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Before you Buy: Best 2016-2022 Tacoma Overland Upgrades

Stage 3 Blog
Posted by Nick Kovar on 4/10/2022 to Before you Buy
With the weather heating up and summer just around around the corner, the opportunities for a day of outdoor fun become nearly endless. We understand that your 2016-2022 Tacoma plays a big role in all of your adventures, so we've picked out some of the best overland upgrades you can install for improved functionality and performance during any application. We want to make sure your truck can handle extreme environments, carry more gear, and extend your overland stays at your favorite campgrounds. Here at Stage 3, we only work with trusted and reliable manufacturers to bring you some of the best suspension, lighting, cargo, and exterior upgrades on the market. Set your Tacoma apart from the rest by checking out everything we have to offer including all of our Suspension, Bumper, Overland Upgrades and more for your 2016-2022 Toyota Tacoma.

2016-2022 Tacoma Best Overland Suspension Upgrades

Your Tacoma's factory suspension works fine for basic applications, but it wasn't necessarily built to handle the consistent off-road abuse that comes with overland adventures. Starting to tackle trails like a pro is made easy with most of our aftermarket coilover leveling kits. Not only will these replacement shocks level your truck front-to-rear, but they'll ensure maximum strength for even the most extreme environments. There's a few different types of upgraded coilovers available for your Tacoma, but we're going to be taking a look at 2.0 and 2.5 options as they provide unmatched performance for nearly any circumstance. The main difference between the 2.0 and 2.5 coilover options is the size of shock body, with both featuring remarkable construction to provide impressive rebound and compression. Starting out, we'll be taking a look at the 2005-2022 Tacoma Eibach 2.0 Front Coilovers featuring 45mm pistons and nitro steel shafts in a gas-charged monotube design. These complete 2.0 coilovers come fully assembled with new springs, perches, mounts and hardware, allowing you to drop them right into place of your stock front coilovers right out of the box. A pair of these coilovers will greatly improve your truck capabilities on uneven terrain, allowing you to push your Tacoma further so you can explore more. Adjustable from 0" to 2.5" of ride height, you can easily level your truck's rake while adding on larger and more aggressive tire/wheel combinations. Moving to one of our favorite 2.5 options, we'll be checking out the 2005-2022 Tacoma Elka 2.5 Remote Reservoir Front Coilover Kit. These 2.5 coilovers improve the ride-quality, handling, and control of the front end of your aggressive Tacoma build for any journey you plan to go on this off-road season. Specifically, the Elka 2.5 coilovers were designed to provide better leveling capabilities for better weight distribution and protection against nasty bottoming-out while on rough terrain. Remote reservoirs allow for the fine tuning of the shocks compression and rebound, allowing you to easily customize the coilovers for your specific driving styles and changing road conditions. If you're looking for a fantastic front coilover upgrade without draining your wallet, either of these options will be perfect for your Tacoma's off-road build. Of course we didn't forget about your truck's rear suspension, and what better way to compliment a pair of upgraded coilovers than with a set of premium aftermarket rear shocks. A couple sets of rear shocks that come to mind are the Bilstein B8 5100 Series Rear Shocks and the FOX 2.0 IFP Rear Shocks. Both of these kits are designed to keep your truck level and responsive even in the harshest situations. Application-specific valving and the gas-charged monotube designs will take your Tacoma to the next level by offering a much more planted ride without compromising the ride-quality you already know and love. Rear shocks will even help improve your towing control to help you pull any camping trailers or boats out into your favorite wilderness.

