GX470 as a wheeler...

[76BigheadFJ40]

Since the GX470 is basically a rebadged Prado, how would it do? I know that some people on here have driven the GX470 and really liked it, and since we can't get the newer three door SWB Prado here in the U.S., how would the GX do? Prices aside. How hard would it be to get the GX into wheeling-worthy shape?
https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=90911&highlight=GX470

^^^^^in this link is a picture of the three door prado^^^^^

 

[NorCalDoug]

it's been done. I don't recall where it was written up, but some 4x4 magazine took one, built it up and wheeled it pretty hard.

It's doable, however, I'd pass. I think it would be less expensive in the long run to take a 100 series (Land Cruiser or LX 470) and build one of those up as a wheeler. Aftermarket parts/gear seems to be more readily available for the 100 as well.

Search around the forums here, you should find a link to the GX470 build article.

 

[FJ40LVR]

Gx470

The main considerations will be the $$$$$. 4Wheel and Off Road Magazine gave the 470 the 2004 (?) four wheel drive of the year award, beating out the Jeep Cherokee, Xterra, and a few others if my memory serves me right. In the article, after winning the competion they made it into a REAL trail rig by removing all the plastic cladding / front and rear bumpers and giving it some mild armor and suspension pushes.
I believe you can still get the whole article build up for a small Fee.
http://www.primediabackissues.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc

 

[FirstToy]

3door Prado=closest USA relative is FJ Cruiser

The GX470 is, imo, awesome. The aftermarket for it now is pretty good, considering you can use OME, Donohoe, or other coilovers & uca's. The rear airbags are not ideal but it's not a difficult fab job to put springs and nice shocks on.

The Trail Lex is what FourWheeler built up and took thru Rubicon
you can see all 4 parts here
http://fourwheeler.com/projectbuild/129_0407_lexus/

 

[FJ40LVR]

Gx 470

A good reference group that a buddy of mine sent me is the following link: http://www.lcool.org/egroups.html
This group already has a GX470 croud who does wheel, either here with the lexus, or with the 120 series in AU or Europe.

 

[dieseldog]

Wheeling? There's no wheeling at the mall . . . .