I Regret These Mods! - Save Your Money & Hassle | Overland Toyota Tacoma Build Process 

All products used in my build can be found here! www.amazon.com/shop/influencer-0252276c

Finally, somebody who talks more about the function of his mods and not just how cool they look. Thank you. M.

Finally a regular Joe talking realistic builds. Awesome vid bro.

so refreshing to see sensible build videos, not just throwing the kitchen sink (literally in some cases) at a build. subscribed.

I've driven through 8 states and haven't met a road my stock Tacoma couldn't handle. Only upgrade I've done is a tent camper. Spent my hard-earned dollars on investments instead.

Pretty sensible with one exception. The full skid vs engine skid only is there for when you are in a break over situation, not for you to drag a rock front to back. IE, if you were to drive over a large mount containing a rock you can't see. Because your engine is so close to the front tires, you're fine but, especially with a long wheelbase, the center of the truck is MUCH more likely to contact than the front or rear. It's all a game of angles.

Dude! Finally someone like kinda famous says the same shit I’m being saying for the last 3 years! I built for fun, uses and experience, not mall crawling never used expensive mini tank… I spend the money on gas food and time off from work to enjoy my mini piece of Amazon cheap truck that are every other weekend on the beach, mountain with the fam, that in the shop or at the garage waiting to perfection… enjoy fucking life times is running out,

I was so hyped seeing all these Overland vehicles and started watching these types of vids and I came down from my "cloud"... No trails i my area, just dirt roads and mud to get to my fishing spots. Thanks for posting and putting it out there.

I like your no nonsense daily driver approach. You’ve built a great looking rig and I think the approach is more along the lines of what a lot of not most of us are looking for. Definitely subscribing Cheers

Thanks for the guidance with regard to the expensive, non-essential mods that you regret. I appreciate the practical perspecitve and honesty.

The rotopax vs jerry can comparison is spot on... Plus, you can build anything with unlimited funds. But what do you NEED vs WANT.

IMO, it really comes down to how you use (or want to use) your vehicle and where you want to go. A factory e- locker and decent tires are all you need for technical dirt trails that can lead to amazing places. I wrote this a while ago, to help guide some friends and customers, and modified it a bit for this response. Cut & paste. Sorry for the long comment. ARMOR: Sliders: I'd say that these should be the first mod if you're planning to attempt any challenging trail. An access cab or shortbed Tacoma has a wheelbase that is only 2" shorter than a 1980's Suburban. Damaging a rocker panel is catastrophic, and the thought of that damage will make semi- reasonable people turn around. Sliders provide great access to the roof as well. Skids: Cheaper than replacing the catalytic converters, if that's an concern where you live or park your vehicle. It was for me and helped to justify the purchase. All of my 3/16" steel skids are scratched and dented. But they protected the vitals and I wouldn't have attempted those rocky trails without them. They obviously make fluid changes more difficult. Front Armor: Deer/ animal strikes. Chances are 1 in 260, in California, and that is low compared to many other states. The animal will probably not survive, whether you have a stock bumper or front armor. But you can drive away from the tragedy with proper protection. And are much more likely to not have a totaled vehicle. And if you travel solo, a winch is a game changer. Even if it's just to pull deadfall out of the way so you can keep moving forward. Rear Armor: A rear swingout bumper allows you to carry the "cheap $20 jerry can" (more like $50 for metal). And keep the fluids out of the bed if that's your sleeping area. And it obviously fits a bigger tire if it won't fit under the truck. TIRES: It all depends on where you want to go. 35's were a game changer in the rocks. Because that's where I wanted to go. Having run the same exact trail on 33's (3 times), the 35's made a huge difference. But they impacted the MPG's more than any other mod on the Tacoma. And obviously required re-gearing. Going from 265/75R16's (31's) to 255/85R16's (33's) had a minimal affect on MPG's and didn't require clearancing. It's a great size for most applications. SUSPENSION: There's no comparison with King's and aftermarket leaf springs, vs. stock springs and my old 5100's. And the rebound dampening/ valving was changed, to account for the heavier springs, during the 40K mile rebuild and made them even better. BUT... if you're building suspension just for trail comfort, the easiest thing you can do is air down. Invest in a good compressor that is easy to use. Onboard and high CFM is recommended. The easier and faster it is to air up, the more likely you will be to air down. Whether you keep it stock or upgrade the suspension later, a good compressor is a long term investment. Those Kings do make the street driving so much better though... LIGHTS: Baja's are awesome. I have cheaper off-brand 9" rounds that have 32 LED's/ light. They've been reused on 4 vehicles in the past 6 years and work great. The Baja XL80's, on the Tacoma, have the same output using only 4 LED's at 2/3 the amps. And they'll last a lifetime, for my use, and will fit on any bumper. The 9" rounds didn't fit on my current Tacoma bumper. Like everything else, you get what you pay for. Quality lights may seem like overkill on a stock truck, but you'll be happy you have them in the future if you plan to upgrade the suspension and go faster. You obviously don't want to outrun your lights. Throw some Squadrons in the fog pockets, on a stock bumper, and relocate them later if a winch bumper is the plan. After so many iterations my Tacoma has gone through in the past 11 years, I have the "buy once, cry once" mentality. And I've regretted every 1/2 measure modification I've ever done. Not because of status or bling, but because the 1/2 measure mods didn't perform significantly better than stock. I tried the "bare minimum" approach. I initially saved money on parts, but had to do the labor all over again when upgrading. And wasted that money since the used parts were sold at a discount. It's the difference between "slightly better" and "holy shit- this is awesome". It all depends on what you want. I should have kept it stock and saved for the parts that are on my truck now. If you can accept the fact that you can't go places a highly modified truck can, or are OK with driving slower, then keeping a vehicle close to stock makes sense. There are "Easy" trails where a stock truck, or even a sprinter van, can go. And you'll be glad you have a 4x4 when easy trails turn to snot or come across a snow patch. There are "Medium" trails where you're glad that you have good tires. And medium trails, with occasional obstacles, when you'll be glad that you have a rear locker and armor. And harder trails that you can tackle with confidence with the right mods. And there's the "have it and not need it, instead of need it and not have it" mentality. If you're budget allows for it. It's all a balancing act to make the trip more enjoyable and comfortable. I enjoyed the video because it makes sense for what you do, what you're willing to do, what you expect out of your vehicle, and where you want to go.

