Jlemmonds 06' GX470 "The Adventure Wagon" build, bs and trip report thread.

Well, it's time to put all this shit in one place. Updates will come but I've got to play catch up on a lot of stuff.

Purchased this 2006 Lexus GX470 in August of 21 from another member @Archangel after selling my 2016 TRDOR.



The PO had installed an OME Lift, rear coil conversion and JBA UCA's. Wheels were 1st gen Tundras and 265/70-17 Duratracs an SpiderTrax spacers.

She had 235k on the clock at time of purchase. Solid frame and the price was right.

I'd also like to add, everything you see being done, the Maintenance and the mod was done without any kind of garage or covered work space. All done on jackstands with hand tools and/or battery tools.

You dont need a full shop to get shit done. Just get after it and enjoy the process.

The day I picked it up.



Exterior:
Victory 4x4 Roof Rack.
Dobinsons Snorkel.
Diode Dynamics Stage Series Light Bar.
Diode Dynamics SS3's on CBI ditch light brackets.
Diode Dynamics SS3's on custom fog light brackets.
HF Apache 9800 cases.
ARB diff breather.
OME Lift.
Rear coil conversion.
460 front brake upgrade.
JBA UCA's.
1st Gen Tundra wheels/ 265-70-r17 Goodyear Duratracs.

Interior:
Ram X grip phone and tablet mounts.
Ohana Rig Supply dash mount.
Kicker Audio
Scanguage ll

$160 Midland MXT275 MicroMobile® GMRS Radio – 15 watts Two-Way Radio with Integrated Control Microphone – Overland Caravanning Tractors – Detachable External Magnetic Mount Antenna - 8 Repeater Channels

Midland MXT275 GMRS.
Expedition Essentials mic mount.
LC Prado 120 center consol.
3rd Gen TRD Pro Tacoma shift knob.
Victory 4x4 center consol molle panels.
Victory 4x4 Tailgate table.
Blue Ridge Overland Gear attic and storage bags.
Iceco VL45PRO/ Bluetti EB3A

Recovery/Offroad:
ARB snatch strap
ARB soft shackles x2
Maxtrax x4
Viair 400p
ARB tyre deflator.
Staun tyre deflators.


How she currently sits.



Will be updating the thread with maint. and upgrades that encompasses the last 18months.

 

First order of business was a Headlight Restoration and full detail/paint correction. The paint was in good shape but needed attention.





After the cosmetics were handled it was time to get to some Maintenance issues. At the time of purchase both front CV's had torn boots and were leaking grease. Those got replaced with aftermarket CV's that had already been purchased by the PO but were never installed. Diff was drained and filled with Amsoil Severe Gear

$30 75w-90 Synthetic Gear Lube - 1 Quart (Pack of 2)

75w-90.







What followed was basic Maintenance of a high millage vehicle with not much maintenance history.

The rear diff got drained and filled with more Amsoil 75w-90.

An oil change with Mobile 1 5w-30 Full Synthetic and a

$54 Toyota 90915-YZZD3 Oil Filter 1 Case (QTY 10)

Toyota 90915-YZZD3 filter.

With some basic Maintenance out of the way and an otherwise very solid platform... the fun started.

 

After my previous build and learning what wanted and didn't want and what was necessary to better enjoy doing what I do the mods started.

I'm not a hard core wheeler, so as much as I hate the word "overlander" I guess that is pretty much what this build is. An overland build.

I spend alot of time camping in the NC mountains and surf fishing the OBX along with the southern regions of NC's coast.

First up was ditch light brackets from CBI for a set of DD SS3'S from the previous build. Shortly after a Victory roof rack was installed and the Maxtrax's from the previous build were thrown on it.



I wanted to have fun with this build and after some back and forth I said fuck it and ordered a Dobinsons snorkel. Install was straight forward but it takes quite a pair to drill a 4" hole In a very clean Lexus fender.

 

Can't wait to see the progress! Tires are 265/70/17 Load Range C Duratracs on first gen Tundy wheels and 1.25" Spidertraxx IIRC.

 

I figured I'd screw something up.

 

From the day I bought this thing I new I wanted an awning on it. So after some looking a found the OVS 280L on sale and pulled the trigger. The brackets were provided by OVS, I cobbled together some hardware and got it installed. The very next weekend I celebrated the new build addition with a lunch picnic and a ride around URE with my co-pilot.

Not pictured is a DD stage series lightbar that got installed on the Victory Rack. Cutting was required.









Vanity shot as of this stage in the build.

 

Next on the list was a Tailgate Table from Victory 4x4. I wanted to make use of that available real-estate so I pulled the trigger. Not as cheap as some option but it's a quality bit of kit that I have no regrets purchasing. Install is pretty involved but very straight forward for the most part.







Plenty of room for activities.

Shortly after this an Attic from B.R.O.G was purchased and had quickly become one of my favorite additions.

 

As I started to travel more with the new GX the factory fogs left alot to be desired. And with no real aftermarket solution available I came up with my own. Custom brackets and another set DD SS3'S in amber. Around the same time I worked up the courage to do a full front and rear bumper trim and it turned out mint.

 

And...in typical overland fashion, a fridge was next on the list.

After shopping around and reading reviews and watching enough YouTube videos on the subject I pulled the trigger on an Iceco VL45PRO along with an Iceco slide and insulated jacket. Along with the fridge I purchased a Bluetti EB3A to power it.

