This self inflating foam mattress went on sale and is now under the $100 threshold. Cheap and easy, and more importantly a super comfy sleep solution for the cruiser. Bonus that is self deflates to be super compact. I just throw it over a folded second and third row.
Best Upgrades for Under $100 (200-Series)
- Thread starter lifeofreilly
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I can't speak for anything other than my 2013 LC but mine doesn't have that setting. The intermediate setting runs in auto unless the sensor is disconnected.
Hmm well that must be the case for the person that posted that. I will admit, I dislike technology that attempts to solve a problem that doesn’t exist. So I can understand someone wanting to disconnect auto rain sensors.
If you disconnect the sensor (when the gel pad has failed) you will get your intermittent adjustable wiper settings back. If the gel pad has failed you only get one speed in intermittent.
I may have posted this in years past, but the best upgrades I've put on mine for <$100 are:
1. Can of bright yellow automotive spray paint to paint the heads of all bolts that need to be removed for an oil change (hands down, the BEST cheap mod I've done). This makes oil changes a breeze...or at least, makes them significantly less of a PITA.
2. ProClip Mount with Ram Mount Phone Holder (separately under $100 each, but its been a while). I guess this doesn't apply to the folks who have upgraded to one of the aftermarket CarPlay systems.
2. Steering wheel cover
3. Toyota OEM metal oil filter housing; yes folks, its a hell of a lot easier to work with.
5. Dual USB-C port sized to fit Toyota size and replacing the button blank (I think the blank used to be the VSC 'off' button back in the day) Note: I used to recommend the duel USB-C/USB-A port, which I have installed in our Tacoma rally truck, but USB-A is getting rarer and rarer and the LC already has a stock USB-A for stone-agers and Entune junkies.
6. <disregard> K&N reusable cabin air filter ****changed my mind on this; going back to the stock Toyota/Denso***
7. <disregard> K&N reusable engine air filter ****changed my mind on this; going to an aftermarket one with nice smell and good pollen filter***
8. I think the Toyota OEM leveling spacers were <$100, but the install was such a motherf*****, I'm not sure its worthy of being labeled a "less than $100" upgrade.
9. Oh yeah...a couple of rubber/silicone key fob covers. You can find them on Amazon for ~$10 or so.
10. Honorable mention: 200 Series Rear Exit Switch/Handle Kit, I think CruiserTeq sells it, or resells it; search around on the forum. Its about $185 nowadays, but an almost necessary install if you ever plan to sleep in the back and perhaps want to get up to take a leak in the middle of the night, or someone needs to emergency-puke out of the rear hatch.
11. Seat gap fillers...per @marcus clarkus , $20 off amazon, standard size. No more bits falling in between the seats and a great place to put the key fob (I am in the crowd that hates push button start). Handy enough that I'd add these to the short list of "almost necessary" upgrades along with the rear hatch exit switch.
I did try installing that "quick valve" oil drain...but, it seemed a little gimmicky to me and I am fine with just using the original plug and a torque wrench.
I think some other posters have mentioned tint and other stuff, a lot of which I have on mine, but none of which was less than $100.
TBH: The absolute, hands-down, best upgrade one can make to any 5.7L J200/LC200 is spray painting the heads of the bolts required to be removed for an oil change. Unless you go with an aftermarket front skid plate or spray paint the heads of the bolts-to-be-removed, oil changes are annoying AF on the 5.7L petrol J200/LC200.
1. Can of bright yellow automotive spray paint to paint the heads of all bolts that need to be removed for an oil change (hands down, the BEST cheap mod I've done). This makes oil changes a breeze...or at least, makes them significantly less of a PITA.
2. ProClip Mount with Ram Mount Phone Holder (separately under $100 each, but its been a while). I guess this doesn't apply to the folks who have upgraded to one of the aftermarket CarPlay systems.
2. Steering wheel cover
3. Toyota OEM metal oil filter housing; yes folks, its a hell of a lot easier to work with.
5. Dual USB-C port sized to fit Toyota size and replacing the button blank (I think the blank used to be the VSC 'off' button back in the day) Note: I used to recommend the duel USB-C/USB-A port, which I have installed in our Tacoma rally truck, but USB-A is getting rarer and rarer and the LC already has a stock USB-A for stone-agers and Entune junkies.
