Stuck470 - 2007 GX470 Build Thread (7 Viewers)

[Stuck470]

Hello! Long-time lurker, first-time poster here. I’m starting this thread to document my poor-man’s GX470 build, both the mods and maintenance and hopefully contribute a bit back to the community I’ve been learning from for a while.

The rig:

• 2006 GX470 Base w/ Nav, non-KDSS
• Just rolled over 200k miles (I bought it around 150k)
• Picked it up bone stock and in great condition for about $13k in April 2023
• Dealer had already handled the big-ticket items (timing belt, water pump, oil, etc.) before my purchase

Currently serves as an occasional daily driver when kiddo pick ups are needed and I want to ride in that good ole Lexus luxury . It's been to a few Toyota Jamborees, solo overlanding trips, off-road park visits, and occasional park camping trips.

This build is very budget-focused. Most of my upgrades happen during sales or through FB Marketplace finds. For maintenance I stick with OEM parts when I can, but I’m not above O’Reilly’s/eBay/Rock Auto specials when costs get in the way. I’ll keep an updated list of current mods and maintenance in the posts below as things progress.

Socials if interested - Instagram: @someguysshop
YouTube: @someguysshop

Some of my favorite pics of the rig so far -

 

[Hardazclay]

What 270 degree awning do you have and how is it mounted? Any advice for someone looking to do the same with the stock roof rack?

 

[Stuck470]

What 270 degree awning do you have and how is it mounted? Any advice for someone looking to do the same with the stock roof rack?

I snagged a Body Armor 4x4 270 when it was on super duper mega ultra sale a couple years ago for around $400 shipped (I would not pay the $800 price tag for it now). I think Vevor or similar brands are selling the same re-branded thing for around $400-600. Mine has held up SUPER well over the years and highly recommended anything of similar design.

As for mounting to the stock roof rack, I got super lucky and found a set of LFD ruggedized cross bars (set of 4 with wind fairing) for a steal on FB marketplace. You only need 2 of the bars to mount the awning, but 4 has been super great for mounting other things up there. I would not put in the effort to try and mount it on the stock cross bars... Ask me how I know... I think I've seen some people make similar cross bars out of extruded aluminum. Not sure if aluminum would be up to the task at holding a freestanding awning, you'd have to do your research.

 

[Timujin]

You’re stuck.

 

[Stuck470]

Suspension, Wheels, and Tires

Lift: About 2.5 inches over stock using Bilstein 5100s all around with OME 885X front springs and Dobinsons C59-325 rear springs. I’m really happy with this setup for my rig’s weight, especially since it came from a budget FB Marketplace take-off deal. The only drawback is that I could use slightly heavier rear springs, as the back end sags a bit when loaded down with camping gear.

Sway Bar: Front sway bar is deleted. I’ve been running it like this for about two years and honestly don’t miss it much. The added front articulation is great. Now that I have a kiddo riding along, I’ve been considering reinstalling it with disconnects for safety.

Control Arms: TRQ front LCAs and no-name UCAs from eBay. Everything else is stock.

Wheels: 2023–2024 Tacoma TSS package take-off wheels, 17x7.5 +13 Raceline 947B Scouts (made in that size for Gulf States Toyota).

Tires: Falken Wildpeak R/T01 in 255/80R17 (33x10) E-load. I’ve been very impressed so far. On-road manners are great, they’re quiet, and the ride quality didn’t noticeably suffer when moving to E-load. No rubbing, caster issues, or body mount chop needed with this tire and suspension combination.

 

[Stuck470]

Armor and Exterior

Rock Sliders: 4x Innovations weld it yourself kit for the 2003 to 2009 4Runner, welded directly to the frame. I paid a buddy to weld these up and weld them to the frame.

Skid Plates: Ironman 4x4 GX460 drivetrain kit with the stock gas tank skid, which is pretty well beat up at this point. The GX460 kit fits with only a small amount of modification to the forward most mounting holes. The supports are not perfectly aligned but it still offers much better protection than stock. I got the set for a great deal on Facebook Marketplace.

Front Bumper: Hooke Road Earthshaker for the 2005 to 2011 Tacoma, found on Amazon. It needed only minor modification to fit the GX, just knocking out the middle stud on each frame horn. For eighth inch steel it is sturdier than you might expect, and I have been happy with it for the price. No winch yet, but I added Goliath Offroad frame reinforcement brackets for peace of mind when using the recovery points and for when I eventually install a winch.

Roof Rack: Stock roof rack with LFD Ruggedized Crossbars, four bars with wind fairing. Mounted on top are a Body Armor 4x4 270 awning, universal traction board mounts with Rhino USA traction boards, and a Harbor Freight hard case.

Headlights: DIY blacked out housings using the stock headlights. Baked open, painted, and resealed at home. Pretty straight forward and easy process, I used GXBaseCamp's guide on his blog.

 

[aztoytec]

Really interested in the Tacoma bumper. It bolted right up after knocking out the 2 studs? For $500 I’m might give it shot. There’s nothing for a GX under 2k that’s decent

 

[Stuck470]

Really interested in the Tacoma bumper. It bolted right up after knocking out the 2 studs? For $500 I’m might give it shot. There’s nothing for a GX under 2k that’s decent

Yup! Just take off the bumper and cross bar, hammer out the 2 center studs and it bolts right up. You will need to cut a couple plastic tabs off each side to avoid rubbing. Lookup "Tacoma bumper" on the GXOR FB page and there are a couple in-depth write ups for the install. There is also a guy on YouTube that used a similar bumper for his 03-09 4Runner with the same steps needed for the GX.

It obviously will not line up perfectly with the GX body lines (neither do some of the $2k bumpers...) and you'll need fillers for the blank area between the headlights and the bumper if you care (I don't). There are a couple aftermarket options for headlight fillers on the market. You can also cut up your stock bumper to make them yourself.

A couple pics of the bumper fit -

 

[aztoytec]

Awesome! Thank you for the information. Christmas may come early!