Build Chicken's GX
- Thread starter stupidchicken03
- Start date
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- Thread starter
- #362
Totally agree! Even if mine didnt have that minor chip - which honestly you dont really notice and i dont THINK it would let water into the housing or car... I would have still bought them lol.
Parts ive gotten great deals on (used) but didnt really "need":
-set of fog lights: $40 - I baked those and put the LED pods inside keeping my OEM ones untouched to replace if/when I sell the car
-both sides of great condition running boards: $40 - figure I can cut those up whenever I do sliders to better keep debris out and use the wiring harness for rock lights for easy OEM plug
-set of tail lights: $50 - because chip?
Ive almost pulled the trigger on aftermarket LED ones a few times. I had been looking at these:
Prado 150 Facelift Tail Lights for 03-09 Lexus GX470
Redefine the aesthetics of your 2003-2009 Lexus GX470 with our Prado 150 Facelift Tail Lights. They blend form and function seamlessly, boasting a design that's as dynamic as it is stylish. The GX4R Difference: A common complaint with other aftermarket offerings is the diminished distinction...
gx4r.com
but after seeing some in the GXOR FB group that have them, when looking at certain angles, they still out past the body of the car and didnt like that too much.
- Thread starter
- #363
We booked our next camping trip about 10 weeks ago. We got a sight at Wrights Beach, just north of Bodega Bay. Started prepping stuff for the GX and trailer last week. We has our reservation for Sun-Wed.
Last weekend the forecast showed rain starting late Tues night and all day Wed. Figured we pack up Tues evening before the rain sets in and let the boys fall asleep in the car traveling back (probably 3hrs or just over pulling the trailer). The next day, the rain dropped off the forecast, awesome! Few more days went by and the rain showed back up, now starting Monday night and the temps dropped a solid 10* from what they had been saying. The sites also do not have any paved parking pads, everything is sand/dirt. Having the horse and two kids wet covered in sand.... did not sound like a great time lol. So we canceled the trip yesterday and going to pivot by just going up to the cabin.
The storm is supposed to bring some snow, so we should get 18-24" between Tues-Thurs. Nice perk since everything melted off last week.
Was looking forward to this new tow trip since it would be the first since putting the new rad and hayden trans cooler in. We do have two other trips already planned in May and July though, so it'll happen soon still.
Last weekend the forecast showed rain starting late Tues night and all day Wed. Figured we pack up Tues evening before the rain sets in and let the boys fall asleep in the car traveling back (probably 3hrs or just over pulling the trailer). The next day, the rain dropped off the forecast, awesome! Few more days went by and the rain showed back up, now starting Monday night and the temps dropped a solid 10* from what they had been saying. The sites also do not have any paved parking pads, everything is sand/dirt. Having the horse and two kids wet covered in sand.... did not sound like a great time lol. So we canceled the trip yesterday and going to pivot by just going up to the cabin.
The storm is supposed to bring some snow, so we should get 18-24" between Tues-Thurs. Nice perk since everything melted off last week.
Was looking forward to this new tow trip since it would be the first since putting the new rad and hayden trans cooler in. We do have two other trips already planned in May and July though, so it'll happen soon still.
- Thread starter
- #364
Not much of a "mod", but really looking forward to not having a rear-facing car seat anymore lol.
Youngest chicken turned 2.5 last week and oldest turns 6 this week. Youngest moves into the front facing harness and big gets a booster seat.
I got the blue booster to semi match the GX hehe
Youngest chicken turned 2.5 last week and oldest turns 6 this week. Youngest moves into the front facing harness and big gets a booster seat.
I got the blue booster to semi match the GX hehe
It only gets easier the older they get 
. Mine are a bit bigger at 8 and 10 but it seems like they were 3 and 5 just yesterday. One nice thing about the GX is that the beltline is high enough they can actually see out the windows....in every other vehicle we've had, the beltline is so high the kids can't see a darn thing. It's certainly good for watching the world go by on a trip like those of us who grew up being carted around in 90s and older vehicles were able to do .
. Mine are a bit bigger at 8 and 10 but it seems like they were 3 and 5 just yesterday. One nice thing about the GX is that the beltline is high enough they can actually see out the windows....in every other vehicle we've had, the beltline is so high the kids can't see a darn thing. It's certainly good for watching the world go by on a trip like those of us who grew up being carted around in 90s and older vehicles were able to do .
- Thread starter
- #366
Never even thought about line of sight out of the windows!
They also sit up fairly high in the Trek - though I have started writing up a FS ad for it...
Yupppp, look out the windows and daydream! No dvd/cell phones for our kids in the backseat hah
They also sit up fairly high in the Trek - though I have started writing up a FS ad for it...
Yupppp, look out the windows and daydream! No dvd/cell phones for our kids in the backseat hah
Ours do love the DVD player in the back of the GX! It still works with the dual headphone jacks. We have a sleeve of DVDs that get picked up from various places and keep them occupied for some portions of the long drives, but only if they've been behavingNever even thought about line of sight out of the windows!
They also sit up fairly high in the Trek - though I have started writing up a FS ad for it...
Yupppp, look out the windows and daydream! No dvd/cell phones for our kids in the backseat hah
.
- Thread starter
- #369
Recaro actually makes infant/child seats too lol. They are super race looking, but also quite spendy.
