2018 Lexus GX build

WashingtonTaco · May 15, 2021

Of course to get my tablet to sit at the level I wanted (low) I needed to DIY my medium RAM mount arm. The RAM mount arms won’t sit 90 degrees of the opposite end. I drilled a .437 or 7/16 hole in the end, then notched it and filed it clean

Gallowbraid · May 15, 2021

WashingtonTaco said:
Expedition Essentials is a Washington based manufacturer of accessory mounts. The GX does not offer a great surface for clean DIY installations. A couple months ago they asked me to come by a test there prototype dash mount for the GX 460. Today they shot the installation video using my GX and was first to get my new mount.

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Looks clean! Appears that the RAM balls are in a track and can slide for adjustment? I like that over some other manufacturers mounts that have pre-spaced holes.

WashingtonTaco · May 15, 2021

Yes, the RAM balls have infinite adjustment. Expedition Essentials added there Diamond mount to the mix. It has two clamping nuts in the track. Better hold for heavier items like my iPad.

WashingtonTaco · Jun 21, 2021

Spent last Thursday night and Friday in the Wenas DNR lands near Ellensburg WA. Solo sleep setup rocks. Nemo sleep pad and summer weight bag was plenty insulation and the Weather Tech window shade covers keep the early rising sun out!

WashingtonTaco · Aug 12, 2021

Been a while since I've updated the rig build. Been enjoying it this summer so the mods have been put on back burner. The front bumper is still out by 2-4 weeks minimum.

We are heading to CO/UT in late September and after our Death Valley trip we knew we wanted some cover for showers and bathroom breaks. I've been eyeballing Alu Cabs 270 awning since we had them on our rental Land Cruisers in Namibia. They set up so easy that we would deploy them at every stop. After contacting Alu Cab and numerous other manufactures the only 270 awning that would be close in length to my roof length was the Rhino Rack short 270 awning. No offense to Rhino Rack owners but it is nowhere near the quality of the Alu Cab awning.

It was apparent in DV the gals wanted some cover, other than lugging the bucket up a wash until out of sight. When Dave posted up his En Suite installation I had to go back and watch 4X Overland videos of when ASPW installed his on his 70 series a few years back. So with the 270 awning out I purchased the En Suite.

Installing it where I wanted it will require custom brackets but I already had the material and what else do I have to do at work besides work on my own truck projects! I temporarily used some old brackets from another project to find my location. After choosing the location I set out bending up some .125" 5000 series aluminum for proof of concept. With brackets bent and gussets cut I'll be welding this up over the weekend.

WashingtonTaco · Aug 25, 2021

Completed my En Suite brackets. My initial designed worked but like @Dave I needed to space the whole assembly out so I ordered some 2"x 2" square tube aluminum as a spacer. The GX is bulbous and I could actually use more spacing but then you run into sticking it way out in the wind and tree branches. I sprayed the brackets with Krylon but when I send my new front bumper in for powder coating these will get blasted and powder coated.

WashingtonTaco · Aug 25, 2021

Mounted the En Suite up added a rubber pad under each outboard attachment point to mitigate squeaking. One of my scene lights lines up and will work for night doody operations.

WashingtonTaco · Aug 25, 2021

Night light. This turned out well and won't interfere with my shovel access or scene light when the En Suite isn't deployed.

Field test will be conducted this weekend, main concerns are wind noise at freeway speeds and tree/brush contact on the trail.

WashingtonTaco · Sep 2, 2021

Major mod, upgrade coming. Laying groundwork for this mod this weekend. Location, location location…

Dave · Sep 3, 2021

Using the En Suite, one thing I’ve learned is that staking it down helps a lot. Wind can be an issue with the bottom edge of the enclosure becoming unruly at inconvenient moments…

In rocky country like Moab etc where tent stakes die young, I use “Perfect Bungies” and loop them around soccer ball size rocks to immobilize the bottom of the En Suite and keep it square.

kwill · Sep 4, 2021

Neat build but I must have missed a turn somewhere...what happened to the front bumper?

WashingtonTaco · Sep 6, 2021

kwill said:
Neat build but I must have missed a turn somewhere...what happened to the front bumper?

Returning from a ski trip last January I crashed into a BMW and smashed it. I didn’t want another Ironman bumper so I waited for Victory 4x4 to come out with there GX bumper. I ordered it in early May. Hopefully it ships soon.

WashingtonTaco · Sep 22, 2021

Attention!

If you are considering re gearing your Toyota product be aware Nitro Gear won’t have them in stock until late January for 4:56 and late December for 4:88.

So re gearing project is on hold.

WashingtonTaco · Nov 15, 2021

A small project this weekend since I failed to get material for my air system upgrade.

My start battery terminals were not up to the rest of my electrical system and expectations. SDHQ is the manufacture of these and the covers, quality product.

What I started with...

SDHQ terminals.

WashingtonTaco · Dec 7, 2021

It's been a long time coming..... In early May 2021 I put a Victory Strike full hoop bumper on order for the GX.
https://www.victory4x4.com/product/VGXFS-46.html

The times being what they are Victory stated 16 weeks counting working days only, AKA five months. In mid October the bumper arrived. I always order no powder coat as most shops have a low cost bidder, I may alter the product, damage in shipping and I want all my parts to match.

As I inspected the bumper, the welds and joint fitment were subpar, in fact I was shocked Victory shipped it. Immediately I contacted Victory by email with a plethora of pictures. They agreed and started production of a second bumper. The additional wait was 4 weeks, again working days so 5 weeks. December 2nd the second bumper arrived, nearly 8 months after paying in full. What a cluster F.

WashingtonTaco · Dec 7, 2021

This is a hidden winch style bumper that uses the Hawse fairlead and hook/thimble/eyelet as a skid plate (many bumpers are designed like this, IDK why). Prior to purchase I knew I would be modifying the bumper ASAP to accommodate a roller fairlead.

With the second new bumper in hand I dropped off the bumper at the local weld shop with my template of what needed to be done. I came up with the mod on the bumper with the help of an engineering friend that understands the use and stresses involved.