Well I sure loved the 2004 GX470 (best vehicle I have owned) and loved this forum for everyone that has helped me over the years. It has gotten me in and back from many flyfishing trips, Christmas tree hunting in the snow, gobbled up rutted and rocky dirt roads, trail runs, a few challenging mountain climbs and served as a great back and forth to work rig in all seasons. We have moved back to central Oregon so we will keep using a GX for a long time, but with 206K miles, we just decided to get a new to us 2017 gray luxury version with black interior and 21K miles (not sure I am ready for a non pearl GX, but what the heck right). On this one, my thought is to carry over all the things I liked on the old one and maybe change a few things I could do better. I really like the GXOR concept rig and might try for some light version of those options. I will update this as I go, and hope I can get some good input from some of you on the plans I have for it.
Here are my goals/plans by category with my initial thoughts, please feel free to give any experiences or supportive suggestions. I'm sure the suspension will be heavily debated, but it's probably good one to figure out before I spend money on it.
Suspension
I had the Radflo 2.5 suspension on the old GX with the Metaltech coil conversion and JBA UPCs. It was great on road for corners and traffic circles with a nice firm ride, but would really soak up speedbumps and railroad crossings. And it was comfortable/great for the occasional dirt roads, trails and getting over rocky/muddy/snow terrain. Only thing I noticed is some clunky noises at slow speeds lately, but I am guessing that might just be the bushings that can be replaced.
On the new GX460, I am considering Radflo and Icon and any others that would fit the bill of comfortable/firm on road and comfortable/capable off road on the type of driving I will expect (mostly 10 miles each way to work over rural roads, and the occasional fire roads, rutted, rocky, snowy roads/trails and the occasional "I think I can get up this or over that area" attempt.)
Radflo and Icon both have different versions with and without reservoirs, but I think I want the 2.5" diameter with about 2.5" -3" lift. Not sure on reservoirs yet or which is more suited to the driving I will do, but would appreciate feedback.
Tires/Wheels
I have my 17x7 TRD gray wheels with the 285/70/R17 BF Goodrich All Terrain KO2s that I am considering swapping to the new GX460, but part of me wonders what the stock wheels would look like with KO2s. They have been good tires for almost one season, great on the roads, off road and in the snow, just a little slip once in a while on icy days in the traffic circles. The old 470 had some rubbing when backing up, but I probably needed a little BMC and some trimming, we will see what fits well on the new one. And in the spare location, I want the same wheel I am running and as big of the same tire as I can fit in there (slightly deflated)
Exterior
Rocksliders - Eventually, I plan to add some (I had Metaltech before and they worked great). I might have some Rhino bedliner sprayed on the new sliders and any front light bar I add. I also want to pay attention to trimming the running boards so I don't have that chopped off look.
Front Bumper - Might consider that GXOR concept style lower grill from CBI at some point, but might just put a bumper guard/light bar similar to the Avid offroad version on for now and then doing a vinyl wrap on some of the chrome grill and door handles
Skid Plates - I might add a front skid plate and beef up the protection underneath at some point
Taillights - I actually like the frosted taillights on the GXOR concept rig, just don't know how they did that yet. And I like the GXOR emblem
Vinyl Wrap - I like the concept of matte finish vinyl wrap on the car...who knows if I will feel compelled to do that or not.
Roof rack - My stock roof rack has served me well so may just keep the stock one on the new GX. I typically carry kayaks with stock crossbars and Yakima racks and I throw something from home depot on there occasionally and of course a Christmas tree once a year. But I want to figure out how to add some kind of removeable mount for putting a batwing awning on there once in a while.
Interior
My favorite interior mod has been the rear drawer system (I will certainly have that in there again on this one, but maybe built by an actual cabinet maker this time). I might add a molle area to attach some small folding camp chairs, folding table, snow shovel, fire extinguisher and accessories to the left rear side of the back compartment. I might add a little wood console for CD cases, trash and tissue box in the space between the two rear captain chairs forward to the back of the front console.
I will have to delete the rear airbag switch and add the crawl/multi-terrain feature to this one and need to figure out a stealthy location for the HAM radio and a CB, plus a good set of light switches mounted in a good spot for some Rigid D2 driving lights and I am thinking some Rigid 360 offroad lights. I would like to have a switching system to power both on with the brights or just independently.
One other mod would be to put a place to hang my rain/snow shell and my crushable Stetson somewhere (I had the heavy metal thing that mounts on the back of the drivers headrest)
Accessories/upgrades (other things to consider)
HAM and CB Antenna mounts and locations, fog/low/high beam bulb upgrades, lighting for under car (puddle or working underneath at night lights), rear door fold down table, fly rod case holder, tow strap hooks front and rear, rear hitch receiver. I will probably plasti-dip the badges and vinyl wrap as much chrome as I can. Also I loved the sisal floor mats I had so may reorder some of those. One thing will be a mount/cradle/charging system for my iPhone (had the ram mount and X holder before). Not sure how I will do that yet. And I want to have a small area in the drivers door (maybe a wood block with holes for mounting a small flashlight, some pens/pencils, nail clippers and a few other easy to grab items I might use
maintenance items
I had such good luck with the redline oil before, I will probably switch to redline for this one. Also I will try to run better oil in the differentials.
