Apprehensive to put anything other than Toyota parts

Ok here is my problem and maybe you guys can help. I bought a Toyota because I don't want to worry about it. I paid for the quality ( Hopefully) . I want to do mods on it, but for some strange reason, I am really apprehensive to put anything other than Toyota parts. Had a pedal commander but sent it back after hearing a FEW people have issues with it. Had a rough country cold air intake and sent it back cuz it's not Toyota. Does anyone have really GOOD experiences with stuff that you feel confident I won't have any issues with? Obviously there's no guarantee. Also, what lift kit out there comes closest to the TRD in? Thanks

 

Welcome, leave it stock. You'll be happier.

 

Avoid rough country

 

I have rough country seat covers but nothing else.

 

The TRD kit is just a Bilstein 5100 kit with TRD stickers... does that still make it factory at a cheaper price...

Also lots of parts on your truck are made by aftermarket companies to Toyota's specs. Technically your vehicle is partially built by the aftermarket. Do your research and buy once and cry once. If you are happy with the way your truck is stock then modifications just got nice and cheap.

 

Speaker upgrade was a no brainer and I been smiling ever since.

 

Mod according to your needs. Most of the foofoo crap out there is not needed for every day use.

I can attest the meso stage 1 LED tail light kit is the best thought out quality product i have added. Aside from running boards I made my mods such as bed rack and bed stiffies.
Like you i lke the taco for what it is.

 

Lol you paid zero extra for Toyota quality as the Tacomas cost in the same range as the Jeeps and Rangers and Nissans of the world.
Mine is stock for a reason.

 

If repairing/replacing parts - go with oem. The aftermarket stuff is hit and miss on the quality.

 

In my opinion, good thing you sent that useless stuff back.

 

Exactly that. Many will chime in about making your truck more you etc and not being a "stock pussy" but at the end of the day. Millions/billions were spent on making it what it is... You can bedazzle it a bit with things like tonneau covers and maybe different speakers and tires. But there is always some sort of trade off.

 

Leave it alone. I say that not against modding at all, but I’m very particular about what I’ll allow to be changed at this point. A pedal commander, other than some throttle response, can only really cause issues. The RC “intake” is absolutely worthless and serves no purpose whatsoever, so once again there is no point to it either. Toyota has tons of resources to design an intake that works….there is no way a few guys in the conference room at rough country can cobble up a better intake and sell it for only a few hundred bucks. It helps to realize that the 5.7L tundra motor uses the same air filter as us…that alone should tell you enough about the stock setup for your 3.5L.

I am picky about modding things that actually affect the truck. I am more of an add-on guy these days, be it lights, tonneau, bed mat, etc. sometimes I’ll get creative and do something permanent but vast majority of the time, no. It mostly comes down to lessons learned on other vehicles. If you change something (intended to be a permanent change), and there’s any chance you regret that change, you’ll be pissed when you’re later reverting back to stock. I’ve been through this about a million times on my Jeep: stock parts are typically well designed and better than most anything aftermarket. There are a few exceptions but that’s it.

With the way you describe yourself, just leave it alone and only add on things that will be a real improvement.

 

If you want to do a few cosmetic things to make it your own, then go for it. But I personally would do what others have said and leave the rest of the truck stock. Your TRD Off Road is quite capable as is!

 

You can always mod with Toyota parts. There are a lot of accessories and "performance" parts available through Toyota.

 

Ok the one thing that I would like to do is level (not lift) the truck. Any thoughts?

 

Tacoma's rear is weak and sags noticeable after loading with a few 100 pounds. If this isn't bothering you, any adjustable ride hight shocks and a block. Otherwise, may need to figure out the rear and match the front.
..and the depth of your pocket
..and do it once.

 

Leave it alone. It’s a great truck stock. If you want to do few mods/customizations that won’t cause any headaches get a bed mat, some black out emblem overlays, your favorite tire and some seat covers.

 

If you level it, it will be unlevel as soon as you put 50 lbs in the back and then you will have a squatted truck. The rake is there so when you load it it will level. It's a truck man. All trucks have a rake for loading .
Get a bed mat. Get some stickers.
Unicorn stickers are popular on Tacomas.

 

With a few exceptions, Toyota branded accessories are just rebranded/licensed aftermarket parts that pad the dealers profit margin. You're paying for the logo and not much else.


I'll say this, I love my Toyota, but I'm also fascinated by this almost cult-like stance that invoking the very name somehow magically wards against breakdowns. It's a solid truck. And there's a thriving industry made up of many enthusiasts, who in turn make many solid products.

Do what you want with yours. Leave it stock, or modify it to your specific usage, or make your creditors happy and go on a buck wild blind mod spree. It's y'all's truck. As long as you're enjoying yours, then you're doing it right.

 

Mod the tires, then wait a year to decide what’s next.