Builds Roody’s 2018 Lexus GX460 Build, Adventure, and Hooniverse Podcast

[Rednexus]

I have the Yakima drawers stashed in the shed at the moment. With a stroller and other baby-related stuff I found them to be slightly prohibitive. They're great for wheeling but just didn't work for me on an everyday basis; YMMV.

For a stroller, yeah it would be tough to load one on top of a set of drawers. TBH, the only stroller I used with any frequency was a small folding one when the kids were <6 months (my wife used it a bit more, though)

After that, I'd put one of them in the Deuter kid backpack, which they both used up to about 40 pounds. Including in the woods and walking around the city. I honestly hated using the stroller, but loved hauling kids in the backpack. It was a sad day when they were both too big for it.

 

[Roody]

For a stroller, yeah it would be tough to load one on top of a set of drawers. TBH, the only stroller I used with any frequency was a small folding one when the kids were <6 months (my wife used it a bit more, though)

After that, I'd put one of them in the Deuter kid backpack, which they both used up to about 40 pounds. Including in the woods and walking around the city. I honestly hated using the stroller, but loved hauling kids in the backpack. It was a sad day when they were both too big for it.

And loading a stroller on top of the drawers isn't the worst thing, but it's definitely slightly inconvenient. We used the Doona exclusively with our first until she was too big for it (for those that don't know the Doona is a car seat with a stroller built-in, so you don't need a separate stroller-- or you can look at it as vice-versa, either way it's awesome) and are going to with kid #2, but kid #1 still needs a stroller at times since she's not even 3.

Which Deuter did you have? I need something to bring my kid(s) with me on hikes

 

[Rednexus]

And loading a stroller on top of the drawers isn't the worst thing, but it's definitely slightly inconvenient. We used the Doona exclusively with our first until she was too big for it (for those that don't know the Doona is a car seat with a stroller built-in, so you don't need a separate stroller-- or you can look at it as vice-versa, either way it's awesome) and are going to with kid #2, but kid #1 still needs a stroller at times since she's not even 3.

Which Deuter did you have? I need something to bring my kid(s) with me on hikes

I'm pretty sure we had this one, but I got it a decade ago so it may have changed .

deuter Kid Comfort Active | Child carrier

deuter Child carrier Kid Comfort Active: The new, compact Lite Air contact back with ventilation makes this child carrier absolutely lightweight. The sporty frame offers

www.deuter.com

They also have an optional sun canopy for it too, which I had. I'd literally take my kids on 10 mile hikes with it when they were in the ~20-30# range. At 40# it was a bit tough to go more than 4-5 miles considering with water etc. the pack was over 50# total, and the kid rides pretty high (less comfortable than the same weight in a camping backpack). Regardless, I was definitely in better shape when they able to still ride in it.

 

[Roody]

I'm pretty sure we had this one, but I got it a decade ago so it may have changed .

deuter Kid Comfort Active | Child carrier

deuter Child carrier Kid Comfort Active: The new, compact Lite Air contact back with ventilation makes this child carrier absolutely lightweight. The sporty frame offers

www.deuter.com

They also have an optional sun canopy for it too, which I had. I'd literally take my kids on 10 mile hikes with it when they were in the ~20-30# range. At 40# it was a bit tough to go more than 4-5 miles considering with water etc. the pack was over 50# total, and the kid rides pretty high (less comfortable than the same weight in a camping backpack). Regardless, I was definitely in better shape when they able to still ride in it.

Good stuff, thanks for the info. Need to buy something like that in the near future. My hiking frequency took a plunge when Kid 1 arrived, don't want it to dwindle any more

 

[Cold Iron]

Redid the cargo area organization setup, for probably the 10th time. My 2nd kid is due to arrive any day now so needed to consolidate and maximize space in the process (kids and their stuff take up a s***ton of room). So... big plastic bin from Home Depot is dong the job of holding everything, at least for now. In it lives recovery gear, bottle jack, jumper and jumper cables (can never be too safe), misc tools, garbage bags, towels, gloves, and baby wipes. All the emergency things I hope to ever need.

I have the Yakima drawers stashed in the shed at the moment. With a stroller and other baby-related stuff I found them to be slightly prohibitive. They're great for wheeling but just didn't work for me on an everyday basis; YMMV.

