My birthday was last week and have no clue what to get. I'm 17 so I'm not actually buying it, my parents are. My DD is an '07 STX 2wd with a V6.

Current setup:
K&N Filter
Kelly Safari ATR 255/65/17
Rest stock

Planned(wanted really):
Cooper ST Maxx Tires 265/70/17(probably gonna get these myself)
Some sort of programmer or tuner
2 inch level
Rancho 9000xl shocks(might get one of my friends to buy me one and I'll buy the other. He wants to get me something for my birthday.)
bed liner
cat back exhaust
tint
bull bar or something of that sort

I asked someone who ones a shop what to get and he said programmer but I'm not looking to make my parents spend a lot. Any suggestions that aren't super expensive would be great. I am looking to get into off roading if that helps any.

 

A black Smittybilt bullbar is about $150 on autoanything.com (I bought one). Tint on your two windows should be approximately $100. A 2" Autospring level kit is $70-80 on eBay (I have one of these as well). You would have to install this yourself to keep the cost down but there are threads on how to do it and it's not too bad. The tuner, bed liner, and exhaust are in the $300-500 range. Happy birthday and I say go for the bullbar!

And my truck is a 2006 XLT screw 2wd, so all the stuff fits the same for our trucks

 

Oh, but if you got a muffler and had it dumped under your truck, it should be less than $200 bucks to buy the muffler and have it welded in, depending on the shop. But a full catback with dual tips would run you more

 

Well, to answer your questions a little better I'll have to ask a few. What kind of offroading are you lookin to get into? An also, keep in mind that typically, not all the time though, you get what you pay for in regards to mods to your truck. Why the Cooper ST MAXX? I work at my dad's shop and Cooper is our main brand and I've heard good things from customers about the ST MAXX. I've got the STTs on my truck and would personally recommend them. The Ranchos are a good option. You could also go with the Bilsteins. Is your truck 4x4? if so go with a 2.5" level. You can either do the adjustable front coils made by bilstein or rancho or you could go with the coil spacer from someone like daystar, hell bent steel, etc. As far as a tuner goes, your best bet is to get custom tunes from PHP or 5 star or a place like that. You'll pay a little more than just getting a diablo or and edge or something like that but it's definitely worth it. For the exhaust I'd say go with a Magnaflow. I've got a Flowmaster SI/DO exhaust and wish I would have went with a Magnaflow. However, I got it before I knew as much as I do now. If you've got any other questions just ask away.

 

Thanks man! I'm not sure if I want a cat back exhaust. I may take the cats out then put in a muffler and dump it before the rear tire. Many options. I'm like 95% positive he wouldn't charge me to use his shop but I do want something to do myself.

 

Cool! I've done everything to my truck myself too, I like the feeling of accomplishing it myself. Having a friend's shop at your disposal is an awesome connection to have. I bought a full stainless steel Roush offroad catback so that I could do it myself cause it's a (supposed to be) direct bolt up. But honestly, it was $600 bucks and I probably wouldn't have spent that much if I were to do it over again haha.

Do you have tow hooks on your front bumper? I didn't and it made the install of the bullbar a little more involved, but still fun and easy that you can for sure do yourself!

 

Yeah having a shop and any tool you can possibly need is a plus. Luckily I have both of those and sometimes luck out enough to be on the clock when I'm working on my truck haha.

 

an escort.....

 

hahaha touche

 

Nothing to serious. My friend has a Raptor and he will go with me. Not a 4x4. Wish it was. Nothing to serious off road. Trails. Not to much mud. Pain to clean. Being I have a 2wd I want a tire that I feel I can count on. I know I can with an m/t but they are so expensive. The ST Maxx, from what I have read, is a hybrid of an a/t and m/t. I don't plan on anything serious but do want to go play in some mud. I don't think an a/t will be all that good in mud. Plus I like the looks of the ST Maxx. I was probably going to just get a 2 inch spacer. My problem with exhaust is that I have a V6. I don't want it to sound like a civic. Tuner will probably be down the line. What type of off roading do you do? I should also mention I live around New Orleans so there is probably more mud than anything else or at least I assume there is.

I do not have tow hooks but have thought about them in case I were to get stuck. Plus they look cool, if you will. I do need a new front bumper. Screwed it up being a dumbass. The guy I know is trying to find one for me though. No luck yet. I would like to mount lights on a bull bar. It gets pretty dark in some places by our camp in MS.

 

Definitely hear ya on the V6 part haha. I think a bigger (relatively) muffler will provide body to the sound, though it won't be as loud. And a bull bar or brush guard mounts at the same location as tow hooks. If you need a new bumper, getting one with the holes cut out for tow hook would get an end result that look cleaner. Cause otherwise you gotta cut holes in the very bottom plastic part of the bumper. But it's not as bad as it sounds, if it didn't still look good I wouldn't have done it.

That being said, the 2" level is a good choice to run with and we can usually run 33" tall tires with it as long as they're 275's or thinner on the stock wheels or slightly offset ones, so you'll clear your 265/70/70's no problem in the future!

 

Well my parents won't let me get new tires. They are $800 bucks and you don't have that money to spend. Bull**** I do. I'm gonna try talking to them so more. I don't work my *** of in the summer cutting grass to only pay for insurance. It's my money. What does it matter to you? Sorry guys, I'm madder than a hornets nest being poked with a stick.

I see what your saying with the tow hooks. Looked it up on google images and the tow hooks make it look easy. Saw a black Tacoma with a black bull bar and white Hella light covers over the lights. Nice combination. I've had this messed up bumper since Thanksgiving so I'll take whatever I get. I have thought about putting bed liner on both bumpers. I'm not really looking for loud. Just a nice sound. I'll remember that. I'm finding it tough to find a level that isn't outrageously expensive. Some other guy told me he got one from Hell Bent Steel for $80. Would like to find that one.

 

I would go for tint it changes the way a car feels and that will be a great present. If you really want a bull bar/light bar go for that then. I had one but took it off and sold it because I'm going to be getting a ridgid led light bar in the lower part of my bumper. If i was you i would ask for window tint and make sure you find a good shop that has good tint and will back their work up. Just my opinion.

 

On the tires, I've been through that haha. I wanted 34" mud tires-$1400. What did I get told? "It's irresponsible for someone your age to spend money like that on tires!" But I'm happy with my $800 33's.

The 2.5" HBS kit is $80 bucks right on hellbentsteel.com. Don't buy an aluminum one though, the aluminum craps out. The Auto spring's are all on eBay for $80 bucks. The auto spring has a slight offset to it that keeps your coil spring from rubbing, that's why I got that one. That and a ton of guys on here run it. What are you looking at that's expensive? Ready Lift?

 

If you have a V6 don't waste your time or money with exhaust. All you'll end up with is a truck that sounds like someone farting into a soup can.....