so if it came down to choosing between OME suspension and sliders.... sliders? Would the following list seem to be the correct order of priority?
You certainly sound like you are going about this in a level-headed manner.
In my opinion, having used a 2000 and a 2005 for overland travel, here's what I think. Note that I pretty much agree with the earlier comment about the average truck being overbuilt. (I've personally overbuilt several of them.
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The bumpers are expensive and weigh a lot, which almost mandates beefier suspension. And if you add a rear carrier to your new rear bumper, you really cut into the routine utility of the truck. So put them at the bottom.
Given that you probably already have factory crossbars, adding the roof rack/basket is super easy. Add it if you need it; don't if you don't.
Tires make the biggest difference of anything as to where you can go. There are all-terrains that have very little effect on driveability and noise. You probably want something with a little bit of aggressive tread, but even something as modest as a Michelin LTX/MS2 will let you get through snow and limited mud and give you more confidence in case the weather changes.
The fiberglass running boards would be easy to accidentally destroy. Replacing them with sliders is insurance against expensive issues.
The suspension upgrades are kind of a tricky issue. You can spend thousands (though I wouldn't), but there are inexpensive ways to get some lift and a bit more articulation. Not sure, though, that the benefits are worth much for simple off-pavement use. If you figure to always be on a "road," stock will probably suit you. If you actively want to go looking for difficult trails, that's another matter.
So, my vote is: 1) tires, 2) sliders, 3) roof rack, 4) modest suspension tweaks, 5) front bumper, 6) rear bumper.
NB: Three other points are . . . First, if you need a winch, consider putting a winch on a mounting plate into the stock rear receiver. Then you can have it when you need it, but don't have to carry it for daily driver use. Second, if you change tire sizes, there's a lot of advantage to keeping the size increase small enough that the spare still fits in the stock location. It doesn't sound like you need really big tires, so the downsides of getting a tire that has to be mounted somewhere else doesn't seem worth the effort. Third, make sure you have at least one front tow hook and a rear tow hook or, equally good, a way to hold a strap to the rear receiver. Then carry a good strap so someone can pull you out should you run into trouble.