When I had my FJ55 many moons ago in Wa. State I built a wooden box that stayed in the back. Had recovery gear and many of things yours does plus cans of soup, small stove and fuel, hatchet, etc. Back when I didn't have many cares in the world LOL. Still have the box in the garage it now contains obsolete tools like timing light and feeler gauges.

I only really off road from Sept. 15 (grouse opener) until the end of Oct. So my recovery gear is in soft sided tool bags much of the year. Stored in Home Depot heavy duty totes. Until needed.

Always kind of wanted a locking truck vault drawer system for my trucks like my Taco. But also wanted the extra headroom when sleeping in the back. So went with a shelf system above. Just move everything up to it when sleeping in the back.

Made it nice for changing clothes and just in general. And that is coming from sleeping in a coffin rack for 20 years on ships.

While not a stroller when staying at a cabin for weeks at a time I carry an old Cabela's zero gravity chair. After all day in the woods busting brush it is a miracle to sit in. Well maybe it is a stroller of sorts just for old babies. And it beats most cabin furniture especially chairs. But it is big and awkward to carry. Plus have at least one dog crate in the back.

It just fits on top of the crate and the soft bags that I stuff in next to it. With a drawer system I wouldn't have room.

With a lifestyle that changes with the seasons I really like a modular system. Still working on it and built a shelf (still in prototype) to fit in the back that I can access from the pop out window. When everything is covered in snow I don't have to clean the barn door to load it with groceries. And use it for clay shooting at least once a week in the winter 3-4 times a week the rest of the year.

Going to the dealer tomorrow to have them put on the new AT3W tire to replace the spare I picked up when I ripped a sidewall this winter off road. It took me 5 minutes to take the shelf and "stuff" out to throw it in the back.

Starting to warm up some so will get working on a platform with L tracks to sit on top of the mat in the back. With snow and groceries the mat stays got the weathertech so that I can drill into it and seal it to bolt it down.

Everything is still a work in progress but getting there. I really like modular rather fixed storage, just some ideas that work for me. First I need to install the heated handles kit on the snowblower now that it is warm enough that the epoxy will cure Seen my first robin today and heard cranes flying North!

 

[TLar25]

And loading a stroller on top of the drawers isn't the worst thing, but it's definitely slightly inconvenient. We used the Doona exclusively with our first until she was too big for it (for those that don't know the Doona is a car seat with a stroller built-in, so you don't need a separate stroller-- or you can look at it as vice-versa, either way it's awesome) and are going to with kid #2, but kid #1 still needs a stroller at times since she's not even 3.

Which Deuter did you have? I need something to bring my kid(s) with me on hikes

Check your local Facebook marketplace. At least in my area there's always tons of kid carrier backpacks for sale at steep discounts, oftentimes with very little use. I would advise finding one with a removable/washable pad/cushion right where the kid is likely to chew or suck on it.

 

[Rednexus]

Check your local Facebook marketplace. At least in my area there's always tons of kid carrier backpacks for sale at steep discounts, oftentimes with very little use. I would advise finding one with a removable/washable pad/cushion right where the kid is likely to chew or suck on it.

I got one for my BIL when he had his first. I think he's used it one time. They definitely aren't for everyone. Regardless, I would 100% use trekking poles when hiking with a kid. Otherwise you both have a long way to fall and the kid might hit first.

Kid bike trailers are the same way. I picked one up for like $40 and used it for a couple of years, until (again) the kids got too darn heavy. We also lived a few blocks from their school so they'd not infrequently get dropped off by bike.

 

[Roody]

While I debate back-and-forth and back-and-forth (and on and on) about whether I'm going to sell the GX, I did the "Uni-mod" to replace the secondary air pump's foam filter with an actual one.

Before:

During:

After (& yes I reinstalled the cover after taking this picture):

 

[Roody]

Teaser of things to come

 

[Roody]

Quick update on the GROM VLine VL2 since I know it has been a topic people are interested in...

