Builds And so it begins...My '13 LX 570 Buildup...Help me!

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Hey thanks for taking the time for such a detailed response. I’ve been toying with portals, big time. I didn’t think 74Weld made them yet for our 200 series yet. I’ve seen Jason Well’s recent install of his Werewolf portals. I’ve also read recently if and when 74Weld build them they may not do a gear reduction, which personal would prevent me from getting them. I think that would be a dumb choice on their part to not have a gear reduction to bring ratios back to stock while running 40’s. I agree on the E&E spacers and brackets front and rear and planned on that to help keep the tires out of the fenders. And, for the type of wheeling I normally do and probably will end up doing in this thing, lockers are inevitable as well. The problem then is do I go ahead and regear or not…all depends on the portal decision and what gear reductions they offer. For me, if bringing back to stock ratios typically is 4.88’s, I’d go 5.29’s or whatever the next size up is for these to gear it lower, because it’s just what I like driving wise out on the trails. I have 38” nitro ridge grapplers and going to try Maxxis rzr mt’s on this build, but don’t think they make a 38”. Ill double check that, but I have to run 18’s or 20’s to clear the Powerbrake BBK, which brakes so awesome now on this thing.

The challenge is the wheels and depending on what setup I choose to run suspension wise really dictates the dang offset and just how much trimming I’ll have to do, as you know firsthand. I’ve found a great company ML Forged wheels that will make me whatever wheel design, color, offset, beadlock or not wheel for it, but I have to land on the suspension/portal setup before that. I’d like to go as wide as possible with suspension or portals and then the highest positive offset wheel that will clear everything to keep it from being retardedly wide. But, in reality, ever Jeep in the world is really only able to accomplish their big tire builds with a ton of poke, so everything clears on lock to lock turns while compressed. But the big difference is the stock rear axles are wider to match the front already. I don’t think without going portals that I could run a tundra long travel without a regardless big steel wheel spacer or different offset wheels in the rear than the front.

All great feedback…appreciate you taking the time to thoughtfully give it. And I like hashing out ideas with the other guys on here that have already done amazing big builds.

Chris
 
I spent a few hours re-assembling the front and rear bumpers and all the side pieces. Everything went smoothly today. I relocated the hitch pins mount to up inside the rear bumper crossmember, so it won't get ripped off. Outside of that, I bought a bunch of clips, so I can make up some pieces to reconnect/extend the stock fender panels. Tomorrow I hope to have it back on it's own weight, and test to make sure it shifts in and out of park like normal, and the steering wheel movement feels uninhibited. Outside of those last few things, the next wrenching party will be installing the TKO angled sliders.

Chris

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I got the body lift and to angled sliders installed today. I’ll have to snap some pics tomorrow. At the recommendation of someone on NST’s thread, I used some plastic sheets and filled in the gaps for the plastic panels in the front wheel wells. Got all the clips from local auto supply store.

Chris

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Ordered my skids...was going to go lightweight aluminum and skin them with UHMW myself or have Factory UTV do it, but decided knowing my wheeling style I'd be making a poor decision lol. So, here's what I ordered from Bud Built. I'll probably skin the undersides of certain areas potentially with some UHMW to help it slide over some of the areas that are so prone to drag once I get the skids installed and see what I'm dealing with for mounting options, etc.

Chris

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I decided that running back and forth to my parent's house to work on my vehicles was taking too much time. So, yesterday, my Halo 9K lb 4-post and 14K lb 2 post lift arrived. So of course I stayed up will 12:30am to finish the install of the 4-post lift lol. I'll be using this one to store our Turbo S and whatever else I can fit on it at the same time and park one of the cars underneath.

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Nice choices!
 
Ordered new bumpstops...waiting to confirm a couple of things with E&E and then will be placing an order with them for the lower shock bracket and top out spacer up front along with some other stuff I think.

Chris

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So, after much thought, this will be the first build I do that is more minimal then extreme, so I ordered up some parts from E&E Offroad:

1) Rear Bumper: Low Profile Bumper | E&E Off-Road - https://www.ee-offroading.com/product-page/low-profile-bumper
2) Front Top Hat Spacer: 13mm Top Hat Spacers | E&E Off-Road - https://www.ee-offroading.com/product-page/13mm-top-hat-spacer
3) Rear Shock Spacer: Rear Shock Spacer | E&E Off-Road - https://www.ee-offroading.com/product-page/rear-shock-spacer
4) Soft Shackle Recovery Point: Low profile recovery hitch for soft shackle E&E Off-Road - https://www.ee-offroading.com/product-page/low-profile-recovery-hitch-for-soft-shackle

I'm planning to not run a spare tire this go around, which I've never done either. So, I also ordered up GlueTread's Expedition Kit:

1) Expedition Kit: Expedition Kit - https://www.gluetread.com/collections/store/products/expedition-kit

I haven't decided what to do about the front bumper/winch setup yet. I've seen the Trail Tailor hidden winch mount: Hidden Winch Mount LX570 - https://trail-tailor.com/store/p149/Hidden_Winch_Mount_-_LX570.html Is that what most folks recommend if not replacing the front bumper?

I did order Garage Alpha's front grill this morning, and I had already ordered and received their black trim pieces a while ago...just came back in stock, mainly because mine is faded really badly:

- https://garagealphaoffroad.com/prod...trd-style-grille?rq=yr_2013~mk_lexus~md_lx570
- https://garagealphaoffroad.com/prod...lack-window-trim?rq=yr_2013~mk_lexus~md_lx570 I probably won't put these on till my Son decides how we want to wrap it, because if I understand correctly the rear chrome pieces are part of the actual window and will have to be wrapped in black to get rid of the chrome.

I also got all but the center pieces for the new Halo Lift installed and the vehicles moved back in. I'm hoping to be able to put the GS up top with the RZR once the center pieces are here to create a full platform on the lift. This is the standard XL lift, which I'm glad I ended up getting, because the RZR's width is al the way to the outside edge of the runners.

Electrician is supposed to be here to wire up the new lights and panel for the mini split this week hopefully. Then, I need to figure out how I want to move some of my crap back in as organized as possible. I should have painted while everything was out, but oh well lol.

Chris

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Based on your initial post and progress, you might not want to hear this. I will just say and if you do not like just ignore it. Reading your initial description "mild family hauler to some of our favorite places in the country like Moab, Silverton, Lake City, Ouray, Telluride...Alpine Loop areas, so something more mild..." planned for this rig, if I were you, I would just start with wheels, tires and sliders. You did breaks - which is good. The rest of the money you are planning to spend on the more "rock crawling side of things" in your other posts, I would spend in remedying that rust, especially if your frame looks anything (or worse) like that rear crossmember/trailer hitch in your pictures. These are very very very capable vehicles from the factory, but rust is the cancer-Achilles heel of them. Just my 2 cents. 👍
I agree. All the trailers mentioned could be done with a completely stock LX on OEM offset 17” rims and 33’s.

But looks like the fun part for this guy is the project. I can appreciate that, although I’ve never been one to mod trucks, track cars, cabins, campers and mountain bikes…. Different story.
 
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