New shoes for my 12 GX

[vegasfj40]

Hello everyone. I've owned my GX now for 3 months and honestly wasn't sure that I liked it. It's a great truck just not sure I like the styling. After thinking about a 200 and looking at a couple I've decided to keep the GX and do a few things to it to make it a little more off road worthy. This truck is really hard to beat for the money. Just installed a set of 265 65 BFG KO2s. Next on the list is ditching the running boards and install a set of sliders. I don't want to do anything too crazy with this as I use it to tow our small Casita trailer. Probably just put on a Gamiviti rack last and call it done.

 

[Mountaintrails]

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[Mountaintrails]

Mines a 470 but it doesnt take a lot to change these platforms. I tow and still use mine for exploring. We prefer boon docking in the back country. Good luck and post pics of your process.

 

[r2m]

First, you'll love the Gamiviti rack! I really l like mine!
Second, one of the reasons I wanted the GX, especially over a 200 series, is size.
Of course size is a personal thing, some like it large to haul more... kids, dogs, gear, (feel free to fill in the rest).
And some like it smaller, such as myself since it's just my wife and I (and sometimes my daughter and granddaughter).
But the biggest asset you may enjoy if you're adventurous is it being a smaller size on trails. A 200 series is a little on the large size for many trails, where the GX is the same size as a 4R, e.g. anyplace a Jeep/Tacoma/4R can go you can go. Well... depending upon tires and suspension... But you can at least fit through the trails!

 

[Tex68w]

I too struggle with the looks of the GX but I found modding it with removal of the excess plastic cladding to help improve it in this area lol. We have a 200 series as well and I love it for long haul travel over the road but I'd take the GX and it's smaller size for off-road use any day.

 

[r2m]

I too struggle with the looks of the GX but I found modding it with removal of the excess plastic cladding to help improve it in this area lol. We have a 200 series as well and I love it for long haul travel over the road but I'd take the GX and it's smaller size for off-road use any day.

ABSOLUTELY agree with your assessment of the 200 and GX!
There's a lot more pucker factor on tight trails with a 200 series, but road trips with a lot of gear and/or bodies riding along, the LC is king!
Although, for my wife and I, 90% of the time the GX fits us perfectly.

 

[Lono]

ABSOLUTELY agree with your assessment of the 200 and GX!
There's a lot more pucker factor on tight trails with a 200 series, but road trips with a lot of gear and/or bodies riding along, the LC is king!
Although, for my wife and I, 90% of the time the GX fits us perfectly.

GX vs 200 is a basically a lite beer vs regular beer provided the beer we're talking about is some of the best.

The driving position of the 200 is superior and that works to mitigate much of the size difference IMO. Get either or preferably both.

 

[r2m]

If I had the room and budget, I'd have both AND and a Tundra and/or Tacoma too! And maybe throw in either a Lexus RC: Build Your Lexus - Lexus.com
Or Toyota Supra: Build Your Own Toyota | Toyota Configurator

 

[jmanscotch]

Looks good. I kinda regret not keeping the stock wheels, upsizing to 33's and running a spacer. I love a solid looking OEM ++ type rig, just very purpose built vibe.

I, too, love the Gamiviti rack. If I had all the money in the world to buy endless accessories...I probably would've went for the Front Runner rack (or one with similar setup) so I could over accessorize it with awesomeness, but the Gamiviti is a great buy and being 1" tube, it's super easy to mount about anything to it with a little ingenuity.

 

[vegasfj40]

Looks good. I kinda regret not keeping the stock wheels, upsizing to 33's and running a spacer. I love a solid looking OEM ++ type rig, just very purpose built vibe.

I, too, love the Gamiviti rack. If I had all the money in the world to buy endless accessories...I probably would've went for the Front Runner rack (or one with similar setup) so I could over accessorize it with awesomeness, but the Gamiviti is a great buy and being 1" tube, it's super easy to mount about anything to it with a little ingenuity.

I do have a Front Runner rack on my 80 series and like it. I think ditching the running boards for a set of sliders will do wonders. I actually like the stock wheels. I'll be going on a trail ride tomorrow with the GX. I've had it off road a couple of times now and it's not bad. Its a good compromise between a 200 and a 4runner.

 

[vegasfj40]

Looks good. I kinda regret not keeping the stock wheels, upsizing to 33's and running a spacer. I love a solid looking OEM ++ type rig, just very purpose built vibe.

I, too, love the Gamiviti rack. If I had all the money in the world to buy endless accessories...I probably would've went for the Front Runner rack (or one with similar setup) so I could over accessorize it with awesomeness, but the Gamiviti is a great buy and being 1" tube, it's super easy to mount about anything to it with a little ingenuity.

