Purchased ($8k on 3/2017) a 2003 GX470 Blue Ash Mica with gray leather interior. Bought it already lifted with Bilstein 6112s in the front, air bag trick in the rear, aftermarket wheels and 285 BFG KO2 tires. Fog lights included as well. Navigation and no KDSS (not available on 2003s).
Since the original purchase, I've spent countless hours researching small and big mods, exploring the outdoors, and making mild to medium modifications to the GX470. Nothing too crazy, but enough to let me explore different areas like Big Bear, Joshua Tree, Death Valley, Baja Mexico, and other parts around me.
I've made lots of YouTube videos and posted lots of pictures in the ensuing posts in this thread and many other threads in the GX470 IH8MUD forum.
Build purpose: Explore the mountains and deserts around me.
Current wheels and tires:
Since the original purchase, I've spent countless hours researching small and big mods, exploring the outdoors, and making mild to medium modifications to the GX470. Nothing too crazy, but enough to let me explore different areas like Big Bear, Joshua Tree, Death Valley, Baja Mexico, and other parts around me.
I've made lots of YouTube videos and posted lots of pictures in the ensuing posts in this thread and many other threads in the GX470 IH8MUD forum.
- GX470 Little John Bull in Big Bear, California
- Big Bear 2
- GX470 at Chicken Rock near Death Valley NP
- GX470 in Berdoo Canyon going into Joshua Tree NP
- GX470 Top-5 Trail Worthy Upgrades
- GX470 Exterior Mods
- GX470 Interior Mods
Build purpose: Explore the mountains and deserts around me.
Current wheels and tires:
- AlphaEquipt Foxtrots 17x7.5 zero offset, 27 lbs
- Nitto Ridge Grapplers 285/70R17s, E, MFG Specs: 32.76" tall, 11.5" wide, 57.89 lbs
- 255/75R17 (32.1"x10") BFG KM spare tire (full threads) in spare location on an FJC steel wheel 17x7.5, +14 offset
- 2017: Front UCAs: Total Chaos. Provide 3* of caster to clear my beefy 33” tires and creat more room around my thick 6112 coilovers with 700 lbf/in coils.
- 2018: Front LCAs: New Toyota OEM
- 2018: Installed diff drop and replaced diff support bracket with upgraded one
- 2022: Extended Travel Front Coilovers: Bilstein 6112s heavy kit 47-284142 with 700 lbf/in coils. 2.6" diameter IFP shocks. Previously, Bilstein 6112 #46-227287 with 600 lbf/in coils. Replaced because driver side shock started leaking at 55k miles. Lifted about 2.2" in the front. 6112s are 17mm longer which result in 1.24” of added droop.
2022: OCD (Mike Studts) beefy front swaybar end links- 2022: Durobump bump stops for the front. Much softer than stock oem bump stops to improve the ride on washboard roads or hard hits.
- 2023: Removed front sway bar. Now my front tires don’t rub at all, yeah!
- 2023: Taco Tabs Cam eliminator kit to fix the alignment
2017: Air bag trick to raise it about 1.5" in the rear with OEM air bags that were about 5 years old and in great condition.2018: OME rear shocks that didn't work out too good with the bilstein front shocks.- 2019: Rear Shocks: Icon 56550 MT Long Travel (17"/28.5"). Digressive valving matches digressive valving of front Bilstein 6112s.
- 2019: Rear Coils: Dobinson C59-675V; ~18.5" free height; variable rate 157 lbs/in and 230 lbs/in; 16mm wire; Got about 2.25" rear lift on these coils when empty. These are tall, but meant for stock weight. These rear springs drop like 1" when I load up my camping gear/tools/supplies for a weekend outing
- 2019: Extended MetalTech stainless-steel rear brake lines
- 2019: Coil Conversion Kit: MetalTech Stage 2 (no added height; Toyota isolators)
2019: Rear Sway Bar End Links: Proforged 113-10144 for T4R give extra 1” length to level the sway bar after a rear lift- 2021: Extended rear diff breather line to gas cap. Homemade kit with Amazon parts
- 2022: Rear Sway Bar End Links by OCD (Mike Studts) beefy rear adjustable swaybar end-links
- 2022: Timbren Active Offroad bumpstops for the rear with a 1" hockey puck as a spacer to compensate for the extra compression.
