Best first mods for an N80 Hilux

The N80 Hilux is a good ute out of the box, which makes it easy to waste money on. You can spend five figures on accessories before you've worked out what the vehicle is actually for. This list is in the order we'd spend, starting with what protects the engine and ending with the nice-to-haves.

1. A catch can

The 2.8 litre 1GD engine recirculates crankcase vapour and exhaust gas back into the intake. Oil mist from one and soot from the other combine into a paste that builds up in the intake over time. A catch can sits in the breather line and separates the oil out before it gets there.

It's cheap compared with what it protects, and it's the mod we'd do first on any modern diesel. The HPD catch can for the 1GD Hilux and Fortuner is made for this engine bay. Drain it at each service and it will look after itself. You can see the other fitments in our catch can range.

2. A lift, if you need one

Be honest about this one. If the ute spends its life on bitumen and the odd gravel road, stock height is fine. If you're adding a bullbar, running bigger tyres or dragging the belly on tracks, a 2-inch lift is the sensible ceiling for a daily driver.

The budget way in is a spacer and shackle kit. The ATI 2-inch front and rear kit for the N80 levels and raises the vehicle using your existing struts and springs. It suits a ute that needs clearance for tyres more than one that carries a heavy constant load. For that you'd be looking at replacement springs and shocks.

3. The parts that go with a lift

A lift changes your alignment, CV angles and brake hose slack. We've written a full guide on what you actually need after a 2-inch lift, but the Hilux shortlist is:

• Adjustable upper control arms if the alignment can't be brought back into spec.
• A 30mm diff drop kit to ease the CV angles.
• Extended braided brake lines if the hoses pull tight at full droop.
• Sway bar relocation brackets, which move the front sway bar to suit the new ride height.

Get the alignment done first and buy from that list based on what it tells you.

4. Help for the rear end

Hilux rear springs are set up for an empty tray. Load it with a canopy, a fridge and a towball weight and the back sags, which lifts the front and makes the steering go light.

If your load varies, an airbag load assist kit lets you add support when you're loaded and let it out when you're not. Airbags help the springs carry a load. They don't increase what the vehicle is legally allowed to carry, so stay inside your GVM and axle limits.

5. Cooling, if you tow or tune

Two upgrades matter here and both depend on how you use the ute.

An automatic N80 that tows a van or does a lot of sand work will benefit from the HPD transmission cooler kit for the 1GD Hilux. Our article on whether you need a transmission cooler explains how to tell.

If the engine is tuned or works hard for long periods, a larger intercooler keeps intake temperatures down. HPD makes kits for the 2015 to 2020 N80 and the 2020-on N80. On a stock ute that doesn't tow, this one can wait.

6. Pedal response

The N80 has a soft accelerator pedal from the factory. An Ultimate9 EVC throttle controller for the N80 changes how the pedal responds, and it helps most when towing or crawling in low range. It adds no power. We've covered the pros and cons in are throttle controllers worth it?

7. Cheap things that make it nicer to live with

• A fire extinguisher bracket made for the N80, so the extinguisher is within reach and not rolling around under a seat.
• Paracord grab handles. They're the most popular thing we sell for the Hilux, and they take ten minutes a side to fit.
• A recovery hitch for the tow bar receiver, so you have a rated point at the back.
• A tyre deflator. Airing down properly does more off-road than most of this list.

What we'd leave for later

Wheels, light bars and big tyres are the fun purchases, and they're the ones that are easiest to regret if you buy them before you know how you use the ute. Drive it for a few months, note what annoys you, and spend on that.

Common questions

What is the first mod to do on a Hilux?

For a diesel N80 we'd fit a catch can first, because it protects the engine from day one and costs little. After that it depends on whether you tow, tour or mostly drive on the road.

How much lift can I put on an N80 Hilux?

A 2-inch lift is the common choice and keeps the ute easy to live with. Rules on lift height differ by state, so check with your road authority before going higher or adding larger tyres on top.

Do these parts fit the N70 Hilux?

Some do and some have a separate N70 version. Each product title lists the years it suits. Browse everything for both models in our Hilux parts collection.