Anything you put on this truck that won't be repeated on the new?
Yes, there will be some slight tweaks. I love having the cargo space and big lights on top, but the noise and extra wind resistance of them is a big negative. I can imagine that the lights and basket are cutting fuel mileage a fair bit. Plus, those lights take a lot of power. The next truck will get a flat rack similar to the flat rack that BajaRack makes for the Tacoma. That will really cut down on wind resistance while allowing me to keep the storage space. Instead of four big lights, I'm going to throw a Blitzpro or OKLED bar on top. They draw less and are far more streamlined. Not to mention they put out WAY more light.
Also, I'll be using a shorter set of vertical arms for the RTT rack (I managed to hold on to the Front Runner ones) so I can keep it out of the wind. I'll lose some vertical space but I so rarely need it that it will seldom be an issue.
I'll also be switching to the 265/75R16 tire size, in the Cooper ST Maxx flavor. The only reason being that I think 235s are too skinny for the way the gen 2 looks. I MAY go to a 255/85, but that depends on how much the tent changes the mileage. The idea is to get 16-17 mpg on the highway so I can retain a good range. With my cruising speed (70) I don't think it'll be a stretch at all.
Mo4130 gets 18-19 with his Pro-4X with OME suspension, ARB bumper, Warn winch, Yakima basket, and cap. He also runs 265s. I'll be using the same bumper, a similar weight winch, and pretty much the same suspension. Take into consideration more aggressive tires and the tent, and I think I might even be able to get mid 17s because I plan on getting a Superchips tuner set to "economy" mode. That would put my realistic highway range at around 350-370 miles.
Now, on the opposite end of the spectrum, davidshourd's 07 Nismo averages 14.8 (per Fuelly). He's got 285/75R16s, heavy bumpers, more lift, and a Titan front end. With all that, he still averages 14.8. Even if I only got 15, I'd still have a range of 315 miles, which is more than acceptable. No matter what, I'd be able to comfortably drive 3 hours without needing to stop for gas. Hell, I'd be able to do that even if I only did 14 mpg.
All told, these aren't huge changes, but on the next truck I think they will make all the difference. I think it will be the best balance between the capability I need and the range I want.
I figure that stuff, plus an ARB air locker, sliders, skids, and a rear bumper will make the truck everything I want.