Best Overland Cargo Upgrades for 2016-2022 Tacoma's

You shouldn't have to compromise leaving some of your gear behind because your Tacoma doesn't have enough storage capacity for you and your passengers. Some of the easiest and most effective overland upgrades for the 2016-2022 Tacoma are cargo carrying accessories like bed racks, roof racks, and other storage solutions to help you bring along everything you need on your off-road excursions. Starting out, we're going to take a look at some of our favorite roof rack options that can be easily attached for an immediate improvement in both functionality and style. The Front Runner Slimline II Roof Rack Kit is a great example of this as it features comes standard with a tray, wind deflector, and two foot rails so you can attach various accessories to the unit while limiting noise within your cab. Moreover, the slats on this rack are able to be configured at any point along the tray, accommodating for luggage, kayaks, bikes, and just about anything else you can manage to get up on your truck's roof. Another formidable option would be the RCI Aluminum Roof Rack as it was designed with versatility in mind, featuring adjustable and removable T-Slot cross-bars to allow for unlimited flexibility for mounting accessories. Mount anything from Hi-lift jacks, roof top tents, shower systems, bike mounts, and roof baskets thanks to this rack's impressive design. This particular rack also features a front wind fairing that matches the contour of your truck's roof for a superior fit and improved aerodynamics. If you need even more storage carrying capacity, we have a few bed racks that can transform your truck into an expedition-ready cargo system in no time. The Road Armor TRECK Black Adjustable Bed Rack is available for Tacoma's with either a 5- or 6-foot bed and can be simply installed using the included hardware. Few bed racks are built as strong as the Road Armor TRECK system with each rack being construction from 11-guage laser-cut steel for impressive durability whether you venture to next. Additionally, the triple platform height allows for adjustable positioning form 14 to 19 inches, and all the way up to an impressive 23 inches. An 800 lb static max load and and 425 lb dynamic load rating will ensure you can bring along just about anything you have in mind on any adventure you plan to go on. A few more cargo accessories like the Roam 95L Slate Rugged Storage Case and the Rough Country Complete Molle Panel Kit can easily add even more versatility to your rig to make sure you won't have to leave anything behind. The Roam 95L storage case is great for double cab models to slide under your rear bench to store tools, camping gear, any whatever else you may need quick and easy access to once you've reached your destination. The molle panels install along the sides and back of your truck bed to allow you to attach anything from shovels, axes, fuel cans, and so much more for superior truck bed organization and utility. Any and of all of these accessories listed above can be paired together or used individually for improved everyday and off-road driving applications.

2016-2022 Tacoma Best Overland Exterior Upgrades

So you've upgraded your suspension for the trails, improved your storage carrying capacity to bring all of the fun along, and now it's time to start adding stylish and practical upgrades that will transform your Tacoma into an off-road beast. When you're navigating unfamiliar terrain, the environment under your wheels is always subject to change. When this happens, you don't want to get caught off guard without the proper exterior protection. Going right for it, we recommend taking a peek at the 2016-2022 Tacoma Body Armor HiLine Series Front Bumper as it will let you take the trails head-on in a highly affordable package. This bumper accommodates for up to a 10,000 lb winch, 20" light bar, and even features 2 integrated D-Ring mounts to beef up the protection and utility of your truck. Constructed from 3/16" heavy-duty steel, this bumper will ensure durability through the harshest weather and driving conditions. Pair this front bumper with Westin's Pro-Series Rear bumper to combine a progressive angular design with a streamlined profile to your Tacoma's already aggressive nature. This rear bumper also retains the use of your factory hitch, so your Tacoma can sport a whole new style without compromise. These bumpers when paired together will supply premium protection from flying rocks, low-hanging branches, and other road debris you encounter along the way. If your Tacoma is still running a stock or near-stock ride height, your truck's underside is extremely vulnerable to uneven terrain. The best way to keep your Tacoma's transfer case, oil pan, and transmission protected is by picking up the RCI Full Skid Plate Package. This kit gives your Tacoma full under-body protection and shields your vulnerable underside from damage and scraping against hard surfaces. Not only will these skid plates offer defense against all off-road hazards, but they come standard with built-in drain holes, and other service opening to make for quick and easy maintenance without having to remove the units. This is one of the most overlooked yet effective upgrades anybody can add to their Tacoma's off-road build. Now that you've outfitted your truck with some of the best possible protection, it's finally time to start adding off-road light mounts and winches to blow all of your friend's builds out of the water. Some of the most attractive off-road light mounts you can slap on to your truck's exterior are the KC HiLiTES Pillar/Ditch Mount Lights. These auxiliary LEDs mount directly to your Tacoma's pillar ditch locations while producing an impressive 3,672 raw lumens to help you better command the night sky on your late trail runs. Another quality lighting option is Diode Dynamics SS30 Stealth LED Light Bar Kit as it seamlessly installs in your Tacoma's lower grille opening for a sleek and integrated look you'll be sure to love. The light bar uses Total Internal Reflection (TIR) optics for a greater efficiency and light output compared to other similar options on the market. Additionally, these LED Light bars produce an impressive 7,000 effective lumens to serve as your guide in the night sky. Start adventuring like a pro with any of these premium exterior upgrades for your 2016-2022 Tacoma.

Whether you're a weekend warrior or an overland expert, there will always be upgrades to take your 2016-2022 Tacoma to the next level. Any of these upgrades can and should be paired with larger and more aggressive tire/wheel combinations to help you fully transform your Tacoma into an off-road beast. Upgraded tires and wheels can help increase your truck's ground clearance, provide more traction, and give your truck a more rugged appeal that you'll be sure to love. Luckily for you, we have an entire catalog of 2016-2022 Tacoma Off-Road Wheels and Tires to let you complete your rig's off-road build. We hope you found this article helpful so you can start taking on any terrain like you own it. If any of these products caught your eye, or you have any question about the parts listed above, please feel free to let us know in the comment section down below!

Best Overland Upgrades for 2016-2022 Tacoma's
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