One of these works quite well too
I typically have to then spray off my driveway from the pounds and pounds of mud after washing my rig.
Builds R²M 2013 GX 460 Overland Build
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I typically have to then spray off my driveway from the pounds and pounds of mud after washing my rig.
One of the trails near Eagle Lake in Ontario Canada has this on the way in. And of course going out.
Far side is gravel and the way in picture is after going through it. Perfect.
Coming back into the US isn't much of a problem even with a dog and guns, and dead birds. But the one thing that will get you is mud on the buggy or GX. Crossing at Fort Francis\International Falls isn't much of a problem there are vehicles washes in Fort Francis. Coming down through Thunder Bay into the US is a different story it is a long ways back to a wash. The lodge owner where we stay has a power washer for boats that he lets us use before driving back and I use it. With the buggy up on the trailer sitting border patrol can look under it easy enough, and often do.
Living in the land of 10,000 lakes there are plenty of places to run through on the way out most trails. My favorite hunting spot conveniently has this as the last "puddle" on the way out. It is hard bottom as in Canadian Shelf hard.
Normally I take them fairly slow and steady. When doing a cleaning is one of the few times I will goose it going through. Or I believe the cool kids call it "send it" these days
r2m
Richard
- Thread starter
- #823
Unless you absolutely know the deep water crossing, always go through slow so you don't:One of the trails near Eagle Lake in Ontario Canada has this on the way in. And of course going out.
Far side is gravel and the way in picture is after going through it. Perfect.
Coming back into the US isn't much of a problem even with a dog and guns, and dead birds. But the one thing that will get you is mud on the buggy or GX. Crossing at Fort Francis\International Falls isn't much of a problem there are vehicles washes in Fort Francis. Coming down through Thunder Bay into the US is a different story it is a long ways back to a wash. The lodge owner where we stay has a power washer for boats that he lets us use before driving back and I use it. With the buggy up on the trailer sitting border patrol can look under it easy enough, and often do.
Living in the land of 10,000 lakes there are plenty of places to run through on the way out most trails. My favorite hunting spot conveniently has this as the last "puddle" on the way out. It is hard bottom as in Canadian Shelf hard.
Normally I take them fairly slow and steady. When doing a cleaning is one of the few times I will goose it going through. Or I believe the cool kids call it "send it" these days
- Drop in a hole
- Push water over your hood and hydrolock
- Don't loose traction
I have one but with smaller wheels. I like this since I only have gravel on my driveway. May get this one.One of these works quite well too
I typically have to then spray off my driveway from the pounds and pounds of mud after washing my rig.
Oh I always know the water depth. First use the dog to check then if any doubt I carry a pair of Wiggley over the boots waders in the attic rack.
Not only do I know the depth but what type of bottom this is my 50th year off roading. I can take the waders out of the attic rack now in a couple of weeks we will have "hard" water, and drive on it. Which reminds me it is time to take the bug spray out also it can freeze hard enough to burst. Don't ask me how I know
The worst I've done was in the early 80's in Washington State in my FJ55. One night at a bar a guy from the ship kept begging me to take him 4 wheeling. I finally told him buy a couple of 6 packs to go and I will.
On one trail there was a steep short hill you couldn't see over that I would floor it going up and turn on the windshield wipers. People would look at me and say why then we would fly over it and land (and bottom out) in a wide stream throwing water everywhere. Cool. Except that night when I came over the hill in mid air I was looking at a beaver pond. Damn beavers had built a dam and flooded it. When I landed my headlights were under the ice and I had presence of mind to turn off the engine immediately. We were more than 10 miles from the nearest house.
Dug the come a long and cables out and broke ice to hook up to a tree and inch by inch pulled it out. After more than an hour on dry ground opened the doors and water poured out. Had a monopoly game in the back and funny money came pouring out as well. Tried the ignition and after a couple of tries it started and drove back home. Soaking wet in below freezing temps with the heat on. Learned several lessons that night on what not to do and was lucky to live to think about them.
Drained all fluids the next weekend at the automotive hobby shop on base and repacked the hubs. With the GX and most vehicles today with all the electronics it would have been dead in the water. Quite literally.
r2m
Richard
- Thread starter
- #828
Great story!Oh I always know the water depth. First use the dog to check then if any doubt I carry a pair of Wiggley over the boots waders in the attic rack.
Not only do I know the depth but what type of bottom this is my 50th year off roading. I can take the waders out of the attic rack now in a couple of weeks we will have "hard" water, and drive on it. Which reminds me it is time to take the bug spray out also it can freeze hard enough to burst. Don't ask me how I know
The worst I've done was in the early 80's in Washington State in my FJ55. One night at a bar a guy from the ship kept begging me to take him 4 wheeling. I finally told him buy a couple of 6 packs to go and I will.
On one trail there was a steep short hill you couldn't see over that I would floor it going up and turn on the windshield wipers. People would look at me and say why then we would fly over it and land (and bottom out) in a wide stream throwing water everywhere. Cool. Except that night when I came over the hill in mid air I was looking at a beaver pond. Damn beavers had built a dam and flooded it. When I landed my headlights were under the ice and I had presence of mind to turn off the engine immediately. We were more than 10 miles from the nearest house.
