Heavily Modified Lexus LX570 Tackles any Trail

Formidable Beast

In recent years, more and more people (aside from Lexus itself) have been modifying the LX for off-road use. And for good reason - the big-bodied SUV is a pretty darn capable vehicle in that regard. That includes Cape Town, South Africa resident Jacobus Vermeulen, who purchased the LX you see before you last year and has spent the last several months transforming it into a formidable machine that he routinely takes out and stretches to its limits.

Photos: Jacobus Vermeulen

No Mall Crawler

Vermeulen is fairly new to the world of off-roading, but caught the bug and never looked back. He was drawn to the Lexus for the same reasons as most that have turned them into off-road mavens, as he explained to News 24. "This vehicle, although it has the same capabilities and underpinnings as a Land Cruiser 200, is mainly seen at malls and school runs, but never on 4x4 tracks or out in the wild. I wanted to change that," Vermeulen said.

Photos: Kobus Vermeulen

>>Join the conversation about this offroad LX570 right here in ClubLexus forum.

Multiple Challenges

Aside from acquiring the LX during last year's lockdown, Vermeulen faced a number of other challenges building his off-road beast. Namely, finding the parts he wanted in a place where no one has built an off-road LX before. "The challenge with the Lexus is that no one has really done something like this, and I believe this is the first Lexus LX570 that has been customized to tackle serious terrain and look the part," Vermeulen said.

Photos: Kobus Vermeulen

>>Join the conversation about this offroad LX570 right here in ClubLexus forum.

Custom Parts

Vermeulen managed to get a handful of aftermarket companies on board with his project but still had to create several parts from scratch, including the bumpers and rock sliders, which he fabricated himself. He sourced the SUV's snorkel from a Land Cruiser, then made a custom roof rack to hold various extra gear.

Photos: Kobus Vermeulen

>>Join the conversation about this offroad LX570 right here in ClubLexus forum.

Other Goodies

The LX is also fitted with a spare tire carrier, high-lift jack, recovery boards, an ARB air compressor, custom dual-exhaust system, and Dirty Life wheels wrapped in a set of BFGoodrich K02 all-terrain tires, which are also equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system for those long off-road excursions.

Photos: Kobus Vermeulen

>>Join the conversation about this offroad LX570 right here in ClubLexus forum.

Easy Choice

Ultimately, Vermeulen's choice to modify the LX made sense for a number of reasons, as he points out here. "Lexus built this SUV to be able to do hundreds of thousands of km without having to overhaul the engine. And in the US, they've been nominated the most reliable car brand for the last nine years. With those credentials, it was easy to make a choice to use a Lexus. And to bring it home, off-road racing legend Giniel de Villiers drove a Lexus LX570 in 2012."

Photos: Kobus Vermeulen

>>Join the conversation about this offroad LX570 right here in ClubLexus forum.

Future Trips

Since finishing his LX, Vermeulen has spent his time exploring the rougher areas of his home, the Western Cape, and has plans to travel even further in the future. "I really want to make a trip through Namibia and Botswana," he said. "I think any overlander should have Namibia and Botswana on their bucket list." Luckily for him, he's got a comfortable and capable vehicle to do just that.

Photos: Kobus Vermeulen

>>Join the conversation about this offroad LX570 right here in ClubLexus forum.