I took a piece of 3/4" birch ply, laid down some carpet and attached the slide to it. I used the factory rear cargo tie down bolt holes to fasten the entire assembly down.

 

Shes anything but a mall crawler and has had close to 20k miles put on her in the last 18 months. All over NC and SC. And since I'm going back into the last 18months in various stages of the build and im just gonna dump some pics so i hope you enjoy.

 

Pic Dump continued..

 

Next on the list but no particular order was some small things that I've really grown to enjoy.

I run alot of maps (Gaia, waze, onyx etc) while traveling so I ordered the Dash Panel by Ohana Rig Supply. Takes care of all the phone and tablet mounting duties.



Some head rest bags from B.R.O.G purchases from a member here.



With storage being a premium and my OCD that doesn't like when things get out of place I added two Apache 9800 cases to the roof rack. When we travel, one houses tools, recovery gear and my ViAir 400p air compressor. The other is designated for battery tools and spare parts. With 250k+ on the clock you gotta be ready for road/trail side repairs.



Another worth while endeavor was getting my shovel in an easy to access spot with as much time as we spend on the beach. Using the side rail mounting location, some longer 1/4-20 hardware and two quick fist I was able to mount it on the side of the rack. And you can tell by the shape that it's in, she's not just for decoration.



I don't tow often and if I do it's just a small 10x12 utility trailer, so I ditched the factory tubular style receiver hitch for a low profile option made by Metal Tech that still carries around 5k pound weight rating.



To add a little more functionality I added this paper towel role holder made my Cuisinart. Mounted directly to the molle panel and swings down when the table is extended.



Last but not least for the interior is a set of Victory center consol Molle panels. As of now not much is attached but I have some things planned.

 

And for a very overdue thankyou for this lady who puts up with this habit of mine and actually encourages me to do so.

My partner in crime.

 

Now that we're up to speed on the fun stuff. The list of maintenance items that were encountered but also some what expected. I've kept track of everything since the day of purchase.

Timing Belt and WP done at. (188,387) next due at (278,387) *

Headlight Restoration 8-25-21

Paint Correction + Wax 8-28-21

Cv Axles 9-10-21 (236,800)

Bank1 Downstream 02 sensor 9-10-21

Front diff fluid 9-10-21 (236,800) Amsoil

$30 75w-90 Synthetic Gear Lube - 1 Quart (Pack of 2)

75w-90

Rear diff fluid 10-30-21 (238,880) Amsoil 75w-90

UCA & DriveLine greased 11-8-21 (239,378)

Wiper Blades 11-18-21

Oil change 4-9-22 @244,980 Mobil 1 5w-30 Full Syn.

LF Wheel Speed Sensor and ABS Harness. 4-24-21 (245,000)

Front rotors 4-29-22

Front Bumper Damage 9-19-22

*** 10-15-22 *** Trans fluid drain & fill starred at 250,000. Valvoline MaxxLife. 17.5 Quarts as of 12-2-22

Throttle Body & MAF cleaned 12-2-22 (253,100)

10oz Lubeguard Premium 63010& 1Qt Valvoline MaxxLife 12-8-22

Transmission filter replaced. 5qt Valvoline Maxxlife and 10oz lubeguard 12-17-22 (253,975)

Cylinder 3 ignition coil 12-26-22 (254,090)

Oil Change. 1-2-23 @255,701 (10,721 OCI) Mobil 1 5w-30 Full Syn.

Tag lights replaced. DD Led. 1-7-23

 

If you look closely you will notice alot going on with the trans. We were coming back from a camping trip at URE and I started feeling what I thought was trans slip/shudder. We made it home and I started digging around the interwebz for a possible cause and solution.

I found out that in all available platforms that the A750f was installed in, trans shudder is a common issue. Getting fresh fluid in was the next priority. The fluid that came out at the first draining was black and had the viscosity of water. Could have been original fluid @250k.

Over a few weeks I began to buy stock in Valvoline Maxlife. Doing drain and feels regularly and following a dilution chart. The "shudder" got better but was still noticeable. So down came the pan for a cleaning and new filter/screen was installed.

New screen compared to old






After this was all buttoned back up and 4qts of fluid put back in the shudder was still there. Wasn't really sure what my next move was but kept trying to figure it out.

 

Fast forward to a few days before Christmas 22' the family is packed up for a trip of town. I fuel up and get ready to jump on the highway and it falls on its face. I've got a bad miss and the Dash looks like a Christmas tree. Pull the codes and I've got a misfire on cyl. 3. It's sits over the holidays until I can get to it. Start trouble shooting and swap coils. The misfire follows the coil. Run to the parts house and grab a coil. Take it for a drive and the "shudder" is gone.

What I had been chasing as a trans issue for the last 2 months was actually a coil going bad. Lesson learned.

 

While replacing the coil I also noticed the Left side valve cover leaking. Soooo valve cover gaskets and spark plug tube seals are in bound.

 

Good looking vehicle! I've had my eye on one as an offroad toy for a while now. Subbed AF!

 

Thanks man, it's a great platform. There are alot of more serious builds out there, but this one does everything I ask of it. With ease. I like it more than my previous 3rd gen.

Hopefully I can keep the thread updated in a timely manner.

 

Good looking ride Josh. I also live up in NC above Asheville in the Pisgah Mtns.

The GX is one of the most solid platforms for camping and wheeling! Enjoy getting out!