Do you have any pictures of your truck? Would like to see the rack and other stuff you've done.

 

[jmanscotch]

Do you have any pictures of your truck? Would like to see the rack and other stuff you've done.

Yeah, here’s one from today that kinda shows most the mods.



Here's my specific Gamiviti rack with a better overall view. You can see I added the built in basket area and tabs out back for camp ground lighting (eventually) opted out of the sunroof cutout and didn't have him install any light bar mounting tabs up front. The six solid areas are where the feet mount.

I will say, one major downside about the Gamiviti rack is it's one piece construction...make's it pretty pricey to ship compared to the ready-to-assemble ones from everyone else. I guess the pro there is you don't have to assemble it! Thankfully he's about a hour from where I live and I was able to pick it up and save that shipping cost.

 

[vegasfj40]

Yeah, here’s one from today that kinda shows most the mods.



Here's my specific Gamiviti rack with a better overall view. You can see I added the built in basket area and tabs out back for camp ground lighting (eventually) opted out of the sunroof cutout and didn't have him install any light bar mounting tabs up front. The six solid areas are where the feet mount.

I will say, one major downside about the Gamiviti rack is it's one piece construction...make's it pretty pricey to ship compared to the ready-to-assemble ones from everyone else. I guess the pro there is you don't have to assemble it! Thankfully he's about a hour from where I live and I was able to pick it up and save that shipping cost.

Your truck looks good! I was thinking about shipping but I'm not too far from Denver and have a lot of family there. I visit there a few times a year so I thought I could maybe have him install it while I was there. I like the basket section you did. My priorities for a rack would just be to mount an awning, maxtrax and space for luggage containers.

 

[jmanscotch]

Thanks! Yeah, if you can get to his place to pick it up, it makes it way better. He’s good people too.

He has affordable maxxtrax mounts he sells, it’s what I decided to go with.

I’ve been eyeing his awning receiver tube mounts as a possible way to move our ARB awning from the trailer to the GX and back. Might pickup that setup soon.

 

[Tex68w]

His rack is great, love the look!

 

[rex in bama]

Hello everyone. I've owned my GX now for 3 months and honestly wasn't sure that I liked it. It's a great truck just not sure I like the styling. After thinking about a 200 and looking at a couple I've decided to keep the GX and do a few things to it to make it a little more off road worthy. This truck is really hard to beat for the money. Just installed a set of 265 65 BFG KO2s. Next on the list is ditching the running boards and install a set of sliders. I don't want to do anything too crazy with this as I use it to tow our small Casita trailer. Probably just put on a Gamiviti rack last and call it done.

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Definitely ditch those steps. Good choice on the tire size - I got the same ( but Toyo open country) and have been pretty happy with the size.

 

[vegasfj40]

Definitely ditch those steps. Good choice on the tire size - I got the same ( but Toyo open country) and have been pretty happy with the size.

View attachment 2476312

Nice looking GX! Are those Prado rocker mouldings? Thats exactly what I would like to do.

 

[rex in bama]

Nice looking GX! Are those Prado rocker mouldings? Thats exactly what I would like to do.

Thanks! Those are stock, with a bit of a Dremel haircut. It is actually surprising easy to do - just take the whole assembly off, cut off the step portion with the aluminum frame (and leaving the plastic lower on the ends than you would like), reinstall the plastic upper, then trim the ends to your taste.

 

[Tex68w]

Definitely ditch those steps. Good choice on the tire size - I got the same ( but Toyo open country) and have been pretty happy with the size.

View attachment 2476312

How did you go about affixing the MaxTrax to your Rhino Rack Pioneer platform? I am looking at their options right now. What other rack accessories of theirs do you have? I've got one on the way, any pros/cons to the rack in your experience?

 

[rex in bama]

How did you go about affixing the MaxTrax to your Rhino Rack Pioneer platform? I am looking at their options right now. What other rack accessories of theirs do you have? I've got one on the way, any pros/cons to the rack in your experience?

The rack is fantastic- you are gonna love it. Some of the accessories can get pricey, but frankly the rack is very usable without a lot of them. The wide planks on the rack make for a very stable platform - no problem to get up there and walk around. The backbone mount helps with this too, I think.
Re: the recovery boards, two of the underlying cross bars on the rack line up perfect with the handles, so with just one strap you can cinch it down tight.
The RR eyebolt kit is great - that’s what is holding down the waterproof Plano box in the pic or any other gear I need to strap down (including my canoe).
The shovel is held with a pair of Quick Fists using mounts sold by BuiltRight. Quick Fists are super easy to use and cheap to replace