How To Build a Custom Toyota Tacoma
From factory options to off-road upgrades, here are the best ways to build a custom Toyota Tacoma.
Written by R.E. Fulton
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
With six trim levels and extensive customization options, it’s easy to build a custom Toyota Tacoma that meets your needs (and even saves you money!).
When you buy a truck, you’re looking for more than a way of getting around town. Your truck might be a trusty work companion, a weekend escape hatch, or a wilderness-seeking haven away from the mundane. Whatever you need your truck to do, the Toyota Tacoma has the customization options you need.
But building a custom Tacoma isn’t simple. To help you understand your customization options and potential aftermarket mods, the top-rated
car insurance
comparison app Jerry
has created a guide to creating a custom Tacoma and then finding the best way to save on your Toyota Tacoma insurance costs
.Compare insurance quotes from 50+ carriers with Jerry in under 45 seconds
Compare insurance quotes from 50+ carriers with Jerry in under 45 seconds
4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ drivers2022 Toyota Tacoma customization options
The Toyota Tacoma is a mid-size pickup truck beloved for its workmanlike utility and, at higher trim levels, its off-road capabilities. It’s also a wonderland of customization, with multiple options for engines, cabs, truck beds, and exterior trims—and the only manual transmission option in its class.
The 2022 Tacoma comes in six trim levels: SR, SR5, TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road, Limited, and TRD Pro. The SR and SR5 trims, which start at $27,915 and $29,715 respectively, are focused on everyday functionality, while the higher trims emphasize off-road performance and, in the case of the Limited trim, a little taste of luxury.
The Tacoma’s engine options depend on the trim level you choose. For the SR and SR5, a 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine is standard, but you can upgrade to a 3.5-liter V6, which is the standard engine on the other four trims.
The V6 is the key to most of the Tacoma’s best upgrades, and it also offers 278 horsepower in comparison to the four-cylinder’s 159, so it’s a good choice if you’re willing to go above base price.
When it comes to transmissions, a six-speed automatic is standard, but you can opt for a manual transmission with the TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road, and TRD Pro trims. Four-wheel drive is also available at every trim level as an alternative to the standard rear-wheel drive—but keep in mind that opting for 4WD will bring down the Tacoma’s maximum towing capacity from 6,800 lbs to a modest 6,500.
You’ll also have the choice between an extended
Access Cab
with a 6.1-foot truck bed, only available for the lower four trims, or a Double Cab
configuration with options for a 5- or 6.1-foot bed. Toyota Tacoma optional packages
Toyota offers a wide range of optional packages to customize your Tacoma, from the $230 SR Convenience package for remote keyless entry to the $1,000 Nightshade Edition package on the Limited trim, which lets you trick out your Taco with 18” dark smoke wheels and a host of all-black exterior accents. Here are a few packages to look out for:
Package | Cost | Features | Which trims is it available on? |
|---|---|---|---|
Black Out Package | $415 | Black tailgate insert, exhaust tip, emblem overlays | All trims |
Truck Exterior Package | $934 | Bed extender, spare tire lock, chrome exhaust tip, 5” oval tube steps | All trims except TRD Pro |
Utility Package | - $1,715 | Removes rear seats and accessories (speakers, cupholders, etc.) and adds black door handles, mirror caps, and bumper w/fixed rear window | SR with base engine and Access Cab |
Technology Package | $600 | Blind spot monitor w/rear cross traffic alert | SR5 with V6 engine |
SR5 Parking Sonar and Premium Audio w/Dynamic Navigation | $1,710 | Rear parking sonar, Destination Assist, Premium Audio w/Dynamic Navigation | SR5 with V6 engine |
Premium Package | $3,815 | Heated front seats, leather-trimmed seats, auto headlights, moonroof, JBL Audio, Remote Connect, Destination Assist | TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road |
Nightshade Edition | $1,000 | 18” dark smoke wheels w/black wheel locks, lug nuts, exhaust tips, mirror caps, fog light bezels, badging, door handles, and grille | Limited |
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You can also customize your Tacoma with individual add-ons, from mechanical upgrades like an air filter or performance exhaust system to an on-board emergency assistance kit stocked with essentials like booster cables, a tire gauge, and a heat-reflective emergency blanket.
How to customize your Tacoma to save money
Most of the available add-ons and packages you can use to customize your Tacoma will add to the overall price of the vehicle.
Opting for all of the packages and upgrades available on a TRD Pro, for instance, could take your final purchase from a base MSRP of $48,640 all the way up to $59,244—edging this workman’s pickup into a luxury price range.
Not only will you pay more at the dealership, but you’ll also see a higher insurance rate if you overload your custom Tacoma with upgrades. But a few custom options could actually save you money! Consider these options if you’re hoping to save money on your custom Tacoma:
- SR Utility Package: If you’re buying a Tacoma for solo use and want the bare-bones version, the SR trim’s Utility Package will strip out the rear seats and save you $1,715!
- Security system: While the higher trims come with built-in security, the SR and SR5 have the option to add a security system for $359, which could earn you a discount on your insurance.
- Safety packages: While Toyota’s standard Safety Sense™ technology rivals any other driver-assistance tech, you can bolster it on the lower trim levels with optional technology packages. Some insurance providers offer discounts for safety upgrades.
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The best Toyota Tacoma mods
Toyota offers an impressive selection of customization options for the 2022 Toyota Tacoma, but you can also make your Tacoma your own with custom mods. Here are a few types of upgrades to keep in mind when building a custom Tacoma.
Tires
The Tacoma’s pride is its off-roading ability—and there’s no better way to upgrade the perfect off-road machine than with a killer set of tires. The base Toyota Tacoma comes with standard P245/75R16 all-season tires, but a sturdy set of all-terrain tires, or gnarly mud tires for more extreme adventures, can take your Tacoma to the next level.
Suspension
A lift kit might be the most popular Toyota Tacoma mod. Although the 2022 Tacoma comes with a built-in suspension lift of 1.1 inches in front and 0.5 in the rear, modding the suspension is a great way to give your truck extra clearance, improved off-road performance, and a little more room for the outsize wheels of your dreams.
Engine
One of the biggest complaints with the otherwise popular Tacoma is its engine. With just 159 hp and 180 lb-ft of torque, the base four-cylinder is downright disappointing, and the V6 doesn’t fare much better.
Adding a cold air intake or a throttle module can unlock the full potential of the Tacoma’s engine for a smoother ride with snappier driving response.
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How to find affordable insurance for your Toyota Tacoma
Finding affordable insurance for your custom Toyota Tacoma doesn’t have to be a struggle—just download the
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app! Jerry is the #1-rated
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app for a reason: in just 45 seconds, we’ll find the lowest available rates on insurance for your vehicle, drawn from a pool of 50+ top providers across the country. Just like your Tacoma, your quotes from Jerry will be customized to your specific needs and preferences. Better yet, we’ll never sell your information, never waste your time with unnecessary paperwork or wait times, and never, ever call you—unless you ask us to! And on average, Jerry users see a total annual savings of $887. With that extra money in your pocket, you might be able to afford to add a few more options to your custom Tacoma!
“Jerrywas easy to use, and they saved me a lot of money on my truck. I would definitely recommend them.” —Johannes T.
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