What are the best ‘bang-for-your-buck’ upgrades for improved handling or reliability, rather than just aesthetics, for my GX 2022? Open to suggestions. Thanks.

 

... "GX 2022" ... which model (trim level) ?

 

Good tires.

Scangauge or sim.

Good detailing, Ceramic Coating, ect.

Fluid Film or similar frame treatment if anywhere salty or corrosive.

 

Most of the suspension upgrades for a body on frame truck are focused on off roading.
What specific handling improvements are you looking for your body on frame truck?
(yes my emphasis on body on frame is very important vs a unibody suv which is more like a "lifted" car)
SUVs like BMW's X5 or MB GLE are not body on frame but unibody designs. (at least the newer gens past the early 2000's)
So lowering kits, etc are available on those platforms just like on their sedan counterparts.

 

... for Base or Premium trim ... handling, without going crazy ... to improve steering response, reduce body roll and significantly reduce nose dive ... replace the OEM shocks with Bilstein 4600's using the existing springs. Replace the narrow 7.5" wide / 25-mm offset OEM rims with 8.5" wide / 10-mm offset rims, or 0-mm offset rims, with the latter putting the edge of the tire tread in vertical alignment with the edge of the fender ... and mount Michelin Defender LTX tires. This transforms the handling as best that can be accomplished with a body-on-frame ... while maintaining a comfortable ride.

If you are still running the as-delivered garbage Dunlop or Bridgestone tires, just changing to Michelin Defender LTX tires will make a significant improvement.

 

Premium

 

Thanks for the suggestions.

 

Thanks for the advice. I appreciate it.

 

Nothing to do with handling - but everything to do with reliability. At 4+ years old (2022 MY) - if you are anywhere near 65,000 miles - I'd go ahead and do your coolant flush now (short the 100K interval by around 1/3). Cylinder Head gasket jobs on these are not cool, and you are probably in that "proactive" protection range to ensure your metal head gaskets are not being slowly etched away by corrosive coolant. The truck handles 10,000% better when it actually runs, and you are not looking to pay $6000 for a head gasket repair Luckily - Lexus Goodwill covered my *** out of warranty on that one. Wish I would have flushed at 50K-60K and again at 100K and avoided that whole deal.

Transmission fluid maintenance is another HOTLY debated topic - My Transmission totally went out (slipped in all gears) at 140K or so - CPO VSA got me a remanufactured one and a free loaner for a month. I still wish I would have flushed it like I did on my 2013 4Runner that went to 235K w/o a single major repair. The odd thing is - Lexus Dealers won't do the full Transmission Flush no matter how much you ask. So - yeah. Lots of confusion on this - and not a cheap repair. I plan on flushing my re-man tranny soon with around 60K on it (195K on the truck now). 12qts of genuine fluid and the garden-sprayer method on-tap...

 

^ ... +1 on Coolant and ATF changes ... and add Brake Fluid ...