Hey all - I picked up a CPO 2013 GX460 a couple years ago and finally started upgrading it for the trails. It pulls double duty as daily driver and weekend warrior, so I’m going for the “sleeper” look and trying to maintain the stock appearance as much as possible, which rules out certain permanent mods like bumpers, mounted winches, refrigerators, roof racks, etc. The one exception is the running boards - they gotta go. Order of upgrades is:
Considerations:
2. Recovery
3. Skids - BudBuilt 3/16” steel (Full: front, mid, trans, fuel, rear diff).
Considerations:
Before mounting, I removed the OEM plates and got a Woolwax undercoating:
Before:
After:
Next up:
4. Sliders
5. Suspension
Happy to join this forum, and looking forward to getting some feedback and learning about everyone’s experiences on the trails.
Thanks!
- Tires
Considerations:
- winter rating - most important. We’re in the northeast so snow and ice are a given. Cant risk needing a rescue from my neighbor’s Subaru
- weight - wanted to keep unsprung mass as close to stock as possible until I can upgrade the suspension. Stock tires (Scorpion all seasons) were ~30lbs per tire whereas KO2s are ~53lbs. These are ~38lbs.
- road noise - it’s the DD/family hauler and spends a lot of time on the highway. I need to be able to hear my screaming kid.
2. Recovery
- ARB front recovery point - this was the only option I found which allowed for angled pulls and didn’t require trimming the stock bumper (hopefully..). Will post pics when installed.
- Curt tow hitch recovery shackle
- Wyeth-Scott Power Puller w/ Amsteel Blue - these things are durable beasts and are rated to deadlift the weight of the vehicle. They’d also be a reliable backup to a winch.
- Hi-Lift tow straps (x2)
- ARB recovery strap 30’
- Go Treads (x2) - these are compact enough to keep in the vehicle all the time. Would love some MaxTrax but they aren’t small
- Additional shackles (x2)
- Warn winch damper
3. Skids - BudBuilt 3/16” steel (Full: front, mid, trans, fuel, rear diff).
Considerations:
- Service - special shout out to Rob at Budbuilt for spending many hours on the phone with me to help with the selection and install
- Durability - these things will get dragged over lots of rocks, and I felt the extra protection of steel outweighed the slight weight reduction and corrosion resistance of aluminum.
- GX-specific design - the access panels are designed specifically for the GX, so no need to drop the plate for every oil change.
Before mounting, I removed the OEM plates and got a Woolwax undercoating:
Before:
After:
Next up:
4. Sliders
5. Suspension
Happy to join this forum, and looking forward to getting some feedback and learning about everyone’s experiences on the trails.
Thanks!