Planned upgrades - 2023 TRD Off Road, 6 ft bed

I hope this is the right way to do this. Very new to forums. And, I hope I can get some help with what I PLAN to do to my 2023 TRD Off Road, 6 ft bed. The hardest offroading I'll do is overlanding, primarily the TransAmerica Trail. Anyone have experience with or opinions on any of these mods?

1) ARE HD topper with rack for rooftop tent

2) Rough Country front winch bumper
https://www.extremeterrain.com/roug...ries-led-light-bar-pro12000s-winch-10729.html

3) Fishbone skid plates
https://www.extremeterrain.com/fishbone-offroad-tacoma-complete-underbelly-skid-plate-fb23330.html

4) N-Fab sliders
https://www.extremeterrain.com/nfab...ls-textured-black-1619-tacoma-double-cab.html

5) Goodrich KM3 mud tires (stock tire size - 265/70/16)
https://simpletire.com/brands/bfgoo...=Del2&curationSource=none&productPos=2&rad=AA

I don't plan on any lift right now because I don't want to void any warranties. At most, maybe a leveling kit. Anyone have experience with lifting OR not lifting.

Thanks for your help. If I get no responses, I'll post photos once I get each step done...probably will take a couple of months.

Thanks for reading and helping a new Taco owner.

 

ARE topper is really nice.

No experience with that bumper but seems pretty expensive for what it is...are you getting a winch as well?

Skid plates may not be necessary if you are only overlanding and staying on marked trails/roads.

Sliders - same story as the skids...and these are very cheap and wont protect much.

KM3 tires are nosier but good tires.

Lifting doesn't void any warranties of the truck.

 

Thanks AirForce.

The bumper comes with the winch (12,000 lb, overkill I know) and light bar.
I'm hoping the sliders will protect the lower truck panels from rock chips mostly.
Skid plates are just for peace of mind for whatever I may get into over the 5,000 mile TAT - last thing I need is a puncture in something
I wheeled with a fellow from Canada in very muddy conditions and he had KM3's - treads never filled with mud

Can I even get a lift for the 6ft bed? Toyota only offered a "factory" 2" lift for the 5ft bed.

 

Welcome to TW! Lots of good folks here that can really help you out. I don't have any first hand knowledge of the products you have described, so I can't help you on those. But, I'm sure that others that have them will respond. Congratulations on the new truck and enjoy doing your mods!

 

Thank you Paul. I already got some opinions/advice from AirForce. Looking forward to updating the brand new truck lol!

 

Let's be realistic. With all those extra weight planned, there's no way you can pull it thru without beefy suspension/ lift

 

This is correct. You are going to bottom out your suspension with all that weight. If you plan on building your taco with a topper, armor, and being fully loaded, you WILL need a suspension upgrade.. unless you're fine riding your bump stops all day. The suspension is the most recent change to my truck, but was way over due. If you plan on going beyond stock, I would recommend a suspension almost at the top of your list. It doesnt have to be crazy expensive. There are some good affordable options out there.

 

The Toyota TRD Lift seems like a good idea. No negative effect on warranty or resale value.

Update: didn’t see if you had a double or access cab to go with your 6’ bed. The TRD lift is not available for the DCLB.

 

Every AFTM lift will work. Toyota just wont install the OEM lift on the long bed. There are better and cheaper options out there...and the OEM warranty only has a 12mo warranty so you are better off with AFTM.

 

the dealership where i got my tacoma used a different dude to add some "custom" stuff to their trucks. way less than going through the dealership, and was actually warrantied even though i got the lift done after i already had the truck. they didn't offer that info up until i started looking into getting a lift kit done.

 

Thank you ALL for your input. Looks like suspension lift needs to be done! I'm near Nashville TN, any one a good Toyota aftermarket specialist in my area?

Think I can get away with something as simple as this:

https://www.extremeterrain.com/supr...pro-billet-lift-kit-0518-4wd-6lug-tacoma.html

I'd prefer not spend crazy money on Old Man Emu or something similar (especially since I'll pay a professional to install). Regardless, if I go with a small 2" lift, is that enough and are there any other adjustments I need to make to drivetrain, etc. I realize I may have to get new shocks as well...any recommendations? Or, any recommendations for lift systems that include shocks?

 

It sounds like you don't necessarily want to lift the truck but want to increase the spring rate. You can get stiffer springs and keep stock height with the added weight.

 

I'm not averse to lifting (modestly, ie 2") and wouldn't mind lifting with stiffer suspension parts. I'm just concerned about what other drivetrain, control arm etc. mods I'd need to do AND voiding any warranties. Just paid $50,000 for a new truck and can't afford for something to go wrong and not have it covered by Toyota. I'd appreciate any recommendations for those concerns? Thanks again for your help.

BTW - have you had experience with 4 wheel parts? They are local and can install lifts, I think.

 

my dealership was actually really cool about telling me the dude they use for some of the stuff on their trucks. it was a few weeks after i had the truck, and got the lift done directly from this guy -- zero impact to warranty, and totally covered. it was just the relationship they had with the guy. maybe not all dealerships do this, but worked out great for me, and the warranty was the biggest thing i wanted to make sure about.

 

Modesty is key here. You won't need to upgrade everything if just adding some more weight. And you don't need to upgrade the suspension right away. You can put everything on the truck and get a good idea of how much...if it even does...sag.

Modifying anything brand new is always risky. Usually dealers will appreciate the fact that you want to modify your truck and as long as you aren't blatantly abusing it, they will honor warranty claims. I have had a couple warranty issues and my dealer initially tried to blame my modifications but eventually repaired the issues after I took time to talk with the service managers.

4WP is very worrisome to me. A lot of them closed down or changed ownership so warranty concerns may be an issue. I've seen some of their install work and some looks really good and some looks like a 4th grader did it with a blindfold on. You best option is to post in the regional forum and see if a couple guys want to come over one day and help you install some mods. You will better understand your truck and will have more pride in the work that is performed.

 

Those skids/sliders are definitely cheap. I'd recommend going with RCI. They're running a sale right now so it'll be not all that much more for a very high quality product.

 

Yes Toyota will lift DCBLB.. mine did

 

I have the ARE Z series. Super nice

 

Dudeman, my dealership will not lift my truck since it's a longbed. Is yours the 2" lift and what size tires are you running? I'm searching for a local aftermarket place to install a 2" lift with a firmer suspension to hold the weight (as recommended by bulalo and Ausberg earlier).

Newbie, I got a quote for the ARE CX HD with rack and vented, gullwing side windows. The dealer said I could put a rooftop tent on it if I wanted, but I don't plan on that (but I want to have the option). I have a basset hound and don't want to lift him to the roof, lol.

 

FWIW, I've had an ARE Classic since June and so far it's been very good. As far as the Toyota lift kit, the "official" word from Toyota is no long beds and no 2wd, but it comes down to the dealer. Some will do long beds, some won't. With your ARE you could put some ventilation in the bed and build a ramp up to the tailgate for the hound, and camp in the bed