Tex's 2019 GX460 build

[Todd n Natalie]

Haha, you turd! It's more than likely coming, just not this calendar year. This GX build will keep me occupied until then.

Haha, I'm guessing it'll be coming at some point. Glad you're enjoying the Lexus.

 

[Tex68w]

I finally figured out how long of a M6 socket allen head bolt I needed in conjunction with the spacer and washer in order to get the RAM ball spaced out from the handle correctly. I'll likely use it for the phone cradle more than anything but I might add a second one above it or over on the passenger side for the Garmin.

 

[Tex68w]

After weighing it all out on paper and considering what my money was actually getting me, I ended up pulling the trigger on the Ironman Premium front bumper. I should have it here by the end of next week. Now I need to pick a winch and figure out where I need to mount the winch control box, any ideas/suggestions?

 

[GTV]

Yea the 275 is 10.8" wide like the 285/70's I have on the SCS wheels pictured in my previous post. I wouldn't move to a 275 when the 255's on the vehicle are the same height and only 3/4" slimmer than the 275's and they only have 8,000 miles on them. I also have a full set of the 285/70's pictured in the last post so I'd only need to pick up a matching spare and and I could run the taller and wider 285's easily as well. I am just questioning whether or not I care to at the moment is all.

Why did you go with 255/70’s in the first place? Seems like a 275/65 would have also fit? Just curious.
If you want to keep your stock 18’s a 285/65 is dimensionally identical to a 285/70/17. But I get wanting to go to 17’s and especially 285/70’s. Tons of tire choices.

 

[Tex68w]

Why did you go with 255/70’s in the first place? Seems like a 275/65 would have also fit? Just curious.
If you want to keep your stock 18’s a 285/65 is dimensionally identical to a 285/70/17. But I get wanting to go to 17’s and especially 285/70’s. Tons of tire choices.

I went with the 255’s day one because we always put an AT on our new vehicles right away. The 255’s fit without issue and provided a beefier look without rubbing and without impacting fuel economy more than a few percent. At first I wasn’t convinced that this vehicle would end up in full build mode to begin with so this was a safe and cheap bet for the time being.

Once I decided that the build would move forward I knew I’d want larger tires than the 255’s and the stock wheels would need spacers to get proper spacing from the UCA with 285’s and I am not a fan of wheel spacers. I already had a set of SCS SR8 wheels and 285/70 Nitto Ridge Grapplers in the garage that I had originally purchased for the 4Runner we owned prior to the GX, it’s a no brainer to move over to those versus buying something else. I do wish that they were 295’s or 285/75’s instead, but again I wasn’t going to let these go to waste and I would almost certainly need to regear with either of those larger sizes and that’s just not in the budget at the moment along with everything else coming.

I don’t mind the 18” wheel size, it’s actually a good compromise between the 17” and 20” but there are more options and better prices in the 17” sizes and again I already had them in my possession. I’ll reevaluate the tires in another year or more and at that point I’ll know whether or not I want to go bigger and invest in regearing and a rear locker at the same time.

 

[Todd n Natalie]

Ironman looks good. Is it just me or does the back bumper look really low in comparison to the front bumper and running boards / sliders?

 

[Tex68w]

Ironman looks good. Is it just me or does the back bumper look really low in comparison to the front bumper and running boards / sliders?

View attachment 564155

It does indeed, it matches the depth of the factory steps but his have been cut for sliders so it no longer flows and hangs lowers. On mine that will be taken care of with an aftermarket rear bumper. All of the plastic on this vehicle hangs down far too low. The Toyota Prado 150 rear fender matches the door line and looks a lot better.

 

[Tex68w]

Test fit just to see how it'll look prior to sliders, bumper, and bumping the front up another 1/2". SCS SR8 17x8.5" with 4.30" BS and -10mm offset.

 

[tennesseewj]

It's amazing how much more aggressive the whole truck looks with those wheels

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

 

[Tex68w]

Ironman Premium front bumper is on its way.

 

[mizeide]

Ironman Premium front bumper is on its way.

Hey! That's our shop! Devin told me that bumper was shipping to someone in Texas... haha small world

 

[Tex68w]

Hey! That's our shop! Devin told me that bumper was shipping to someone in Texas... haha small world

Nice! I am familiar with your work, y'all have done some very nice rigs! I had no idea that was "the shop" he was referencing lol. Now to decide on a particular winch, where to mount the control box and whether or not I should tackle the install myself?!

 

[mizeide]

Nice! I am familiar with your work, y'all have done some very nice rigs! I had no idea that was "the shop" he was referencing lol. Now to decide on a particular winch, where to mount the control box and whether or not I should tackle the install myself?!

Thanks for the kind words! As for the install. The hardest part is the front bumper trimming as the Prado 150 template isn't any good. I'm sure you've probably read up on a few installs. Lots of lifting the bumper shell on and off and trimming and refitting. Otherwise pretty straight forward. Oh and also a little trimming needed on the bumper itself if I remember correctly, I believe Ironman may have covered these things in their videos? Now that we have done them we could knock one out in a day but for a first time, I would allot an entire weekend. Be ready with edge trim, it makes everything much nicer after plastic trimming. Also a semi-gloss black touchup paint helps as well for some of the clearancing if needed.
Way easier than an ARB bumper install since it is two piece and the winch mounts to the subframe.
Here are some photos for general reference. Use at your own discretion!

 

[mizeide]

Few more reference photos

 

[Tex68w]

@mizeide Thanks for the pics with measurements, those should be very helpful should I attempt to tackle this on my own. Any suggestions on where to mount the winch box controller?