Long time lurker, first time poster! (1 Viewer)

[BobTheBrogrammer]

Hey there IH8MUD! Ive been a long time lurker here since I bought my 2018 GX and just wanted to introduce myself and say how much I appreciate this community.

I bought this GX about a year ago after a huge career change that really allowed me to get back into off-roading and adventuring. I actually used to own a 06 T4R Limited but I had to sell that thing back in 2019 and get into a reasonable commuter car because I just didnt have the time to use it for what I built it for. To this day I regret selling that beauty, but now I'm here so hello!

Regarding the build so far, one of the biggest issues with my modded 4Runner is that it kinda sucked to drive on the highway for long periods of time. Given that where I currently live is 4-6 hours away from anything interesting, and this vehicle is also my new DD this presented a fun challenge for me. I chose the GX because I wanted something that would be able to take me pretty much anywhere I wanted to go, on or off road and still be comfortable and reliable. Thats why my overall goal with this build is to be what a GX 460 overtrail would have been if it was ever made. Once I started wheeling this thing I realised that the bumper and the running boards were my two biggest hangups. So thats the first issue I remedied by throwing on the CBI covert bumper and rock sliders.

Once that issue was fixed I've been able to take on so much more! I then added a full set of RCI skid plates after completely mangling the factory set and now I don't have any issues even on the black diamond trails around me. As you can probably tell, its still on street tires with no lift!

 

[Roody]

Welcome! Good start so far and your journey (T4R --> GX) is pretty common around these parts.

A good friend of mine lives in your neck of the woods and also has a GX!

 

[BobTheBrogrammer]

Welcome! Good start so far and your journey (T4R --> GX) is pretty common around these parts.

A good friend of mine lives in your neck of the woods and also has a GX!

Thanks!

Theres a pretty good chance I know him if hes involved in any of the local clubs. The KC Toyota crowd is pretty active.

 

[MeefZah]

Hello! I'm fairly new here myself, been a member for years, but never active until I got my GX460 a few months ago.

It's interesting how people can arrive at the same conclusion without ever really talking to each other because I also came off several 4Rs over the years and wanted something as capable, but more comfortable for DD and road trips, and maybe just a little less cookie cutter than the 4 million soccer mom 4Rs out there. I wager most members here are the same.

I got a 20 GX basically because it was a V8 Limited 4R with creature comforts that would make a good DD, road tripper, and a good light off-roader. I've done a few mods (small lift, 4R wheels, AT tires, sleeping quarters ), currently waiting on my Victory 4x4 Blitz bumper to be built (similar to your CBI). Still gotta remove the running boards but I'm waiting to do the bumper / winch and just do them all together for a dramatic appearance and function change all at once. I have about 10,000 miles on it since Labor Day including a street biased road trip to Florida and a light off road biased trip to the Ozarks. Going out to AZ / TX to hit Big Bend and some AZ trails this spring and I'm pretty excited in large part because of the GX. I think this GX might be a lifetime purchase because so far it does everything I want and it does it comfortably. Even fuel economy honestly isn't bad. I run regular 87 and see an average of over 18 mpg on road trips, which I am okay with.

I find this site to be a good resource and pretty much anything you might want to do has already been done by someone. I use the search feature frequently.

I also look at and occasionally contribute to GX-OR on FB under my wife's login, but they have a bias towards the 470 and it seems like a lot of posters there are chiefly interested in add ons that really do nothing to increase actual useability. Still a decent resource, I search for stuff on there frequently as well and have gotten a few ideas from them.

 

[BobTheBrogrammer]

Hello! I'm fairly new here myself, been a member for years, but never active until I got my GX460 a few months ago.

It's interesting how people can arrive at the same conclusion without ever really talking to each other because I also came off several 4Rs over the years and wanted something as capable, but more comfortable for DD and road trips, and maybe just a little less cookie cutter than the 4 million soccer mom 4Rs out there. I wager most members here are the same.

I got a 20 GX basically because it was a V8 Limited 4R with creature comforts that would make a good DD, road tripper, and a good light off-roader. I've done a few mods (small lift, 4R wheels, AT tires, sleeping quarters ), currently waiting on my Victory 4x4 Blitz bumper to be built (similar to your CBI). Still gotta remove the running boards but I'm waiting to do the bumper / winch and just do them all together for a dramatic appearance and function change all at once. I have about 10,000 miles on it since Labor Day including a street biased road trip to Florida and a light off road biased trip to the Ozarks. Going out to AZ / TX to hit Big Bend and some AZ trails this spring and I'm pretty excited in large part because of the GX. I think this GX might be a lifetime purchase because so far it does everything I want and it does it comfortably. Even fuel economy honestly isn't bad. I run regular 87 and see an average of over 18 mpg on road trips, which I am okay with.

