When it comes to modding your Tacoma, sometimes the smallest details can have the biggest impact. Interior modifications are often overlooked and deprioritized in favor of exterior mods that can make your truck look cool.
While there is nothing wrong with having a good looking truck on the outside, some of the most functional and satisfying mods are done to the interior. I mean, the interior is what you are looking at the whole time you are driving, so why not make it look a bit more aesthetically pleasing?
One of the easiest ways to change the look of your truck is to get a replacement and upgraded shift knob. A new shift knob is an easy, yet effective way to change your Tacoma’s driving experience.
There is a nearly endless selection that you can buy, so finding one may be overwhelming. I have personally done the research to find you the coolest ones on the market to replace that boring factory equipped one..
Table Of Contents
Mounting
I want to start by explaining how the stock one is attached.
The stock Tacoma uses a special collar with a pattern in which the knob clicks into perfectly. The issue here is that most aftermarket manufacturers create generic products and typically don’t account for each vehicle’s unique style of attachment, especially the 3rd Gen Tacoma.
While you can still use the stock shift boot collar, it won’t work seamlessly. Most on this list require some form of alteration to look like they belong in the truck.
Don’t fret, because an Etsy shop that goes by the name TrailbreakerCustoms has created a solution to help make your aftermarket install look OEM.
TrailBreakerCustoms created a shift collar cover which covers the chrome collar pattern and hugs the shifter rod. This helps to create a seamless look.
The only drawback here is that the aftermarket one will not be attached to the collar. However, it works well with the Getta Grip option I installed and I don’t even notice that it isn’t completely attached. If you decide not to get the collar cover, you can always zip-tie the boot to the shifter rod or simply fold in the shift boot, but that won’t be as clean of an install.
Now that we got the mounting details out of the way, let’s jump into the list. The list isn’t ranked in any way, but I tried to put what I think are the better options towards the top.
Lastly, for those of you with manual transmissions, you should know that most of these options will not fit a manual shifter. The design is different than the automatic shifter. There is a small chance some of the options will work, but I would confirm with the company in question before you purchase.
TrailMade (Coming Soon!)
An all new design will be available in the near future! This one features a replaceable, customizable cap design.
Find It Online
- TrailMade: View Website
1. OEM TRD Pro
This option is a drop-in replacement.
The TRD Pro one is a sleeker version of the stock version found on the lower trim Tacomas. It has a more chiseled look with angled edges and some red and gray accents with TRD branding. Since it is a drop-in replacement, meaning it has the clips that match perfectly with the shift boot collar, the install is effortless and should only take about 30 seconds of your time.
You can typically find these for under $100, and sometimes find a deal for a bit lower.
Find It Online
- OEM TRD Shift Knob: Check Price
2. MESO Customs
If you have owned a Tacoma for a while, you have likely heard of MESO customs and all of the cool stuff they make for Tacomas.
MESO Customs sells a custom version of the TRD Pro knob. The MESO Stealth PRO Knob is a modified OEM Pro knob that has two integrated switches on either side. These switches can be wired up to any accessories your truck has, such as the ECT button, light bars, or an air compressor.
You can order the Stealth Pro with either red or black buttons, but both have the normal red stitching on the leather. This is because MESO Customs uses true OEM TRD Pro model and modifies them by adding the buttons.
The MESO Stealth PRO knob is awesome, but it is worth noting that they are usually released in limited runs. Like most MESO products, you have to be on the ball with the releases and order as soon as they’re posted to the site.
I’m not quite sure about the price as it’s not listed on the website. MESO also sells DIY kits if you already own one, which retails at $40 for one button or $60 for buttons on both sides, but at the time this article was published, these are also out of stock.
Find It Online
- Stealth PRO Shift Knob: Check Price
3. KTJO 4X4
A newer addition to the list, the KTJO 4×4 shift knob definitely stands out from the rest.
For around $100 you get carbon fiber accents, and a backlit crystal portion that features etched logos. It’s a neat take.
Check out Noakea’s install and review post here.
Find It Online
- Crystal Shift Knob: Check Price
4. SHIFTIN
This is another drop-in replacement that varies slightly from the stock one. You can find it on Amazon and it is listed as a Toyota Highlander shift knob that will fit in the Tacoma.
