Need advice to buy my first Taco

Hi all- I'm 42 and have wanted a Taco for 20 long years now and was prevented from buying due to job constraints (couldn't take clients out in north jersey driving around in a Taco at my company!). I am FINALLY in a position now to get my DREAM TRUCK. After so long, price is not the end all for me but I need advice on which direction to go. My wife tells me I have been obssessed with research these past 6 weeks so I appreciate you helping me get over the hump here:
Must haves:
-doublecab 4x4
- longbed
- heated/leather seats (got spoiled with them in my sales car and with the winters up here lately, it's no longer an option!)
- The JBL soundsystem and Entune features
- I like the stiff, responsive ride so Bilstein 5100s will be an immediate mod
Use of truck:
The truck will still be used for commuting to work on highway every day (20 miles). But will also be used most weekends for backcountry hiking/camping/kayaking trips and going up and down some rough and sloppy logging roads at my wife's family in PA. Weekend hauling and towing of small boat with outboard engine.
Caveat: although I hope to get a little better once I get the truck, I am admittedly not super-mechanically inclined so I will need to find someone to do the below initial modifications for me.
Here's where I need advice. 2 options I have come up with and I know there will be some strong opinions on each side from you guys:
1. Go with a "Limited" to get the standard heated, leather autoadjust seats up front, put up with the infamous "chrome" which bothers me a little but not enough to be a huge consideration. Find someone to install the Bilstein 5100s as the Limited comes with the base model stock suspension. I have driven both and I dont want the stock.
2. Go with the "Sport", try to find a relaible installer to do the Katzkin leather/heated seats as an immediate mod. Keep the stock Bilsteins that come with the Sport (which will already be an upgrade over the Limited suspension). Maybe upgrade to the 5100s later.
--- I can get the JBL and Entune with either the Limited or Sport. So far as I can tell, I THINK the overall pricing for either option above is fairly similar so it comes down to what will work better and maybe be easier to do.
----If I go with the Limited, my dealer told me there are basically none left and they weren't sure whether toyota was going to do one more build of the Limited 2014s or if they might go straight to the 2015's and I would have to then wait until the fall to purchase.
---Either way, I will probably be needing some recommended installers from you all in the north jersey area for the seats and possibly suspension. sorry about the long message but there you have it. thanks, Tom

 

You need the Sport regardless to get the DC and long bed....

 

+1 or you live with the short bed and then the OR...there are not too many options that makes it easy

 

If you can settle for a DCSB then your options open up more.

 

Try to compare one with the JBL to one without. I've heard it isn't a vast improvement. I can say for certain that the standard speakers are absolute garbage, and the head unit absolutely needs more power.

 

Thanks guys. But believe it or not, Toyota does offer a longbed option for the Limited now. I just checked with my dealer when I saw your responses and i got this reply from him:
QUOTE
Tom- The Limited pkg was new for 2013. The model code for a dbl Cab/Long Bed is 7596. the Limited pkg was available for that model. Attached is a document we got showing what was new for 2013. Take a look and you will see the Ltd pkg is offered on that model. Hope that helps. I have actually seen one.
UNQUOTE
Their website also lets you build a Limited longbed.

So I guess I still need to decide between the two options I mentioned: go with the sport doublecab longbed and upgrade the leather and heated seats or go with the Limited doublecab longbed and upgrade the suspension?...

 

Yes. I read up on the TRD Pro and it looks great but I don't think it comes in a long bed which is one of my requirements. Plus, staying humble here, I think I would need to "graduate" to a truck like the TRD Pro if I got more into the offroading recreational aspect. Agree with you on the real leather of the katskins vs. pleather of the Limited. I am probably slightly leaning toward the Sport DC longbed with an upgrade to the leather heated seats vs. the Limited DC longbed with an upgraded suspension. Any other advice or opinions are much appreciated...

 

I wouldn't listen to a word your dealer says - all lies - they know less about the vehicles they sell than anyone.

Go with the Sport DCLB.

 

Buy the one that's actually available, with a fair price, in a color u like...than make the necessary mods as u need them. Either way, I'm sure you'll be happy....

 

Good advice Bob.

Hey Beavis- did the dealer do your heated seats? Can I ask about how much it runs?

I guess I can post on the regional threads for any recommendations of places in north jersey who could put on the katzkins on for me. But if anyone knows a shop in the northeast?...

Now I just need to decide on a color. I'm down to black or Barcelona red.

 

Keep in mind whether or not you like the Sport hood. If not, anyone here will trade you a non scoop hood for it plus cash.

Anyone means me.

 

I have a feeling you would want the Sport, no bias... I have a PreRunner. Also the Katskinz have a heated leather option.

 

Haha! Believe it or not, I have gone back and forth over the too much "real" chrome on the Limited vs the "not real" hood scoop on the Sport. The look of the chrome bugged me but the idea of the fake scope I'm still not completely sold on. Thanks a lot for reminding me- now I'm stuck again! Lol. Good to know on the heated katzkin option though.

 

Hi all- Just a quick update on getting my getting my dream truck 20 years in the making: the deal is done!!! a black beauty, doublecab longbed sport. tomorrow I go to the dealer to pick it up with the TRD exhaust and roofrack installed. This weekend the Undercover Flex goes on. Work was a blur today. Can't believe I'm so excited about this truck but I am. Will post pic once I have it. the heated leather will go in down the road a little once the wallet recovers. Thanks to all again for your input. Much appreciated!

 

Congrats!!! Good luck falling asleep the first night she's in your driveway

 

Congratulations!!! The hood is cool enough that it doesn't need to be functional. But you can make it