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Quality of life mods

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by Amanwithnoplan, Jan 15, 2022.

Page 3 of 5
  1. Jan 16, 2022 at 2:13 PM
    #41
    gotoman1969

    #41
    gotoman1969 Well-Known Member

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    San Antonio, TX United States
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    3" ToyTec coilovers, JBA UCA's, Bilstein 5100's
    Heated seats - yes!!! Love mine!!
     
    gotoman1969, Jan 16, 2022
    #41
  2. Jan 16, 2022 at 2:33 PM
    #42
    Williston

    #42
    Williston Well-Known Member

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    New England
    Vehicle:
    2014 Tacoma SR5 4x4 DC SB V6 AT Tow Pkg Entune+ Mostly stock with a few OEM mods.
    Stock (99.999%) OEM Bed Floor Mat, Front Bed Rail Cargo Net and hooks, Auto-Dim mirror w/Compass and outside Temperature display, TRD Pro Grille, Uni-Filter air pump modification, WeatherTech floor liners f/r. OEM All-Weather floor mats (summer).
    Re: >>1. Raised the rear of the driver's seat. Leg and back relief.<<

    I'll be doing this next. I just finished installing a Gentex 455 mirror from Bob's Mirrors. Definitely a "Quality of Life mod" IMO. Next will be OEM step running boards, and the final will be new tires of some flavor. Not too aggressive, not too lame. I like Michelin tires but have to do my homework, and have had good experiences with Goodyear Wrangler AT's. I need snow performance (because of the light rear end) rather than off road.
     
    Last edited: Jan 16, 2022
    Williston, Jan 16, 2022
    #42
    FreeCascadia and JGO[QUOTED] like this.
  3. Jan 16, 2022 at 4:12 PM
    #43
    Squirt

    #43
    Squirt Certified in forklifts and meme stealing =)

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    Ben
    Cornfields of Illinois
    Vehicle:
    2016 F150 Lariat with 3.5L of fury!!
    Rexing front and rear dash camera, some LEDs, Weathertech HP floor liners/vent shades/bug deflector/underseat storage bin, OEM Ford bed mat, Diode Dynamics SS3 Pros in selective yellow, Diode Dynamics 18" light bar in amber and universal Carhartt seat covers. Bak Revolver X4S tonneau cover. Android Auto USB plug upgrade! H11 to H9. Sound deadened/insulated floors and rear wall. VLED license plate reverse light. Yokohama GO15s. Rokblokz mud flaps. "Custom" 3in Flowmaster Super 50 Series cat back. J&L catch can
    Not the most popular choice but I would definitely recommend looking into the Nokian Rotiiva A/T. I have them in 265-70-17. Some people have had issues with quick wearing but after 10k+ miles I still have the a little of the 100% tread indicator left but religiously check tire pressure, rotate them and have chalk tested them. They are low rolling resistance, similar to kevlar reinforced, 3 peak mountain snowflake, and pretty light weight. Out the door they were around $140 a tire. They do great in the snow with just the weight of my cap in the back and they aren't very offroad oriented so they are pretty quiet.
     
    Squirt, Jan 16, 2022
    #43
    JGO and Williston[QUOTED] like this.
  4. Jan 16, 2022 at 4:37 PM
    #44
    Williston

    #44
    Williston Well-Known Member

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    New England
    Vehicle:
    2014 Tacoma SR5 4x4 DC SB V6 AT Tow Pkg Entune+ Mostly stock with a few OEM mods.
    Stock (99.999%) OEM Bed Floor Mat, Front Bed Rail Cargo Net and hooks, Auto-Dim mirror w/Compass and outside Temperature display, TRD Pro Grille, Uni-Filter air pump modification, WeatherTech floor liners f/r. OEM All-Weather floor mats (summer).
    Thank you! I will consider them! I hadn't thought of them but I have had Nokian and Gislaved Snow tires on Volvos I have owned and they were excellent winter tires! Gislaved Nord Frost and Nokian Hakkapeliita are awesome winter tires. The Scandinavians know winter! My RWD Volvo wagons with four of either of those tires were unstoppable in even deep snow. Like Tanks!
     
    Williston, Jan 16, 2022
    #44
    Squirt[QUOTED] likes this.
  5. Jan 16, 2022 at 4:49 PM
    #45
    Squirt

    #45
    Squirt Certified in forklifts and meme stealing =)

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    Cornfields of Illinois
    Vehicle:
    2016 F150 Lariat with 3.5L of fury!!
    Rexing front and rear dash camera, some LEDs, Weathertech HP floor liners/vent shades/bug deflector/underseat storage bin, OEM Ford bed mat, Diode Dynamics SS3 Pros in selective yellow, Diode Dynamics 18" light bar in amber and universal Carhartt seat covers. Bak Revolver X4S tonneau cover. Android Auto USB plug upgrade! H11 to H9. Sound deadened/insulated floors and rear wall. VLED license plate reverse light. Yokohama GO15s. Rokblokz mud flaps. "Custom" 3in Flowmaster Super 50 Series cat back. J&L catch can
    Cool. The shop I got them from said they are sometimes scarce so if you go with them I would check and order them before your current tires get to bad.
    I have heard great things about those Hakkas. I guess Nokian is the only tire company to own a private winter test track which helps with development of there tires.
     
