If you had $4k-$5k to spend on a basically stock 3rd gen, what upgrades would you make?

Is all your maintenance up to date?

Enough to make sure everything is running in tip-top shape in terms of the engine/drivetrain! It all depends on how you plan on using/adventuring with your runner in the future. Is it a daily driver? Do you need to rock climb with it? Just mild-offroad? For an adventure vehicle that also is daily driven, a good suspension makes a difference, and a mid-range OME/ Bilstein lift is solid for what it is. Or, if you wanna spend money, go IVD or King. Good tires are always helpful, retrofit headlights are a MUST for driving at night, and a good roof rack comes in handy for mounting things/tanks/tents/lights/etc.

Just IMO!

As my daily driver, better suspension, tires/wheels combo and if enough money is left over, a decent sound system since it's my DD and I want a nice system while stuck in SoCal traffic.

Just as a reference, I'm spending around $1300 to install the Eibach Pro Truck Kit and a shop will be installing.

Me being the cheap a$$ that I am, I can probably purchase a set of 17" wheels w/ the stock 265/70R17 tires that people are getting rid of for about $500-700, maybe even less if you wait long enough.

For a nice headunit like a Pioneer or something similar, Amazon is my best friend. I purchased a Pioneer 7" touchscreen for less than $300.

For the speakers, you can get a nice component set from Sonic Electronix for less than $90 for their house brand speakers and add an extra $60 for the rear speakers.

For the subwoofer, if you're not too averse in buying used, you can find some decent quality subs for cheap. I purchased a used Eclipse sub for $100 and it was in great shape.

Now for amps to power those speakers and subs, OfferUp and LetGo again are my best friends. You can get some decent amps also. I purchased Phoenix Gold amp to power my sub for $100. I've also seen decent powered 4 channel amps to power your speakers go for less than $100.

Total of all the things I purchased and were to purchase:
$2550

I'm just about to pull the trigger on roughly $2k in purchases... That's split almost evenly between preventative (lower ball joints, bushings, timing belt, water pump, valve cover gaskets, filters, fluids, etc...) and suspension (bilstein 6112 front and 5160 rear, OME rear springs). Plus a little for tools to do some of the work, cheaper to buy the tools and DIY than to pay someone else to do the work.

Unless you Know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that all the maintenance is done... do the boring thing and get that sorted. Not fun to have something that looks the part with new wheels/tires/lift/rack/lights/armor/etc... but you can't drive it because you have pink milkshake from a failed radiator, or blew the engine from low coolant/oil.

For me all the preventive maintenance has already been taken care of since I’m the original owner.


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agree 100%.
about a year ago I sold a yota needing work, the guy that bought it knew he would have to come back with a trailer....when he came to pick it up he was so proud to tell me about the new wheels and tires he ordered for it...ahh..the thing has no oil pressure and the tranny slips..things he knew b4 buying.....huh
but I did not say anything to make him feel bad, but he knew it was not a driver when he bought it
wonder what Panasonic he ordered too

Maintenance is mostly done. Just replaced valve covers and gaskets, drivers lbj and cv and fluids are up to date. Had a tranny intercooler installed. Stereo is adequate and is my daily driver. Tires are in good shape 275/70 BFG KO AT2 on 17” 04 Tundra wheels. More less looking at front/rear bumper replacement, suspension and anything else fun for DD and moderate plus trails. Thanks for all the input. Looking forward to more!

If all maintenance is done then I'd go:
6112 Bilsteins and SPC upper control arms with Tundra 5100's and 891's, I really like the look of plate bumpers so I'm going with True North Fabrications build it yourself plate bumper 96-02 4runner DIY Plate Bumper (New) | SRQ Fabrications and Eimkeith's sick rear bumper Rear Bumper, 3rd Gen – eimkeith.com. For sliders I like 4xinnovations DOM with kickout and square main tube 1990 - 2013 Toyota 4Runner Off Road Rock Slider. A regear to 4.88 and 35's if I can scrape together the money for it.

With all the mods I've done to my trucks over the last few years, by far the most rewarding one was adding a set of high-lift hood struts. Makes all the engine maintenance that much easier and more fun than when dealing with the stupid prop rod that raised the hood right to the level where I always hit my head on it.

I know, I'm not unbiased, but I hear the same feedback from those who installed my kits. And best of all, it won't even make a dent in your $2K budget .