Upgrades for Your ’22 Toyota Tacoma

Quick Suspension and Utility Upgrades for Your ’22 Toyota Tacoma

If you’ve been in the market for a brand-new truck in the last year or so, you know very well there are very few dealer incentives to be had out there. With the lack of discounts and rebates out there, it’ll behoove you to take a good long look at what you want versus what you absolutely need. With far fewer truck options on the dealership lot to choose from at this particular moment, assessing which optional packages you can truly benefit from and which will be a total misuse of your hard-earned cash has never been more important.

In the case of this particular 2022 Toyota Tacoma, we wanted more than what the base SR5 package offered but didn’t really need an off-road or 4×4 model. This left us smack in the middle of the road starting at a 2WD TRD Sport badged crew cab Tacoma. Since there were no plans to spend much time in the dirt to begin with, there was no reason to spend more money on options that will never be used.

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Leveling Kit

With that in mind, we held on to those savings and scheduled a few quick upgrades instead. To give the Tacoma a quick kick in the teeth, we’ll first turn to Maxtrac Suspension for a front strut spacer leveling kit. This mild lift option will level out the Tacoma’s ride height while clearing up enough room for more-aggressive-than-factory wheels and tires.

Wheels & Tires

With more room made quickly and inexpensively at the front end, the factory wheels and tires will be stacked and stored in the garage and replaced with a set of KMC’s updated Impact OL wheels wrapped in Toyo Open Country A/T III tires. This combo will make the most of the quick front suspension lift by serving up a whole new look with the new ability to run more capable rubber to boot. So far, the leveling kit and new wheels and tires will dramatically make a big difference in the Tacoma’s appearance without straining the bank account all too much.

Bed Cover & Divider

After saving up a few more bucks, we’ll then go ahead and spend some attention on the bed. Looking to increase its utility, we will be installing an A-Series XT aluminum retractable bed cover from Roll-N-Lock. Not only will this new bed cover add security convenience with quick installation and easy function, but it will allow us to take advantage of the top side of the cover too with a built-in T-slot integrated MaxTrak System. This bed cover will make running everyday errands as well as weekend trips out of town much more enjoyable and organized.

Aside from these additions to the brand-new Tacoma TRD Sport, we will be sure to add some other extras in the way of accessory lighting, performance upgrades, and a few extra creature comforts or two. Keeping our expected driving habits in check, we were able to save some money on purchasing overpriced packages from the dealership and instead funneled that cash into upgrades that are better tailored to suit our real world expectations for the truck.

1. The entry-level lift package for any pickup is a simple strut spacer leveling kit. Maxtrac Suspension’s package provides two 2.5-inch lift strut spacers to easily bump the Tacoma’s front end utilizing the highest quality quarter-inch steel plate that comes fully welded and powdercoated to withstand a lifetime on the road. These spacers not only provide a quick bolt-in suspension lift in just about two hours or so, but also maintain factory ride quality and enable 32-inch tires to fit with factory offset wheels. For the price of admission, and the total labor involved, you really can’t go wrong here.

2. KMC has taken its popular Impact wheel back to the drawing board and has recently reintroduced it to the public with a cleaner, bolder new appearance. The 16-spoke Impact OL wheel is available in either a satin black, bronze, or silver machined finish, and is available in only 16- and 17-inch sizes. We’re running with stain black 17s to match the rest of the truck’s matte finished accessories and are selecting a zero offset stay as close to factory fitment specs as possible.

3. While we’re relying on the Toyo Open Country A/T III tires to add aggressive styling to the Tacoma, we were being realistic by choosing them because these tires offer impressive, quiet on-road handling and performance. The Open Country A/T III still does maintain the welcomed ability to take on any type of terrain in any kind of weather, which will prove to be helpful in the brief stretches of off-road conditions the Tacoma might occasionally encounter. A new tread compound and design will provide excellent wet braking, and the evenly distributed void area will enhance traction both on and off-road. To fit the Tacoma comfortably, we are running with LT285/70R17 (32.7-inch) tires that shouldn’t require any trimming up front.

4. While we’re relying on the decided on a retractable model for multiple reasons, but once we saw that Roll-N-Lock’s brand-new, all-aluminum A-Series XT bed cover offered a low profile design, smooth rollback operation, top notch security, protection from the elements, and the addition of a T-slot integrated MaxTrak System, we were instantly sold. Cargo can be secured safely beneath the cover, as well as on top of the cover, which is huge with more awkward items like bicycles, and basically anything else with the T-slot accessories from Yakima, Thule, Rhino-Rack, and other top brands in the cargo game.

5.To maximize our carrying potential, we are also opting to include the Roll-N-Lock Cargo Manager to better organize the contents within the bed. This movable bed divider can be positioned and locked every 3 inches along the sides of the bed to ensure that our stuff stays exactly where we want it to be at all times.