SO, I Just bought a 21 Tacoma a few months ago and I am new to this overland community. I have been looking at mods for a budget overland rig / daily driver since I do a lot of hunting and camping up in the Rockies and also drive 50+miles to work everyday. This video seriously put everything into perspective for me. Sure, all that off-road overland stuff looks cool, but if it doesn't serve enough purpose to essential pay for itself, then like you stated, why waste your money. I appreciate you taking the time for this video and explaining this!

Excellent video. You hit the nail on the head with the SoCal crowd. Be practical and sensible with your mods and you can't go wrong.

Awesome video man! I love the concise rundown on what all you have done on your second gen. Through your whole video you simplified everything you were talking about, and made it super easy to follow along. The perfect amount of detail to visual!! Thank yoi for uploading!

Thank you for the honest information especially for a budget guy like me. Appreciate your honesty on what someone like me would actually need and use.

I like the philosophy of use here .. pretty well balanced with cost. I don't fault my friends with much cooler setups than me :) .. I've got a very low cost setup with a stock Tacoma with a soft topper on the bed. I use open air cot with a tarp setup to avoid getting wet or snowed when camping dispersed. Alternatively a tent-cot when I'm in an organized site or group camp. works well and the truck is still a daily driver and weekend trash hauler lol

Very sensible and humble review of your build man. Looks great and helps point a lot of people in the right direction. Kudos

This 6min video is packed with wisdoms. Very honest and practical. Thanks

Love the realistic honest review, thanks, saved me thousands

As someone who lives in California and mainly wants to travel the 395 hwy this makes me happy! I don’t really wanna put money into lifting my Tacoma so I’m glad my stock truck can handle really well since it’s my daily! Thank you!!

I just got mine! 2007, TRD original owner who I know, access cab with a camper top. I am so happy. Great video, thanks.

Putting a set of Timbren bumpstops on front and back was the best money I spent on any of my Toyotas. Not expensive but after you bottom out a few times on the rock hard stock ones, you'll understand why it's worth it. Another low cost item that is worth every penny is swapping out the stock reverse light bulbs for those super bright JDM Astar ones. So much brighter!!

I think this is the most sensible overlanding. This is brilliant advice

What a great and practical video on overlanding mods for everyday people that don't have unlimited resources! Thanks and well done!

Nice build! We have a shell on our PRO4X and though it keeps things dry, the fine dust in Death Valley covers the inside in spite of a lot of effort - we tent camp or pull our tear drop. I agree with you about lift and tires - we went with an Old Man Emu lift that netted 1-3/4" lift in front and 2-3/4" in the rear with 559lb rear springs (the truck sets level when loaded). We stayed with the stock 31.5" tires - though were up-grading to better AT's soon

Great vid! Love seeing high quality budget builds. Fox 2.0 was my favorite purchase. Rides amazing with a minimal lift on 265s, and you don’t pay $4k+ for suspension that you really don’t need.

Great video. Practical build for practical people who want to overland/off-road. Thanks for the tips!

Thanks for having some sense with all of this man. Most of these build look the same and the people just look happy to name drop brands left and right. Creative builds are really useful to me for ideas. Nothing beats making your own build personal to you.

Spot on, I started overlanding with a Camry during my college years in AZ. With the exception of crown king I was able to go all over AZ on camping trips Fast forward to the present and like most OB followers I'm addicted and it's cool to see someone actually take the time to remind us that all the hype of modding out the rigs for SEMA and the Ultimate Adventure isn't really worth it. Oh wait... I need to call Dirt King Fab in the morning to book my Long Travel package for my Ram, you know because one day I might find myself doing the Baja 1000. No really it's something that I need. 37s with a Whipple SC to boot.

I'm a rancher, and tend to use my 2011 Tacoma Sport 4x4 (4-door 5ft bed 4.0L V6) to check on cows, water holes, and troughs. I tend to do a lot of bush whacking ranching. Where my cows are it's very rocky as well and sometimes I'm practically rock crawling. I also do some hunting so my Tacoma is used and abused. The only thing I've done to it is put a 2.5 inch Old Man Emu lift on it and put 265/75R16 tires on it. So far, it's been amazing and gets me everywhere I need to go. I've gone up rocky switch back roads, driven over washboard dirt roads at 60mph and it keeps on chugging along. No regrets so far with this ranch truck.

Picked up a blank canvas 4wd 2018 4Runner SR5 a couple weeks ago with ambitions bigger than what my reality would be. Definitely seeking to do a utility build for the back country but still be inconspicuous in town. Appreciate what your doing dude.

very nice someone that actually puts thought into it , these are daily drivers for many people

Thanks for this video. I ordered 285's for my rig, but after watching this, I've changed the order to 275's.

I like how this video shows up in my feed the day my truck goes into the shop…. I already knew everything, but this video kind of serves as a reminder. Oh well, I’ll live with my choices.

I’ve also learned my lesson with level and lift kits.. next truck I buy I’m keeping it bone stock besides maybe a little more aggressive tires.

Awesome job, this is so informative. Thank you.

This video is a MUST for trucks newcomers

Great video! Your rig is very similar to mine. I have an 09 TRD-OR 6mt. Same skids, I went with a 3" lift and 285/75/16s. No issues with my Smittybuilt tent though. Truck does great!

Best advice I have ever heard for a build. Outstanding.

5:28 I have a SmittyBilt Overland Gen 2, and I have been nothing but pleased with it. Quality is great, and the price was outstanding. I've been in completely dry in pouring Georgia/Alabama rain, and I've been snug as a bug with snow piled up in Montana.

Particularly good advice there, I upgraded my FJ Cruiser to Bilstein 6100 with driver's side set to one notch up to eliminate the famous lean, MT OEM size 265-70x17 tires that are road worthy and no bumpers but rear diff and shock mount armor and TRD front skid plate. Otherwise, its stock with an addition of ARB snorkel and like your vehicle, no front or rear bumpers.

Thanks for this video. I'm a few weeks away from my Tacoma and definitely plan to keep it a simple build. Your insights are a huge help!

You know what you're talking about. And very good points made. I overland 97 4runner and 265/75/16 is perfect 32" size tire. Gets me where I need and good on hwy. For crawling we run an old jeep on 37s and 6 inch lift.

Headed to Telluride and Moab with a stock 2022 taco pro 6 speed manual, all I need! Great video!!

Thanks for the advice! Really appreciate cost conscious suggestions!

Bro, awesome video!!!!!!! That really just lowered my stress level on what I thought I needed. Great stuff !!

Finally, someone who acknowledges that too many guys are too worried about looking cool and not what’s practical. I’ll take function and capability over looks or what’s “cool” any day

Great video. The only thing I disagree with you on is the underbody armor. Get quality stainless or aluminum stuff for the whole underbody. It’s a one time sunk cost that will protect all the expensive parts underneath. You probably will never need it, but when you do, you will be thankful it was there.

Great and sensible video! I can almost hear some of the Tacotubers grabbing the torches and pitchforks, you got dangerously closes to besmirching some of their favorite brands 😜

I learned two important things from you, thank you for short and easy video to understand with examples

Thanks for making this man I’ve gotta 2019 Frontier pro4x with a 2” lift and 265/70/16s and daily I wonder if I need bigger or should have went higher. This video put my mind at ease

Honestly all you need for “overlanding” is recovery gear and a tent in a tonneau cover. Glad you made this video. The whole overlanding / Tacoma mod shenanigans is getting out of hand. I am semi guilty of it, but it’s hyper monetized by a high volume of small brands selling stuff we don’t really need. Simple is best.

Great honest sensible vid! Many thanks as i’m gonna be looking at options when my tacoma arrives.

Dude I love your channel. I think you're the only one on here who cuts through all the bullshit clout mods for the Tacoma. It's really obvious that half the Tacoma "influencers" on here are bought by their sponsors so its really refreshing to see someone just tell it like it is for a change. Keep it up!

I push a 99’ 3rd gen 4Runner limited. Bilsteins with a 2 inch lift, diff drop, KO2s and a Prinsu rack for the roof nest tent. Before that I just had a regular tent. That is all. No armor only because I got lazy. I do the Northern AZ forests and reservation desert trails. She eats it up. Rarely use the rear locker but when engaged she is unstoppable. I thought I’d need much more to enjoy overlanding but with a Yota, all you needs is the basics.

You made great points and I had some of the same regrets. One thing about tires though, bigger can be worthwhile so you lose less clearance if you air down. Parts of Colorado are pretty rocky and airing down even on easy trails makes the drive more comfortable.

Very informative video. I like your set up. I currently own a 2020 TRD off-road and bought it brand new the only “ mod “ I have done is new tires, same as yours actually. My build will be a slow a thoughtful one trying to be minimal and keeping that stock look.

I like a front bumper to hold a winch and protect from deer strikes or hitting harder than expected snow berms. Cheap insurance to protect front end bits and radiator, especially on rigs without comprehensive coverage. Downside is wear and tear on front suspension.

I love your Tacoma sir. Thanks for sharing your experience ❤

The best modification I ever made and the only one worth the money, was putting a Lock-Right auto locker in my 93 2wd Toyota pickup. No lift, manual 5 speed, 22-RE, 205/75-R14 snow tires, the locker and driving it like I stole it got me many many places in the snow and mud that no other 2wd could go.

Tires are the biggest game changer on any vehicle. I’m yanking my running boards and replacing them with frame mounted functional Rock sliders. As much to protect the body as skid plates protect the important things. Flipped too many trees up and into the vehicle to not have them.

Most important overland video of the decade. Agree with everything here. Additionally, I’d say you could probably skip light bars and ditch lights altogether.

thank you for your honest feedback

Thanks for your vid. I’m down the rabbit hole now😂. $$$$$ ikon stage 4, add a leaf, UCA, Falken AT4WP, Revolution 5.29 re-gear plus winch capable DV8 front bumper, DV8 under carriage skids, Beast Fab rock sliders, a SnugTop Hi-Line camper shell, a 270 OVS Nomadic awning, soon to be added lights you just mentioned in your video as well… I’m digging deeper and deeper. 😂 oh crap there’s the air compressor and recovery gear too😅😂

Great video, thanks for allowing us to learn from your experiences! Subscribed!

Thank you very much for this vid. Saved me some money. Especially on the fuel cans and the bumpers

The exact kind of thinking I have put into my Tacoma!

Thanks for making this video! Mods/gear is a rabbit hole that robs people from the joy of exploration. Adventure, and when you reach your limits, buy gear that will take you further. In the midst of RU-vid “MoST iNsaNe bUiLd N tHe GaLaXy!!” clickbait builds, your honesty is refreshing.

Honest feedback, from first hand experience! Thanks…

the number 1 mod is a front limited slip diff. and if you are really old school , locking hubs you know, those things on the front wheels that Matt and Rory have on their tow vehicles

Good commentary and an honest opinion. Nice rig.

Good stuff! Thanks bro. Keep it coming.

The first mod I'm doing on my TRD Off Road is definitely going to be a bumper, and winch. It seems to make the most sense to me functionally. I'm a little blown away that you have all of that other gear, but have chosen not to have the one mod that can get you out of trouble when/if you get stuck. Just my opinion.

Smart advices. Don't buy unnecessary gears or things in general, whether it is for your truck or house.

Love honest videos like these thank you!

Excellent video. Very informative. Thanks man.

Thanks for the advice. I have a 2019 Tacoma that had stock 265/65/17 highway tires and moved up to 265/70/17 Falken Wildpeaks and for the most part have been very happy with those but tempted to move up bigger. I'm getting 16 to 17 city and 22 to 23 highway right now, so your advice reinforces to me, that moving even higher would be a waste. I'm with you and sticking with 31 inch All Terrains.

Great video, I appreciate the honest assessment.

My Road Armor front winch bumper has paid for itself many times over. Not only getting me out of trouble but I've hit deer twice which would have destroyed the front of my truck. I'm running the Falken Wildpeaks as well but in 33 and while more mass should require more gas, I don't have a noticeable drop in my mileage on my 2nd gen Tacoma.

Great video man thanks

We try to use our trucks stock as long as possible - First thing we normally upgrade is the tire size. Tacoma trucks are more capable than people think. My father in-law has a Tacoma and has proven it can go some pretty amazing places without crazy mods.

Thank you for your content and your honesty 👍

Alot of good info without all the fluff 👍

solid, there should be more advice like this on the internets.

Thanks bro this is exactly what I was looking for , w video

Great, sensible advice! Well done. 🙋🏼

Love your truck, same Idea I'm looking at. Not too big and crazy

Good info, thanks for sharing.

Thanks for this informative vid.

I like your mindset, buddy 🤟

Comon sens, we need more of that. Thanks! Great video!👌

Great video! I enjoyed it...so sensible! I just subscribed.

I have. 3” lift and have no issues with my drive shaft or CV axels. In terms of lighting you want quality that lasts long and doesn’t get condensation inside the housing after a few trips and you want light spread. Good engineering costs money. I wouldn’t recommend Baja anyway. DD are better. And the bigger tires give you more clearance for heavy rock crawling. Of course if you just want to do normal overlanding you don’t need big tires at all.

Damn. Good advice. Unfortunately, I traded in my Tacoma for a 4Runner. The primary reason was I wanted to sleep inside the SUV rather than in the bed of my Tacoma. Although I had a LEER cap, I have able to set up the 4Runner for greater habitability. No rock crawling in my future, although the TRD Pro or Off Road can be set up to do that, it’s not my thing. Great video. Thanks for sharing.

Great vid, nice to see some honest comments about what is really needed. Would point out though, if you are really on a budget you can get a cheap but solid ground tent easily for $100 or less. No cool factor like a RTT but ground tents are very versatile, and have a few advantages over RTTs. RTTs have some advantages too but I'm continuously blown away by how many people will throw $1200-4000 at a RTT that does the same thing as a ground tent, just so they can sleep off the ground.

Minus some self-recovery items like a bumper winch and the like this is why I just went TRD Pro. Anything more crazy and I'm taking my motorcycle or turning around.

Good video I’m keeping my 2022 TRD OFF ROAD light weight.

Great video. Makes sense and was super helpful except I saw the video post buying all my parts lol

I have a stock 2019 TRD OR 6 speed manual. I installed the hidden winch myself, with the Warn Evo 10s and put the factory bumper cover back on. You can't tell. I'm sticking with the stock tire size, and going to get Kbro2's when they wear. That's it. I trust Toyota's engineers more than some Bro on IG that throws last years harvest cash at a silly truck. You need lockers, not light bars.