New to the Tacoma (04)

Welcome and congrats on your purchase. I couldn't get your photo to load, but I'm sure it's nice!

Definitely skip the k&n unless you like spending money on sound with no performance gains. Get an afe dry drop in filter. One nice upgrade that is easy: swap the interior bulbs for brighter led.

 

Not only is the k&n a non performance gain im sure with the now overall increase in intake air temp it prolly looses efficiency. With that said they do offer increased air flow which does help a bit, BUT that can simply be achieved with a higher flow drop in stock unit, just like the AFE that you suggested!

OP, i too would suggest the AFE drop in filter for increased flow!

 

First of all I don't want to talk about anything but Taco's and Tundra's one day when I get on.... I have a 2004 TRD also. Not to be mean but I have compared directly to some jeep product and I thing the Taco is by far superior in engineering design.... The squeel you hear may also be the belt tension idler bearing. Many of these trucks make this noise... There is a real cool thread around that shows a sleeping platform above the bed (under the cap...) with a series of pull out storage boxes under the platform. Looked really good for camping/travel......

 

Ya know i too dont much care for jeeps as do most toyota guys, just the way it is typically. But ya gotta give it to the engineering department they have, after all these years jeeps still fuckin sport a solid axle up front, still!!! Us toyota shmucks lost ours in the fuckin 80's lol...damn it! Fuckin hate IFS!!

 

Congrats! Jeeps are fun but your list of "Can do's" is so much longer with a tacoma!

 

I have the Smittybilt Defender roof rack on my '04 (the compact one). They make a larger version as well. I like it, but you do have to drill the roof to mount it. Most roof racks for 1st gens require drilling, there are one or two that don't but I hear they don't mount as well.

 

Off topic, but I dig the look of that softopper and black flares. Always been a top looker here.

 

Thanks! I found the Softtopper on craigslist off a guy 6 hours away, he was selling it for $120 so I made the trip lol. In great condition besides some wear from age, but nothing bad. I love it, makes camping much easier.

 

Omg what a score... I need to find one or a truxedo tonneau thingy, I'd like to find used as well. Buy good quality and buying used isn't a problem.

 

I get what you mean. Anything past your mid 20's and the term "girlfriend" just doesn't have that "adult" feeling, lol.

And no, it doesn't matter. Do whatever floats your boat, we're just glad you came over to the dark side of Tacomas!

As for the rack and other stuff, plenty of people put a rack on their shell, I just wouldn't put too much weight up there (like an rtt). I have a K&N "cold air" intake on mine, but I bought it that way. They are mostly just loud and obnoxious. While theoretically they provide better airflow, the air filter is now more exposed to the hot engine compartment (the heat shield doesn't really do all that much). I mean, it *sounds* more powerful... My preference would be the stock air box with a drop in K&N, but I went to a wrecking yard and the guy wanted more than $100 for a used air box...

 

Oh did you find it... jk

 

Lmao! Busted! Hahaha

 

I have a K&n drop in and deck plate, it's nice because I can clean/oil it with k&n's cleaner and oil ever engine oil change or so. Far as performance I can tell it helps above 3,500 rpm and it is a tad louder... for ~$40 why not

 

Thanks for all the replies guys. Going in for an oil change today and I'm going to have them check out the rear diff as I noticed yesterday that it is leaking a bit. Any advice on what I should expect with that--I hate going in somewhere and feeling as though I was raked over the coals. I'd like to fix anything I can myself but do not have a garage/access to a wide range of tools just yet.

 

What a funny post about solid front axles. I guess Jeeps are better in that solid axles are easier to come by. I wish I had a solid front axle also but can live without.....

Camper/sleeper platform website:
http://forum.expeditionportal.com/threads/47516-LATEST-PROJECT-Truck-Drawers-Sleeping-Platform

Alot of work but mabey worth it if you plan alot of travel....

 

Where is the rear diff leaking from? That's what it will depend on. If it's leaking from the drain plug or... it can be taken care by just placing a crush washer around it if that's the case.

 

It seems to be leaking from higher up than the drain plug on the right side. But to be honest with you I just got a glimpse at it before I put it into the shop. They have it in the back right now doing an oil change and checking out the leak for me.

Anything else I should ask them to check out while it's in there?

 

Change out the Front and Rear Differential fluids (if there is no record of them being changed recently) while its up on the rack for the oil change.

 

Might as well do the transfer case too!