Just Gettin Started

So I have a 2000 SR5 3.4L V6 4WD 5SPD Tacoma. has aprox. 136,XXXmi in it. stock everything. aftermarket window visors. (adds 5-10hp) Truck runs great. body is in excellent condition. never had a problem with her. summer time is coming and now that im back on US soil im ready to start investing some time and money into her. im new to tacomas and trucks in general, although ive had her since 2012. i dont want to do anything to wild. mostest upgrades for a little more power and a little more height. thinking of starting with a flowmaster 50 or 40 series exhaust and a K&N intake system. beyond that, as far as lifts, rims and tires, engine mods go, im seeking advice. whats the best lift kit to buy and who makes it? what size rims and tires should i run with said lift kit? how can i get a little more power with simple, affordable bolt ons that wont reduce reliability and legality? etc, etc... im an e4 in the military so money is a factor, keep that in mind. but anyways, what can yall tell me?

(Picture was taken after i drove her to base from the dealership, Janurary 2012. doesn't really add any value to the thread, but i was feeling nostalgic.)

 

I have the Old man Emu lift (OME) and it was about ~1200. I have no complaints about it and it has suited my needs well.

 

My intent is to make it somewhat of a camping companion. Something I can load everything on and get off the beaten path for a couple days. I'd also like to improve its performance in the snow and icy roads. It gets pretty bad here in ND. I'd like to get more weight over the rear axle, thinking about a camper shell with a rack. Knock out a couple birds with one stone. Not planning a rock crawler build or a mud rig, just a trail-goer more or less.

 

Also in regards to the type/brand/affordability or a lift kit... I'd like no more than a 3 inch lift, not wanting to sacrifice a whole lot of ride comfort. I guess what I'm saying is that I know there's mega cheap ways to lift a truck and I'm not interested in going that route. I'll pay for a proven kit that'll last. That being said, I won't be running the rubicon or the Baja.

 

Any plan on getting off road bumpers?

 

The supercharger is more reasonably priced for the 3.4 than the 4.0. It's still up there, mind you, but it's your best bet for any significant power gains.

 

I would eventually like to get bumpers but they're certainly lot my first priority. And a TRD super charger has certainly crossed my mind. It's still a possibility but again, not a priority right now.