The first option is made of perforated leather on the top and front with a piano black accent on the backside, which faces the cab of the truck. The description states that it is made of premium leather and electroplated chrome.
The second option is the black carbon fiber look, which also looks pretty nice but is a few dollars more expensive than the gloss black.
At around $30, this is a great option for someone who wants to retain the stock shape while changing up the look a little bit.
The last option is the walnut wood-style.
If you are looking for a more classy and retro vibe, this one is for you. The back is a familiar faux walnut that is reminiscent of the early 2000s luxury vehicles. This shift knob, while slightly outdated in style, is a cool and unique option for someone who enjoys that early 2000s nostalgic luxury style. For around $30, you can’t go wrong if that’s the style you are looking for.
The SHIFTIN options have several 5 stars reviews on Amazon, which seem to be legitimate. Some of the ratings mention that it fits perfectly in the 3rd gen Tacoma.
Find It Online
- SHIFTIN Shift Knob: Check Price
5. Getta Grip
The Getta Grip is a super unique way to change the look of your Tacoma’s interior. Though it is marketed towards mountain bikers, the grips are cool enough to be used by anyone.
It’s worth noting that I use this grip, and I love the look and feel of it when driving my Tacoma.
The Getta Grip is sold in three different style grips which each have a wide range of color options. Also, the color of the locking rings on the grips can be customized.
Another super cool thing about Getta Grip is that they sell a blank adapter so that fits virtually any mountain bike grip on the market. You can buy this adapter separately for about $20 less than the full grip assembly.
One word of caution with this grip is that it requires cutting the shift boot collar to work. I detail the install process in my GoGettaGrip install/review article.
The full kit with the adapter and grip is around $70 while the blank adapter is about $50.
Find It Online
- GoGettaGrip Shifter Kits: Check Price
6. AJT Design
AJT Design creates a lot of cool Tacoma accessories such as key fobs, radio and climate control knob replacements.
There appear to be two versions. The older version is a bit more rounded while the V2.5 has a more angular and aggressive design.
They are made of billet aluminum that is CNC machined in the USA. They come in either black or clear. The clear option looks to be raw or brushed aluminum. You can also choose between a few different colors for the anodized screws on the top of the knob.
They also come in a long and a short configuration. The Tacoma isn’t listed under the compatibility section for the long version, so I’d suggest going with the short one, as it is listed.
Whether you go with the original or the V2.5, these will look great in your Tacoma’s interior.
Find It Online
- AJT Design: Check Price
7. B&M
The B&M Magnum Grip shifter is a cool drop-in replacement.
It is ergonomic and kinda looks like something you would see in the Batmobile. It is made out of billet aluminum and is modeled after B&M’s popular racing style shifters. The sides of the grip are made out of replaceable polycarbonate so you can use any other B&M grip plates to mix it up.
The best part is that it doesn’t require the TrailbreakerCustoms collar cap or any other modification. The Magnum Grip has a notch in the bottom of it that allows you to attach the shift boot directly to the grip using a zip tie. As a bonus, you get rid of the ugly chrome shift boot collar.
Find It Online
- Magnum Grip Shift Knob: Check Price
8. 1320 Performance
This Performance SS looks to be a surprisingly nice option for your Tacoma. It is made out of 302 stainless steel which is mostly smooth but with four criss-cross texture grip bands.
The Performance SS doesn’t have any adapters, it is natively M8x1.25 threaded which will fit your Tacoma. Knobs without adapters are better because they have one less point of failure.
Another great thing is that it is completely made in the USA.
Just based on the shape, it may even be able to fit nicely without the Etsy collar cap. The bottom sticks out a bit, which means you can zip-tie the boot to it. However, it isn’t a notch, so the boot would be able to slide up since there is nothing above to retain the zip tie.
Even if it doesn’t fit without the Etsy cap, I think it will still be a super clean option. At around $65, this one is about the middle of the road in terms of prices.
Find It Online
- Performance SS Stainless Shift Knob: Check Price
9. BFI
If you are looking to go a higher-end replacement, this Black Forest industries (BFI) Heavy Weight shift knob is just for you. Although it wasn’t made to be a Tacoma specific option, the thread pitch matches and it looks like a high-quality piece.
