First $1,000...what are the modifications you make?

Good morning, all.
New Tacoma owner here. Like I've been born again.
2017 Tacoma SR5 -- beautiful white. 112k odometer. (So, it's like new, right?)
Would love your opinions: How do I spend my first $1,000?
New tires/wheels + 2" lift? (Not going to be doing significant off roading...but I feel like the truck isn't quite living up to its potential!)
Other suggestions?
Thanks, everyone!
J

 

Don’t make changes for the sake of making changes…make changes for something you are sure you want to change for an improvement or other tangible reason.

 

Spend it all on rubber! New tires, a bed mat, and a box of extra large condoms.

 

Spacer lift, new wheels and 285 tires and you're good!

 

Do maintenance on it first. You do not need a lift, you just said yourself you wont do much off-roading. Tacomas are extremely capable at the factory ride height.

 

$1000 for a lift and tires? Maybe in the 80’s.

 

I can't tell ya what to do, but I can give u a list of the mods I'd do 1st. No order, dealers choice...


-Bilstein 5100's
-Tires
-Wheels
-DD Fog Lights
-H9 headlight upgrade
-Bed Mat
-Center console shelf/organizer

 

Sadly 1,000 dont get much these days. Unless you do the work your self.

My lift, wheels, tires was over 2k.

 

As stated by @BoomerGVNG , I would do maintenance front to back THEN see what you have left of that budget

Also yes, $1k could probably just get you some tires today, MAYBE.

Depending on what your tool set is like at your home garage, spend some coin on tools that you see yourself using on a semi-regular basis as you build up mileage.

 

Has the vacuum pump replacement (100k interval) been done? If not, there goes the $1000...

 

Cut the roof off and make it a speedster. Welcome to TW and good luck!

 

I second both of these, the maintenance and the stock capability. A great looking truck is still a headache if it's got overdue maintenance that's potentially causing issues. Just use your truck in whatever manner you're planning on using it and pay attention to what you don't like or what you need. That's most of the fun of mods; changing the truck to suite your hobbies as needed. (Find yourself on rough roads a lot? Look at better suspension and taller side wall tires that you can air down. Find your self towing more? Make sure you've got a trans cooler, alternator, maybe suspension airbags. Have messy kids/pets? Get seat covers, etc)

 

Trust me at stock ride height the truck will plenty live upto it's potential. If not far exceed what your willing to do with it. Same a few extra pennies and do a 0 offset wheel and a one size bigger (265/70r17, 265/75r16) AT tire if you want to make it look better with the fewest draw backs.

Don't try and fool yourself into mods like I did early on for no reason. The truck looks sweet but if I did it over for drivability and fuel economy not to mention longevity of parts I would of done it differently.


That's a stock suspension 265/75r16 truck that has gone everywhere i have

 

$50 stall mat from Tractor Supply to keep things from slipping around the bed. Tailgate lock to prevent theft (SaBellCo or TW member christian06), $100 from SabellCo or $40 from christian06.If using halogens headlights, buy German-0sourced Phillips H9 to replace the H11 low-beams ... remove the green insert to let H9s fit ($20 for the pair).

 

bingo. you could blow $500 easy on fluids and filters:

Oil
Oil filter
Intake air filter
Cabin Air filter
brake pads
brake rotors
brake calipers
brake fluid flush
front diff fluid change
rear diff fluid change
trans fluid flush

not saying your truck needs all these, but as far as fluids go, you likely dont know the full history. better to start fresh than drive on 100k+ mile fluids.

 

Yep, fluids and filters for sure.

 

https://hotshotoffroad.com/products/ss3-led-fog-light-kit-12-23-tacoma

 

Power steering fluid and transfer case fluid as well

 

in this order

maintenance
tools
tires

 

Done. It has 112k miles on it and you have no idea of the history.

I recommend the longbed upgrade mod.