Builds His and Her GX 460 Builds (2 Viewers)

[TX GX460]

The kit comes with a few 3M clear vinyl strips. They are meant to protect your bumper from scratches from the locking mechanism. Clean the surface of the bumper on the inside location of the latch points as shown below.

Another thing to note: the latch points are side specific and are marked as "Passenger Aus" and "Driver Aus". Note that Australia (Aus) is left hand drive, so these should be installed on opposite sides to how they are marked for the Lexus.

I will be mounting the license plate and light on a different day, so I will update once that is complete.

 

[BMRisko]

Looks great, but I really wish someone would make a GX460 bumper with the option for just a single centered (or slightly offset like Wilco Hitchgate) tire carrier that didn't cover the taillights. I have no need to carry tons of Jerry cans or huge boxes full of whatever on my rear bumper.

 

[TX GX460]

Looks great, but I really wish someone would make a GX460 bumper with the option for just a single centered (or slightly offset like Wilco Hitchgate) tire carrier that didn't cover the taillights. I have no need to carry tons of Jerry cans or huge boxes full of whatever on my rear bumper.

Thanks and I understand. On the plus side for the Kaymar, it adds tail lights down below in the bumper so you are still legal with the tire on the back, and you can choose to only do a single tire swing out if you prefer (or double tires if you want). I may remove the jerry can arm most of the time for the same reason and only put it back on when I need it for long trips.

 

[BMRisko]

Thanks and I understand. On the plus side for the Kaymar, it adds tail lights down below in the bumper so you are still legal with the tire on the back, and you can choose to only do a single tire swing out if you prefer (or double tires if you want). I may remove the jerry can arm most of the time for the same reason and only put it back on when I need it for long trips.

Yea, I would occasionally carry 1-2 jerry cans, but I would turn then so they take up less real estate and attach to the single tire arm. I'll probably end up buying a bare bumper and adding/modifying the swing arm to fit my needs. I like how my Hitchgate has a jerry can between the tire and the hatch, but it also means the tire sticks out further. Always a give and take.

 

[TX GX460]

Yea, I would occasionally carry 1-2 jerry cans, but I would turn then so they take up less real estate and attach to the single tire arm. I'll probably end up buying a bare bumper and adding/modifying the swing arm to fit my needs. I like how my Hitchgate has a jerry can between the tire and the hatch, but it also means the tire sticks out further. Always a give and take.

I am with you on the turned jerry cans. That is one thing I like about this bumper - because the jerry can holders are turned sideways I can fit in my garage with the jerry can holders installed. That is something I couldn't do with the MetalTech bumper. And they sit lower than the MT can location. Brings the weight in lower and towards the body better. Still not necessary most of the time, but I at least have the choice to leave it on rather than having to remove it every time between trips.

 

[r2m]

Looks great TX GX460! Just don't forget to relocate your license plate and light!

 

[TX GX460]

Looks great TX GX460! Just don't forget to relocate your license plate and light!

Working on it...

 

[r2m]

Nice. I still need to add a light to my license plate frame on my swing-out.

 

[TX GX460]

License plate is on and light is installed. I recommend you do the wiring for this while doing the combo lights in the bumper, because you will be tying into the same wiring.

The tire carrier comes with a light relocation kit, which includes a light with a simple 2-wire lead. The instructions say to terminate the ground wire with a supplied round terminal and to run the license plate holder bolt through the terminal for ground. Then they supply a thin wire for power to run to the tail light lead. The thin wire is supposed to run through the metal chase (circled in yellow below) from behind the light to the outside edge of the carrier before running inside, down the front, and along the bottom to the pivot location.

I did it a little differently. I did not like the idea of using the swingarm for ground, so I ran both wires together in a sleeve. This means they wouldn't fit in the metal chase, but that's okay. There is plenty of room for the wire even with a jerry can installed, so I just ran it as shown. It then goes up the inside of the body panel to the factory tail light assembly where I connected the leads for the Kaymar combo lights. I like this location because it is relatively well protected from water intrusion and spray in most situations.

Doing this install at the same time as the combo lights would have saved some significant time and work.

 

[TX GX460]

Spare tire mounting.

I haven't gotten the spare tire fully mounted yet. Main reason is I accidentally left my spare spline lugs on the MetalTech bumper when I sold it. I'm waiting on new ones to come in.

The Kaymar tire system is pretty interesting. It has a plate with 3 studs welded to it, and the plate is on a sliding square tubing like a hitch receiver. This allows for different widths and offsets of wheels/tires to work with the receiver. To fit, loosen the side bolts, slide the receiver to its max extension, place the tire on and secure it, then push back until the tire hits the swingarm, and tighten the side bolts.