Dug the come a long and cables out and broke ice to hook up to a tree and inch by inch pulled it out. After more than an hour on dry ground opened the doors and water poured out. Had a monopoly game in the back and funny money came pouring out as well. Tried the ignition and after a couple of tries it started and drove back home. Soaking wet in below freezing temps with the heat on. Learned several lessons that night on what not to do and was lucky to live to think about them.
Drained all fluids the next weekend at the automotive hobby shop on base and repacked the hubs. With the GX and most vehicles today with all the electronics it would have been dead in the water. Quite literally.
We get so little water, not sure they even sell waders here in California???
Love the "Danger Will Robinson!!" robot gif.
Yeah no sway bars, bump stop extensions in the rear, dobinsons long travel rear, extended travel front shocks I think they were, probably 3 or maybe even 4 inches of lift (I don't think I remembered to get before and after measurements, but it was tall on the 35s) 1.5 inch wheel spacers, pretty aggressive trimming of the bumpers, BMC/cut fold and hammer pinch weld. Still rubbed a bit on fenders but almost never in normal road driving.
r2m
Richard
- Thread starter
- #832
That's awesome! I sometimes go back and forth if I want something that extreme, but then I have to remind myself, or should I say my wife reminds me, that I built my rig for overlanding and not rock crawling. Yeah, with lockers front and rear, >34" tires and lift I can to most anything, but as I've pointed out before, I really don't like buckled body panels and Lexus body work is a lot more expensive to repair then a Taco or Jeep. Don't mine the pinstriping, kind of like badges of honor, but don't dent my doors!
Also, as my rig sits now, it has an awesome ride, very nicely balanced between all the weight I have on it with the springs and shocks.
Although I'm looking at swapping out the Icon shocks for something that doesn't require being rebuilt every other year and will last 60k miles. It's getting too expensive having to rebuild these shocks all the time.
r2m
Richard
- Thread starter
- #834
As I often post here, figure out an end game, where you want your rig to eventually be.Yeah your GX definitely looks very capable and balanced. I was just balling on a budget and started cutting stuff
Then build in stages, e.g.:
- Suspension
- Wheels 'n tires (1 and 2 can be switched)
- Next, skid plates. You'll need them before you'll need front and rear bumpers if you're on trails a lot. Just trim up your factory bumpers for more approach and departure angles until you get steel.
- More armor: sliders, front and rear bumpers
- Fun stuff like more lights, roof rack, HAM radio, drawer system, etc.
It may be month's or even years between stages, but at least you're doing it right, first time!
r2m
Richard
- Thread starter
- #835
My off road club just posted this about another So. Cal. club's annual and "oldest" off road desert event and thought I'd post it if any of you in the area down here and would like to be proud representatives of our GX's on the trail: tierradelsol4x4 - https://tierradelsol4x4.myshopify.com/
It actually looks like it could be a lot of fun and great place to meet other off roaders. But, I'd only suggest this if you're into big events and/or just like checking out other folks rigs, albeit, mostly Jeeps.
This is not our off road club, our club is just supporting and referencing it.
(we, wife and I will not be going)
It actually looks like it could be a lot of fun and great place to meet other off roaders. But, I'd only suggest this if you're into big events and/or just like checking out other folks rigs, albeit, mostly Jeeps.
This is not our off road club, our club is just supporting and referencing it.
(we, wife and I will not be going)
r2m
Richard
- Thread starter
- #836
Went overlanding in the northern section of Death Valley this past weekend. Below are some of the sites.
It's amazing the random things found in the desert!
This was the "crew", with myself being the only Lexus/Toyota product on the trail (forth from the left).
This is Boxcar Cabin where hikers, campers can spend the night. It's an honor system of bringing and leaving a little food (canned), toilet paper, etc. There's a ledger to sign in.
Had to use the snorkel on this water crossing.
Below is a photo of one of the many gondola posts that would haul salt (in the background) up and over the mountain. The gondolas traveled all the way up the mountain AND down the back side to an elevation about equal to where it started. Because the transfer weight going up one side and down the other was about even, once the gondolas started moving it was self propelled, much like siphoning water once it's started.
It's amazing the random things found in the desert!
This was the "crew", with myself being the only Lexus/Toyota product on the trail (forth from the left).
This is Boxcar Cabin where hikers, campers can spend the night. It's an honor system of bringing and leaving a little food (canned), toilet paper, etc. There's a ledger to sign in.
Had to use the snorkel on this water crossing.
Below is a photo of one of the many gondola posts that would haul salt (in the background) up and over the mountain. The gondolas traveled all the way up the mountain AND down the back side to an elevation about equal to where it started. Because the transfer weight going up one side and down the other was about even, once the gondolas started moving it was self propelled, much like siphoning water once it's started.
r2m
Richard
- Thread starter
- #837
Below, another random marking in the desert.
Our next stop and campsite was an oasis: Saline Warm Spring, clothing optional....
It literally looked like how you would imagine an oasis to look, but with clothing challenged folk. Wife and I stayed close to camp...
There were a bunch of wild donkeys roaming 'round. Quite noisy throughout the night looking for anything the campers left out to eat.
Our next stop and campsite was an oasis: Saline Warm Spring, clothing optional....
It literally looked like how you would imagine an oasis to look, but with clothing challenged folk. Wife and I stayed close to camp...There were a bunch of wild donkeys roaming 'round. Quite noisy throughout the night looking for anything the campers left out to eat.
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