New to Tacoma World

Hey everyone just joined the thread after reading forums for awhile now. I drive a 2003 Toyota Tacoma 2WD Prerunner Double Cab. Dad bought it brand new and it’s been in the family since, he owns a RAV4 now and passed the truck onto me and I’ve always loved this truck. Got it when I got my drivers license at 18 at around 75k miles and I am now 23 with around 110k. I plan on several mods in the future and so far did small low budget mods. Any suggestions would greatly be appreciated as I honesty love every 1st gen I see in every thread.

 

Welcome to the forum!

110K on a 2003?!?! That's low!

 

Yeah my dad only drove it to work and back from 2003 til about 2015. Since then I’ve done my best to show it the world haha.

 

Welcome & Hello

 

OP, I am much the same way as you with regards to how I got my truck. My dad bought it brand new in September 2009 (it's a 2010) a little over a month after I got my learner's permit at the age of 20. I finally got my license at 22, and I even took the test in this truck. When I got my permit for the second time in 2009, we had in order from oldest to newest; A 1996 Nissan Pathfinder SE 4x4, a 2004 Honda Odyssey EX, and a 2008 Acura TL. I first got my permit in 2005 at the age of 16, but I wasn't quite ready to drive and I put it off. My permit expired and I had to get a new one. By the time I got my permit again, the Pathfinder was really started to show its age. My dad told me that he was going to buy me a new vehicle and I had three requirements:

• It had to be a pickup truck.
  
• It had to have air-conditioning.
• It had to have an iPod hookup or AUX input.

The search was narrowed down to two choices, a red 2009 Ford Ranger XLT and a silver 2010 Toyota Tacoma, both of which met those three requirements; It's pretty obvious which one we went with. The truck was in my dad's name for the first seven years we had it, but I was almost always the only one who drove it. In December 2016, he told me the truck was my Christmas present and signed the title over to me no questions asked. He even paid the title transfer fee! The truck had like 68K miles on it when my dad signed it over, and now roughly three years later I'm about to 108K!

Your truck looks pretty decent cosmetically, so let me recommend window tint, an upgraded stereo system, and a backup camera if you do not have them.

 

That's an awesome gift! 2nd Gen Tacomas are really nice too and I love the room they have inside and how smooth it is on the road. We really are in the same boat your miles aren't too far from mine! I do actually have 20% window tints on the front, a Sony XAV-BT stereo that I actually got from my sister's old 2008 Corolla she used to drive, now has a 2014 Honda Civic, and the radio for the most part works really well. As for a backup camera I've been looking for a decent one but wasn't too sure what would be a good one that went with my stereo as it is compatible with a backup camera too, any recommendations on a brand?

 

Thank you!

 

Thanks and hello to you too! Your dog is adorable btw

 

I've got a Clarion backup camera in my truck. The model is a CC250 I believe, and they do not make them anymore, but Clarion still makes backup cameras. I love my backup camera. My mom drives a 2013 Nissan Murano SV AWD, and the aftermarket backup camera in my truck is better than the factory one in her Murano! My dad used to have a 2013 Honda Pilot Touring 4WD, and the backup camera in that also sucked compared to the one my neighbor installed in my Tacoma. My dad now has a 2018 GMC Yukon SLT 4WD and the backup camera in that is pretty good.

I drive a 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan for work, and the backup camera in that is probably the worst I've ever seen! Go with the Clarion! I'm not a big fan of Sony head units, but you can't beat free. Is the one you got from your sister a touch-screen?

 

So, your username has the word "kinky" in it...

You know I've got to ask where you came up with it!

 

Got it I will check it out, I just google'd the best rear camera and some recommend Pearl Rear Vision too but I'll check both out. As for the Sony stereo it is a touch-screen and it can glitch out at times where it gets stuck on a button or doesn't work cause it's reading a different sense. I think because it fits tightly into my truck it might read other pressures but who knows it could be paranormal lol.

 

Hahaha I've played Xbox since I was 14 and it was once my gamertag. I changed it since but I always liked it cause it's hilarious to see people's reactions or question it.

 

Also, mine is mounted on a license plate frame. 2009-2015 Tacomas with the SR5 trim and above came standard with a backup camera in the tailgate handle. 2009-2012 models had a dinky little display in the rear-view mirror, which mine would have had if it wasn't a base model. 2013-2015 had it in the dash as part of the factory radio. In my opinion, the large in-dash screen is the superior setup. I once drove my uncle's 2012 Toyota Tundra SR5, which has the factory tailgate handle backup camera, and I can tell you that I prefer it above the license plate...

All 2009-2015 Tacomas come prewired for a backup camera, regardless of trim level. It is pretty much plug-and-play because all of the wiring is in place. With 2005-2008 2nd Gens, I've been told you have to get a bit more creative with wiring because no 2005-2008 models came with backup cameras. I have seen 1st Gens with backup cameras, but I have no idea how the wire them...

 

Thank you! Btw your truck is sick I love that old school sticker look and your whole build overall.

 

He's a mall crawler and proud of it! We've been going to car shows together for almost three years! You should see his wife's '97 4Runner!

 

Yeah that’s what I was finicky about was wiring the camera all the way to my license plate. I was plan on going to a shop to get it done and find a decent sub that fits, nothing too window shaking though as mines kind of shake already lol.

 

My neighbor did all of my stereo work (between September 2016 and March 2018), and it only cost me a couple cases of beer! If you want a decent sub, go with a Kicker 8" Hideaway and just drill into the back wall of the cab like we did. It neatly stashes behind the seat! For optimum sound, make sure you use sound deadener like we did as well...

As for the backup camera, my neighbor ran the wire from the back of the truck, zip tied it to the frame, and came up through the hole where the wiring for the side airbag goes. There was already a rubber grommet there that keeps dirt and water out. The same thing was true when he ran the subwoofer and amp wires to the battery. He used an existing hole in the firewall and didn't have to do any extra drilling!

 

@Taco critter

Show Kelly's T4R! I know our new friend here would love to see it!

 

Wow nice it might just be easier than it sounds! I’m hoping to do this by the end of the month, well, it was either that or some new tires first just a little pricier. But that back up camera is very appealing thanks for the recommendations I feel this should be my next mod as it is probably the cheapest and easiest too.