Builds 2015 Base Build (4 Viewers)

[Hiluxforever]

Always fun to play "who can actually drive in the snow vs who's TCS is constantly bailing them out".

I will say that the GX is unsurprisingly the easiest and most capable vehicle I have ever driven in the snow. I see how people with AWD/4WDs get themselves into trouble by forgetting that driving usually requires turning and stopping in addition to forward motion.

That is true and part of me looking at dedicated winter/snow tires is to fully realize that already great ability. In two years we plan on moving, and most of the places on our list will have a lot more snow.

Duratracs are GREAT winter tires. I live in north east ohio - we get a s*** LOAD of snow. I have run several sets of Duratracs, they are excellent in bad weather.

One of the scenarios I am kicking around is getting Duratracs on the stock rims as my winter tires, and Alex can run them in the summer on their 4Runner to have something they can off-road with. Then they can run a Blizzak or Nokian HP as their winter tire. They don't have near the winter driving experience and have been scared s***less a few times by snap over-steer in a car I used to own. That way it would be blizzard proof with the full-time 4wd.
Probably in a 265/70R18

 

[Hiluxforever]

Back on factory wheels with yokohama geolander all seasons with passenger sidewalls for the winter.

I am re-assessing things.

 

[r2m]

Back on factory wheels with yokohama geolander all seasons with passenger sidewalls for the winter.

I am re-assessing things.

What did you have before?

 

[Hiluxforever]

What did you have before?

Pretty extreme change in NVH going from Goodyear MT/Rs to Geolander HTs.

The MT/Rs are pretty sketch in packed snow and ice. While its comical if i dint have to be anywhere, its impractical for commuting, so i put the all seasons back on for the winter, which had been my plan all along.

Another issue was i thought my TPMS sensors were bad, and no I had multiple bad tire pressure gauges, so me thinking it rode way better was due to under inflated tires. Oops. least i didnt go 70 in 4lo.

Dont get me wrong, i could still.easipy drive my GX 12 hours a day back to back and I have chronic pain issues along with a bad back from being a technician for too long.

I have offered the mud tires to my partner for their 4runner, though, so if they take me up I will probably get something that is a little quieter and smoother. Or just toss on the 33s for trips where I will be offroading. There isnt any offroading in Iowa that isnt just an abandoned pit mine.
All the trails i do are like 10 hours away, minimum, unfortunately.

 

[Hiluxforever]

It was a lot of fun drifting with those MT/Rs though. When it did slide it did it in a very balanced fashion. I also like the way the back will briefly step out and then it naturally balances with a touch of turning into the slide before the traction control can intervene.

 

[r2m]

Pretty extreme change in NVH going from Goodyear MT/Rs to Geolander HTs.

The MT/Rs are pretty sketch in packed snow and ice. While its comical if i dint have to be anywhere, its impractical for commuting, so i put the all seasons back on for the winter, which had been my plan all along.

Another issue was i thought my TPMS sensors were bad, and no I had multiple bad tire pressure gauges, so me thinking it rode way better was due to under inflated tires. Oops. least i didnt go 70 in 4lo.

Dont get me wrong, i could still.easipy drive my GX 12 hours a day back to back and I have chronic pain issues along with a bad back from being a technician for too long.

I have offered the mud tires to my partner for their 4runner, though, so if they take me up I will probably get something that is a little quieter and smoother. Or just toss on the 33s for trips where I will be offroading. There isnt any offroading in Iowa that isnt just an abandoned pit mine.
All the trails i do are like 10 hours away, minimum, unfortunately.

Agree about the M/T's.
I had BFG M/T's and they're great tires and generally quiet until they get about half worn, but you're right that M/T's are not good for ice, hence I went with BFG A/T's what have a very good wet/snow/ice rating and still great on all other kinds of trails.

 

[Hiluxforever]

Ordered an Odyssey 24F for both the 4Runner and GX with one of the little modules that plugs in the fuse box. Also bought a couple of NOCO boosters

 

[Hiluxforever]

AGM conversion complete
Used voltage booster pro for compatibility with Odyssey battery.

 

[Hiluxforever]

Rear is debadged. I used a badge from a camry as had been recommended in another thread.

 

[Hiluxforever]

I have removed the two screws holding the front Lexus emblem in place and am awaiting a replacement Toyota emblem. I dropped both of the screws, so be aware.

 

[Hiluxforever]

My voltages in torque pro after installing the voltage module and putting it to low

 

[Hiluxforever]

I switched to the higher voltage for charging the Odyssey.

Put the MT/Rs on for the summer, running 40/37 PSI right now.

 

[Hiluxforever]

I am currently planning on doing a seat delete and am going to try to go a different route and use aluminum brite-tread. I think I am about ready to pull the trigger on the sheet metal.

 

[Hiluxforever]

I bought a 4'x4' piece of plywood sheeting to use as a mockup/prototype and potentially a backing for the aluminum Brite Tread which is what I am still
Leaning towards. All of the other materials I think would be cool are way too much for my budget.

There is also the possibility of retro-fitting a Xl dog kennel crate liner cause they are available in stainless and galvanized, so it just depends on how everything goes together. This was a rabbit hole I went down last night, they are around $90 for stainless with a 40" width, but they aren't as deep as I would want. I would want closer to 3'+ and its only 2.5'. Here



I also plan on layering dynomat to partially level the floor. Beyond that, I plan on keeping it as simple as possible and may have a bottom layer of metal to help stabilize everything and allow the tie down points something more structural to rest on, with the prototype plywood as a core.

Next step is taking out the seats, I'll post the requisite pics when I get that stuff done.

 

[Hiluxforever]

Got the third row out, next step will be cutting the plywood into a prototype the applying dynamat

 

[r2m]

Keep the pic's coming!

 

[Hiluxforever]

So in the middle of tearing it out my friend, who did a bunch of car stereo stuff in the Nineties, sends me this Dynamat carpet like product

So I am going to think on that because that could drastically simplify things, then I would just need to maybe put in some tie down points.

 

[r2m]

So in the middle of tearing it out my friend, who did a bunch of car stereo stuff in the Nineties, sends me this Dynamat carpet like product

So I am going to think on that because that could drastically simplify things, then I would just need to maybe put in some tie down points.

The only issue is: can you slide heavy things on it, like coolers/fridges, tool boxes, etc.?

 

[Hiluxforever]

The only issue is: can you slide heavy things on it, like coolers/fridges, tool boxes, etc.?

I would still use my husky liner, or something similar. Plus that way there are times when you don't want things to slide, so having that option would be a plus.

 

[Hiluxforever]

Did my SAIS filter conversion. Finally drove it without the rear seats in it and I may be rethinking my plans to an even more
Minimalist approach to keep
Weight down where I can. It feels a bit more like the 4Runner now.

This is how I ended up with a 2 seat GX.