- 2022: Eimkeith Panhard Correction Kit (PCK) installed to level the bar.
- 2023: Nolathane GX470 heavy duty 24mm thick rear sway bar to help transfer articulation and stabilize the front.
- Rear coil spacers: 3/4” cornfed spacer on driver side, 10mm (3/8”) ARB trim packer on passenger side
- 2017: Rock Sliders: MetalTech OPOR
- 2018: Skid Plates: RockSteady Motorsports aluminum front and middle
- 2019: Front Recovery Points: Apex Overland beefy recovery points that actually attach to the frame for front recovery
- 2019: Rear Recovery Point: Rigid Enhanced 2" Tow Hitch Mount with D-Shackle for rear recovery
- 2022: RCI filler skid plate for stock bumper to protect under radiator (covers from front bumper to engine skid plate)
- 2022: FJTOYMAN rear shock shin guards to protect bolt and bottom of shock.
- 2022: RCI filler plate to protect radiator from underneath.
- 2017: Replaced dashboard for free under Lexus dashboard replacement program
- 2018: Gobi ladder to carry jerry can for extra gas. Two 3-gallon Rotopax fuel containers with locking Rotopax handles
- 2021: Replaced leather on the front seats from LSeat.com
- 2022: Bison Gear metal Molle Drop Down Table for the barn door
- 2022: Bison Gear metal Molle rear ceiling shelf for storage
- 2022: DIY barn door release cable to open the door from the inside
- 2022: Raptor amber lights for front grille
- 2018: Clear turn-signal rear lenses for 2008-2009 GX470. Just like the look of the clear lenses
- 2018: Stock OEM roof rack with extra stock OEM crossbars (total 4) and Front Runner tie down rings. Just in case I need to carry something up there
- 2017: Tsumara cup holders
- 2022: 3" Auxbeam square spot lights on CBI ditch brackets. 4800 lumens per light at 6000K color with the clear lenses and 3900K yellow color with the swappable amber lenses (included in the kit for $109/pair plus tax on Amazon). Mounted on CBI fog light brackets.
- 2022: BlueDog DesignWerks GX470 Low Profile Front Fender Extension Covers to cover the front gap when the running boards were removed. Lost one side while off-roading in 2023.
- 2018: LEDs for all interior lights
- 2018: DIY leather wrapped the steering wheel in black leather. Amateur DIY job, but looks okay from a distance and feels great driving
- 2022: DIY carbon fiber vinyl wrapped interior fake wood trim
- 2022: DIY rock lights (Amazon) under rocker panel connected to step lights wiring harness
- 2019 BT45-TOY Bluetooth adapter from US Spec - initial connection to my iPhone sometimes fails
- 2019: DIY replaced front speakers Metra Electronics 4-8 ohm 6x9 speaker AW669SP
- 2022: DIY H3 5000K halogen bulbs for brighter white fog lights for closer white match to the HID headlights 6000K and spot beams 6000K
- 2023: Asphalt Killerz 5-lb propane bracket added to Gobi ladder
- 2023: 6” LED amber lights for stock bumper
- 2023: new Lexus sport oem headlight housings. New 194 LED bulbs and 1156 LED bulbs by Auxito
- 2017: Flushed and filled the transmission fluid using Valvoline Maxlife ATF. Mine has a dipstick, yeah! Again in 2023 did drain and fill.
- 2017: Replaced with Denso reman alternator as preventive maintenance
- 2017: Replaced all coolant components: Asin timing belt kit, belt tensioner, drive belt, Denso radiator, Lexus upper/lower hoses, cap, thermostat, water pump, Toyota pink coolant, idle pulley
- 2018: Replaced with Fuyao windshield, Lexus rain pad, and exterior rubber seal
- 2018: Replaced window trim/molding from chrome to Prado black (all windows)
- 2021: Replaced all 4 O2 sensors and both integrated manifolds with catalytic converters. Cats went bad and I was having trouble with smog checks in California
Current (hub to fender) | Stock from factory: |
FD = 22 3/8 | 20 1/4" |
FP = 22 1/4" | 20 1/4" |
RD = 23 1/4 | 21" |
RP = 22 7/8 | 21" |
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