I find this site to be a good resource and pretty much anything you might want to do has already been done by someone. I use the search feature frequently.

I also look at and occasionally contribute to GX-OR on FB under my wife's login, but they have a bias towards the 470 and it seems like a lot of posters there are chiefly interested in add ons that really do nothing to increase actual useability. Still a decent resource, I search for stuff on there frequently as well and have gotten a few ideas from them.

Right on man!

I strongly considered the victory stuff before buying my cbi kit but I managed to get a great deal on the cbi bumper from a local shop that was trying to offload their stock, so that made the decision easier for me. The ozarks are a great place to stretch the legs on this thing a little bit. Its one of the closest places of interest to me so I end up out there a couple times a year.

The fuel economy really suprised me too because it gets equal or even better milage than my family’s stock 5th gen 4runner. Looking forward to keeping it for a veeery long time. I only wish that the infotainment wasnt so dated and that I could get driver assist tech like the new generation but other than those two things I love every bit of it.

 

[MeefZah]

Yeah the infotainment totally sucks. In fact, it's maddening for me because I have a 2020 and that year of a 4Runner gets Android Auto and Apple Carplay but the Lexus still gets the old tech and antiquated looking display. As far as the driver assist stuff, I rarely use them, honestly. The only thing that is handy is blind spot monitoring. All the other stuff I have turned off.

 

[BigSwede]

Yeah the infotainment totally sucks. In fact, it's maddening for me because I have a 2020 and that year of a 4Runner gets Android Auto and Apple Carplay but the Lexus still gets the old tech and antiquated looking display. As far as the driver assist stuff, I rarely use them, honestly. The only thing that is handy is blind spot monitoring. All the other stuff I have turned off.

The Beat-Sonic S-Connect Interface was expensive, but worth it IMO. CarPlay apps, including OnX Offroad, are far better than the factory stuff.

 

[MeefZah]

The Beat-Sonic S-Connect Interface was expensive, but worth it IMO. CarPlay apps, including OnX Offroad, are far better than the factory stuff.

I've been thinking on that but honestly I'm concerned about effing with the HVAC controls built into the screen, and also rear camera issues.

 

[BobTheBrogrammer]

I've been thinking on that but honestly I'm concerned about effing with the HVAC controls built into the screen, and also rear camera issues.

Ive been considering the beat-sonic kit too and I really haven't seen any issues with them. But I've also been seriously considering this from carlinklife instead. A couple of higher profile content creators for the GX platform (Gxbob and drivewayblt460) have created videos on it and installed them. One thing I've noted is that they've all said that their communication and customer service experience with CLL has been really good and they've released multiple software updates to work out bugs in the system when it first released. One thing I really like is that it moves the hvac controls to physical buttons instead of having to jack with the touch screen for it. Its basically a clone of the infotainment that lexus put in the 22-23 MY.

Im perfectly content with the magsafe phone mount I made for my GX but I'm definitely interested in that kit. Might spring for it with the next bonus I get or when I pay this thing off here in a few months.

 

[BigSwede]

I've been thinking on that but honestly I'm concerned about effing with the HVAC controls built into the screen, and also rear camera issues.

You still have access to all the factory screens, and the rear camera works fine... even mine, which I spliced extra wire into to mount it on my JW spare tire mount on the rear door.

 

[Washingtontaco]

Same year as mine! I just went over 80,000 miles. This is not my DD though.

 

[r2m]

Welcome to the forum.
Keep the pictures coming!

 

[re_guderian]

If you're wanting to off-road it more, your next bang-for-the-buck mod is to install crawl control and MTS. I find CC to be much more useful, and should be plug and play in your 2018. $500 bucks well spent.

 

[r2m]

If you're wanting to off-road it more, your next bang-for-the-buck mod is to install crawl control and MTS. I find CC to be much more useful, and should be plug and play in your 2018. $500 bucks well spent.

Also, MTS is equally easy to install, just remove your glove box and plug it in. It's only a couple hundred dollars.

