Ideas to start 99 TRD project

Hey everybody, I'm new to the tacoma world as of today. I have a couple of Toyota junkie buddies so naturally I bought a 99 extend cab TRD tacoma.its got auto trans and 4wd with the e locker. Its basically stock with a leveling kit (just the hockey puck spacers...) and a intake. I have a pretty decent budget of a couple thousand to throw at this thing and maybe more depending on how much I like what you suggest.

Now what i want is a truck that will still roll down the highway but will do great off road. I don't need it to be a full on rock crawler or prerunner but i do want a kick a** taco that i can beat the hell out of and it will take it like a champ.

What should I do to this thing?

 

Verify that the locker works .
Install more skid plates, sliders, CB, and a recovery point in the back.
Your truck will do great with very few mods.

 

locker works great, skids are a given and sliders are gonna get welded up in a week. I know these things are great stock but i've got a budget and don't mind putting in some work so what more should I do?

 

Old man emu lift with new springs/ shocks front and back? Arb front bumper? 32's? magnaflow muffler? Led dash lights? Sounds like your on a mission to make a badass taco!