Help Me Prioritize my Mods!

I'd pick up a bedmat off Amazon cause these beds are slick as snot. Then do the lift, then the rims/tires. Then the kayak cause I love kayaking as well, so I get the importance. Save yourself some cash on tires and look at the Hankook Dynapro ATM, you can pick a set up for $488 to your door.

http://tirecrazy.com/tires/hankook/dynapro-atm-rf10-p-metric/1008708/

 

Top-of-the-line choices!

I really like my Toyo Open Country II's and I also have a set of Nitto Terra Grapplers that I really like. I run the Terra Grapplers in the Spring and Summer months. The Toyo's are P265/70R17 and the Nittos are P265/65R17......

 

Thanks for the suggestions and pics y'all!

 

Ok, I'm a rule breaker

Just a note on the yak.

It's heavy and slow, ie hard to paddle. Being a bit short and wide, it won't be easy to turn either, particularly with a bit of wind, chop or current at play.

While it will have good primary stability due to the broad beam, it's going to have low secondary stability. Meaning once it starts going over, it's gone.

Notice it's a two seater. Maybe all you want to do is cruise in some still ponds or small lakes for short distances on calm days. If that's the case, it should be fine for that. That's even what REI calls it, a flatwater yak.

Maybe you are a kayak instructor and know way more than me (not hard to do!) Or not.

If you're not already and experienced yak-er, just some things to think about before you invest.

 

I bought mine with the bed mat and still slid out of the back of the truck Like riding a magic carpet. after that adventure I followed anothers advice of securing the mat with screws/washers though the bed with lock nuts. (which keeps it in place as well as secures it from theft)

 

Ooh this is good stuff . I'm looking for a tandem kayak for me and my 4 year old or my wife. I'm new to tandem kayaks so I'm asking around. This is the first model I've found with features and a price I like so I'm using it as a place marker. We'll use it here for slow flowing creeks & rivers or go south to Florida for the same and maybe some open water stuff at Cape San Blas.

I am going on advice from friends who work with the Georgia River Network. The do a lot of multi-day river trips around the state.

 

I took your suggestion and looked at Coopers. i think the ST Maxx tire is a bit too aggressive for my application. The A/T3 look more down my alley. I'm reading to see what TW members have to say about them.

 

I just read through this thread again and wow how things change! After months of reading threads on the forum, talking to other Tacoma owners and browsing tires & kayaks, etc in stores, almost all my goals changed. I'm set on the FN Wheels and will make that purchase this Fall/Winter. The Coopers are now #1 for me. Deciding between the AT3, Adventurer AT or the ATP. They all seem to be the same tires, only exclusive names for different store brands, a bit of a mileage expectancy difference and minor tread difference.I was looking for a two seater kayak for my wife or son and I. I've decided on a one-seater with a little jr. yak towing behind for my son. Still researching which are best for multi-day river trips. I went with the lift first before tires & wheels. Now I'm planning to do UCAs asap. Bed mat is on back burner. Now bed extender as I opted to do a reverse roof rack on some KBVoodoo bars. They've really come in handy. Thanks again for all your input!

 

I look at it this way. I may do 90% to 95% of my driving on a paved road. But does that mean I have to put myself at a disadvantage when I'm OFF ROAD? Nope! Whatever tire you decide, make sure it's able to get the job done if it turns muddy or some other condition you may find on occasion. . You don't go in the woods in the part of the country where I live without tires that'll bring you back out. And you better make certain your cell phone gets good reception. I use a term "minimum spec".....I determine just what the absolute lowest level of performance I can accept in any foreseeable circumstance. That tells me I need a tire that's better than average in muddy conditions. I form a list of options there. THEN I find a tire from that list that has the best on road characteristics. I'll put up with a little road noise to get a tire that won't leave me stuck in reasonably "normal" conditions. All but the absolute MOST aggressive tires have acceptable to good road manners now days. I took off Yokohama Geolanders and went with Duratracs. One was almost a passenger car tire....ZERO "aggression" in that tire. The Duratracs aren't exactly tractor tires, but relative to the Geolanders, they are mighty aggressive. However, they have great road manners (early on in their lives anyway)

 

Have you looked at the Level 8 Mk6 wheels? Not the 5 spoke but I found them similar enough to the style you picked and I think you can get them in bronze. I had the steel wheels so, that was a must before a lift. I got the wheels with 265/75 16 Cooper AT3 with the Level 8s for like $1050 and they'll even mount and balance them for you to your door. I have no issue with rubbing. But I do really feel the need for the 5100 lift, likely will get that from headstrong as well.