 

[BobTheBrogrammer]

If you're wanting to off-road it more, your next bang-for-the-buck mod is to install crawl control and MTS. I find CC to be much more useful, and should be plug and play in your 2018. $500 bucks well spent.

Thats one of the many things on the build list!

Speaking of electronics, I recently installed the Ecoflow alternator charger for my delta 2. I dont have any pics of the install process but can provide some of the finished product:

I dont have the ML speaker system so I just bolted the unit to the removable panel and it seems to hold the weight just fine. Running the wires to the battery was relatively simple. the most difficult part was pulling the super thick cables through the firewall grommet.

I dont have any photos yet but my trip setup uses the entire driver side for my fridge, storage bins and power while Im able to use the passenger side for bedding on solo trips. I might be taking a quick one to the ozarks here on saturday so Ill be sure to snap a photo or two if I do!

Regarding crawl/mts... Even though its on the list for me (Because I just like more buttons and switches lol) do you guys feel like It really makes a difference? The stock ATRAC has gotten me though some pretty gnarly obstacles with this and my old t4r that im not 100% sure how often id ever even crawl/mts. Just looking for opinions on it I guess.

 

[BobTheBrogrammer]

Also I guess I should have thought that this would probably turn into my "Build thread". I dont think I planned my title accordingly lol!

 

[BigSwede]

Speaking of electronics, I recently installed the Ecoflow alternator charger for my delta 2. I dont have any pics of the install process but can provide some of the finished product:

Interesting. I recently bought a Bluetti power band, and their Charger One which is similar to that Ecoflow (just charges, though). I haven't installed it yet, would like to come up with an easily removable setup so I can take the Charger One to my boat, for overwatering.

 

[BigSwede]

Regarding crawl/mts... Even though its on the list for me (Because I just like more buttons and switches lol) do you guys feel like It really makes a difference? The stock ATRAC has gotten me though some pretty gnarly obstacles with this and my old t4r that im not 100% sure how often id ever even crawl/mts. Just looking for opinions on it I guess.

For an experienced driver I'm not sure it is all that helpful... I will say the MTS does optimize the ATRAC for the traction situation and has been helpful especially in snow wheeling. The CC is more of a toy to me and I have only played with it, though I have heard of it being useful to get out of stuck sand situations.

If you have to ration your mod funds, I would spend it on sliders first thing.

 

[BobTheBrogrammer]

Interesting. I recently bought a Bluetti power band, and their Charger One which is similar to that Ecoflow (just charges, though). I haven't installed it yet, would like to come up with an easily removable setup so I can take the Charger One to my boat, for overwatering.

Is the cable that connects the Charger One to the battery disconnect-able from the charger one unit? You could always get a second cable and just have each vehicle wired up and ready to connect.

If you have to ration your mod funds, I would spend it on sliders first thing.

Yeah bumper and sliders are the very first thing I purchased after my first offroad shakedown with the GX, quickly followed by full steel skids. I dont regret a cent of it and can wheel with much less pucker factor, even on stock tires and no lift!

For an experienced driver I'm not sure it is all that helpful... I will say the MTS does optimize the ATRAC for the traction situation and has been helpful especially in snow wheeling. The CC is more of a toy to me and I have only played with it, though I have heard of it being useful to get out of stuck sand situations.

Actually just came back from some (solo) snow wheeling in the ozarks this weekend and ngl, kinda wish I had MTS and a Winch... Lets just say I had to dig myself out and reverse about 2 miles down a pretty steep slope in the dark. Ive done this trail before but significantly underestimated the effect snow would have on me. Luckily I somehow managed to escape unscathed.

Also is the slowest setting on crawl control slower than DAC? I never use DAC because I feel like its way too fast in most situations where I need a slow and controlled decent, so im wondering if crawl fixes that issue. That may have made my decent over the weekend a lit less... Sweaty.

 

[r2m]

Also is the slowest setting on crawl control slower than DAC? I never use DAC because I feel like its way too fast in most situations where I need a slow and controlled decent, so im wondering if crawl fixes that issue. That may have made my decent over the weekend a lit less... Sweaty.

I only have MTS not CC, and yes going down a steep, gravelly grade, you do feel like you're going faster than you should, even in 4Lo with my lockers on.
I'm pretty sure CC does have a lower speed, but let's wait till someone with it chimes in.