First steps of a build

yo, close to biting the bullet on a 2014, trd offroad tacoma, it is completly stock, silver rims small tires, etc. Just wondering if this is where builds start, when I see one online that has been modified, it looks drastically different, but i can't tell if it is just the wheels, tires lift etc. mainly the front end is what I was confused on.. below are 2 images, one of a similar model to what I am thinking of, and another to my goal once I am all done. Can someone tell me what has been done to it?

 

Lift, bigger tires makes a huge difference in appearance. The second picture is of a TRD model which includes a non functioning hood scoop and color matched grill surround.

When I first got my truck, I immediately couldn’t stop reading different mods. My first appearance based one was to buy new wheels.

 

I started off with tires. But depending on how big you want your tires to be, you may want a lift. I got 265/75/16 BFG KO2s which are the biggest tires that will fit with a stock lift. I then got a 3 inch lift. For the front, I recommend the 2015 TRD pro grill along with a matching color grill surround. Getting away from all the chrome makes a big difference. I was able to replace my grill and surround, add a skid plate, bug deflector, exhaust tip, and add steps all on my own. Ive since removed my steps and sold them (damaged them off roading) but yeah I had a great time working on my truck overtime. Big difference in look from stock. I also have the 2015 TRD pro wheels too.

 

gotcha, the first things I was looking at doing was plastidipping or something of the like the chrome grill and bumper, just to get the more blacked out look, definitly a lift, wheels and tires down the road, but will probably wait for a used set to come up. So 2 more questions, would you advise sticking to 16's or going up for 17's? and I know it is a lot of preference, but genuinely speaking? what is the preferred? And second, what are your views of spacer lift kits? I was looking at the trd offroad, one because I have one near me that looks like a god buy, and 2, because it comes with a little better suspension, so if I were to do a spacer lift, theoretically, I would still have fairly decent shocks.

Thanks

 

First......completely go over all fluids....right down to PS & brake fluids

Know what you have mechanically from the get go...brakes---plugs---filters etc

CarFax always good to have

Then....tires & wheels.....lift/shocks.....bumper(s) etc....

UR learn the Taco trucks can be a money pit.......

pic...my '14

 

To me the first step of a build is driving the truck and figuring out what you want out of it.

There's way too many cookie cutter builds on here that follow the tacomaworld formula and look the same (Pro grill, Raptor Lights, 285 KO2s, Bilstein 5100s, etc). To me the whole point of building a truck is setting it up for YOUR specific wants and needs.

Also don't forget there's no rush. I think alot of new members get on here an think they have to do everything at once. It took me 10 years to get my truck exactly the way I like it.

 

The step side Tundra wouldn't be so bad if they didn't have those taillights, and the wheel well didn't angle back that way.
What an ugly design

 

yeah i know it ain't a rush, I ain't tryna make it one.. just trying to figure out what I will do in the long run,such as spacer lift kits, down the road, since I don't want to spend a fortune on new shocks, my logic was that it would be a better idea to get the offroad model, with the better shocks from the get go?

 

personally I wouldn’t lift the truck if a spacer lift is all you can afford. They’re notoriously junk and if you don’t space you bump stops accordingly they can break shocks. Better off just leaving it at stock ride hight until you can afford new shocks.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/why-exactly-are-front-spacer-lifts-bad.345272/

if you scroll down several posts there’s pics of shocks broken due to spacer lifts.

 

gotcha, that is exactly what I am looking for, thats why I wanted to ask, because I honestly had no idea.. thank you

 

This. It's called 'base-lining' the vehicle. You're buying something 7 years old. It would be a rare day to receive complete service records from an original owner. So if you didn't, assume everything needs your attention.

Add to that list the brake condition.

This too.

We don't know what kind of use you plan for the truck nor what your driving skills are. These are very capable vehicles in the hands of a good driver for probably 90% of the conditions they get real world used in. Tires, not always bigger, but usually better, are often the #1 improvement for the terrain you drive on.

 

yeah, tires and wheels will be my first proper change, should I keep the 16s or go 17s? what are the benefits of each?