In the drawer system, I will store everything I had before (tow strap, fixit supplies, bulbs, air compressor, camping/overnight survival supplies and a few other goodies)
That's all of the main things I can think for now. Thanks everyone...I will try and post some good pictures and we will see how this one goes. I still can't believe I didn't by a white one
Bob
Here are my goals/plans by category with my initial thoughts, please feel free to give any experiences or supportive suggestions. I'm sure the suspension will be heavily debated, but it's probably good one to figure out before I spend money on it.
Suspension
I had the Radflo 2.5 suspension on the old GX with the Metaltech coil conversion and JBA UPCs. It was great on road for corners and traffic circles with a nice firm ride, but would really soak up speedbumps and railroad crossings. And it was comfortable/great for the occasional dirt roads, trails and getting over rocky/muddy/snow terrain. Only thing I noticed is some clunky noises at slow speeds lately, but I am guessing that might just be the bushings that can be replaced.
On the new GX460, I am considering Radflo and Icon and any others that would fit the bill of comfortable/firm on road and comfortable/capable off road on the type of driving I will expect (mostly 10 miles each way to work over rural roads, and the occasional fire roads, rutted, rocky, snowy roads/trails and the occasional "I think I can get up this or over that area" attempt.)
Radflo and Icon both have different versions with and without reservoirs, but I think I want the 2.5" diameter with about 2.5" -3" lift. Not sure on reservoirs yet or which is more suited to the driving I will do, but would appreciate feedback.
Tires/Wheels
I have my 17x7 TRD gray wheels with the 285/70/R17 BF Goodrich All Terrain KO2s that I am considering swapping to the new GX460, but part of me wonders what the stock wheels would look like with KO2s. They have been good tires for almost one season, great on the roads, off road and in the snow, just a little slip once in a while on icy days in the traffic circles. The old 470 had some rubbing when backing up, but I probably needed a little BMC and some trimming, we will see what fits well on the new one. And in the spare location, I want the same wheel I am running and as big of the same tire as I can fit in there (slightly deflated)
Exterior
Rocksliders - Eventually, I plan to add some (I had Metaltech before and they worked great). I might have some Rhino bedliner sprayed on the new sliders and any front light bar I add. I also want to pay attention to trimming the running boards so I don't have that chopped off look.
Front Bumper - Might consider that GXOR concept style lower grill from CBI at some point, but might just put a bumper guard/light bar similar to the Avid offroad version on for now and then doing a vinyl wrap on some of the chrome grill and door handles
Skid Plates - I might add a front skid plate and beef up the protection underneath at some point
Taillights - I actually like the frosted taillights on the GXOR concept rig, just don't know how they did that yet. And I like the GXOR emblem
Vinyl Wrap - I like the concept of matte finish vinyl wrap on the car...who knows if I will feel compelled to do that or not.
Roof rack - My stock roof rack has served me well so may just keep the stock one on the new GX. I typically carry kayaks with stock crossbars and Yakima racks and I throw something from home depot on there occasionally and of course a Christmas tree once a year. But I want to figure out how to add some kind of removeable mount for putting a batwing awning on there once in a while.
Interior
My favorite interior mod has been the rear drawer system (I will certainly have that in there again on this one, but maybe built by an actual cabinet maker this time). I might add a molle area to attach some small folding camp chairs, folding table, snow shovel, fire extinguisher and accessories to the left rear side of the back compartment. I might add a little wood console for CD cases, trash and tissue box in the space between the two rear captain chairs forward to the back of the front console.
I will have to delete the rear airbag switch and add the crawl/multi-terrain feature to this one and need to figure out a stealthy location for the HAM radio and a CB, plus a good set of light switches mounted in a good spot for some Rigid D2 driving lights and I am thinking some Rigid 360 offroad lights. I would like to have a switching system to power both on with the brights or just independently.
One other mod would be to put a place to hang my rain/snow shell and my crushable Stetson somewhere (I had the heavy metal thing that mounts on the back of the drivers headrest)
Accessories/upgrades (other things to consider)
HAM and CB Antenna mounts and locations, fog/low/high beam bulb upgrades, lighting for under car (puddle or working underneath at night lights), rear door fold down table, fly rod case holder, tow strap hooks front and rear, rear hitch receiver. I will probably plasti-dip the badges and vinyl wrap as much chrome as I can. Also I loved the sisal floor mats I had so may reorder some of those. One thing will be a mount/cradle/charging system for my iPhone (had the ram mount and X holder before). Not sure how I will do that yet. And I want to have a small area in the drivers door (maybe a wood block with holes for mounting a small flashlight, some pens/pencils, nail clippers and a few other easy to grab items I might use
maintenance items
I had such good luck with the redline oil before, I will probably switch to redline for this one. Also I will try to run better oil in the differentials.
In the drawer system, I will store everything I had before (tow strap, fixit supplies, bulbs, air compressor, camping/overnight survival supplies and a few other goodies)
That's all of the main things I can think for now. Thanks everyone...I will try and post some good pictures and we will see how this one goes. I still can't believe I didn't by a white one
Bob