    Squirt, Jan 16, 2022
    #45
    Williston[QUOTED] likes this.
  6. Jan 16, 2022 at 9:36 PM
    #46
    TacoGonzoATX

    #46
    TacoGonzoATX Member

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    TBD!
    TacoGonzoATX, Jan 16, 2022
    #46
    TAC1, JGO and CS_AR[QUOTED] like this.
  7. Jan 16, 2022 at 10:04 PM
    #47
    slyguy47

    #47
    slyguy47 Nerd

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    Will definitely have to look into these seat jackers! I'm 6'2" and have never been able to find the "perfect" seat settings.
     
    slyguy47, Jan 16, 2022
    #47
  8. Jan 16, 2022 at 11:58 PM
    #48
    AdrenaliNate

    #48
    AdrenaliNate Call me Nate

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    Simi Valley, CA
    Vehicle:
    13 DCLB TRD Sport
    ICON Stage 3, 275/65-18 BFG T/A KO2, 18" KMC Monsters with custom caps, Access Lorado tonneau, Wet Okoles, AMP Research Powersteps, LED bed/hood/steplights, Fuseblock, ABS kill switch, Banks Pedal Monster
    My faves...

    1.Just installed driver/passenger heated seats with factory-looking 5-level switches tonight so we'll see, but I love them on our RAV4.

    2. Also just installed DDI front seat jackers with home-made 3D printed 1/2" rear jackers. Printing extra 1/4" and 1" spacers right now to see if I like it any better.

    3. Upgraded head unit to Joying 9" with anytime front camera

    4. Wet Okole Seat Covers (now with heated seats)

    5. LED bed light on a tailgate 3-way pin switch - perfect for when I'm camping in the bed with my ENEL Adventure tent

    6. Underhood LED lights on pin swtich/Redline hood struts

    7. On-board air

    8. Sumo springs for towing

    9. Trailer plug bracket relocated - 3D printed

    10. BlueSea aux fuse block with breaker

    Can't forget the ABS kill swtich - possibly the most important, life-saving mod I've done!

    And for the less necessary, more vain/maybe in my head upgrades that I definitely don't regret...

    Alpharex headlights, Banks Pedal Monster, and middle console and glove box organizers. Installing new stitched leather steering wheel wrap this week.
     
    AdrenaliNate, Jan 16, 2022
    #48
  9. Jan 17, 2022 at 1:39 AM
    #49
    TacoTuesday1

    #49
    TacoTuesday1 Well-Known Member

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    what windshield tint %?
    55%?
     
    TacoTuesday1, Jan 17, 2022
    #49
  10. Jan 17, 2022 at 1:43 AM
    #50
    TACOMA2NDGEN

    #50
    TACOMA2NDGEN Well-Known Member

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    ROLAND
    new jersey
    Vehicle:
    2010 dcsb silver sport trd
    baja squadron pros
    Heated seats are number one for me
    Ive done the sound deadening makes it quiter.
    The simple hood struts are a nice add on.
    Apple car play
    And one mod I didn’t think i was going to use as much as i do in the summer and spring is the power rear window. Its so nice to have the fresh air just flow right through the cab
     
    TACOMA2NDGEN, Jan 17, 2022
    #50
    Chris(NJ) likes this.
  11. Jan 17, 2022 at 4:36 AM
    #51
    Raylo

    #51
    Raylo Well-Known Member

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    2023 Tundra SR5 OffRoad; (2009 Tacoma - sold)
    All stock, except for audio and convenience add-ons
    Oh, I forgot that. Mine is a Clifford (same as Viper). Warming up my Tacoma now before I go out to clear off the ice and snow. I've had it for 10 years so I don't even think about it... but I could not live without it.

     
    Raylo, Jan 17, 2022
    #51
  12. Jan 17, 2022 at 5:19 AM
    #52
    Chris(NJ)

    #52
    Chris(NJ) Well-Known Member

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    Usually in Central Jersey
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    Mods are currently being changed .....
    Thats true. The hood struts are a nice touch for anyone who opens it on a regular basis.
     
