5 Essential Off-Roading Accessories for Your Toyota Tacoma

If you’ve spent much time off-roading in the hills around Santa Barbara, you’ve probably run into your fair share of Tacoma builds. There are tons of reasons why the Taco is so popular in the backcountry—it packs plenty of power under the hood, it’s the perfect size for most adventures, and it’s dependable as all get-out.

Oh, and there’s also the absolutely massive selection of available Toyota Genuine Accessories that you can upgrade your ride with.

We don’t have time to list all of them here, but for those of you thinking about treating yourself to an early Christmas present, here are a few of our personal must-haves.

Recovery Kit

When you pursue off-roading as a hobby, at some point, you’re probably going to encounter the joys of getting stuck. Some would even argue that if you never get stuck, you’re not doing it right.

Of course, eventually, you’re going to want to get unstuck. That’s where a decent recovery kit comes in handy.

Every recovery kit looks a little different, but common accessories include recovery boards for extra traction, various ropes and tow straps, and bark protectors in case you need to tie your winch to a tree. With a well-supplied recovery kit, you can wheel with confidence knowing that you can get yourself out of any situation, whether you’re in a group or rolling solo.

Contact us if you’re looking for a premium kit that comes with everything you need for a trail rescue mission.

Tool Kit

Just as getting stuck every once in a while is a near-guarantee, breaking parts is something that happens to the best of us. A well-prepared off-roader needs to have a collection of hand tools to make quick repairs in case of a flat tire or light underbody damage.

At the very least, you’ll want to carry screwdrivers, pliers, wrenches, ratchets, and sockets, as well as a hardy toolbox or tool bag to keep all your things organized and protected.

Portable Air Compressor

It goes without saying that a lightweight compressor is a borderline essential piece of equipment when you’re deep in the hinterlands. A flat tire will stop you in your tracks faster than anything, so you need a way to air it back up after patching.

Having a way to increase and decrease tire pressure on the fly can also provide a huge improvement in ride comfort on rocky terrain, and if you run into sand or loose gravel, airing the tires down is one of the best ways to ensure that you don’t bog down. You can also use a compressor to air up other things like mountain bike tires and air mattresses.

As part of their collaboration with Toyota, ARB offers multiple sizes of compressors, including a durable 12-volt model that comes with 19 feet of air hose, battery terminal clamps, and a stylish carrying case that easily fits in the bed or cab.

Battery Starter/Charger

Few things will bum you out faster than a dead battery in the middle of the woods, especially if you’re out there by yourself and don’t have a buddy to help you with a jump start. However, this potential problem can be completely avoided simply by carrying a portable jump box.

This can be especially useful if you’re out on a multi-day excursion, which may require you to use the truck’s electrical system to power camping equipment like lights and coolers. If you want to add an extra layer of failsafe, you can buy a battery charger that allows solar charging to ensure you never run out of juice.

Skid Plates

When you’re building out an off-roading rig, the sky is the limit. The specific accessories you end up grabbing will largely depend on exactly what you plan to do with your Tacoma, but no matter where you intend to go, we’d recommend slapping on a skid plate.

The purpose of these high-strength plates is to protect the underbody, including parts like the transfer case, fuel tank, and catalytic converter. Many trucks—including the Tacoma TRD Off-Road and TRD Pro—come straight from the factory with skid plates included. But, even if yours doesn’t have one, they’re relatively easy to install, and buying one is much cheaper than replacing critical truck parts.

Find Genuine Toyota Accessories in Goleta, CA

Whether you’re a weekend warrior just looking to get some monthly mudding in, or a bona fide overlanding expert, our Toyota dealership near Ventura has everything you need to build your dream machine.

Order parts directly from us online today or give us a call at (805) 979-5016 to ask about how you can save tons of cash with our parts specials and coupons.