First Mods for a 3rd Gen Tacoma (2016-2023): What I'd Do First
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On a 2016-2023 Tacoma, start with the cheap daily-driver fixes (lighting, grille, floor mats, a tailgate lock), then add protection before you wheel it (lower control arm skids, rock sliders, a bumper), then recovery gear. If you're going to 34-inch tires, regear before anything else. That's the order we landed on after owning two 3rd gen Tacomas and making three videos on it.
Round 1: the easy mods you can do in a weekend
So, back in 2019 I made a video on the first seven mods I think every Tacoma owner should do, and it's still one of my most-watched videos. None of it is expensive, and none of it needs a lift or a shop. It just fixes the stuff that bugs you every day.
| Mod | Why I did it |
|---|---|
| TRD Pro style grille | The biggest change to the front of the truck for the money. |
| Grille lights (raptor lights) | Pairs with the grille. Ours were the Runnin4Tacos kit. |
| LED bulbs | Swaps out the yellow halogens for bright white. |
| Rain guards | Crack the windows in the rain without getting wet. |
| All-weather floor mats | Mud and snow stay in the mat, not the carpet. |
| LED interior lights | The stock dome lights are dim. |
| Power tailgate lock | The tailgate locks with the key fob, so your bed isn't wide open. |
That video was filmed on a 2016-2019 truck, so check the fitment for 2020-2023 on the product page before you order.
Round 2: protection before you go off-road
If the truck is going on trails, this is the next round. In our "Next 7 Mods" video the list was a front bumper, skid plates, rock sliders, storage, recovery gear, lighting, and then wheels and suspension. If I had to pick the three that matter most for protecting the truck, it's these.
- Lower control arm skids. The lower control arms hang down and take hits on rocks. Runnin4Tacos makes steel LCA skids for the 2016-2022 Tacoma, and I did a how-to install video on them. Heads up: they don't work with KDSS, and they were showing sold out when I checked their site.
- Rock sliders. They protect the rocker panels, which are expensive to fix. The R4T sliders for the 2005-2023 Tacoma went away for over a year for a redesign and came back in 2023 with a thicker-wall main tube.
- Front bumper. In 2022 we put a CBI OffRoad bumper on a 2019 Tacoma. It follows the lines of the truck really well, and it fit perfectly with our bumper caps.
Quick note on bumpers. Most aftermarket bumpers make you cut the factory bumper in the same spot. The R4T bumper cap inserts let you run most of them without cutting, so if you might go back to stock someday, look at those first.
CBI's current front bumpers for the 2016-2023 Tacoma are the Covert, Classic, Baja, Adventure and Dakar Hybrid. They also make a High Clearance rear bumper and full skid plates for the 2005-2023 Tacoma. Check the product page for your exact year before you order.
Round 3: recovery gear
Once you're going places you can get stuck, carry a way to get unstuck. In the Next 7 video I ran a recovery kit, traction boards and a winch.
These days for ropes and soft shackles I use Yankum. They make their kinetic ropes in Idaho, and they sell complete Off-Road Recovery Kits in Essential, Weekender and Professional versions, plus ropes from 1/2" up to 2-1/2" thick. I did a video on their Weekender kit in 2025.
Make sure you have proper recovery points on the truck too. A kinetic rope pulls hard, so don't hook it to a tie-down.
A roof rack, if you carry gear
The Prinsu rack was one of the first mods on my Tacoma back in 2018. I switched to a different rack for a while, and in 2022 I went back to Prinsu. It's sleek, the build quality is good, and the load bars have drop-in channels for a carriage bolt, so you can mount pretty much anything without drilling. Prinsu makes a cab rack for the 2005-2023 Double Cab Tacoma. More on which one to get in my Prinsu discount code post.
Going to bigger tires? Regear first
This is the one I call a must for any 3rd gen owner who's going bigger on tires. From the factory, Toyota geared the 3rd gen Tacoma for gas mileage. To be honest, even on stock tires the transmission has a hard time picking a gear, and it downshifts a lot on hills.
On our 2018 Tacoma we ran 285/75R17 tires, which is about a 34-inch tire. With the stock gears it struggled to accelerate and hold speed without downshifting constantly. We took it to a local shop in Colorado and regeared to 5.29, and that fixed it.
- If you're keeping the truck stock forever, 4.88 is what we'd recommend.
- If you're going to bigger tires or carrying a lot of weight, go 5.29.
If you haven't picked a tire size yet, start with my post on the biggest tire on a Tacoma without a lift.
My verdict
If you daily drive it and just want it to look and feel better, do round 1 and stop there. If you wheel it, do round 1, then LCA skids and sliders, then recovery gear, and save the bumper for when the budget's there. If bigger tires are in the plan, put the regear on the list before the lift.
FAQ
What are the first mods to do on a 3rd gen Tacoma?
Start with lighting, a grille, all-weather floor mats and a power tailgate lock. If you go off-road, add lower control arm skids, rock sliders and recovery gear next.
What gear ratio should I regear my Tacoma to?
We recommend 4.88 if the truck stays stock, and 5.29 if you run bigger tires or carry a lot of weight. Our 2018 Tacoma on 285/75R17 tires went to 5.29.
Do LCA skids work with KDSS?
The Runnin4Tacos LCA skids don't work with KDSS. They fit the 2016-2022 Tacoma without it.
Do I have to cut my factory bumper for an aftermarket bumper?
Most aftermarket bumpers make you cut the factory bumper. The R4T bumper cap inserts let you run most of them without cutting.
Does Runnin4Tacos have a discount code?
Yes. Code TVO10 takes 10% off at runnin4tacos.com.