    Chris(NJ), Jan 17, 2022
    #52
  13. Jan 17, 2022 at 5:47 AM
    #53
    Clearwater Bill

    #53
    Clearwater Bill Never answer an anonymous letter

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    Largo Florida
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    A few OE parts from fancy trucks
    Clearwater Bill, Jan 17, 2022
    #53
    memario1214 and Squirt like this.
  14. Jan 17, 2022 at 5:53 AM
    #54
    JGO

    #54
    JGO Well-Known Member

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    I am sorry but I don't recall for certain. IF my memory serves me, I think it was 10%. I know that it ws not enough to make any noticeable difference in visibility. I have glaucoma and visibility was a concern that I had. But the ceramic tint made a very big difference in heat coming through. The dash no longer gets too hot to touch unless it sits in a parking lot in bright sun. It was noticeable on the first drive, I had it done mid-Summer and never regretted it.
     
    JGO, Jan 17, 2022
    #54
  15. Jan 17, 2022 at 9:58 AM
    #55
    FreeCascadia

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    FreeCascadia Active Member

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    I agree with @JGO - seat spacers have provided the single biggest improvement in terms of QoL.

    Risers have significantly reduced how old I feel when I hop out after a 2-3 hour ride.

    In addition:

    "Headless" stereo system - I've got my iPad pro mounted on a track ball in front of the stock stereo connected via bluetooth to an EQ which in turn runs out to a 4 channel amp for speakers and another amp and sub.

    Having GPS on a huge screen has made navigating so much easier. I feel like I'm able to keep my eyes on the road a lot easier.

    Taking out the access door panels and installing 6.5" speakers has helped a lot with being able to hear music over the road noise.

    Speaking of road noise, it's always nice to be able to hear your music, so I second sound deadening your truck. It's a pain in the ass, but if you do it right it is a significant ROI. The only downside is that I can hear my girlfriend when she talks :(

    Other than that - I probably use my compressor more often than any other accessory I've bought. I even use it to keep the cab clean.
     
    Last edited: Jan 17, 2022
    FreeCascadia, Jan 17, 2022
    #55
    tscheidy, kgarrett11, JGO and 1 other person like this.
  16. Jan 17, 2022 at 10:00 AM
    #56
    Wixo

    #56
    Wixo Platinum+ Member

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    ‘21 SR5 Tundra CM 5.7L Barcelona Red
    Tint, LED interior
    Tint
     
    Wixo, Jan 17, 2022
    #56
  17. Jan 17, 2022 at 10:14 AM
    #57
    su.b.rat

    #57
    su.b.rat broken truck

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    many mentions of seat jackers for front & back. those didn't work for me, in fact they made it so much worse. so i had the seat custom contoured for me. similar effect to raising the front, but without a loss of clearance since this allows your SIT bones to drop down and back, which increases clearance for knees against the dash, for example.
     
    su.b.rat, Jan 17, 2022
    #57
  18. Jan 17, 2022 at 10:18 AM
    #58
    Slick Taco

    #58
    Slick Taco Id Rather Be Airborne

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    Current vehicles: 2019 Rav4 Lunar Rock. 2018 TRD OR DCSB KD Max tuned. 2010 Tundra Limited Crew Max . 1991 4Runner Crawler. Ivan Stewart Edition
    KD Max Tune, King 2.5 coil overs T.C. UCA's, Deaver leafs, 17x9 Black Rhyno Warlords, 33" Toyo M/T's, Metal Tech rear bumper, Westin HDX drop steps with Bullet Liner coating, K&N CAI, Baja Designs fog pods, Rigid Midnight addition 3" pod ditch lights. Cali Raised brackets and 32" behind the grill mounted light bar, Southern Style Offroad Lopro Stage II front bumper, Warn winch, FACTOR 55 Ultra Hook, FACTOR 55 Hawes Fairleed, full debadge, Cosmetic goodies such as 15% carbon tint, matte black in channel rain guards, interior LED's, Teton Workshop shift knob, Inferno vinyl detailing on the interior, Cali Raised multi rocker switch cubby insert with Mc Tuning LED switches and a few other mods I've probably left out.
    My quality of life has immensely improved since installing Kings.
     
    Slick Taco, Jan 17, 2022
    #58
    kgarrett11 and Squirt like this.
  19. Jan 17, 2022 at 11:21 AM
    #59
    Halliwax

    #59
    Halliwax Well-Known Member

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    One thing I haven't seen mentioned that I've loved is the rear view mirror relocate bracket. Moves the mirror up a few inches and out of the way and really opens up the line of sight out of the windshield. I'm on mobile so can't find it, but there was a FS thread on here some time ago.
     
    Halliwax, Jan 17, 2022
    #59
    slyguy47 and Slick Taco like this.
  20. Jan 17, 2022 at 11:31 AM
    #60
    10thMTNgrunt

    #60
    10thMTNgrunt This is the way, step inside.

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    Could you please nutshell the ABS kill switch function in regards to why it’s a life saver, thank you.
     
    10thMTNgrunt, Jan 17, 2022
    #60
    JGO likes this.
Page 3 of 5

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