my 2021 gx 460 is currently the family car. both my wife and i each have a vehicle for our own personal use so a total of 3 vehicles at the moment. two of us with a kid and a dog. i do not want to compromise how quiet and comfortable the gx is when driving on the freeway.
i've done a few solo trips this last year to test out the vehicle. i have been to hungry valley ohv (4x4 test area, rattler trail), alamo mountain, rowler ohv and libre mountain (easy fire road). i choose these trails because funtreks rates them as easy. i managed to scratch the side steps multiple times, scratched the front skid plate, and i busted up the front bumper when going through the frame twister at the 4x4 practice area in hungry valley. the damage to the front bumper was not to bad. the traction control was sufficient for the deep ditches i encountered on the trails. locking the center diff seemed to enable a more aggressive traction control system. the vehicle is a beast in 1st gear 4lo with the center diff locked.
with that said the vehicle even in its stock form is more capable than its driver so i'm planning on taking a off road driving course. my biggest issue as a driver is off camber inclines/declines and how to maintain the vehicle after a trip off road.
eventually i'd like to car camp in eastern sierras, death valley, joshua tree, anza-borrego, and mojave desert. funtreks rates some of these places as moderate. seems to me that at a minimum i would need to get sliders, cut the front bumper 6 inches, and get some light duty AT tires (continental terraincontact, cooper discoverer at3 4s, Toyo Open Country AT III, or falken wildpeak at3w p rated). from my calculations cutting the front bumper should improve the approach angle from 21 degrees to about 25-27 degrees. note that a 2" lift and 33" tires should make the approach angle about 25 degrees (from what i can tell this is the go to modification on this forum).
my concern with modifying the vehicle is that it will get out of hand and i'll make it undrivable on the road which is what i use it for 90% of the time. i am contemplating replacing my current manual before california outlaws selling new gas cars in 2035 but i'd rather wait a couple of years before i pull the trigger.
questions:
i've done a few solo trips this last year to test out the vehicle. i have been to hungry valley ohv (4x4 test area, rattler trail), alamo mountain, rowler ohv and libre mountain (easy fire road). i choose these trails because funtreks rates them as easy. i managed to scratch the side steps multiple times, scratched the front skid plate, and i busted up the front bumper when going through the frame twister at the 4x4 practice area in hungry valley. the damage to the front bumper was not to bad. the traction control was sufficient for the deep ditches i encountered on the trails. locking the center diff seemed to enable a more aggressive traction control system. the vehicle is a beast in 1st gear 4lo with the center diff locked.
with that said the vehicle even in its stock form is more capable than its driver so i'm planning on taking a off road driving course. my biggest issue as a driver is off camber inclines/declines and how to maintain the vehicle after a trip off road.
eventually i'd like to car camp in eastern sierras, death valley, joshua tree, anza-borrego, and mojave desert. funtreks rates some of these places as moderate. seems to me that at a minimum i would need to get sliders, cut the front bumper 6 inches, and get some light duty AT tires (continental terraincontact, cooper discoverer at3 4s, Toyo Open Country AT III, or falken wildpeak at3w p rated). from my calculations cutting the front bumper should improve the approach angle from 21 degrees to about 25-27 degrees. note that a 2" lift and 33" tires should make the approach angle about 25 degrees (from what i can tell this is the go to modification on this forum).
my concern with modifying the vehicle is that it will get out of hand and i'll make it undrivable on the road which is what i use it for 90% of the time. i am contemplating replacing my current manual before california outlaws selling new gas cars in 2035 but i'd rather wait a couple of years before i pull the trigger.
questions:
- any regrets using the family car as an off roader? or has it worked out great?
- how easy is it for a build to get out of hand?
- would cutting the front bumper 6", sliders, and light duty AT tires be sufficient for easy to moderate trails? would there be a dramatic increase in cabin noise? i do not want to lift the vehicle or put on larger tires.
- puncturing the oil pan seems like a game over event. is the stock skid plate sufficient for the sierras and the desert? aka has anyone punctuated the oil pan when running the stock skid plate on easy to moderate trails?
- my limited understanding is that the following mods require upgrading the suspension: front/rear bumpers, extended gas tank, winch, and big tires (33"+). are there other modifications that require upgrading the suspension?