Best performance upgrades for under $3k (total package)?

2017 5.7FFV 4x2 Tundra SR5 with Tow & TSS Package (Rims/Tires/Running boards)
(and lots of little stuff not really relevant to this post)

Usage: Mostly it's a kid hauler, furniture mover, and eventually a toy hauler. Maybe some time off the pavement, but on fairly even ground - beach weekends and such.



I'm doing some cosmetic stuff - bumper corners need chrome-delete and fog the fog light - but I'm not sure what I want to do next. This is where you come in


My current thought is sway bars front and rear: ($440 shipped)
https://parts.toyotaofcoolsprings.c...ra-trd-front-sway-bar-ptr62-0c180?parent=1001
https://parts.toyotaofcoolsprings.com/oem-parts/toyota-trd-rear-sway-bar-ptr1134070


Then maybe exhaust & intake: ($1870 +tax&shipping)
http://dirtydeedsindustries.com/product/trd-replacement-system/
http://dirtydeedsindustries.com/product/trd-tailpipes/

https://parts.toyotaofcoolsprings.com/oem-parts/toyota-trd-cold-air-intake-system-ptr0300140

I'd like it to sound a bit meaner on acceleration, but don't care to hear it when I'm just cruising around.


OR Shocks & bump stops... people seem to like the bilstein's - 6112s (~$700?) and I saw the Wheeler's recommended for the front bump stops - not sure what to do in the rear.

Haven't spent much time looking at shocks, so not sure - I don't want a huge lift (little people are frequent passengers in my car, and I prefer the look of the more full wheel well over the 4" lifts)

With the sway bar does changing out the shocks make much difference in the ride since the sway bar kills articulation?

Do I have to get a drop hitch with any rear lift, or is there some wiggle room there?


I'm pretty set on the sway bar (back at least, from what I've read it seem like its a good idea to upgrade the front too).

I posted a build page, but decided to write this current post with more pointed questions.
Build page:
https://www.tundras.com/threads/trd-pro-ish-upgrades.26875/


I could go either way (or a third route) on the last, and could easily be talked into different products. It just seems Toyota did a good job with their R&D with the TRD products. Any recommendations for or against are welcome!

 

I'd choose depending on how you use your truck. If you off-road alot get new suspension. If you don't get @dirtydeeds exhaust and headers, and a daptune or bullydog. That's a very reasonably cost effective performance upgrade dollar for dollar better deal than a supercharger.

 

Good point - I'll add usage to the main post:
It's 4x2 so i dont really "off road" in the 4x4 sense. Maybe some beach driving from time to time, but most of my "offroading" will be on fairly flat/even ground - nothing really off the beaten path. If it was for offroading i wouldn't do the sway bar - or i'd do one that disconnects fairly quickly.

Mostly it's a kid hauler, furniture mover, and eventually a toy hauler.

 

do you need the tuner to adjust the system for the new airflow or is that just extra boost for messing with the gear ratios and such?

 

Bump for thoughts from the evening crowd

 

Just can add extra power as far as I know. You may be able to adjust air fuel ratios? But not sure. Keith @dirtydeeds Is the man to ask

 

For exhaust you probably want dirtydeeds 6 inch or 8 if you will be towing eventually. Maybe even 10" if you'll tow alot. I think you can save your money and skip the cold air intake. Maybe put that money towards new tires, I suggest Michelin defender lxt ms in 33 inch size.
You really have no reason to mess with suspension other than for looks and if you want the lifted look I'd suggest more of an all terrain tire at that point. Also no reason for upgrading bump stops if your not going off road, maybe when you start to tow you'll want new rear bump stops like wheelers or superbumps or whatever their called.
Edit...I see you already have aggressive tires on some nice wheels so forget my tire comment lol.

 

6/8/10” what is this referring to?

I was always under the impression that when you open up the exhaust you want to open up the intake - otherwise it’s sucking too hard through the filter to exhale through the exhaust.

I guess @dirtydeeds can answer when he gets around to it, but don’t the pipes bolt up to the existing headers? Or do I need to add that to it for the performance enhancement. I guess that would flow into my comment about intakes - the whole engine’s respitory system

I’m sure the tuner can mess with air/fuel mixture ratios... all that stuffs computerized now lol I’m hesitant to do he tune just yet as it voids warrantee... but I’m sure the other mods I’m talking about doing would likely do the same...

Thanks for the info on the shocks, I’ll probably stick with stock for now based on what you said, maybe add bump stops to the rear when I get the camp trailer / toy hauler. Gotta figure out where I’m going to put the toys / trailer first haha

 

Long tube headers and DD exhaust.
I kind of wish I had done it already.

 

Thanks for the comment!

What’s the benefit of the long tubes?

What are you looking forward to about it? Just sound?

 

I think you can get laminX film to smoke the fogs, or try VHT nightshade spray paint, I've done the laminX and the fogs were easy.
Your truck is looking good man. Once those chrome bumpers are gone itll be even better, i think it would look really good with tow mirrors, some have smoked turn signal lenses. Those would be a good way to spend the money you have set aside for a cold air intake. All that'll do is make noise and not filter air as well as your OEM filter, it does sound cool though but no real gains from the money spent.

 

Dirty deeds BAMufflers come in different sizes, smaller number is louder, higher is quieter til you smash the pedal.

You have exhaust manifold stock. Some long tube headers will really open it up and combined with his exhaust you'll gain some good HP. it is possible a cold air intake would help in this instance but I'm no expert. You can also bolt his exhaust to your stock pipes behind the cat, this gains far less HP than headers which are in your budget and add a lot of power.

 

I was looking for the number for you and myself. Please do not quote me it's something like 40 hp and 40 torque.
More power and sound.
The numbers are somewhere here on the site though.

 

I’ll get to the tow mirrors... local buddies try to talk me out of it, but I like bigger mirrors for better visibility. Not sure how I feel about them on my truck yet (looks wise), and I’m not likely to pull a big box behind me for a while so I don’t legally need them yet. Also, there doesn’t seem to be many good options out there (many complain of rattling and such). I’m sure I’ll do it eventually, just gotta do the research first.

As I understand it, film on the outside of the lends is a bad idea - rock chips and such - plus it melts in the Texas heat. I’m just going to blow some money on some aftermarket smoked ones at some point, just need to figure out what I want. I’m going to powder coat the chrome caps before I make that decision... hopefully do that next week... whenever I can find time to call the guy, and disassemble the bumpers and drop the caps off to him...

Third break light (smoked) is top of the list too, found that one already. Also better backup lights.

Also thinking about ceramic coating for the paint...

Sounds like we’re about on the same page with all of that haha

 

@SouthBoundSteve @driverdog

 

Good info! Thanks!!

Probably pulling the trigger on the non cosmetics next month. Finishing up cosmetics this month. Wife’s going to kill me if I go spend 3k ontop of the 2k I spent this month lol (grill, headlights, bumpers, tint, fog, 3rd brake light, flood lights for backup, and some non tundra stuff)

 

Also in regards to the cosmetic stuff.. I’ve got a build page I put up the other day (just put link in main post too):
https://www.tundras.com/threads/trd-pro-ish-upgrades.26875/

Did tint today and took some stickers off. Probably post pics there after I wash it - hopefully this weekend.....

 

If your truck will be all street get a super charger. Just save another 3k no big deal.