For some background:
My parents have had a Landcruiser (80 series and 100 series) for the past 20 years and I was always the rebel never accepting the fate of falling into the reliable and capable Toyota family. I went from a Series 2 Disco to a LR3 to a BMW X5 diesel (twice). So, as my lease was coming to a close back in August, I found the right car for me - a 2007 Ash Blue Mica GX470 Sport (with Nav) w/ 100k miles, timing belt replaced and nearly perfect maintenance history.
Now after having some time with it, I am starting to build it out for my needs. I live in downtown Seattle and the GX is my DD - so the world of compromise is becoming quite the reality for me. I have roughed out my build based on these needs/constraints:
1) I have to fit into underground garages so I have a max height limit of around 6 ft 7 in (this limits tires and lift plus I want a hardshell RTT which may not be doable)
2) spare tire has to fit underneath for time being (so I went 265/70r17 and I gained 0.5 inches height here)
3) The car still needs to have a comfortable ride (it is my DD and I am single but not wanting to stay that way)
4) Hardcore trails are not for me (I am relatively new to offroading; pinstripes are fine, mangled panels are not)
5) I want to get to remote areas for camping and explore the WABDR (these are mostly accessed via forestry roads)
6) Performance (speed) still matters - I came from a LR3 and BMW X5 diesel which both have more grunt (this put limits on tire size and did not move to a LT tire due to power loss resulting from weight added at a larger radius)
7) Lexus parts are expensive - use the money to get what I really want instead of OEM replacement
8) I am trying to keep a stock look (although I drool over the photos of Lexy by @sethro )
With this in mind, 1 inch of lift is about all I want for practical and aesthetic reasons (my current tires look too small with the AHC at High). Coils are probably the cheapest part of the suspension to replace and is where I am willing to take risk. I can dial it in down the road if I feel I need something a little different (and sell the coils on mud for cheap so someone else can start to figure out their needs too). This could easily be the case if @THeGeNTLeMaN starts building GX specific parts like the hidden winch mount, dual battery tray, sliders for KDSS GX's , etc.
So far the GX has gotten:
1) 5 Firestone 265/70r17 tires
2) Front and rear weathertechs
On order:
1)front coilovers: Radflo 2.5's, extended travel, 650lb springs (from MetalTech)
2)rear shocks: Radlo 2.5's (from MetalTech)
3)LR UCA's (from MetalTech)
4)Spring conversion kit (MetalTech)
5)Custom Coils that will most likely be direct copy of @little_joe (thanks you Joe for your insight and advice)
Upgrades ratlling around in my brain:
1)Hard shell RTT
2)some way to have recovery points without a new bumper (rear tow hitch might have to be installed)
3)a fridge
4)custom drawer system to hide away some basics (axe, recovery gear, etc)
5)more gasoline capacity (the mpg hit from diesel X5 to the GX means I lost over 100 miles of range and I hate going to Costco every week for gas)
Looking forward to the adventure and any feedback on the build.
-Ryan
My parents have had a Landcruiser (80 series and 100 series) for the past 20 years and I was always the rebel never accepting the fate of falling into the reliable and capable Toyota family. I went from a Series 2 Disco to a LR3 to a BMW X5 diesel (twice). So, as my lease was coming to a close back in August, I found the right car for me - a 2007 Ash Blue Mica GX470 Sport (with Nav) w/ 100k miles, timing belt replaced and nearly perfect maintenance history.
Now after having some time with it, I am starting to build it out for my needs. I live in downtown Seattle and the GX is my DD - so the world of compromise is becoming quite the reality for me. I have roughed out my build based on these needs/constraints:
1) I have to fit into underground garages so I have a max height limit of around 6 ft 7 in (this limits tires and lift plus I want a hardshell RTT which may not be doable)
2) spare tire has to fit underneath for time being (so I went 265/70r17 and I gained 0.5 inches height here)
3) The car still needs to have a comfortable ride (it is my DD and I am single but not wanting to stay that way)
4) Hardcore trails are not for me (I am relatively new to offroading; pinstripes are fine, mangled panels are not)
5) I want to get to remote areas for camping and explore the WABDR (these are mostly accessed via forestry roads)
6) Performance (speed) still matters - I came from a LR3 and BMW X5 diesel which both have more grunt (this put limits on tire size and did not move to a LT tire due to power loss resulting from weight added at a larger radius)
7) Lexus parts are expensive - use the money to get what I really want instead of OEM replacement
8) I am trying to keep a stock look (although I drool over the photos of Lexy by @sethro )
With this in mind, 1 inch of lift is about all I want for practical and aesthetic reasons (my current tires look too small with the AHC at High). Coils are probably the cheapest part of the suspension to replace and is where I am willing to take risk. I can dial it in down the road if I feel I need something a little different (and sell the coils on mud for cheap so someone else can start to figure out their needs too). This could easily be the case if @THeGeNTLeMaN starts building GX specific parts like the hidden winch mount, dual battery tray, sliders for KDSS GX's , etc.
So far the GX has gotten:
1) 5 Firestone 265/70r17 tires
2) Front and rear weathertechs
On order:
1)front coilovers: Radflo 2.5's, extended travel, 650lb springs (from MetalTech)
2)rear shocks: Radlo 2.5's (from MetalTech)
3)LR UCA's (from MetalTech)
4)Spring conversion kit (MetalTech)
5)Custom Coils that will most likely be direct copy of @little_joe (thanks you Joe for your insight and advice)
Upgrades ratlling around in my brain:
1)Hard shell RTT
2)some way to have recovery points without a new bumper (rear tow hitch might have to be installed)
3)a fridge
4)custom drawer system to hide away some basics (axe, recovery gear, etc)
5)more gasoline capacity (the mpg hit from diesel X5 to the GX means I lost over 100 miles of range and I hate going to Costco every week for gas)
Looking forward to the adventure and any feedback on the build.
-Ryan