Menu
Toggle navigation
Items 0
Cart
Stage 3 Blog

Before you Buy: How to Prepare your 2016-2021 Tacoma for Winter!

Posted by Nick Kovar on 10/9/2021 to Before you Buy
The 2016-2021 Tacoma's are pretty impressive vehicle's to say the least, but with winter just around the corner, you're probably curious about the different accessories you should pick up to prepare your truck for a season full of adventures and off-road shenanigans. Snow tires, winches, recovery tools, and aftermarket differentials can make a world of difference by offering you improved overall performance, and that extra boost of confidence you need to plow through those snowy trails. Don't let your truck sit in the garage all winter long, and check out all of the aftermarket parts and accessories we offer right here at Stage 3 to get your 2016-2021 Toyota Tacoma to places it's never seen before.

2016-2021 Tacoma Off-Road Snow & Winter Tire Upgrades

The absolute best way to prevent slipping and sliding around winter-beaten roadways and and trails is by slapping on a new set of snow-rated tires. The 3PMSF rating, also know as the snowflake symbol, is the industry standard for providing severe snow capabilities, and here at Stage 3 we offer an abundance of snow-rated tires to best fit your particular driving needs. First up in our lineup are the Falken Wildpeak A/T3W tires that are specifically designed for all-terrain adventures by reducing wear and tear on the roads and improving your Tacoma's wet surface performance. The Falken A/T3W's feature rugged sidewalls for extra protection and a class-leading tread depth for longevity and resistance to hydroplaning, creating a fantastic blend of durability and improved off-road capabilities. Next up are the Toyo Open Country A/T III tires that will provide your truck with excellent stability alongside a surprisingly quiet ride. The evenly distributed void area for increased off-road traction, and the deep lateral grooves will ensure you make it to your destination and back, providing you the safety and performance you'll need along the way. The Cooper Discoverer AT3's are another great pick to combat any unnecessary bumps and bruises you might obtain from slick paths using your truck's stock tires. The Cooper AT3's will respond better to acceleration, steering and turning, while being able to stop about 10 feet shorter on wet road conditions. Better yet, these tires are puncture resistant to any sharp objects that might be hiding under a thick blanket of snow. No matter your application, it's never a bad idea to replace your factory tires with a set that will help you make it home safely this winter.

Durable Winches and Mounts for your 2016-2021 Tacoma

Off-road excursions in the wintertime are always a blast, but it can be difficult to know what parts of the trail you should avoid when dealing with muddy and snowy environments. Getting your Tacoma unstuck can be a real pain if you don't have the proper gear or recovery tools, which is why we recommend equipping a winch to the front-end of your truck to help you spend less time waiting for rescue and more time romping in the snow. The Tiger Shark Superwinch Series is one the best aftermarket options for recovery as they feature superior build quality and serious line pull strength. When choosing from the Superwinch Series, you have the option to pick between a standard wire cable or a synthetic rope, along with a rated line pull from 9,500 all the way to 17,500 lbs. Each Tiger Shark winch includes durable stainless steel hardware, a powerful motor, and even stronger gears to provide unparalleled power and recovery performance for your Tacoma. The Warn VR EVO Winches are a wonderful compact option that offers an amazing look and unmatched reliability to handle just about any job you come across. The Evo Series winch comes standard with a cast aluminum, one-piece tie plate that offers greater structural strength and pulling power than many other aftermarket options available. In order to mount one of these heavy-duty winches to your truck, you're going to need a reliable winch mount that can handle the even most difficult recovery tasks. The Warn Semi-Hidden Winch Mount and Fab Fours Hidden Winch Mounts are the best picks for a low-profile mounting system that will help retain your truck's factory-like appearance. Both of these winch mounts are quality and affordable options to securely house a winch without spending thousands of dollars on a complete replacement front bumper. However, if you are looking to give your truck superior protection and a complete front-end makeover, you can check out our entire selection of 2016-2021 Tacoma Off-Road Front Bumpers.
">

2016-2021 Tacoma Differential Upgrades

A replacement differential is one of the most overlooked yet effective aftermarket upgrades available for your truck, and with the snow beginning to fall, it may not be a bad idea to find out if a differential will properly suit your particular demands. For most, a differential won't be the first upgrade to make towards your truck's off-road ready build. For others, a differential will greatly assist the folks who are constantly battling challenging terrain and need that extra boost of traction for their extreme applications. The ARB Air Locker Differential will put you in control over the amount of traction you receive to tackle harsh off-road environments without sacrificing street functionality or fuel economy. This Air Locker utilizes an air compressor to activate and deactivate the built in locking mechanism, which prevents the differential gears from rotating, and locks your tires together along the axle to pull your truck out of unforeseen circumstances. The rotation of your wheels is tied to the ring gear, providing you the maximum amount of traction possible at all times. In order to utilize the built-in locking mechanism for proper functionality, you will need acquire the ARB High-Output On-Board Air Compressor or the ARB Dual High-Output On Board Air Compressor. These air compressors will also need to be tied to the differential using a braided stainless steel line with the ARB Air Locker Manifold Kit, to supply you the traction you need at a moments notice. An upgraded differential will have you moving through terrain faster and more efficiently than you ever have before, so consider checking out the entire lineup of our 2016-2021 Tacoma Differentials.

2016-2021 Tacoma Off-Road Recovery Tools

Although a heavy-duty winch is the best possible option for recovery, there are a ton of other options for the occasional adventurer who finds themselves in situations alike, but aren't constantly testing the limits of the outdoors. The ARB TRED Pro Recovery Boards are an affordable and effective traction solution to drive yourself out of sand, mud, and more importantly – snow. These recovery boards feature ergonomic handles to shovel out whatever is beneath your tires before using the boards as a traction aid, along with glass-filled nylon teeth to minimize wear and wheel spin. With these boards equipped you'll have peace of mind knowing you have a saving grace at moments reach. Another quality option we offer is the Krazy Beaver Mud Shovel to dig yourself out of soupy mud and packed snow. This not-so-ordinary shovel features a perforated head that was specifically engineered to eliminate suction when digging in thick, wet mud, and incorporates holes in the head of the shovel to allow for the drainage of water, making digging yourself out a much easier task. Avoid a hefty off-road tow bill by picking up the right off-road recovery gear for your intended application, or take a look at our complete lineup of Off-Road Recovery Tools to decided what suits your specific needs best.

As the streams begin to freeze and the snow starts to hinder your ability to traverse your favorite landscapes, it's best to come prepared with truck that can handle the most extreme applications. Here at Stage 3, one of our top priorities is getting you to and from your destination safely and effectively, by offering a wide variety of aftermarket upgrades that will improve your overall driving experience. If you're planning on picking up any of these upgrades, or you have any questions about the parts listed in this post, please feel free to let us know in the comments down below!

2016-2021 Toyota Tacoma Winter Upgrades and Parts
Previous Post
Next Post

Add Comment

Categories