MallCrl 5.0? That's too many iterations - We'll just call it another '22 GX Build...

[MallCrl]

Hey Mud fam.... Long time lurker, but I guess it's time to post something finally. I run a small business that advises clients on vehicle selection and modifications specific to their needs as well as trip/route planning to physically get to those intended locations whether that involves paved roads or not.

Last weekend I traded in my '25 Tundra and switched up our travel vehicle yet again for a '22 GX460... It's a L/Certified truck with 30k miles and a good set of starting specs for the purpose it'll serve ( , we'll see about that).

The name? That started years ago with a 2018 4Runner, as a tongue in cheek joke because it was far from a mall crawler, with battle scars to prove it; then switched to a '21 Tundra, then a '24 Grenadier, then very briefly (14 days in my possession, exactly 11 weeks of ownership) to a '25 Tundra. Between the first Tundra and the Grenadier we also built out a '22 Sprinter 4x4, but that's a whole different story.

The GX's goal will be a daily and travel vehicle... I know these words will come back to bite me later, but I think the goal will be a soft roader. Once the Sprinter finds a new home a dedicated trail truck will join the fleet. Allegedly of course.

Enter, the GX. It's a Premium Plus Sport Design w/ Captains chairs in Nebula/Rioja

Of course no build thread is complete without the "what's coming" list. I have a pile of stuff in the garage to resell now that was slated for the '25 Tundra, but I like to waste no time on builds

Upper level overview of upcoming modifications

• Swap everything over to LEDs (all interior lights, running board lights, turn signals, reverse lights)
• WeatherTech floor liners for 1st/2nd row and cargo area
• Tint (XPEL XR+ 20 on the front windows, 35 over the factory tint on the rear 5, 70 on the windshield; XR 50 on the sunroof)
• A solid detail job, the dealer definitely missed a lot, and it has a good bit of touch up paint spots that need some help
• Diode Dynamics SSC1 SAE Fogs
• Hella Supertone horns
• New wheels/tires (leaning towards 18x9 Method 316s and 265/65/18 Wildpeak A/T4Ws to keep it fitting in the OEM spare location)
• Group 24F AGM (maybe just go to the 27F AGM instead?) + Voltage booster
• Renogy LiFePO4 100Ah aux battery w/ DC-DC charger (I've been all Victron before for my own builds, but expanding my personal experience with this one)
• Dometic CFX5 35 Fridge
• Slight lift in front (Maybe 5100s, or maybe some Radflo 500Rs)
• Remove the running boards
• ARB Compressor
• LFD Crossbars
• LFD Front skid
• Maybe pull the 3rd row?
• Maybe interior cargo window MOLLE panels for storage?
• Maybe another drawer system like other builds?
• Maybe pulling the door cards and cargo panels and adding some 3M Thinsulate for sound insulation?

I'm almost positive this build will end up going sideways from the plan, they always do... Just happy to be getting hands on experience with a different(ish) vehicle platform

 

[r2m]

Congrats on your new rig! Quick question which I'm sure many on here may be curious about, why such a short time with the Grenadier?
Wow! That's quite a project list!
Have you opened some of the sticky posts on the main page regarding FSM manuals, aftermarket products, etc.?
I'm assuming when you remove the running boards, you'll be replacing them with sliders?
As a suggestion, if you're going with a a front skid plate, I'd suggest to pull the trigger and cover the whole bottom, e.g.: trans, fuel tank, and so on.

Enjoy and do post lots of pic's of your build!

 

[MallCrl]

Congrats on your new rig! Quick question which I'm sure many on here may be curious about, why such a short time with the Grenadier?
Wow! That's quite a project list!
Have you opened some of the sticky posts on the main page regarding FSM manuals, aftermarket products, etc.?

I have a horrible problem of switching vehicles, building them, enjoying them, and starting the process over. I had the Grenadier for about 14 months (it was delayed ~5 months) and was a gem of a vehicle (a quirky one though). I was a day 1 reservation holder for it, had the awesome opportunity to work the US PTO2 tour (where reservation holders were able to drive them prior to release) as a driver and continue to be a moderator and admin over at Theineosforum.com. The '21 Tundra lasted about 15 months before it's replacement was sought out (the Sprinter), so I was already getting the itch with the Grenadier, and then my girlfriend made the suggestion of "instead of doing these big builds with your daily driver and our travel vehicle, why not get something you like to drive and then start building trail trucks and using those as the bigger builds and sell them after a season or whenever you want something else". I'm not a man to say no to getting 2 trucks instead of 1 so....

I have gone through a number of the stickies over the past couple days, fantastic info in there, and it's a bit comforting to be back in a community of a vehicle that has been around a while (very much like my 2nd gen Tundra and 5th gen 4Runner days) as everything is available for it.

As for skids, the reality is that the front skid will turn into all of them I like to lie to myself sometimes and say I'm not going all in

 

[23GXOR]

Are you planning on removing the sport design package front and rear spoilers? I've got them too and have been looking for info about what I'd be left with after removing them. Not much out there aside from a video showing someone sacrificing the rear one to the trail gods.

 

[MallCrl]

Are you planning on removing the sport design package front and rear spoilers? I've got them too and have been looking for info about what I'd be left with after removing them. Not much out there aside from a video showing someone sacrificing the rear one to the trail gods.

For now I'll be leaving them... But, if they get removed forcibly, I don't think I will be heart broken over it

 

[Roody]

Congrats! In MD I see... you'll have to come join us for the fall run at AOAA in October if you can swing it

 

[Ohio Nori]

Are you planning on removing the sport design package front and rear spoilers? I've got them too and have been looking for info about what I'd be left with after removing them. Not much out there aside from a video showing someone sacrificing the rear one to the trail gods.

Here is the front sans spoiler.

 

[23GXOR]

Here is the front sans spoiler. View attachment 3985568

That looks way better than I figured it would, was it easy to remove?

 

[Seavs]

Here is the front sans spoiler. View attachment 3985568

Are the door moldings only attached with adhesive? or were there holes that you had filled/refinished?

 

[Ohio Nori]

That looks way better than I figured it would, was it easy to remove?

The clips can be a pain, but really not difficult overall.

 

[Ohio Nori]

No additional door molding on BlackLine edition.

Are the door moldings only attached with adhesive? or were there holes that you had filled/refinished?

 

[MallCrl]

Quick update, no photos since I suck at remembering to take photos of my own projects...

Installed Diode Dynamics HP5 194 LEDs in the front map lights, 2nd row dome lights, cargo dome lights, door puddle lights, and ground/running board lights; Diode Dynamics HP3 194 LEDs installed in the visor mirror lights. I think this may be the biggest interior LED swap transformation I've experienced in a long time. Also spent a few quick minutes and swapped the front and rear turn signals over to Auxito "CANBUS" 7440 yellow LEDs, they have the built in resistor to remove the need for extra wiring and I've had good luck with their lifespan in other vehicles.

Might have time tomorrow to swap over the reverse lights to Diode Dynamics XPR LEDs. Again, I've used these in several previous vehicles with great results.

The WeatherTech mat set arrived today, and was a quick swap over, just like always; although the cargo area mat definitely needed a few minutes in the sun to soften it up.

"Phase 1" was confirmed with the fine folks at Apex Overland, it'll consist of: Radflo 500R (2.0 IFP) coilovers/shocks (1/2"-3/4" front lift, stock rear height), PowerBrake X-Line front big brake kit, and 18x9 Method 318s w/ 265/65/18 Falken Wildpeak A/T4Ws... The Dometic CFX5 fridge is currently acting as a secondary drink fridge in our kitchen, and probably won't make it into the truck until a second battery is in place