ARCHIVE Victory4x4 GX prototyping

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brimy311

brimy311

Joined
Jul 21, 2004
Threads
28
Messages
143
Location
Kalamazoo, Mi
Website
www.victory4x4.com
Hey everyone! Long time user here on iH8mud (has it really been 15 years!?). I use to wheel a FJ40 buggy back in the day, now I'm circling back around again. My name is Brian and I'm one of the owners of Victory4x4. We've been pushing really hard this year to develop parts for the Toyota market. If you haven't heard of us, perhaps you have heard of our sister company, JcrOffroad. We are a manufacturer out of Michigan. We operate out of 32,000sqft, have 30 employees and do everything in house. From laser cutting to bending, Fabrication to Powder coat. This allows us to stay around a 2 week lead time or less!

Recently we've been getting a bunch of request for Lexus GX parts. I was able to get my hands on a 2011 GX460 and will be digging in on producing parts for it. We have a GX470 scheduled to show up in a couple weeks as well!

I've been doing a lot of research and reading a lot of threads. What are the products that you want to see for the GX (either model) that isn't available or is difficult to get?

I'll update you guys as we go on the GX460 we are currently working on.
 
Welcome to the GX460 (and 4Runner, but we try not to talk too much about those... :p) forum.
I have a 2013 GX that's already built (see here: Builds - R2M 2013 GX 460 Expo). This is my third overlander I've built, my last one was a 100 series LC and before that an F350 Crewcab (but realized after I built it and all that money, that is was too big for most all trails. :bang:)
Also so you know where I'm coming from, I am an engineer so I am from the school of thought that form must follow function.
So on that note, here are my suggestions:
  • Sliders that protrude/wider and still angled up. Three reasons:
    1. Much more purchase for one's foot for standing on. Not having to stand on the very end of one's toes.
    2. Provide a little more protection when off camber, leaning into a tree or rock, so the doors (or roof line) doesn't get dented.
    3. Protection from all the idiots in parking lots that have to swing their car door all they way open, dinging my vehicle so they can get their fat arse in. Let them ding their door on my sliders instead!
    4. Also, don't have tread plate across the entire length. Leave some open tubing for winch lines to go thorugh if the vehicle should tip over. Something to pull from. Sliders with full tread plate do not allow any pull points from a high angle on a tip-over.
  • Do you do aluminum? If so:
    • Design a functional and tested front bumper that can support a winch. A fellow on the 100 series forum is making them: GX470 Dissent Front Bumper
    • A full set of under carriage protection.
    • Anything else that be done to lighten up our rigs after adding dual batteries, compressors and winch to the front end.
    • Maybe a rear bumper, but I'm not sure if aluminum is strong enough for a swing-out spare tire carrier and jerry cans without going to some huge thickness, like 3/4" plate.
    • An aluminum draw system for the rear. Simple box and pan 1/8" or so drawers and you can start out with an aluminum "pallet". Yes they same type of pallets that are tossed in the back of stores all the time, except made of aluminum instead of wood or plastic. I am already designing a drawer system for my own rig using this method. One can purchase new aluminum pallets that will already fit the back of our rigs for about $200.00. Just get some drawer sliders and box up some drawers with a box and pan brake, slide them in between the slats where the forklift tynes go. The space between the top and bottom of the pallets is about 5 inches and there is space for four very large drawers across the bottom. Add a couple of mounting "D" rings for securing to the vehicle and a couple more "D" rings to secure a fridge and this should all be done for less than $400.00 your cost. I would think with the options out there already, that people would spend $700 to $800 retail for a strong and FAR lighter drawer system than all the wooden ones currently available.
  • Mentioning under carriage protection, I'm an R&D engineer in medical devices and use polymers often. One material that under used and can definitely be used more in the off-road community is Delrin. As under carriage protection, it's lighter than aluminum, has incredible impact resistance and lubricious for sliding over obstacles. It does not rust, is weather resistant and easily machinable. If I had more time and more room to tinker in my garage, I'd fabricate some pieces for the under carriage of my rig. But, no time or room for that.
  • This wouldn't apply to me, but a design for cross bars that are cheaper than Lexus and will work on the factory roof rails. Something that can accommodate Yakama, Thule or other accessories and still provide a very low profile/maintain stock height.
 
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Bumpers, bumpers, bumpers...preferably something lower profile for the rear than what is currently on the market. Something along of the lines of what CBI or 4x4Labs has for the 4Runner.
 
