Mods on a budget

RioRunner

RioRunner

New member
I'm looking for input on the best mod available in the $200-$250 range. I know, I "should" take that money and start saving for the next great project, but when the wife says the money is use-it-or-lose-it, you spend the money! I'm thinking about HID conversion, but maybe you guys have ideas that haven't crossed my mind.
 
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You could do a cheap HID conversion, I got my HID kit off Amazon, Kensun was the brand. It's cheap, and maybe it'll crap out in a year or two, but so far it's been solid and for the price I can afford to replace it entirely in a year or two and still be under the cost of a more reputable, forum recommended brand. I would also replace the headlights/DRLs with DDM Tuning Saber LED's. [MENTION=103267]Saker[/MENTION] has a good write up about them. Take the leftover and then maybe do an interior LED conversion? Or you could add some cool utility lights like [MENTION=129593]MTN4RNR[/MENTION] did on his tailgate trunk handle. Been wanting to do that one a while myself. Just a few ideas. Or say screw all of that, buy an el cheapo 50" light bar and brackets and throw that bad boy up above the windshield.
 
RioRunner said:
I'm looking for input on the best mod available in the $200-$250 range.
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Going into the winter season you might want to think about protection for your investment at that price point. I can't think of any great "mods" I'd do for $250, but there's a ton of maintenance / protection options. Floor liners (Weathertech, Husky, 3D Maxspider, or the new OEM ones), monthly carwash memberships to rinse the winter road scum and de-icing chemicals off, new wiper blades, etc.

In short, all the ticky-tack little maintenance stuff that adds up especially in the winter- but hey you might have all that stuff already.

FWIW, if you haven't looked into the incandescent bulb swap option, I'd recommend it at about $20 and 20 minutes of your time over $150+ for decent HIDs. Good luck man.
 
I would do a few of these mods in the $250 range

Rear diff breather
Led light swap interior
ROLA roof rack
Weather tech floor liners
Upgrade speakers
 
I don't get this sort of a request.

"I have $ xxx, what should I buy?"

If you know what you want or need, then you wouldn't be asking that question.

If you don't know what you want or need, why are you wanting to buy some random thing just for the purpose of throwing money at your truck?

If you have money to burn and don't know how to burn it, then burn it literally - in your gas tank. Go see something two states away.
 
Thanks for the input. I am pretty well set with most of the little stuff you mentioned. I have weather tech mats, have a car wash membership, wiper blades are in good shape, etc... but I like the thought process.

Do you have any thoughts about the XenonDepot Phillips HID kit? Is it worth the $$$?
 
MeefZah said:
I don't get this sort of a request.

"I have $ xxx, what should I buy?"

If you know what you want or need, then you wouldn't be asking that question.

If you don't know what you want or need, why are you wanting to buy some random thing just for the purpose of throwing money at your truck?

If you have money to burn and don't know how to burn it, then burn it literally - in your gas tank. Go see something two states away.
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I'm not looking for someone for tell me what to buy. I offered an example of an item I've been thinking about for a while, and asked if anyone had thoughts on that item, or had some other idea that hadn't crossed my mind. I, like many others I'm sure, use this forum for exactly that purpose. This forum is filled with countless cool/creative/unique/useful ideas that would have never crossed our minds, but turn out to be great ideas.
 
RioRunner said:
I'm not looking for someone for tell me what to buy. I offered an example of an item I've been thinking about for a while, and asked if anyone had thoughts on that item, or had some other idea that hadn't crossed my mind. I, like many others I'm sure, use this forum for exactly that purpose. This forum is filled with countless cool/creative/unique/useful ideas that would have never crossed our minds, but turn out to be great ideas.
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Fair enough.

For $250 I would suggest taking a 1,416.7 mile road trip.

Calculated at $3 / gal and 17 mpg.

Have fun!
 
Definately rear dif breather. Its so cheap and not doing it could cost so much.

Maybe recovery equipment? Arb strap, some shackles

a tire repair kit

Compressor. I have one from pep boys that just connects to the battery that works fine.

Backup battery jumper. You could probably get most of this for the 250 ish



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RioRunner said:
Thanks for the input. I am pretty well set with most of the little stuff you mentioned. I have weather tech mats, have a car wash membership, wiper blades are in good shape, etc... but I like the thought process.



Do you have any thoughts about the XenonDepot Phillips HID kit? Is it worth the $$$?
Click to expand...



Ah. That was the brand name I couldn't remember. I was going to get mine from them. It's a decent chunk IMO for lights compared to other brands but everyone here swears by them. I have Kensun HID's off Amazon, as previously mentioned, and love them. At the end of the day the look is the same, probably just as bright if not brighter. The only difference I can imagine between the two is how long the might last. I've had my Kensun HID Kit for almost 6 months now with no issues.
 
For $250 I would definitely buy the TRD CAI. Buying it in individual parts vs the complete kit set me back $237 a few months ago. You get everything minus the filter, a few zip ties and a small plug that I bought a Lowes for 70 cents. You can use a k&n which is my setup or you can use your stock filter.
 
RioRunner said:
Thanks for the input. I am pretty well set with most of the little stuff you mentioned. I have weather tech mats, have a car wash membership, wiper blades are in good shape, etc... but I like the thought process.

Do you have any thoughts about the XenonDepot Phillips HID kit? Is it worth the $$$?
Click to expand...

I would suggest the Morimoto HID kits from www.theretrofitsource.com. they're about $160ish but well worth the money. they've been on my 4runner for about 2 years without a single problem.
 
acer0611 said:
For $250 I would definitely buy the TRD CAI. Buying it in individual parts vs the complete kit set me back $237 a few months ago. You get everything minus the filter, a few zip ties and a small plug that I bought a Lowes for 70 cents. You can use a k&n which is my setup or you can use your stock filter.
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This is interesting to me. I didn't know you could piece it together. You don't have part numbers by any chance?

I'll take a look at the morimoto option as well. Thanks!
 
Labor day is coming up. Look for sales and coupon codes. And check out the Classifieds) Group buy section if you want to empty your wallet.
 
TRD CAI parts list

Here are the details fro my particular order in march from https://toyotaparts.bochtoyotasouth.com/

parts list.jpg
 

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Off-choader said:
the only purpose of the trd cai is that it looks good, so you would also need a clear hood mod to see it. I would say that full husky liners has been the best 200 ish that I have spent
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In my experience, besides getting (surprisingly) better gas mileage, the enhanced sound at higher RPM's alone is worth it.
Also the OP has already mentioned he has Weather Tech's so the Husky liners would be a mute point.
 
$250, tell the wife you got a trd:angel: intake, stash the cash, and wait until the next $250 allowance comes available and get yourself a $500 accessory!
 
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