 

and to go back to lift kits, I won't be offroading that much, yeah here and there, but nothing crazy, a lift would be more for looks, and to fit bigger tires for me.. Is that where the danger is with spacer kits? or should I just stay away from them in general?

 

The difference is 1 inch, performance wise there's really no difference.

TECHNICALLY a 16" is better offroad because you have more rubber which allows the sidewalls to deform more over obstacles equating to more traction but 16" vs 17" you're really splitting hairs. The benefits apply more when it's something like a 16" vs a 20" rim.

To me the main perk of 17"s is that these days there are more tire options in lighter load ranges in 17"s which are more appropriate for these small trucks. If you go up to 33s on 16" rims most of the options are load range E which is what is typically spec'd on full sized trucks and can ride kinda harsh on a tacoma.

The main difference is whether or not you wanna shell out $1000 for 17" rims in addition to tires (unless you're getting some OEM sport take offs for cheap).

Personally I wouldn't because I don't like cosmetic mods that degrade the performance of the truck. I prefer to upgrade than downgrade but judging by the fact you keep asking it sounds like you're pretty set on it and it's your truck so do what you want.

 

gotcha with the tires, do 17's still run well on a stock setup, of course assuming that I don't run huge tires? main reason i'm asking about the lift is at some point down the road, i'll do one, and I personally do not need the performance upgrade of a $1500 shock set up, but if putting a spacer lift on will cause me some problems, and possibly break my current shocks anyways, than I'm still in the same boat. Really my question is, for someone who will be doing light off-roading, nothing crazy, is a spacer lift still a bad set up, due to the possibility of bending the shock or some other damage?

 

Is your light offroading the equivalent of forest logging roads, dirt roads, and minor obstacles? No rock crawling? No high rate of speed baja whoops? If so than you should be OK with a spacer lift. They're unpopular here because the community likes to overbuild for their needs and "we" generally have the thought process of "buy once, cry once" and do it right. If it's mostly for aesthetics and you're willing to sacrifice some comfort, spacer lift will be fine.

For 17" wheels, the TRD sport comes stock with them. There are absolutely NO problems running them with the appropriate tire size. For the most part, you can run 265/70/17 without a lift. I have two sets of tires in this size on stock suspension, winter studded (General Arctic) and summer (Wrangler Duratrac). 17" wheels size does provide you with a better range of tires in the lighter ratings making it that much more comfortable for out trucks.

*Edit: Proof readin iz hard.

 

Going off of what someone has stated already, give it a couple months and see what you really need. My truck is my daily so I figured I didn't necessarily need a 4x4 so I opted for the 4x2 off-road option and got the rear locker in the back.

 

yeah, i'm not going to be doing any heavy off-roading, really just going up into the mountains to have some fun for a bit, no High speed nothing, anything i'd need to take slow, I will. I by no means am going to be pushing it to its limits, I just absolutely love the look of a lifted truck, as I'm sure most of you can agree with, which is why I didn't want to fork out a ton of money for something I am not going to be needing, but incase you haven't gathered it, I don't really know what is good and what isn't. And as stated above, I am not in any rush to get all this done, just trying to figure out if it is a good bet to go for the model I am looking at.. 2014 trd offroad. One i'm looking at is the 4x4, which imo is necessary for me, living in CO

 

Change all fluids. Get your hands up under her skirt before you start buying her a bunch of swag. Put your VIN number into the Toyota app. If you had a previous owner like mine, all service records are documented. That was something I was grateful for.. dude took his truck in every 5000 miles!

Watch FB Marketplace (much better than Craigslist now RIP) for wheels and tires and the suspension out of a new 3rd gen truck. I found a set of front and rear shocks of a 2020 for $100 two weeks ago, and haven't had a moment to install. Should gain an inch or more in lift, and all that I've read on TW is that the ride is much better.

Hard to remember to take it slow.. I'm in the same boat as you, and although this is my second Taco, this 2013 I found was bare-bones stock when I found her.

 

Change all fluids #1.