offroading, you want steel for ultimate protection for playing on obstacles, and you sacrifice daily drivability. Overlanding, you go for aluminum since you don't plan on playing on obstacles and weight is a concern for safety on/off road handling. I went with high clearance aluminum front bumper and full aluminum skids front to back and steel rear bumper and steel sliders mainly because i do alot of offroading but i dont play in rock gardens all the time, but i needed the rear to take hits coming off ledges/waterfalls and to hold weight (tire and jerry cans). So yeah, everything is about compromise.
Exactly. Because Overlanding has more gear to carry than off-roading, then it’s steel for off-roading and aluminum for Overlanding. One is limited by the GVWR Gross Vehicle Weight Rating in the end, and the GX does not have much to spare being so heavy to start with compared to 4Runner or Tacoma.
Great channel! Love your content. New Lexus fanboy here. Picked up a 2017 gx460 this past friday and love it already. I liked the 4runners and tacomas Ive owned in the past but cant say I loved them like I do my gx460. Thank you for sharing your experience and wisdom with these vehicles.
I just picked up a 2015 GX last weekend and am already researching mods, especially that front bumper. Because my desired build is for overlanding while towing a teardrop, I still think aluminum is better than steel. With all the weight we add to our rigs, it becomes necessary to start counting pounds just like we count ounces when backpack camping. In my mind, if the trail is too rough for aluminum skids and bumpers, it's too rough to be towing a trailer over anyway.
This video and your “not lifted” video sort of combine for me with advice. I’m seeing some people arguing that once you add weight to the front end by adding a bumper (I’m between the CBI stealth and Victory Blitz as top options for me) and a skid plate, and sliders- the stock suspension cannot handle it. I believe every decision, whether it’s to keep it stock or modify, is a compromise. I could go with lighter bumper, and minimal aluminum skids that would add protective function, with the compromise being less protective than heavy steel. The stock suspension would still be compromised with the added weight, but maybe not so much to warrant a suspension modification (which I am trying to avoid if possible). I’d keep it completely stock, but think we can all agree some changes are necessary for off-roading. I grew up off-roading and tent camping in the 90s and the overland trend is different with a ton of gear you really don’t need for most trails and light camping IMHO. Thanks again for the great videos and sharing your experiences owning and driving your GX460.
I do both in my 2011 gx460. 2.5 inch lift, Dobinsons, replaced UCA and boots. Smitty built bumpers and steel rock sliders. Turns out, I don't have as much time to overland or go off reading as I initially thought. Instead, I lost a ton of mpg during my daily driving. 15 on a super straight away. Oh well. Atleast my prinsu rack looks great. 😆
For a dedicated wheeling rig, you want steel armor, especially rock crawling. Steel is stronger and will bend. Aluminum is lightweight and can crack. Rocks will eat aluminum up fast. Overlanders usually run aluminum because they need to save weight so they can carry around skottles, roof top tents, 360 degree awnings, and other expensive overland-y doo-dads. 🤣 For weekend wheeler/ daily drivers, steel skids, steel sliders, and aluminum bumpers are a good compromise. Heavy stuff where you need it. A proper lift will stiffen your ride back up and help immensely off road. So will smaller wheels and bigger tires.
I had an aftermarket aluminum skid pan installed on my 4Runner because I didn't want to deal with the weight of steel when doing work under the car. I refrained from any aftermarket bumper because of those 8 bolts that they would attach to. IMO, there is no advantage there.
Thanks for the video. I think we off-road in the same areas, I'll be in Yucca Valley end of next month with mine. I recognized your exit off the 10 near the Hot Water Casino. ;)
I am of the mind that the opposite is true. If I am over landing, I am adding a ton of weight that isn't armor so I want to cut weight anywhere I can. If I am off roading I want the strength of the steel and I am not worried about the weight because I don't have an ARB fridge, an RTT, or a bunch of luggage and cooking gear. Also, the cost is a big factor as well. Aluminum is significantly more expensive and if I am off roading primarily, that money can be better invested elsewhere.
@@LexusGX460-OFF-ROAD I am more on the overlanding end, so it works out well for my use case. I could see rocks chewing it up pretty quickly if used for rocky trails. Or get a higher clearance one where it's pretty much out of the way and more about protecting.
@@pennmikael I have the victory Blitz which you are refering to as the low profile. I really like it. It was easy to install and has winch as well as recovery points. All at around 70lb. It ,to me, looked like a better design and easier to install than the CBI. Recovery points is a big plus as well and protects the radiator as well.
What exactly is the weight of the added steel skid plates? aluminum weight too? Aluminum density is about 2/3rds that of steel but weaker. Assume design is thicker to compensate.
Yes, that bumper is heavy, but the real problem is, the lines are all wrong on the ends. Why on earth do they slope downward? The natural line of the bumper ends should follow the contour of the original bumper cover and slant upward. The downward sloped ends just hurts my soul. It's like they got 80% of the bumper correct (center is great) then someone took a lunch break and let the apprentice finish the design.
A lot of people end up spending a lot of money redoing the gear ratios after adding all the steel stuff. I think that unless you are doing some extreme rock crawling you probably don’t need steel.
I agree with you about skids, to a point. You advocate for a factory height/near factory height vehicle. In this instance, I feel, steel would be preferred. It's a compromise. Unless of course, you're viewing a skid plate as a consumable. In which case, ignore my statement. To me though, a skid isn't a consumable. All this (as you've stated) depends on how you drive, and whether or not you're able to avoid an obstacle in the first place. Good vids! Personally, I have steel skids, and I'm looking for an aluminum front bumper.
Hi! We just got a GX460 and have been trying to figure out the best build for overlanding. Great channel btw! I am now leaning towards a aluminum full skids since we are going to install a steel front bumper and rock sliders. I was worried about weighing it down too much because we wanted to use it to tow an RV or popup camper too. We are moving up to Colorado this fall. Do you guys think aluminum will be ok for the terrain out there? I don't know when my SO will agree to another 4 wheel drive vehicle for us again so I have to make sure this car lasts. Are there any issues with the aluminum skids not protecting the underside enough? Thanks!
Do you have your factory front skid? Mine rusted and I currently am running no skid on my 2013. I was thinking aluminum for a replacement but would put another factory one on if i could find one. I dont "need" an aftermarket skid. But if I have to buy one I might as well go after market right?
Maybe aluminum bumpers do better, but I have aluminum skids and I will never do aluminum skids again. No matter how thick you make it you wont change the surface hardness. Where steel dents and scratches aluminum gets chunks gouged out.
Do you know of any company that makes an aluminum rear bumper for the GX? I've found multiple options for the front, but only steel options for the back. I plan to put an extended range fuel tank on mine, so I need to move the spare up to the rear bumper.
@@LexusGX460-OFF-ROAD I have a 2020 with 19in wheels which have limited option I ended going from the stock 265 55 19 to 255 60 19 Toyo at3 simply because that was the only size available for All terrain. On my fj I was running 285s MT. I'm glad to see the stock is remains capable of road
@@LexusGX460-OFF-ROAD enter goosegear and $2k lighter. All kidding aside, I don’t use the 3rd row seats but plan to keep them. It’s my family’s bug out vehicle and want the option to seat at least 7.
I went with a steel front bumper because Im adding a wench and I just dont trust aluminum’s strength when it comes to the wench mount plate. Dont want to bend my bumper out of shape.
