Builds Homer's 2003 GX470 Build (2 Viewers)

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@HomersCanyonero

This weekend after taking my Gx camping, I finally blew one of my rear bags trying to hope over a stump. So it looks like I will be finally tackling the rear lift now. Once again id like to steal your setup.. (Running 6112s up front like you did)

One question I had while poking around at the parts needed:

Are these the shocks you purchased? The top hat is incorrect but it still list them as gx470 rear shocks. Curious if the pic is just wrong.

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That’s exactly what I bought from MetalTech.

I did take all my parts to a shop to do the conversion and no issues reported regarding the top of the rear shocks. Icon 56550s had the right top. Maybe picture got cutoff at the top of the shock.
 
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@captainva i remember you saying you have the budbuilt gas tank skid plate.

I wonder if I’ll have any issues with the stock gas skid plate. I don’t have aftermarket gas skid.
Yes I have the full budbuilt skid plates under my rig front to back. If you're running the stock gas skid you may run into the same thing with the driveshaft but I would just send it and it'll cut its own clearance pretty quick. The 3rd gen 4runner had really bad issues with driveshaft gas tank skid clearance and most of the guys there just leave it alone and let the driveshaft cut what it needs with the stock skids. It won't hurt anything. Just make sure the welded balancing weight is not hitting the skid but that shouldn't be an issue for you. If you upgrade to thicker plates then you'll want to fix that issue
 
Just one area left to finish wrapping all the simulated wood panels. These front ones were a little harder to do and it’s not perfect, but good enough.

Dashboard was replaced under the replacement program in 2017, front seats got new leather from LSeats.com, and steering wheel got a DIY black leather wrap.

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Packing for a weekend camping trip…

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Went to Big Bear and did the Little John Bull Trail.

It rained there 3 days ago and big puddles of water 3/4 up the tires.

Now all 4 of my windows won’t close (I ran over water while all 4 were down and then had to drive thru 108 degree weather in San Bernardino to get home) and all my door locks don’t work! Arghhh not sure what got wet.

Any ideas on how to troubleshoot?

20amp Fuses look good in engine bay and under dashboard in drivers side.

Windows don’t work from any window button. All do nothing.

Automatic Door lock doesn’t work from drivers side button but works from passenger side button.



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Window issue fixed. I guess the last time I disconnected the white connector from the master window switch to take off the door panel I didn’t click the connector back all the way in and Little John Bull trail disconnected it for me.

I connected it at home the next day and all is well. Windows go up and down all around.

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Getting ready to go to big bear again in a couple weeks

Two new mods….

1. Added jam nuts to my TotalChaos UCAs as nut insurance to prevent the lock nut from backing off

2. Got FJTOYMAN rear shock shin guards to protect the lower shock bolt. My GF asked why I got new water bottle holders! They are beefy water bottle holders!

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Installed…my tires are too fat and couldn’t install rear shock guards unless I took wheels off..

 
Was in big bear again. Kinda cold at night down to the mid 30s.

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I tried fixing it on the trail

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Brooklyn Mine cabin near Joshua Tree NP and the other mines around there like Sunset and Rose of Peru. Intermediate rocky trails that are long and tiring to drive thru.

Started on Gold Crown Road off of highway 62…got into Old Dale Road to the mines, camped overnight, then next day drove thru JTNP and exited via Berdoo Canyon Road

GX470 Camping By Brooklyn Mine Near Joshua Tree National Park


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My next mod…remove front sway bar!

 
I was already planning on doing this but it also echoes what @GXO has been telling everyone for years...keep the rear, ditch the front
 
Great video for sure. I really like Tinkerer's channel.

The sway bar removal is actually a 10-15 minute job with an impact wrench (as long as the skids allow for pulling it out the side). After watching this, I may just remove mine the next time I go wheeling, and then put it back on when done (since it's my daily). I did drive it for a few days without a front bar and honestly didn't notice a drastic difference in handling, so it's probably NBD to run it bar-less when driving to the trailhead.
 
I was already planning on doing this but it also echoes what @GXO has been telling everyone for years...keep the rear, ditch the front
I am still trying to figure out how to have an antirock AND an LRA tank with some frame changes and body cutting but no go so far.
 
Great video for sure. I really like Tinkerer's channel.

The sway bar removal is actually a 10-15 minute job with an impact wrench (as long as the skids allow for pulling it out the side). After watching this, I may just remove mine the next time I go wheeling, and then put it back on when done (since it's my daily). I did drive it for a few days without a front bar and honestly didn't notice a drastic difference in handling, so it's probably NBD to run it bar-less when driving to the trailhead.
I understand and respect this. Just be aware drastic maneuvering is changed, so need for sudden lane change and the very infrequent (if ever) radical movent will make the truck behave unexpectedly.

I'd removed the front sway from my suby, had someone merge into my lane, and when maneuvering the body roll was unexpected from how it behaved when rally crossing and I spun out on the shoulder rather than the flat skid I expected.

Again, you're fine 99.+% of the time but it's the unexpected your weighing here with this mod.

$0.02 🤷‍♂️
 
I understand and respect this. Just be aware drastic maneuvering is changed, so need for sudden lane change and the very infrequent (if ever) radical movent will make the truck behave unexpectedly.

I'd removed the front sway from my suby, had someone merge into my lane, and when maneuvering the body roll was unexpected from how it behaved when rally crossing and I spun out on the shoulder rather than the flat skid I expected.

Again, you're fine 99.+% of the time but it's the unexpected your weighing here with this mod.

$0.02 🤷‍♂️
I certainly understand, but from having driven my GX without a sway bar for a few days, it's really nowhere near as huge as a difference in handling as one would expect. I can't honestly say I noticed a difference, but I drive my GX like the tall, heavy SUV that it is. Also, I expect to run with a sway bar nearly 100% of the time, outside of driving it to a trailhead and putting it on when I'm back. Honestly, even that really isn't needed for the trails around here - just tougher stuff like you have in UT.

It would, as you suggested, be a good idea to induce a few high-speed maneuvers to see the handling difference.
 

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