What would you have done differently to your GX build? Help me build mine!

[GXO]

I would have remembered what I like to do with the truck and built it the exact way I have it now right out of the gate. I was unsure what would work at the time (it was 2010) so I iterated 4-5 times and spent a hell of a lot. Decide how big you want to go and spend once/cry once. I went through 4 suspensions, 5 different rear spring loads, and hesitated and compromised way too many times.

 

[joabmc]

^^^^ +1000 on this. I did the same thing to my FJC. Spent 4 yrs building the truck and went through 3 different suspension combinations before I got it to where I was happy. The sky is the limit when it comes to that. You can spend $400 on some spacer (not recommended) to 3-4K on a King setup. All depends on where and how you plan on using the truck.

Can’t go wrong with good armor if you plan on taking it on the trail. You’ll have to decide whether aluminum or steel will suit your needs based on the type of terrain you’ll be on. Aluminum just doesn’t hold up where we go. It’s too soft and sticks to the rocks instead of allowing you to slide over something when needed.

OEM RLLs are made of tin foil and the first time you slip on a rock and land on one, it’s going to look like a boomerang.

Moving to the GX, I knew exactly where I’d like the truck to be and have a clearer path.

And I rattle can everything. Self-ectching primer and Rustoleum...
Can’t think of a time that I haven’t caught my armor or sliders when out. I just go home, clean them up and give them a touch up as needed.

IMO, a decent 3” lift, good 33” tires and some basic armor and the truck will take you most anywhere you want to go.

 

[HomersCanyonero]

@DanKunz I went to your build page. After cycling through many suspensions, you ended up with ICON springs and 2.5” diameter shocks for both front and rear. Is that correct?

 

[HomersCanyonero]

Oh, wait I see dobinson progressive rear shocks

 

[HomersCanyonero]

...although honestly the 5100/ tricked bag combo was decent enough for the less than 10 trail runs I did in the past year.

@GXMac how much lift on the rear airbags did you get with the airbag trick? Just trying to compare with mine.

For the 5 or 6 mild to moderate trails I did this year, my raised airbags (about 2.5") did fine. Even after swapping the rear shocks to OME, I'm fine offroad. I'm just struggling with my daily driving while empty on some washboard-like city streets and highways.

I wonder what the spring rate (lbs/in) is for the GX470 OEM airbags. Over-inflated airbags feel like a heavy duty spring rate when I'm empty.

 

[GXO]

Oh, wait I see dobinson progressive rear shocks

Progressive rear springs....but those are coming out in a month for custom slinky springs from down under.

 

[GXMac]

@GXMac how much lift on the rear airbags did you get with the airbag trick? Just trying to compare with mine.

For the 5 or 6 mild to moderate trails I did this year, my raised airbags (about 2.5") did fine. Even after swapping the rear shocks to OME, I'm fine offroad. I'm just struggling with my daily driving while empty on some washboard-like city streets and highways.

I wonder what the spring rate (lbs/in) is for the GX470 OEM airbags. Over-inflated airbags feel like a heavy duty spring rate when I'm empty.

I'm on the lowest position on the 5100's which paired with the 620lb, 14" springs netted me about 1.25" once settled- so I only had to raise the rear by about 1". It's fine for everyday driving but I can tell it's stiffer when going over bumps and when off-road (this may just be a characteristic of the air bags). Actually, on some trails I keep it under 15 and go down to the "Low" position which puts me back at the old Neutral setting and that does seem to help soften the blows.

Frankly, I think 2.5" may be a little too high and could definitely understand how that can cause a jarring ride.

 

[NMBruce]

So far, I am happy with most of what I have done, my changes would be little things.
Keep the same:
1) RCI skids and Rockrails
2) MetalTech rear bumper, great company to deal with
3) Demello Off Road front bumper.
4) home built rear draw, so handy
5) ARB fridge, use it all the time. Like my bourbon cold.
6) getting the heavier 2.5 shocks over 2.0
7) useing 4Runner wheels, easy to get and cheap
8) putting in LED headlights

Not sure about;
1) Radflo 2.5 shocks, don’t really know if I need rebuildable shocks or just some really good HD ones.

Change
1) I have overloaded my HD MetalTech rear springs so I am going to heavier Dobinson HD. If I had gone to the HD Dobinson first, I am thinking that they would of been to heavy and I would of been unhappy, so this is a step process.
2) So hind sight be 20/20, there are some products that I just didn’t like the the fit or look, but that’s sometimes hard to know in advance, an example, I would not of ordered the OffGrid battery tray. It’s very nice, looks well made and looks good, but direction for me are not accurate, so is something different about my tray or GX or did I get the wrong one and its hard to get ahold of customer service via emails.