The BFI was designed for the Audi R8, which I think is pretty rad. The description touts a leather and metal combination as a superior design characteristic.
This is a three-piece construction made up of a fancy-looking crest on the top, the perforated leather body, and a stainless steel adapter for the bottom.
I’m intrigued by this because, even though it’s not made for the Tacoma, I think it would look pretty great. Also, the three-piece construction may present an opportunity for a clean install without using the Etsy cap.
The adapter on the bottom screws into the shift knob, so I think it may be possible to not screw it in all the way and pinch the shift boot. However, this is just my wild theory so take it at face value.
Overall, I think this could be a very interesting and unique option that I can almost guarantee no Tacoma has… yet! Because this is targeted towards a luxury car community, the price tag is pretty hefty at around $160.
BFI also has a few more similar but slightly different designs, including a full billet aluminum knob, so check them out!
Find It Online
- Heavy Weight Shift Knob: Check Price
10. Mishimoto Weighted
The Mishimoto weighted one has a super sleek design that would look great in the Tacoma. Mishimoto is a fairly popular aftermarket parts company that makes high-quality parts for a reasonable price.
It is made out of steel and can be had in either gloss black or silver. It has a cylindrical shape and tapers towards the bottom. The tapered design should tie in well when using the Etsy collar cap. It also has the Morimoto “M” logo etched into the top, which fits nicely into the overall design.
This is a universal fit. It comes with three different thread pitch inserts, one of which is the M8x1.25 that the automatic Tacoma uses.
This one is weighted so it will be a bit heavier than stock. It is a great choice for someone looking for a shifter with a more substantial feel.
On Amazon it’s listed at around $40 and has a little over 4 stars with 512 ratings, so you can be certain you are getting a solid product for a great price.
Find It Online
- Weighted Shift Knob: Check Price
11. Mishimoto Carbon Fiber
Next on the list is another offering from Mishimoto; a carbon fiber option. Carbon fiber is a popular material in the automotive world.
Although it is made up of carbon fiber, it appears to have a clear coat over the carbon fiber which gives it a smooth feel. Like the other Mishimoto one, this one comes with three different adapters to work with multiple thread pitches.
It will fit in perfectly with the gray/black that a lot of Tacoma interiors feature. It has the Mishimoto “M” logo on the top, though it seems to be under the clear coat rather than etched in.
It is worth noting that this option looks pretty short. It measures 2.3” tall and 1.63” in diameter. For reference, the stock one is about 3” tall. It’s listed on Amazon for just under $60 and also has over 4 stars with 93 ratings, so this should be another solid option for your Tacoma.
Find It Online
- Mishimoto Carbon Fiber Shift Knob: Check Price
12. DC Sports
This DC Sports SKB1000 might seem out of place in an automatic Tacoma. However, if you have driven a manual in the past, it will feel right at home.
This is another weighted option, weighing roughly 400g or 1 pound. Since it’s so heavy, it will provide a sturdy feel when shifting through the automatic transmission gears.
It also comes with the M8x1.25 aluminum thread insert so it will fit your automatic Tacoma shifter.
If you think the ball in an automatic is weird, the SKB1000 also comes in a shaft-style with essentially the same specs as it’s ball counterpart.
Both of these can be found for around $40, which makes them a great replacement option at a decent price.
Find It Online
- SKB1000 Shift Knob: Check Price
Final Thoughts
So there you have it, these are the best replacement options for your Tacoma. When it comes to picking which is right for you, you will need to take into account the amount of effort you are willing to go through to make it work with your truck.
If you want a quick and easy install, I’d recommend going with one of the drop-in replacements towards the beginning of the list.
If you don’t mind a little bit of work and possibly cutting your shift boot collar, I think the Getta Grip and B&M options are the most appealing and they look great. And again, the Etsy collar cap from TrailbreakerCustoms opens up the aftermarket options for your Tacoma.
There are many other options out there that match the thread pitch of your Tacoma. Some may work, and some may not. If you are feeling adventurous and don’t mind the extra effort, you can make almost any of your choosing work.
Thread size info missing