A second piece is the cover plate that has a long bar welded to it that fits down the length of the carrier through a slot in the front and rear plates. The provided lugs fit through holes in the cover plate.

The idea is that you place the wheel on the studs, then run the cover plate through the middle of the wheel and secure it down with the lugs (you must remove hub covers before installing this way). The very rear of the bar that runs through the back of the carrier assembly has a round hold to place a padlock through. That way even if someone removes all of the lugs they still won't be able to remove the tire unless they cut the lock (or remove the side bolts and remove the entire assembly). Pretty decent idea.

Unfortunately the design is designed for factory Prado wheels with large lug voids. The cover plate just won't fit over the SCS wheels because the lug locations are just too narrow.

The same is probably true for a number of aftermarket wheels. This is not a big deal to me, because I can still secure the wheel to the carrier using only the spline lugs as with any other bumper. But if you really want that security feature to work, you have to be running rims that can fit the Kaymar cover plate.

 

[TX GX460]

Two other things to note:
1) I am running 285/70/r17 tires, and the gap between the spare and jerry can holder is pretty small. Might cause interference with bigger tires.

2) The spare definitely covers up the factory tail lights. I am not sure about the bumper lights; I need to put the tire back on and give it another look. The pictures above make it look like the bumper lights are hidden, but i think that is just the angle. If it causes a problem I will post about it soon.

 

[BMRisko]

1) I am running 285/70/r18 tires, and the gap between the spare and jerry can holder is pretty small. Might cause interference with bigger tires.

Thanks for posting the detailed pics...interesting, but noteworthy concept for mounuting the tire to account for different wheel offsets. I like it!

Also, I assume you meant to say you're running 285/70r17 tires? I wasn't aware of any 18" SCS wheels, but wish there were some!

 

[TX GX460]

Thanks for posting the detailed pics...interesting, but noteworthy concept for mounuting the tire to account for different wheel offsets. I like it!

Also, I assume you meant to say you're running 285/70r17 tires? I wasn't aware of any 18" SCS wheels, but wish there were some!

Yes 17" (late night posting error). Fixed above. Thanks!

 

[r2m]

Spare tire mounting.

I haven't gotten the spare tire fully mounted yet. Main reason is I accidentally left my spare spline lugs on the MetalTech bumper when I sold it. I'm waiting on new ones to come in.

The Kaymar tire system is pretty interesting. It has a plate with 3 studs welded to it, and the plate is on a sliding square tubing like a hitch receiver. This allows for different widths and offsets of wheels/tires to work with the receiver. To fit, loosen the side bolts, slide the receiver to its max extension, place the tire on and secure it, then push back until the tire hits the swingarm, and tighten the side bolts.View attachment 1929227

A second piece is the cover plate that has a long bar welded to it that fits down the length of the carrier through a slot in the front and rear plates. The provided lugs fit through holes in the cover plate.
View attachment 1929214

The idea is that you place the wheel on the studs, then run the cover plate through the middle of the wheel and secure it down with the lugs (you must remove hub covers before installing this way). The very rear of the bar that runs through the back of the carrier assembly has a round hold to place a padlock through. That way even if someone removes all of the lugs they still won't be able to remove the tire unless they cut the lock (or remove the side bolts and remove the entire assembly). Pretty decent idea.

Unfortunately the design is designed for factory Prado wheels with large lug voids. The cover plate just won't fit over the SCS wheels because the lug locations are just too narrow.
View attachment 1929216

The same is probably true for a number of aftermarket wheels. This is not a big deal to me, because I can still secure the wheel to the carrier using only the spline lugs as with any other bumper. But if you really want that security feature to work, you have to be running rims that can fit the Kaymar cover plate.

View attachment 1929213

I like that locking mechanism for locking the spare. So many people just use a cable or lug nut lock. I like this much better.
Suggestion for your lock plate over the spare where the plate will not fit into your wheel lug nut slots.
Get some 1/2" SCH 80 PVC pipe or something like that.
Cut the PVC into three lengths, each to the depth of the wheel lug nut face to the back of the locking plate (what, maybe 2 inches?).
Get a long threaded bolt (maybe carriage bolt) and bolt each of the three PVC tubes to the back of the locking plate.
Now your locking plate will standoff from your wheel.
Hopefully the shaft that goes through your center is long enough to still put a padlock on the back.

 

[TX GX460]

Finally got the extra spline lugs in and got the tire mounted. As it turns out, the tire does not block the lower Kaymar lights or at least part of the turn signal portion of the factory light assembly.

