Recommended upgrades: Daily driver '18 Taco TRD O.R.

[2xAGM114]

Just starting out in Overlanding. Looking for recommendations for first upgrades/mods. Stock TRD OR Taco.

- This is my daily commuter, not going crazy right out of the gate.
- Tires are currently Michelin X LT A/S, 265 70/R16 I got for the snow in our area. Would like to upgrade eventually to more aggressive tread.
- Overlanding will be fire roads for camping, not rock crawling.
- Considered getting some MaxTrax but they're spendy. Is there a cheaper alternative that works?
- Navigation needed. Probably Gaia + GPS puck, TBD.
- Ham radio/license complete.

What's next?

 

[astroflashjones]

I have a 2016 TRD OR and I'll be honest, they dont need much. If you arent rock crawling, most of the stock components should suffice. A moderate tire like the BFG KO2s or Cooper STT Maxx is definitely helpful. Some of the fire roads around here can get a bit rocky so its worth the upgrade. There are definitely cheaper options than Maxtraxx, you can even use your floormats in a pinch. There is usually some trade off though in terms of durability and performance. I'm not going to open that can of worms here but I will say that having some sort of traction board should be high up on the list.

Gaia plus an ipad mini and a bad elf gps receiver is my current setup. I also carry a inReach Explorer+. Great for hiking, SOS, and can be paired to the ipad as well (redundancy).

As far as these trucks go, I would focus on reliability, recovery, and liveability. My last Taco stayed pretty much stock with the exception of tires, topper, and a roof top tent. My current truck has a lot more invested in it but my current plans necessitate it. Suspension is usually one of the first things to get upgraded on these trucks. Stock isnt bad but there are some much better options out there and the rear springs do start to sag early on, especially once you start adding gear.

I would start with accumulating all the tools and recovery gear you need. Once thats out of the way then start looking at tires and maybe suspension.

 

[2xAGM114]

I have a 2016 TRD OR and I'll be honest, they dont need much. If you arent rock crawling, most of the stock components should suffice. A moderate tire like the BFG KO2s or Cooper STT Maxx is definitely helpful.

Gaia plus an ipad mini and a bad elf gps receiver is my current setup. I also carry a inReach Explorer+. Great for hiking, SOS, and can be paired to the ipad as well (redundancy).

I would start with accumulating all the tools and recovery gear you need. Once thats out of the way then start looking at tires and maybe suspension.

Well said. I'm working on the recovery gear now. Going to forego the winch and start with a tow strap, traction boards and hooks. I'll add suspension to the list.

 

[astroflashjones]

Yeah the Tacomas already have a recovery hook on the front passenger side. For the back you can just get a hitch shackle. You can even secure your recovery strap to a hitch pin but you have to be more cautious about the strap rubbing on the reciever. I'd probably opt for a kinetic strap over a standard tow strap,. It will make getting unstuck a lot easier.