My First Taco!

Hello everyone! I've been a TacomaWorld reader for little while now, and got my first car late last year, a beautiful 2000 Tacoma Regular cab 4x4. It is a 2.7 with the four speed auto.

I absolutely love my Taco and I'm interested in some advice. I'm planning on doing some modifications to it, and I'm curious if anyone has any suggestions on what to do/not do. Also, most of these will probably be a ways down the road since I'm a high schooler with not much money lol

Here's what's been done so far:
- Pioneer head unit with Carplay and a backup camera
- Kicker door speakers
- Hidden Kicker 10" sub under the passenger seat
- Rancho Quicklift
- Softopper telluride folding tonneau
- Tailgate handle lock

Here's what all I'm thinking for the future:
- Paint restoration/PPF
- Undercoating because my frame is relatively rust-free
- LineX the bed (the drop in is going to trap moisture which is no bueno)
- Coastal offroad bumpers (at least a rear bumper. My only hangup with this would be trimming the bedsides, but they say you can reach out to them for custom request so I'm thinking about doing that to see if there would be a variant that wouldn't require cutting into the body)
- ARB front bumper (If not the Coastal Offroad one)
- OME Suspension (I currently have Rancho Quicklift struts in the front and lift blocks in the rear, but I'm looking to upgrade at some point)
- A five speed swap (I know it will be expensive and a pain, and everybody says to just sell the truck and buy another with a manual, but I'm young and dumb; plus I'm worried about being able to find another Taco like mine that I'd be able to afford.)
- Softopper
- Xtrusion Overland Bed Rack (to go over the Softopper to mount a rooftop tent or anything else I'd need for overlanding)
- Snorkel (probably not as I don't want to have to cut into the body too much)
- TEQ Customs headlights/corner lights
- TRD Pro-style grille
- Ditch light brackets/lights
- Billiebars tailgate cover
- 3RZ-FE Supercharger

Here she is (pre lift)

 

Not sure where you're located geographically, but the background of that picture looks a bit rust-beltish. If so, I'd put a coat of fluid film on the undercarriage immediately. Should be able to do it yourself for like $50-60. Then worry about the other stuff

 

Thank you! I’ll get on that as soon as possible!

 

Nice looking truck.
Welcome to TW.

 

Thank you very much! I’m so glad to have found it, she was a lease truck for a few years, then had an easy life being garage kept by an elderly couple

 

Congrats on the new ride!

We just got our 1st Taco a few months back. My son and I have enjoyed cleaning it up and fixing odds and ends together as his first vehicle.

 

I’ve been working on mine with my dad as well, it’s a great time getting to bond and have fun working on something you love!

 

Looks like indiana -- I would strongly recommend Waxoyl both outside of frame and inside (different product) and coat the complete underside of body and all heavy metal. The only things you don't spray are transmission, etc, exhaust, etc, etc. Buy in aerosol cans or if you have a compressor just buy the gallons. They last several sprayings.

Looks awesome - no need for paint. I wish my rims looked like yours...

enjoy--

 

Thank you for the advice! I’m definitely not going to do anything with the paint for the time being at least , with it being my first truck it’s likely to get more banged up anyways, but I’m going to take the best care of it that I can

 

I’ve also been wondering, does anyone have a recommendation on bed lining? I’m between going to LineX or getting a DIY kit and just spraying and/or rolling the bed myself

 

Looks Awesome!!!
Welcome

how many miles?

only reason I ask………Lower Ball Joints

do a Q search and see some of the carnage pix others have posted
If unknown when BJ’s replaced…..would be #1 on my list
Cheers

 

That thing is sick

 

Thanks! I’ve got about 110k on her, I’ll definitely inspect the ball joints and maybe order a set just in case

 

110k??????

WOW
What a gem!!!!!

 

I steady look for reasons to work on the truck. Need to change spark plugs - why not replace ignition coils why I'm at it?

 

Nice looking truck - love those single cabs.
I have lineX in my bed and it’s been absolutely awesome. It was done by a shop during the previous owner but it’s a massive game changer. You can throw just about anything at it.
Water drains out the tailgate but if you’re forward facing parked down hill it will accumulate in the bed (this may still be the case even with non lineX Tacomas, I’m not sure).
I live in CA and haven’t had to worry about rust issues.

 

Thank you! I absolutely love the single cab, it’s been great so far and I haven’t had any complaints about interior space or anything. I’m jealous of not having to worry about rust lol, so far everything I’m planning for the near term is rust prevention since I’m in the rust belt

 

If you haven’t already:

Lower ball joints
Change all diff fluids, transfer case, etc
Grease driveshafts

 

Will do! Thank you!

 

Here she is as she sits today. I'm super happy with the full Softopper. It's even better at repelling water than the tonneau I did have. My next few things I'm planning are an OME full lift kit rather than the lift blocks in the rear and Quicklifts up front. I also got the frame most of the underside coated with Fluid Film just before winter hit. The things I do will probably be a new rear bumper, and do something like a Raptor liner in the bed so I can get rid of the drop in liner.

Eventually, once I get through college and get an actual job I want to start saving to do either an LCE turbo or supercharger kit, and someday even further down the road either mid or long-travel suspension. My short-term plan is to just keep this truck in the best condition I can while still having fun with it. Once the Midwest gets through all this crappy weather, I'm planning to finally find some trails near me and do some actual off-roading.