This truck has been a long journey. It started in January of 2024 hunting for a 2008 to 2015 LX570 every morning. I figured spending a bit more on the LX would negate some of the mods I’d want to do to a GX. So, I put the 2005 F350 and 2014 Mercedes E350 up for sale to fund the next vehicle. Both sold fairly quick and then my wife was diagnosed with breast cancer followed by a layoff.
We spent the summer of 2024 in hospitals from St. Albans, Vermont down to Boston. From Memorial Day to Labor Day she went through multiple surgeries and we tightened our budgets. We got the news she had conquered breast cancer in early fall. That same day, her previous employer called saying they wanted to hire her back. It was like someone was watching out for her to give her the time she needed to heal!
Although the next vehicle purchase had been off the table for me, I still enjoyed hunting for one while sipping my morning coffee all those months. Roughly a month after my wife was back to normal, while still searching for a LX570, I came across a thread in the Reddit GXOR group. Someone was asking about this truck:
It sat at a Toyota store in Arkansas, and was already built with much of what I would have done myself. On top of that, the price was right! I called the dealership and was lucky to get a decent salesperson. We put a deal together quickly and I arranged shipping from Arkansas to Vermont.
Plans for the GX460
Photography! This rig is meant to get into the woods, up the mountains, and streams for catching morning light. Camping near a location is far more energizing than waking up at 3 AM to drive to a location.
Since the truck arrived in October, it has received a few more mods and updates. I have a build thread going on the iH8MUD forums: Vermont Photo Hunting Rig. Details and feedback from other GX460 offroaders can be seen there.
I’ll break down the upgrade phases.
Self Recovery & Medical
When one ventures into the woods one is truly alone. I love the wilderness for the seclusion, but if a mishap occurs I want to be as prepared as possible.
Medical: The GX is loaded with first aid. Two larger kits to stay in the car and a smaller one to put in a backpack. I usually pack a hiking kit in my photography bag too.
Communications: The Garmin Reach system is connected to a portable navigation device and will be adding it to the car’s Garmin Tread navigation system. At the moment, the iPhone has a satellite connection that can be used to call for help as well. Finally, we invested in a Starlink Mini to serve as a backup at home, a roadtrip internet for the kids, and a camping broadband service for me.
Lighting: I try to keep portable lights on hand. Not only are they handy at night, but they’re incredibly handy when working on the car. There is a variety of flashlights, flood lights, and head lamps for the out-of-the-car experience. Fenix lights have been my got to. While driving, I spared little expense by purchasing Baja Designs. There is a 20 inch light bar on top of the front bumper, ditch lights above the hood, and I will be installing a special “Ronin Metal” adapter to run more high-powered fog lights. The truck already had some powerful rear lights in the bumper.
Winch: It came with a 10,000lb Warn winch already installed in the CBI front bumper. It also had a Factor 55 setup for connecting lines. I switched the fairlead to Yankum’s design and am now running a loop on the synthetic rope. The goal was reduce parts in that winching system.
Recovery gear: When adopting the Yankum system, I went all-in with straps, extenders, and snatch rings. Prior to Yankum, I had been using some mid-level straps and snatch blocks on my tractor. There were a few saves of UPS trucks and friends in the winter time, but most of it was used to pull fallen trees. It was time to get clean new things that could be better trusted in “unstucking” vehicles. The old stuff can help in dead tree removal.
Traction boards & digging: I have never owned any traction board before. Growing up near a beach you could drive on, we did our share of “unstucking” trucks with logs and anything else we could find. I can see where these are useful, but I’m hopeful my only use of them will be to level the truck for camping. A few years ago, I picked up a “goochie” shovel and snow shovel from DMOS. There was a Black Friday sale and those things are CRAZY expensive for what they are. But, like a true “goochie” D-bag, I grabbed the holders for them during this last Black Friday so I can be a true overlander pimp! Just need an awning.
Is the Truck Capable?
It hasn’t been put to the full test yet. I have played on tractor trails around my yard in a foot of snow to full success, but nothing away from home yet. As of two weeks ago we finally solved some driving issues by switching to heftier Dobinsons springs. Dirt King upper control arms were added at that time to maintain the proper alignment. I haven’t noticed any rubbing since the alignment.
A Magnaflow Overlander exhaust system was installed to help with rear clearance. It sounds good too!
RCI just delivered aluminum skid plates in black to go underneath the truck. Skid plates are an insurance plan for when your truck goes up and comes down with a BOOM. Those will be installed once the driveway thaws.
Speaking of warmer weather, I also have a Prinsu Pro rack waiting for nicer days. I’m a fair-weather installer.
In April, an extended fuel tank is expected to arrive. That will add significant weight to the rear and bring the raking down as the rear sits roughly 2 inches higher right now. The extra fuel will take the range from around 200 miles to over 400. I’m looking forward to less fuel stops with my 11.2 MPGs… all city driving. It does much better on the highway.
Comforts are great! It is a Lexus, so the nicer leather, woodgrain, sound system and all those things are the luxuries you’d expect over a Toyota. Not much more to say here. It is a pleasure to get behind the wheel.
Here are some photos of other things going on with this truck:
