Toyota Tacoma Modifications Worth Doing!

[@TinkerersAdventure]

Love it! And thanks for the shout out! I also regret doing my TRD intake. The FJ/4runner one has a worse design than the stock airbox, and worse than the Tacoma TRD. so I might actually switch the stock one back one day

[@BigBluePile]

Agreed. The filter is a pain to get to now but I got such a good deal on the kit.....I'm just meh about it lol

[@JasonExplainsThings]

Lame! Thats too bad it’s worse. At least on a Tacoma it doesn’t hurt anything… I still like Red Letters! 🥰 But yeah it’s just not worth the money.

[@kevinkeener1885]

What are your thoughts on the trd desert air intake on the tacoma? I like the way it looks and don't really get that deep in the water, just a lot of dusty roads.

[@gamerscore88]

I have the anytime camera kit on my Taco. I live in AZ and temps are regularly 115F+ and I haven’t had any issues with it not working. I’ve also been in below freezing and had no issues. One thing I did when installing it was I use black silicone and heat shrink over the threaded opening for the camera wires to make sure no weather elements or debris gets inside. Great video!

[@JasonExplainsThings]

I did that as well. Weird. Might just be bad luck on my part.

[@stevenlilly6071]

Thank you for the honest recap of your modifications. I would love to see one of these on your 4Runner.

[@JasonExplainsThings]

A breakdown of everything? Good idea. Got a bunch of new stuff coming for it very soon so maybe a recap in the fall.

[@ericnexplore]

Thanks for sharing your mods. I enjoy your no nonsense approach to the upgrades and I appreciate your honesty. Greetings from Winnipeg

[@skylerbower8027]

Nicely done video. I think your presentation and overall performance is getting more and more polished. You are still very relatable, but definitely giving a more professional video creator vibe.

[@270eman]

Dog just throw that pedal commander in the trash and get an Overland Torque Tune. I see those thing short out and cause all sorts of funky issues. The tune will actually remap the power bands and move your power down low where it belongs. I love that bed topper though. Looks like something you see on a military vehicle in the desert.

[@windowsbythebay]

@270eman You loser, this is the 3rd Tacoma video I come across where your peddling the overland torque tune, you swallow any chance you get

[@Phulcrum]

I second this! Have had my OTT tune for a few months and absolutely love it. I went with mild/medium and couldn’t be more happy with it.

[@justinmcarthur581]

I’m ready for your “promised”suspension video. You have the exact setup I’ve been interested in for my own Tacoma. Thank you for the honest review of the anytime camera. I was looking at them and trying to find a Memorial Day sale.

[@JasonExplainsThings]

Yeah it’s great… most of the time. Winter and the hot months of the summer… it’s pretty annoying.

[@justinmcarthur581]

@@JasonExplainsThings well I’m from New England so I get both of those haha

[@dinsixiengmay9781]

Love it, First time owning a Taco here just bought it 11/22/24😊 my first mod is going to be the front hood bug deflector 😁😁 by the way bought a 2022 🌮

[@BisonMan-im4zx]

Vision X lights will fog up sometimes. They said to burn out the moisture with using the light.

[@JasonExplainsThings]

Yeah it does go away. I’ll keep an eye on it. Still might upgrade it this year. I wish Diode Dynamics made a light that size but they do not. Closest is 18”.

[@joshuaporter128]

Love it! Great video Jason, keep them coming

[@JasonExplainsThings]

Will do! Awesome adventure video coming this week!

[@wlew3499]

Agree with most of your mods, excellent job. Did not mention mpgs. I installed Goodyear Duratracs and lost 5mpgs. Your skid plate mods you did not protect the cross-over pipe which get destroyed in offroading. Got rid of my Pedal Commander, if used aggressively will cause "Limp Mode". Did some simple engine mods which helped hp and drivability in my Taco. Keep us updated with any new mods. thanks for the video.

[@JasonExplainsThings]

Yeah my MPG is not awesome. 14-15 around town. 17-18 on the highway.

[@AR-jz7lp]

Appreciate the input, looking at a 17 TRD off road, liking these ideas for jump-off points

[@DIYDad1]

Best color taco there is I just got one like this same color, 21 TRD sport. Just missing the rear locker and crawl control but I don't do anything extreme, forest service roads, no rock crawling, little bit of sand and mud and snow that's it, nothing my old forester couldn't handle! I think my first upgrade is going to be some raptor lights because they look awesome, then just want some good suspension for daily driving and maybe upsize tires slightly from oem nothing crazy, since it will be on pavement 90%. What is the largest size I could get away with for tires with no lift, no mods, no regear I'm at 265/65r17 oem I think. Maybe 265/70r17 max? Good videos love your channel you just got another sub from me.

[@gamerscore88]

I love your rear bumper yellow “chase light” I would love to see an install video because I have not seen anything like that in the forums.

[@JasonExplainsThings]

There’s a link to that install in the description. 👍

[@BeatSonicUS]

We hope you try out our amplifier!

[@4WDisLife]

Your tacoma is the inspiration of my stock tacoma, I am purposely taking my time to mod it because I want to do it right in one shot! Great stuff Jason! I am planning on putting the Xtrusion Overland's new XO Skeleton camper on mine soon, can't wait to test it out! also, at 6:00, did you use a green screen as a backdrop or was that actually shot in front of the tacoma? just curious haha

[@JasonExplainsThings]

So… it’s all real. The super green grass was surreal to be in. Looking at the footage after I laughed and felt that it looked almost fake too!

[@4WDisLife]

@@JasonExplainsThings I think you did well on the lighting on your face too, it looked almost like you had some external lighting to fill in the light from your right side. lol

[@Kentucky4runner]

Awesome recap. Weird about the camera-I have that one as well, and have not had any problems-but will watch closer when it gets warmer. Any thoughts on a Snorkle to deal with the dust (agree the regular air filters are easier to maintain). Looking forward to the suspension video.

[@JasonExplainsThings]

I’m definitely interested in a snorkel.

[@crapmaster5000]

I have the same problem with the anytime camera messing up my parking/reverse cam. Used to happen occasionally now happens 75 percent of the time and weather is fine. Might be deffective, going to remove it to troubleshoot and confirm soon

[@JasonExplainsThings]

Yeah that seems like something is defective for sure.

[@danhogle1776]

I put a fitcam-X inside my tacoma...its built in the shroud around the rearview mirror. Records all the time when running. Wi-Fi's into the truck like everything else so you can pull it up on your phone.

[@Doc1855]

We’re looking into relocating from north central Washington state to NW Montana. I already know that I’ll have to invest in a Brush Guard, among other things

[@JasonExplainsThings]

Nice! I went to college in Missoula. Magical place.

[@Doc1855]

@@JasonExplainsThings I Love the mountains outside of Missoula. We drove through yesterday. We were up in Libby and had a family 911 in Rapelje (30 minutes from Columbus), then drove the 12 drive back home to Cashmere, WA. My 23 Tacoma TRD Off Road made that 12 hour drive in 9 hours flat. We found out that the TRD runs very good at 76, 82, 90 and 103 mph. Our mpg ranged from 17 to 21. The Overland Torque Tune is the best investment for the Tacoma not down shifting unless it needs to. Between the OTT and the cold air intake my Tacoma is pumping out 318 horsepower and 290 torque. It’s too bad those numbers weren’t flipped. Maybe we can do parts of the BDR or other trails around our area sometime. We have some off road friends that we go off roads with too. And yeah, we’re all Christian.

[@seifier131]

interesting about the anytime camera. I’ve never had an issue and i’ve used it in 0*F and up to normal 105-110 temps in the summer where I live. maybe it’s a wiring issue?

[@JasonExplainsThings]

I don’t believe so. It’s very consistent related to temperature or being out in the sun. Drive for a bit with AC and it starts working again. I’m guessing it’s the added electronics inside the dash.

[@semperfiever]

I've had same issue I contacted the owner he said to check wiring but everything seemed fine so still no idea lol the screen just goes black sometimes I love it but it's just annoying when I have a line of cars waiting for me to back into parking spot. I.e. I have a gfc so utilize rear camera often lol

[@sullivan9191]

Try wrapping in wiring insulation maybe ?

[@kyleottosen1021]

Btw, upper control arms will in no way “negate” the need for a cab mount chop. In fact it’s the opposite. Adding caster via upper control arm brings the wheel backwards. This misconception comes from the fact the factory caster adjustment is via the lower control arm bushings which move the wheel forwards. There are 1 or 2 high castor lower control arm options which is what you want if you want to avoid the cab mount chop and have a good alignment.

[@JasonExplainsThings]

I’ll do more research and report back when the time comes.

[@trailrunnah8886]

​@@JasonExplainsThings Tinkerer's Adventures did a video showing this. Makes sense when you think about it, and Kai illustrated it very well.

[@reygomezhvac8346]

You didn't talk about that bed cover that looks like...... 😂 I've just started to hit our local trails in my 5th Gen 4runner hope to see you out there someday.

[@JasonExplainsThings]

The softopper? It’s in there. End of the exterior mods section. Yeah I need to get out there more! Too darn busy. We have another ridiculous minibike enduro adventure this weekend! 😅

[@True-77]

No, you didn't talk about what the soft topper looks like when it's covered in dust and wrinkled by the weather 🤣

[@406Campr]

Put some hood struts on that taco. So much better. I've had the same issue with Anytime front facing camera. Gone through two of them in two years. Current one failed in Moab and is inop.

[@NilesProductions]

You got some good mods Jason. I have the same anytime camera kit waiting for you to come over and install it... now I'm second guessing installing it. Are you still coming over LOL The one mod I have that you are missing is a speaker upgrade.

[@JasonExplainsThings]

Yes! I need to do the speakers. And yes, I’ll come over! 😁

[@pedro80ds]

In the Army we were told that to blow an air filter without damaging it the maximum pressure you should use is 30 PSI. I don’t know if it’s the same for other vehicles

[@JasonExplainsThings]

Never heard that before... but I'll look into it. Thanks for the info!

[@koalafan1576]

Now only if you could convince Chris to let you do one of these for his truck. 😊

[@JasonExplainsThings]

Chris is pretty much done he says. I’ve been encouraging him to do rear leaf springs. That’s the only upgrade left.

[@koalafan1576]

@@JasonExplainsThings do you have a video with all his mods?

[@thejdshipley]

Living in Houston and doing a bunch of freeway driving anything to prevent a chipped windshield is helpful. But do bug deflectors really work?

[@JasonExplainsThings]

They held prevent hood rock chips more than the windshield in my opinion.

[@paulthompson661]

295/75/r16 about to pull the trigger! Thoughts?💭

[@russellwood8750]

Why didn’t you buy a Toyota front camera? My 2020 TRT pro comes with front rear and side cameras.. Never had any issues with mine occasionally might have to wipe snow off camera lenses, but other than that no issues.

[@JasonExplainsThings]

I tried but that option was impossible to get at the time. I waited for my truck for about 6-7 months.

[@rmsfootball63]

Thoughts on millercat shield vs an aluminum trans skid?

[@JasonExplainsThings]

Either would likely be fine.. I’m happy with the HD millercat shield. It can rattle a tiny bit when off roading because of the wings.

[@Logan-st7vb]

Jason explains Trucks and his own jokes.

[@Will-fi9xv]

I bought the air intake and went from about 14 mpg back up to 19. Granted that's what the truck is rated for but I'm glad I did the mod

[@sullivan9191]

Sounds like cheap wiring for the camera.. try wrapping it in some insulation

[@CrippleCreekStudios]

Two things are my favorite on your Taco. The Miller Cat shield, because it doubles as a transmission skid plate (now I’ll keep that in mind) and your front camera, for seeing the trail when you are driving to the sun. Question: how well would you say that the front hood deflector works for bugs and rocks thrown up by vehicles in front of you? I’d want that to be completely functional for that reason, not interested in the aesthetics, but would get one if it would save a windshield rock chip. -Chris⛰️🚙

[@JasonExplainsThings]

I’d recommend the more traditional bug deflector in that case. The one I have does a good job protecting the hood but not the windshield in my opinion.

[@WillG-d3v]

@@JasonExplainsThings really wanted one of these bug deflectors but not excited about the tape issue. This one looks so much better than the other type. Thank you for the video.

[@apa7611]

Those seat covers went up to 300 bucks wtf!! I should’ve bought them 2 weeks ago when the price was 147.00 for the front seats.

[@acousticguitars123]

miyagi say pizza cutter is better than making gear swap and much cheaper!

[@JasonExplainsThings]

Yeah I’m considering it.

[@shondee7864]

Rock sliders are still just nurf bars/ running boards

[@JasonExplainsThings]

No they aren’t. They’re connected to the frame instead of the cab.

[@walmars3curity]

You brought the Toyota air intake... Thats where you went wrong... Get a true performance air intake

[@JasonExplainsThings]

Didn't buy it technically. I received it to make the video and then promptly told everyone it doesn't do anything. :-) But if you off-road a lot I think you can't beat the stock air box and a paper filter so you're able to clean or replace the filter easily while on a long trip.

[@GATORADDAM]

I don't do mods for looks.