I originally installed the unit (i.e., finished installation) 4/15/23, so it's been in the GX for just over 2 years. The first year it worked decently; wired CarPlay worked even though wireless CarPlay never did, and it streamed Bluetooth mostly problem-free. Over what's probably the last year or so it started to get a little spotty. First, CarPlay started to give me intermittent issues, and eventually ceased working altogether even after changing wires. Eventually the Grom's Bluetooth function stopped working and a few weeks ago I got the screen seen below, which felt like the old "Blue Screen of Death." At this point whatever was happening behind the scenes with the unit was somehow also interfering with the GX's native Bluetooth connection, which would play for about 2 seconds then drop. In essence, my phone's connectivity with the vehicle was nonexistent.

This is the screen that was showing when I would select "AUX" which is the input for the Grom unit:

I was ready to remove the Grom unit from the vehicle but decided to give it another shot. After emailing Grom and being told there should be a fix for this, and then not hearing back for 4 days (admittedly over a holiday weekend), I did some searching around and found that the fix should be a simple software update for the system. This means connecting it to WiFi, so to do so I ended up using my phone as a hotspot (since the truck was blocked in and too far from the house to connect to the WiFi via my actual internet), which I'll mention was a minor PITA since typing in a password on the screen is just not a cooperative process; sometimes it thinks you've pushed a key a few times, sometimes the wrong key, and sometimes it just jumps between the typing screen and screen on which you have to enter the password. Like I said, PITA. Once the unit was on WiFi, I toggled through the screens on the Grom unit until I found the software update page. There were two available and it took probably 20 minutes to download and install both. To my surprise, once they were done installing, everything was working and wireless CarPlay was working as well.

So far everything has been functional. I've only used it a few times and it takes the system about a minute to boot and connect once the vehicle is on, but so far it's worked without issue. A pleasant surprise amid a fairly frustrating stretch interacting with the Grom unit. In the future the first thing I'll do when there's an issue is check for a software update, and I'll report back if anything changes, but for now it's working.

 

[Roody]

Part 2 of the teaser puzzle from the wheel post from a few days ago

 

[Hiluxforever]

I see the pizza cutters, where is the pizza pie?

 

[Roody]

I see the pizza cutters, where is the pizza pie?

Cookin' it up, takes a bit longer than the local pizzeria though haha

This will be my 3rd set of pizza cutters-- 255/85/16 KM2s on my first 4th gen 4Runner, 34x10.5R17 KO2s currently still on the 460-- and I've come to love the tall/skinny characteristics visually, on road, and off road.

 

[r2m]

I see the pizza cutters, where is the pizza pie?

Pizza Puzzle Puncture Pumping Proof Profile Tires!
Okay, I was really working the literation here.

 

[Roody]

Pizza Puzzle Puncture Pumping Proof Profile Prado Tires!

One extra word for good measure

 

[Hiluxforever]

Pizza Puzzle Puncture Pumping Proof Profile Tires!
Okay, I was really working the literation here.

You are on a roll,


or a small donut.

 

[CaptRussia253]

Part 2 of the teaser puzzle from the wheel post from a few days ago

Great choice. Those might be my next set of tires for the Tundra.

 

[Roody]

Great choice. Those might be my next set of tires for the Tundra.

Have heard only good things and absolutely loved the A/T IIIs (as I did the A/T IIs). I really wanted to go to a 35" tire but as I mentioned above couldn't justify it in time/effort/etc, so sticking with a pizza cutter with a slightly more aggressive tread than a traditional A/T is hopefully a happy medium for on and off-road abilities.

 

[Roody]

Cabin filter swap last week

I installed the old one (on the right, obviously) 6/21/22 at around 30k miles. Surprised it was that long ago (in time, not mileage... only at 39,600 now). The filter wasn't too dirty but the truck does live outside and as someone with fairly bad allergies, I should really get in a habit of swapping this once a year.

The swap takes <1 minute including emptying the glovebox. $10 well spent.

 

[r2m]

Cabin filter swap last week

I installed the old one (on the right, obviously) 6/21/22 at around 30k miles. Surprised it was that long ago (in time, not mileage... only at 39,600 now). The filter wasn't too dirty but the truck does live outside and as someone with fairly bad allergies, I should really get in a habit of swapping this once a year.

The swap takes <1 minute including emptying the glovebox. $10 well spent.

Usually I very thoroughly blow mine off/out, both sides with my compressor. But, yeah, $10 clams may not be worth my time holding the hose nozzle.