I like how low-profile the jerry can carrier swingarm is. The sideways assembly really tucks the cans in close to the body and relatively low.

As a bonus, the rear window can open while the tire is in place, something I could not do with the MetalTech.

The Kaymar bumper comes with a braided wire attached to each side of the jerry can holder for security purposes that you can lock in place. I cut it off before powder coat. What I found as a replacement is the Python system from Master Lock. The 6 ft. 5/8" diameter model worked perfectly to secure both jerry cans at the same time.

There is still some slop in the jerry can holders, so to prevent rattles I will be adding adhesive-backed rubber to the carriers on the bottom and sides of the cans like I did with the MetalTech. This seemed to work well last time around so I will be likely doing something similar.

 

[LTSR]

Thanks for posting your adventure with getting the kaymar installed. I’m a fan of that bumper. I think it looks great.

 

[r2m]

Try McMaster-Carr: McMaster-Carr for your rubber pad. May I suggest neoprene (aka: wetsuit material) it's thick, weather resistant and can be had in thickness's up to 1 inch!
I have the plastic Scepter cans on the back of my MetalTech bumper. The securing strap that comes over the top of the cans to hold them in adds compression so there is no rattling around back there.

I admit I'm a little envious that you can open your rear window without swinging open the carrier. And yes, my two cans mounted perpendicular to the bumper do make the rear hangover a little long.
BUT... the MetalTech design allows for my HiLIft to be stowed below the bumpers and cans. I do like that!
With all due respect, where are you going to put your jack? Or is there a mount on the Kaymar bumper I don't see.

Also, what does your backup camera look like??
I still need to get around to re-mounting my camera so I have a clear view behind me.
Right now it's only a peek-a-boo view. Good enough for backing up against something large like a wall or another vehicle, but I won't see someone walking behind me or anything out toward the rear corners and I still need to trust my parking assist.

 

[TX GX460]

Try McMaster-Carr: McMaster-Carr for your rubber pad. May I suggest neoprene (aka: wetsuit material) it's thick, weather resistant and can be had in thickness's up to 1 inch!
I have the plastic Scepter cans on the back of my MetalTech bumper. The securing strap that comes over the top of the cans to hold them in adds compression so there is no rattling around back there.

I admit I'm a little envious that you can open your rear window without swinging open the carrier. And yes, my two cans mounted perpendicular to the bumper do make the rear hangover a little long.
BUT... the MetalTech design allows for my HiLIft to be stowed below the bumpers and cans. I do like that!
With all due respect, where are you going to put your jack? Or is there a mount on the Kaymar bumper I don't see.

Also, what does your backup camera look like??
I still need to get around to re-mounting my camera so I have a clear view behind me.
Right now it's only a peek-a-boo view. Good enough for backing up against something large like a wall or another vehicle, but I won't see someone walking behind me or anything out toward the rear corners and I still need to trust my parking assist.

Thanks for the McMaster-Carr tip - I have purchased from them in the past but it has been a while (think mail-order days). I used neoprene on my sliders for step/grip cushions, and I agree it would be a good choice for this application too.

I don't run a Hi-Lift, but if I did there is a mount location behind the tire on the Kaymar as shown below in a picture from Kaymar's website. I have a Radflo Hydra-Jac (only 12 lbs) in my rear drawer assembly. I have pictures of it earlier in this thread. A lot smaller, lighter, and easier to use safely. It has worked great for trail repairs in the past. Hydra-Jac

Back-up camera is definitely obstructed now that the tire is mounted. I will probably use the camera relocation kit that came with the bumper to place the camera somewhere on the bumper or swingarm. I still have my parking sensors working, so I have managed not to run into anything yet.

 

[r2m]

Ahhh, I see now where the HiLift is mounted. I forgot that you're the fellow with the Hydra-Jac! A little off point, but how much throw (lift) can one get with those jacks (and what size do you have)? Considering that the HiLift is good for the entire length.

It's nice that Kaymar comes with a relocation kit (and hopefully clear instructions on how to access the factory camera from your rear door and remount it).
I'll have to fabricate something up for my MetalTech bumper. It shouldn't be too hard because of there being an antenna mount behind my spare I can use to make an extension for the camera to sit between my spare tire and jerry cans. I may need to go with another camera (weather proof) depending upon if the factory camera (housing) can be mounted without modification for weather.

 

[BMRisko]

Sorry to go way back in your build, but did you ever find a suitable replacement for the bottle cap securing the ARB coupling to the Powertray? I have a metal washer on mine now, but it appears to be too thick and isn't getting enough engagement from the coupling threads, which is causing a leak. I've been trying to find a way to secure the coupling to the tray, while still getting good threading to the extension hose.