W.I.P. 1st Gen GX460

[newbie460]

Hey y'all. Lurked on here for long enough with a couple posts here and there. Here's my GX460 "build" progress so far, with some horrifically taken photographs to accompany.
Background on the vehicle:
Purchased at 130k miles, clean title, 2nd owner(I think). Car was completely stock. Had to replace calipers and pads up front and get it aligned when I bought it, as well as TPMS sensors.
First "mod" was a set of Falken AT4Ws in the stock size to replace the horrible all seasons it came with. Started taking it offroad @ Hollister Hills and some other local spots in the central coast of California. Around this time I also replaced the rear shocks that were blown with Fox 2.5 w/ Reservoirs with a custom tune from Accutune(these made a massive difference to ride quality IMO). Soon after this the brake booster went out, as well as some other odds and ends that had to get taken care of, new hub bearings in the rear iirc.

Afterwards, got quite bored of the stock wheels and stance. Went to a 265/70/17 Milestar Patagonia Pro on some Black Rhino Voyager 17x8.5, 0mm offset wheels in bronze/black. Took it to Pismo Beach like this and had a blast, but I quickly got tired of water and dirt pooling on the running boards during bad weather, so I promptly removed them. I spent months agonizing over what to do in terms of suspension/lift up front and eventually decided on Dobinsons MRR-A extended-travel coilovers and Total Chaos UCAs, with a DRKDSS KDSS toggle switch and harness. Also running a full size spare in the trunk now along with some spares and parts in a bin back there.
Future Plans:
True Long Travel front end from JD Fab/LSK/TC, not sure which
JD Fab Lower Pivot Arm Kit
KDSS delete
Freel Good Performance rear 3 Link(looks interesting, no idea how much it really improves things)
Tube Bumper and single-tube sliders(looking for a fabricator, not a fan of how massive and bulky the options on the market are...)
new rear springs once the front height settles
Beadlocks and 35s, like all the cool kids....

Pics:

 

[Pennwestmechanic]

Thanks for sharing!!

 

[r2m]

Welcome to the conversations!
Nice looking rig!
Looks like you're wanting to go towards the more extreme end of your build with a Long Travel front end from JD Fab/LSK/TC and JD Fab Lower Pivot Arm Kit. One thing you've forgotten and this is a biggie, skids! I'd suggest you do skids before you do bumpers and sliders. You're a lot more likely to come down hard on something you didn't see or expect on a trail than hit something in front of you or slide on the sides.
Since you've been on here for a while looking around and you said you're not to impressed with some of the sliders you've seen, have you looked at the Guide to GX 460 Builds and Aftermarket Products sticky post on the main page? You may find a bumper and sliders you like with one of the manufacturers in there.

Nice start on you rig and wish you the best on your build!

 

[newbie460]

Welcome to the conversations!
Nice looking rig!
Looks like you're wanting to go towards the more extreme end of your build with a Long Travel front end from JD Fab/LSK/TC and JD Fab Lower Pivot Arm Kit. One thing you've forgotten and this is a biggie, skids! I'd suggest you do skids before you do bumpers and sliders. You're a lot more likely to come down hard on something you didn't see or expect on a trail than hit something in front of you or slide on the sides.
Since you've been on here for a while looking around and you said you're not to impressed with some of the sliders you've seen, have you looked at the Guide to GX 460 Builds and Aftermarket Products sticky post on the main page? You may find a bumper and sliders you like with one of the manufacturers in there.

Nice start on you rig and wish you the best on your build!

I'll give that a look, thanks! The idea behind doing bumper and slider first is because I have already damaged my doors on passenger side, and the bumper in numerous areas, skids will get done too eventually, I just figured I would tackle the damaged areas first .

 

[r2m]

I'll give that a look, thanks! The idea behind doing bumper and slider first is because I have already damaged my doors on passenger side, and the bumper in numerous areas, skids will get done too eventually, I just figured I would tackle the damaged areas first .

Have you trimmed up your front and rear bumper/valance yet on your rig? Most the folks on here, if they're not planning on a front and/or rear bumper will trim several inches up on their bumpers to get better approach and departure angles. How far up you trim is personal taste.
Regarding sliders, I prefer and have wide sliders, the reasons? For parking lot protection from people with long doors who don't care how they park or how far they open their door. Also need them for standing when we're putting away the roof top tent, to tuck in all the side before the clam shell comes down. My old sliders didn't protrude that much and I was always standing on the tips of my toes while standing on those old sliders, rather than having a nice landing for the front half of my foot to stand on.

 

[newbie460]

More parts on the way - some Dobinsons springs for the rear end to get it sitting closer to level. Likely a snorkel soon as well as my fender liners are donezo... any recommendations on snorkels that don't suck?

 

[r2m]

More parts on the way - some Dobinsons springs for the rear end to get it sitting closer to level. Likely a snorkel soon as well as my fender liners are donezo... any recommendations on snorkels that don't suck?
View attachment 4156610

I have had this for the past 7 years and has bee great.

Amazon.com: Dobinsons 4x4 Snorkel Kit Compatible with Toyota Land Cruiser Prado 150 Series Lexus GX460 2009-2018 All Engines - SN59-3446 : Automotive

Buy Dobinsons 4x4 Snorkel Kit Compatible with Toyota Land Cruiser Prado 150 Series Lexus GX460 2009-2018 All Engines - SN59-3446: Ram Air Kit - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

 

[newbie460]

I have had this for the past 7 years and has bee great.

Amazon.com: Dobinsons 4x4 Snorkel Kit Compatible with Toyota Land Cruiser Prado 150 Series Lexus GX460 2009-2018 All Engines - SN59-3446 : Automotive

Buy Dobinsons 4x4 Snorkel Kit Compatible with Toyota Land Cruiser Prado 150 Series Lexus GX460 2009-2018 All Engines - SN59-3446: Ram Air Kit - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

Any major differences between the Dobinsons and the Ironman4x4 snorkels?

 

[r2m]

Any major differences between the Dobinsons and the Ironman4x4 snorkels?

Sorry, but I don't buy several snorkels to see how each fits and works.
After having snorkels on this and on the first overlander I built, never had an issue.
Although, my first overlander was an 1994 F350 crewcab. There are no snorkels for that vehicle. I had to measure the angle's of the a piller at several different angles and found that a Land Rover Defender had all the right angles AND also on the correct side (drivers side) mount. Had to do that one, all myself.
At least this Dobinsons is a plug-n-play for your vehicle and don't need to go through all the rigmarole I went through with my truck, albeit, you'll still be drilling a baseball size hole in your right front fender.

 

[newbie460]

Sorry, but I don't buy several snorkels to see how each fits and works.
After having snorkels on this and on the first overlander I built, never had an issue.
Although, my first overlander was an 1994 F350 crewcab. There are no snorkels for that vehicle. I had to measure the angle's of the a piller at several different angles and found that a Land Rover Defender had all the right angles AND also on the correct side (drivers side) mount. Had to do that one, all myself.
At least this Dobinsons is a plug-n-play for your vehicle and don't need to go through all the rigmarole I went through with my truck, albeit, you'll still be drilling a baseball size hole in your right front fender.

Sounds good I think I will go with the Dobinsons then as I already run their coilovers and have had a good time with their product. Cheers