I agree with bumpers, personally like the 4x4 labs the most for the rear (If you plan on making a rear bumper please try to make it work with the upcoming Curiser Brothers extended range fuel tank) . Also agree with the dual battery bracket (I’d like to see this have a mounting point for a CTEK 250 Charger) . I'd add a under hood mount for the ARB single or dual compressor and the Switch Pros main unit.
 
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Gx460sd said:
Dual battery bracket/kit
Click to expand...
DITTOS on the dual battery bracket!!! Totally forgot about that in my post!!!
DUAL BATTERY BRACKET!!!!
PLEASE!!!!
 
Dual batteries, Bumpers, and Sliders.

I do also agree with a better cross bar idea. LFD make cross bars for the 5th gen that still use that factory side rails. OEM+ is the way to go.
I have always wanted a ladder option for the back of the GX, a 460 is tall, and one a ladder looks cool to me, but also I think it would be really useful.
I am visioning a gobi like deal, Victory4x4 OEM+ roof rails + Ladder
Now of course I don't own a GX460, but I have been dreaming over one for a very long time. The only thing holding me back is the aftermarket support for the platform. 5th gens will always rule on the aftermarket unfortunately.
 
CoastCruiser said:
Dual batteries, Bumpers, and Sliders.

I do also agree with a better cross bar idea. LFD make cross bars for the 5th gen that still use that factory side rails. OEM+ is the way to go.
I have always wanted a ladder option for the back of the GX, a 460 is tall, and one a ladder looks cool to me, but also I think it would be really useful.
I am visioning a gobi like deal, Victory4x4 OEM+ roof rails + Ladder
Now of course I don't own a GX460, but I have been dreaming over one for a very long time. The only thing holding me back is the aftermarket support for the platform. 5th gens will always rule on the aftermarket unfortunately.
Click to expand...

If I were a company making GX mods, I don't think I'd waste my time with sliders. There are already 6-8 good options on the market with styles and features to suit the needs of most people.
 
We are pretty close on a roof rack and skids. I'll get some photos of those shortly.

A lot of our 4runner parts are cross compatible with some slight adaptions. My goal would be to have parts that will fit the GX without the customer needed to make modifications to our existing product line-up to fit.

Looked into the factory rails and what it would take to make crossbars. Unfortunately the factory rail does not have a good sliding track. We'll kick around some ideas, but not sure we can make crossbars cheaper than the LEXUS offerings.
 
brimy311 said:
We are pretty close on a roof rack and skids. I'll get some photos of those shortly.

A lot of our 4runner parts are cross compatible with some slight adaptions. My goal would be to have parts that will fit the GX without the customer needed to make modifications to our existing product line-up to fit.

Looked into the factory rails and what it would take to make crossbars. Unfortunately the factory rail does not have a good sliding track. We'll kick around some ideas, but not sure we can make crossbars cheaper than the LEXUS offerings.
Click to expand...
Since I have a Gamiviti full rack, I can't remember how my factory rails functioned, but since I'm an R&D engineer I'll throw out an idea anyways. Think about using Delrin as the attachment to the rail. Using Delrin has the advantages that I noted above of being easy to machine, chemical and weather resistant and lubricious for sliding along the rails. Design the attachment to the factory rail with this and use either DOM or Chromoly tubing for the cross bar. If I had a stock GX around I could probably design one up for you in SolidWorks (I have my own license of SW) but there aren't a lot of these beauties around like there are 4R's or Taco's.
 
Here’s what we’ve gotten completed so far! Full skid system on the 460.

69105F68-9773-40B7-92D7-3013D9C21D74.jpeg
 
Looks real nice!
Kinda wished I'd waited before I purchased mine... But as they say, "Hind sight is always 20-20."
 
The weight is listed individually on the web page.

Would this fits KDSS 470 also?
 
Jstawgn said:
The weight is listed individually on the web page.

Would this fits KDSS 470 also?
Click to expand...

I have a 470 coming to the shop some time next week. The 470 skids are probably going to be more in line with the 4th gen 4runner. The GX460 has a couple 5th gen 4runner parts, but has it's own parts as well. All of our skids are made to work with/without KDSS.

KJ6IRM said:
Do you have an approximate weight on the full set?
Click to expand...

We'll have weights when the product pages go live. The GX460 will have it's own mid and tcase skid. Not shared with 4runner parts.
 
@brimy311 just saw on T4r where you guys are releasing a 5th Gen 4Runner rear bumper. Please consider something for the 460 as well...cutting the plastic bumper cover (like on the T4R) is not a problem, at least not for me. I'd love something that is lower profile than the MetalTech. I understand the T4R bumper should bolt up to a GX460, but the only issue is the rear quarter panels and how it flows.
 
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