I have many fond memories riding in the bench seat of my dad's '78 GMC K15 as a small kid with no bench seat and no booster seat
.
- Thread starter
- #372
I was put into the trunk of a car before.
but that was when I was in college, pretty drunk, and only going a few miles through neighborhood streets
but that was when I was in college, pretty drunk, and only going a few miles through neighborhood streets
The jump seat of my old man's early 80's Nissan king cab pickup or the bed of the same pickup is where I spent my childhood. Good times.
- Thread starter
- #374
To the next mod!
Figured I should start on this since our next camping trip is in 3 weeks.
Ive got the 1 spare camera that came with the Wolfbox package I installed several months back. My plan is to put the camera on the rear of the trailer so I can just use the rearview mirror vs an additional screen that we've been using.
So I need to make a connection from the car to the trailer for the camera. I was going to modify the OEM bracket that the 7-pin connector attaches to, but after playing with orientation, it wasnt going to work.
Also since I did the 7-pin rewire for the Diode Dynamics hitch pod, this is how the connector has been:
one bolt into a hole, and the other side im using an oversized washer to hold the plastic housing down.
I used the OEM bracket as a template and here is the rough cutout of mine. I used a hammer and dolly to fold the edges over somewhat like OEM to give it more rigidity.
More room for activities now!
Quick layout for the 7-pin connector and the "aviation" port ill be using
both ends of the additional plug
Going to try and get a bit more work done on it today. I think im going to just cut a circle out of my bracket for the 7-pin to fit into vs the OEM with a "horseshoe" cutout.
Figured I should start on this since our next camping trip is in 3 weeks.
Ive got the 1 spare camera that came with the Wolfbox package I installed several months back. My plan is to put the camera on the rear of the trailer so I can just use the rearview mirror vs an additional screen that we've been using.
So I need to make a connection from the car to the trailer for the camera. I was going to modify the OEM bracket that the 7-pin connector attaches to, but after playing with orientation, it wasnt going to work.
Also since I did the 7-pin rewire for the Diode Dynamics hitch pod, this is how the connector has been:
one bolt into a hole, and the other side im using an oversized washer to hold the plastic housing down.
I used the OEM bracket as a template and here is the rough cutout of mine. I used a hammer and dolly to fold the edges over somewhat like OEM to give it more rigidity.
More room for activities now!
Quick layout for the 7-pin connector and the "aviation" port ill be using
both ends of the additional plug
Going to try and get a bit more work done on it today. I think im going to just cut a circle out of my bracket for the 7-pin to fit into vs the OEM with a "horseshoe" cutout.
- Thread starter
- #375
Apparently the (metal) blades I have for my jigsaw, are not for that saw.. they wouldnt hold and couldnt get the cut.. so cutoff wheel and some files hah.
Not super pretty when everything is out, but no one will see it.
Test fit the two plugs
Small bit of filing to clean things up and knock any sharp edges off. Then prime + paint!
Not super pretty when everything is out, but no one will see it.
Test fit the two plugs
Small bit of filing to clean things up and knock any sharp edges off. Then prime + paint!
- Thread starter
- #377
Just finished running the camera wire to the rear of the GX. When I did the mirror, I left this loom bundled up inside the front passenger footwell. So I pulled all the trim out and ran it the rest of the way to the rear.
Next step will be figuring out how I want the wire to run to the underside of the GX. Id assume there would be a gromet or two back there near the OEM jack cubby.
Next step will be figuring out how I want the wire to run to the underside of the GX. Id assume there would be a gromet or two back there near the OEM jack cubby.
- Thread starter
- #378
Prime/painted - used black truck bed liner with a mist of metallic black over it.
All new stainless hardware as well.
One thing im contemplating is if I should put a notch/slot cut for the smaller plug. As it stands, ill need to pull the wires through the bracket and solder them to the connector. If for whatever reason I ever need to pull this bracket off... the wires/plug would have to go with it. I could also just use some spade connectors up in the cabin of the car and not worry too much about it. Not sure how I want to proceed yet.
Biggest part im not looking forward to is running the wires on the trailer. Think my plan of action is to run the wires (going to use 5 strand comms cable for sprinkler manifolds lol) under the trailer. Once in the rear, Im thinking about pulling the vinyl trim off the corner and run the cable up that channel before putting the trim back in.
All new stainless hardware as well.
One thing im contemplating is if I should put a notch/slot cut for the smaller plug. As it stands, ill need to pull the wires through the bracket and solder them to the connector. If for whatever reason I ever need to pull this bracket off... the wires/plug would have to go with it. I could also just use some spade connectors up in the cabin of the car and not worry too much about it. Not sure how I want to proceed yet.
Biggest part im not looking forward to is running the wires on the trailer. Think my plan of action is to run the wires (going to use 5 strand comms cable for sprinkler manifolds lol) under the trailer. Once in the rear, Im thinking about pulling the vinyl trim off the corner and run the cable up that channel before putting the trim back in.
Late to the party (per usual) but props on the fab work.
Aside from weatherproofing those solder cups, why not do a Deutsche connector a bit upstream of the jack but still under the truck so you retain serviceability?
- Thread starter
- #380
I think that is probably what ill end of doing! Going to try and tinker today on it.