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Looking for some input and advice. My situation is that I just bought a ‘13gx460 and was advised one of the struts is leaking. Perfect time I think to do a lift/mod. I will be using this for the next few years as my daily driver, so I am looking for a comfortable ride, but looking for a tougher looking stance and appearance. I will be taking this onto the beach several times a year. I also want to start getting into overlanding and hope to do that tat in 4 years from now. What recommendations do you all have for mods? Lift’s? Tire wheel combos? Anything I should be aware of?
Looking for some input and advice. My situation is that I just bought a ‘13gx460 and was advised one of the struts is leaking. Perfect time I think to do a lift/mod. I will be using this for the next few years as my daily driver, so I am looking for a comfortable ride, but looking for a tougher looking stance and appearance. I will be taking this onto the beach several times a year. I also want to start getting into overlanding and hope to do that tat in 4 years from now. What recommendations do you all have for mods? Lift’s? Tire wheel combos? Anything I should be aware of?
Depends what you are looking to do, how hard you plan on wheeling it, and how much money you have to spend. Answer those questions and people might be able to give you better advice. You could spend anywhere from a few hundred dollars to $5000+ on a suspension setup.
Ironman suspension kits are 25% off right now. Since you have a leaky shock, sounds like the right time to invest in a lift!
I find that the 460 is already very capable in the sand in stock form, however a little extra clearance is nice.
Figure approx ~$900 for a lift kit (nitro, nothing fancy), plus extra for install if you're not doing yourself. The install quotes I received locally from 2 different garages is about $900 inc. wheel alignment.
Then up to you whether you want to invest in bigger tires or bigger tires + wheels, which can be an additional ~$800 to $1500+
I was assuming around 2500 for the lift and install? Is that wishful thinking?
No not at all. You can probably spend about $1500-1700 on actual parts, and then assume $800-1000 for labor if you are having someone do it.
I have heard OME's lifts ride kinda rough. Ironman and Dobinsons are two other big names. They have a wide range of setups that will range from ~$800 up to probably $2500. Eibach is supposedly about to drop their Sport kit for the GX460 here shortly, they already have a kit for the 470 and have heard very good reviews.
Then there is some of the full coilover setups like kind and Icon that you MIGHT be able to swing with a $1700 parts budget.
Getting Dobinsons 2" lift over the weekend, pay day tomorrow so you know. Will keep Lexus 18" wheels for now, which tire would you recommend? I was looking at KO2s 265/70/18 but some people say that their life is very short. I live in the city so 5 days a week car is on paved road, weekends im usually upstate doing life. 1st off-road car so completely new to this. Also opinion on UCA, some say replace stock, others say if the lift is 2" or less - don't do it, only for higher cars.
Getting Dobinsons 2" lift over the weekend, pay day tomorrow so you know. Will keep Lexus 18" wheels for now, which tire would you recommend? I was looking at KO2s 265/70/18 but some people say that their life is very short. I live in the city so 5 days a week car is on paved road, weekends im usually upstate doing life. 1st off-road car so completely new to this. Also opinion on UCA, some say replace stock, others say if the lift is 2" or less - don't do it, only for higher cars.
congrats and once lifted you notice and feel the difference immediately. as for the UCA with your current setup and if your tire sizes stays around or less than 32inches you should be ok with stock.
If you do go off roading alot you will benefit from new uca as it will provide better articulation especially if you end up with larger wheels later on.
another suggestion if you are going to or plan on towing look at the Airlift 1000s they are cheap $80 and will help firm up the back end when towing and prevent sagging. You can also use them like the adaptive ride height control to lift the GX another 0.5 or 1 inch if needed.
I have a OME lift on my 06 GX470 and it rides great. Way better than stock with the air bags. I went with the medium duty system. It is ARB parts so dependability is tried and true. I also do back woods adventures towing a lifted 18 foot camp trailer and kayaks. I also have a 2011 GX460 that is stock and I am in contemplating of what to do. I want to delete the air bags and am thinking of leaving it stock height but am really having an issue not pulling the trigger on a full lift. If I do, it will be either OME or Bilstein shock and struts with Metal Tech conversion kit.
I'm happy so far with my stage 1 Ironman4x4 nitro lift after having it for 10k+ miles. The 2.5" front and 2" rear lift has leveled out the rake (still about 0.5 - 1cm higher in the back, unloaded). The ride is stiffer than stock but not hard enough for my wife to notice.