Getting the Most out of My Tacoma

So after looking around at some other (very nice) Tacomas on here, I think I have a better idea as to what I want to do with mine. First and foremost I'm going to tint the windows, since where I'm at it is sunny 360/365 days of the year.

Next I'm thinking I'm going to get a lift for the truck. After driving around and testing, very cautiously, what kind of uneven ground and heights of curbs my truck can go over in an urban setting, I've been hearing some scraping while negotiating the obstacles. I'm not sure if this is the mudflaps or the side-step scraping, but regardless I think having a lift is better than not. Now the question is, what kind of lift is best? I'm not an avid off-roading person but I would like to have some confidence if I ever did go in the sticks. Are there any not too excessive lifts that would fit my needs?

Also, I've been looking into all-weather floor mats. www.weathertech.com has some good ones, but they're a little pricey, especially for something that you step all over. Has anyone had experience with this brand? How is the quality/fit?

Also, I was thinking about a brush-guard for the front of the truck. I like the look and I think it would add to the durability of the truck overall if I ever did go off-roading. In terms of brush-guards, what are the best, most durable and reasonably priced?

Finally, I think a more durable bed-liner may be a good investment. I am in a Field Artillery unit and although I will probably never find myself transporting live ordnance, some of the equipment we need during training can really tear up what it's resting on and I'm not sure how durable the stock Tacoma bed-liners tend to be.

Also, any other recommendations in terms of mods or treatment of the truck in the sub 750 miles would be helpful. Thanks!

 

brushguards are trash get a full replacement bumper or just leave the stock, the bed is made of composite material and the only reason you would need a bed liner is because its really really slick but Toyota sells a rubber bed mat that eliminates that.

 

Well I would hope you wouldn't find yourself transporting live ordinance, especially as a medic lol. (I, too, am am a 68W in a FA unit.)

 

maybe an ARB bumper would be better since a brush guard will just fold back and do more damage.

rip off ur mudflaps before the curbs do and mess up ur paint where they used to rub.

thats not a bedliner, thats ur bed........ u can try a bed mat to protect part of it tho.

weathertech cant be beat imho

of course this is all based on your budget and actual needs.....how big are these curbs?



suspension links

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/suspension/11282-tacoma-lift-faq-guide-read.html

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/suspension/142677-suspension-lift-info-includes-pics.html

bumper links
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/164975-bumpers-2nd-gens-only.html

cheap/free mods
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/technical-chat/4838-cheap-free-mods.html

tires
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/wheels-tires/307541-how-choose-off-road-tire.html
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/wheels-tires/38333-tires-tires-tires-tires.html


http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/wheels-tires/67550-largest-tacoma-tire-sizes-stock-suspension.html

 

Ok so the general consensus of the brush-guard option is a no-go, glad I know that now I always figured the brush-guard would help out in rough terrain instead of not.

In terms of the mud-flaps how would you propose trimming them down? My 2014 Tacoma has the mud-flap integrated into the wheel well (I'm not sure how it is on other models) so I don't think I can remove them without significantly digging into parts. I also am kind of reluctant to literally trim them down as I'm not sure how it'll look afterwards and wouldn't that take the value down?

In terms of the weather-tech mats, I think that's what I'll go with, I've read more reviews and they seem good for the money.

I've also seen those lips that go over the hood as a sort of protector, what is the purpose of those other than keep some bugs out of that area of your hood? Thanks

 

Sounds good, I'll take a swing at the front mud flaps and see what I can do.

 

So the mud flaps came off very easily. The whole thing took about 10 minutes, I guess the way they were tinted along with the wheel well made it seem like they were molded as one piece. Nevertheless, I'm going to save all the screws, pins and the mudflaps if I ever want to put them on again. I would say, though, that if anyone else is going to do this, make sure you wash your truck before-hand or wear some gloves and some clothes you don't care about. The brake dust is everywhere...

 

You can always sell your mud flaps to fund the purchase of weathertechs

 

1. I bot the Weathertec "digi" cut, fitted ones, they are about $100 for the front for my 13 Taco. They are worth the price. Love 'em. Found a dealer in my area he ordered them I saved the freight. Also have the weathertec front window air deflectors and hood bug/air deflector. Happy with all.

2. I got a bed mat rather than bed liner, keeps the bed floor protected. Figured a bed liner would either cover or interfere with side cubby storage units. If the bed sides scuff i'll spray paint it.

3. To protect tail gate I cut a piece of quarter inch ply wood, (Lowes scrap pile, $1) painted black on both sides, edges. Used Velcro to attach, which came undone in the heat, left the Velcro in place, drilled pilot holes thru the plywood and Velcro, counter sunk, ran 5 small screws, 3 top, 2 on bottom. The Velcro slightly raises the plywood allowing the rain, snow, dust to blow thru or blown out with compressed air. Tail gate cover protects the bed side of the tail gate, also gives a flat surface for tail gating and allows cargo to be easily slid into/out of the bed.

4. Went to dealer and got FREE seat belt extenders. With them in the female receptacle end, the seat belt buzzer does not sound if I take the dog on the passenger seat, or if I have chores needing to get in/out often. Also on the drivers side my hand does not does not bump the center console latch causing it to open every time I operate the driver seat belt.

Hope this helps make your truck more fun/usable.

 

people report mixed results with this but i was able to get my dealer to shut off the seatbelt buzzer. the dealer offered 1 complimentary adjustment when i bought the truck so that's what i asked for. freaking awesome!

 

Heres my list of must haves for your urban use truck.
Leave the mudflaps on or get new oem sets. They actually work.
Buy weathertech floor mats.
Buy an oem bed mat.
Buy seat covers to use when you're dirty and stinky.
Get a hard tonneau cover or cap to expand your lockable storage area.

 

This is EXACTLY how my truck is set up.


Took the mud flaps off, and recently put them back on.. I trimmed the fronts 5 inches as described in the DIY thread.


Weathertech Digi-cut floor liners are the best mats I've ever bought. SO happy.


No bedmat, as I got the Undercover SE hard locking cover, and also installed a locking tailgate. Secure storage, out of sight, out of mind.

 

Exactly! The cloth seats get very nasty when you spill your soda on them (from experience).

 

I honestly thought about getting a bed cover but, to me, having one might just get in the way of just being able to toss something in the bed. Granted the covered storage would be a benefit. Do they open easily so that you have more room to put things in the bed?

 

^Never mind, after looking on the undercover site for the bed covers, I saw one that might fit for me. The undercover flex folds open to allow more space without it coming off, the only thing is that when it's folded open it conceals any view from the rear-view mirror (which might be negligible). Has anyone had any experience with this model?