Daily driver/weekend warrior setup

I just recently upgraded from a lifted 3rd gen 4Runner and now have a 2011 Tacoma Off-Road bone stock. I daily drive this truck but also enjoy off-roading and camping Atleast once every 2-3 months.
I’m looking for advice on lift kits, undercarriage armor, and accessories that will improve my highway ride but at the same time get me through the basic off road trail without damaging my daily. Not looking for fancy flashy bs I just need a setup that will get the job done and won’t break the bank.

 

It all depends on your budget, but for me who is also like you. Daily drive the truck and off road once in a while……just do the basic.


I have bilstien 6112/5160 shocks that I got a killer deal in @$500
Some nice tires, I got falken wildpeak at3 in 265 70 17
And I got icon add a leaf.

it gets decent mileage (16-17 mpg) and off road I never ran into any issues. Just once in a while I will rub the mud flaps.

I was thinking about rock sliders and armor but it’s not needed for what I do, mostly fire roads and small rock crawling.

 

Awesome thanks for the info. Sweet rig!

 

Aluminum skids are the way to go if you’re going to leave them on the truck all the time. If you dont mind taking them off, steel would be a more durable option

Rock sliders would also be one of the first things id do

 

Generally speaking, armor, lifting, bigger tires, and other offroading stuff is diametrically opposed to efficient highway driving. The more weight you put on, the worse mileage you're going to get, period. When you lift and stiffen to counteract the sag of that weight, you're also going to be altering the handling and aerodynamics. They call it "go slow gear" for a reason.

That being said - a decent set of bolt on sliders is IMO the #1 thing to do. They immediately increase your recovery options (places to put a jack!) and they're relatively easy to flip if you end up wanting to get rid of them for whatever reason.

Aside from that, invest in reasonable recovery gear (start with a hitch mountable shackle and a quality snatch strap) and some nice storage bins, and keep an eye out for a deal on a topper of your preferred flavor.

Beyond sliders and some decent recovery gear? I would honestly recommend you drive the truck a bunch doing what you want to do and decide from there what YOU feel like it actually needs. Coming from a cousin platform you might have some ideas already, but why go nuts bolting stuff onto a weekend warrior that you'll never actually be glad you had?

 

Agree with @deanosaurus, and have a few thoughts of my own.

- AT tires are a poor choice for wet or snow-covered roads. Highway tires are the superior option, and will hold their own during light-duty offroad excursions. I like my Michelin Defenders quite a bit.
- Tire size and weight is crucial to maintaining decent performance characteristics. The bigger and heavier your tires, the worse off you’ll be. Mine are “skinny 32s,” 255/75R17.
- Agree that bolt-on sliders are a smart move.
- Agree that aluminum is the best choice for skids if you only want them as insurance. I have aluminum Mobtown front and tranny skids on order. I did just recently get my TrailToys UHMW (plastic) gas tank skid installed for a bit of extra coverage.
- A lift, aftermarket bumper, or roof rack will affect your vehicle aerodynamics, but the effect on handling and efficiency characteristics is almost negligible when compared to tire size and weight. I’m still regularly clocking 22+ mpg in my 3” front/2” rear lifted, ARB bumper equipped truck. The aforementioned 255/75R17 Michelin Defenders only weigh 38 lbs apiece, and are mounted on OEM TRD SEMA wheels at 24 lbs apiece; this helps my armored commuter get surprisingly decent gas mileage.