special Get You There & Back

2009 Standard V6 Dual Cab 4x4 Short Bed

I'll keep this thread rolling with projects as I get to them, and I welcome any and all input. I am not knowledgeable about automobiles or components, but I want to learn. I have a "questions" section down below where I'll include an updated stream of consciousness I have regarding mods I'm looking for, but please know I've got this to collect my thoughts and my information--I plan to scour this forum! I will not bomb the various threads with questions I can probably find elsewhere, but if you care to share some links in the comments below, I promise to read and respond with additional thoughts/questions/concerns.

Ultimately, I want a machine that will take me off the grid to camp & explore. I have hail damage and a driver-side rear quarter panel that got dinged in a Home Depot parking lot (of course the perpetrator didn't stop), so I'm not looking to make this a pretty truck, but a useful one. I won't be rock crawling, but I do want clearance. This will need to strike a balance between escape machine and daily driver.

Goals

1. Lift
   • Front - Bilstein B8 5100s - 1.5"
   • Back - I'm really leaning toward a block kit--2"--I don't know that I need added load capacity that add-a-leafs offer. Probably something from toytec.
2. Tires - manufacturer, model, and size undetermined
   • BFG All Terrain T/A;
   • Bridgestone Dueler All Terrain;
3. Wheels - American Racing AR172 Baja Satin Black
4. Bed Rack - undetermined
5. Dinged Quarter Panel - mod unknown
6. Skids - may not be necessary

Questions

If the goal is reasonable clearance, I think I can only really achieve that by increasing wheel diameter, but with this truck body, I'll need a lift to make room for larger wheels? I'm familiar with the CMChop, but am unsure at what point that mod becomes necessary. I certainly won't be driving places which require high performance components--so probably spacers, coilovers, aal will do--is there a tried and true complete kit that will get me there? Is there a point where the tires in front become such that I need to remove/mod the front bumper? Do people cut their flares just for looks or is that associated with larger tires?

I want to do away with the dinged rear quarter panel entirely (see picture below)--how much of the quarter panels can I cut away before I need some sort of bumper mod?

Above-bed storage--looking for a bed rack so that I can store gear in the bed and attach various items to the rack/bars above--a storage box, like a thule or a yakima, maybe a tent sometimes, maybe a bike.

Recovery--not sure I'll end up anywhere that a winch will come in handy, but perhaps it's not out of the question.

Today's Taco (140k):

 

Nice truck! Welcome to TW, fellow 2nd Genner!

 

Thank you! Happy to be here. Now off to the thread-pulling.

 

I'm curious; Is your truck manual or automatic?

 

Automatic. I inherited it from my dad who bought it new and drove it for about 10 years. It's had all routine maintenance and spent most of its life on pavement as a daily driver and occasionally pulling a pop-top.

 

Speak of the devil; My dad bought me my truck when I got my learner's permit (well, both my parents really paid for it, but my dad was the one with me the night we bought it)...

 

Yep, it's got a special place in my heart since it has carried us fishing all over New Mexico. It used to have an ATC bed cover but I needed to move unshapely things often enough that it became such a burden. My wife isn't strong enough to help me move it, either. So, a fine gentleman from Colorado paid me a visit and was happy to have it.

 

If you want any advice on installing an improved stereo system in your truck, I'd be happy to answer any questions; My neighbor helped me install a killer system in my truck!

 

Much appreciated, I'll keep that in mind.

 

I never used to be fan of white vehicles, but Tacomas in Super White have grown on me!

 

I'm happy with it, certainly. I think it creates a nice, neutral canvas for some subtle accents.

 

What I did to dress up my truck was a set of four chrome wheel skins on Amazon, and then I shipped them to my uncle who owns a wheel refinishing business; He refinished them in a beautiful gunmetal gray color. They make wheel skins for your specific stock wheels too, in both chrome and black!