6. <disregard> K&N reusable cabin air filter ****changed my mind on this; going back to the stock Toyota/Denso***
7. <disregard> K&N reusable engine air filter ****changed my mind on this; going to an aftermarket one with nice smell and good pollen filter***
8. I think the Toyota OEM leveling spacers were <$100, but the install was such a motherf*****, I'm not sure its worthy of being labeled a "less than $100" upgrade.
9. Oh yeah...a couple of rubber/silicone key fob covers. You can find them on Amazon for ~$10 or so.
10. Honorable mention: 200 Series Rear Exit Switch/Handle Kit, I think CruiserTeq sells it, or resells it; search around on the forum. Its about $185 nowadays, but an almost necessary install if you ever plan to sleep in the back and perhaps want to get up to take a leak in the middle of the night, or someone needs to emergency-puke out of the rear hatch.
11. Seat gap fillers...per @marcus clarkus , $20 off amazon, standard size. No more bits falling in between the seats and a great place to put the key fob (I am in the crowd that hates push button start). Handy enough that I'd add these to the short list of "almost necessary" upgrades along with the rear hatch exit switch.
I did try installing that "quick valve" oil drain...but, it seemed a little gimmicky to me and I am fine with just using the original plug and a torque wrench.
I think some other posters have mentioned tint and other stuff, a lot of which I have on mine, but none of which was less than $100.
TBH: The absolute, hands-down, best upgrade one can make to any 5.7L J200/LC200 is spray painting the heads of the bolts required to be removed for an oil change. Unless you go with an aftermarket front skid plate or spray paint the heads of the bolts-to-be-removed, oil changes are annoying AF on the 5.7L petrol J200/LC200.
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Good list. I disagree about the K&N stuff though.
This is a great idea. I’m 100% doing this on my next oil change. Thanks.
You're not the first person to say that. In fact, I've heard solid arguments against K&Ns over the years, but your reply actually got me formally researching and I'm now thinking I'll probably go back to the stock Toyota/Denso for the engine air and a nice smelling pollen filter for the cabin air.
I installed K&N filters on my rally truck ('17 Tacoma O/R), but that was more for reusability and field cleaning than performance.
So...I will now join the minority of Americans who have the good sense to change their mind about something after giving it careful thought and considering/researching different opinions. lol
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I keep a stack of engine and cabin filters in my garage. Probably have been through 10 in the last year. They're cheap enough and after any off-road trip, I swap in a new one. Pay to play and keeps things happy and healthy.
These tier 1 Bosche engine filters are right up there with what I see in a Toyota branded filter. ~$16/per
These 3rd party Puroma are some of the best I've found too with lots of pleats/surface/build quality and charcoal activated. ~$7/per
These tier 1 Bosche engine filters are right up there with what I see in a Toyota branded filter. ~$16/per
These 3rd party Puroma are some of the best I've found too with lots of pleats/surface/build quality and charcoal activated. ~$7/per
You are correct...I always mix those two up for some weird reason. Regardless, its been corrected.
YES!
Great thread. Has anyone made an upgrade for the flimsy electric plug in the rear? Or an upgrade? Not sure if under $100 but jw. Also to the guy that had the cup holder for his kids behind the front seat headrest. Did you remove the screens?
For avid overlanders that sleep in their cars, possibly in areas where rocks can be harder to come by...
These ramp type leveling blocks are the ticket. One of the few that works for larger 34s to 37s.
These ramp type leveling blocks are the ticket. One of the few that works for larger 34s to 37s.
2HundyJTex
SILVER Star
+1 on this. It’s useless.
Any ideas out there to convert this to 12V and delete whatever guts are needed to make it “work?” I haven’t run across it in this thread or others (yet), but would love to be proven wrong.
I have an EcoFlow River 2 battery that charges from the center console 12V - I use the battery to power a Dometic frig and Starlink (none of which is under $100!) while the cruiser ignition is off.
It’s been discussed a number of times, but not in this thread because cost is way over $100. Here’s one:
I think this is totally doable.
Follow that thread linked by @Sandroad .
Get a 4-gang panel - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DDV1MJ11?tag=ihco-20
Optionally, change out whatever for whatever you find more useful.
Tap power from the input to the inverter there, or run new power from the battery.
That's it, something functional for well under $100 but with some labor.
I second this recommendation.
I carried one of these on our Christmas trip and it was killer. My camper is single axle so I only need one for it but we had one camp where I needed to raise the rear of our Cruiser to elevate the nose of our camper, we were only there one night so I didn’t unhitch. I found a rock to use for the other side but I may carry 2 of these ramp things and ditch the orange part and substitute my wheel chocks instead.
Great suggestion though.