🛠️ Member Build Overland Build - 2025 GX550 - Prinsu/CBI, Airdown Gearup, Warn, Baja Designs (3 Viewers)

[Arewethereyet]

Having built both rock crawlers and overland vehicles since the late 2000s, I decided that the GX would be purpose built for overlanding. I picked up the 2025 GX550 OT+ back in May 2025 after waiting about 8 months from initial order/deposit.

Unlike prior rock crawler builds where I sought out the hardest lines and most difficult obstacles, the focus with this build is to access interesting places comfortably and reliably with the competency to tackle unavoidable obstacles without too much effort. Even in stock form, the GX550 OT edition has proven to be quite competent on challenging Colorado trails. On a recent trail trial in stock form, I abused the stock wheels, OT skid plate, and broke two bolts on the OT Rock Sliders, and jostled the rear diff drain bolt causing a very slight seep running Red Cone and Radical Hill outside of Bailey Colorado, but otherwise the GX did not seem to complain too much.

Photo taken before I installed the accessory panels and rear hatch ladder which are now installed. I also removed the Lexus OT Rock Sliders and replaced with the CBI Rock Sliders.

 

[Arewethereyet]

Here are the mods mid way through the overland build so far with more parts ordered or planned through the first half of 2026.

James Baround Grand Raid XXL Roof Top Tent
Prinsu Pro full roof rack
Prinsu Summit handles two each side
Prinsu Lexus GX550 Accessory Panels - Driver and Passenger
Baja Designs S2 Aux Light Pods top rear of roof rack
Prinsu GX550 Rear Ladder
CBI Rock Sliders with the kickout design
CBI GX550 Front Bumper
Baja Designs 30” Light bar Amber Driving Combo Pattern S8 series
Warn Zeon XP 10-S Winch
Factor 55 UltraHook
Factor 55 Hawse Fairlead
SPOD Light Switch
FitCamX front and rear camera
ProClip Phone Mount and Accessories
Uniden R8 Radar Detector and Wire Harness

Ordered but not yet installed:
Airdown Gearup Rear Cargo Storage Drawer/Fridge system
CBI GX550 Full Skids Aluminum
Prinsu Pro Wind Deflector for 40" lightbar
Baja Designs S8 40” front roof light bar
Victory4x4 Rear Molle Panels

PPF black wrap on the roof and A pillars
Clear PPF front, rear view mirrors

Sold:
Overtrail Roof Rack
Overtrail Roof Rails
Lexus OT Rock Sliders

Wish List:
Westcott Designs 2” Collar Lift, or
74Weld Portals
Method 703 +35 17x8.5” wheels
Tires TBD

 

[Arewethereyet]

CBI GX550 Front Bumper.

Having attended the Overland Expo in Loveland this past summer, I evaluated a number of front bumper options with two contenders topping out the list; The Dissent Offroad bumper and the CBI GX550 Front Bumper. I chose the CBI front bumper prioritizing the ease of install and requiring less cutting of the front facia while recognizing the approach angle would be less with the CBI vs the Dissent version.

What I didn't fully appreciate is that the CBI bumper makes no allowance for accessing the winch clutch until after I purchased but while waiting for delivery. Had I realized that, I most certainly would have ordered the Dissent bumper instead. Because of the inability to access the clutch without cutting a gapeing whole in the front grill, I was forced to purchase a version of the Warn winch that allowed for remote clutch engagement/disengagement, the Warn Zeon XP 10-S, which has bluetooth capability to operate from a smart phone. I prefer an old school approach to manually disengaging the clutch to run out winch line.

Also, the fit and finish of the CBI front bumper leaves a gap on the extreme corners, almost as though the wings sag out on the ends. I could have shimmed out the wings, but then gaps would have been noticeable near the center piece.

Here are some pics of the CBI bumper installed with the Warn winch:


I have purchased a number of items from CBI/Prinsu over the years and for different vehicles as well as a number of items for this specific build. Until I installed this CBI GX550 bumper, I have been quite pleased with the all the products purchased from CBI. I plan to purchase the Dissent Offroad front bumper to replace this CBI bumper later this year.

 

[nonamex]

Nice build! If you decide to go with portals I would not recommend the Method 703. You would need a more positive offset wheel unless you really like the look of protruding wheels.

Have fun with the build.

 

[Arewethereyet]

Prinsu Pro GX550 Roof Rack, Accessory Panels, and Rear Ladder

Here are some pics of the roof rack, accessory panels both driver and passenger and rear ladder recently installed.

 

[nonamex]

CBI GX550 Front Bumper.

Having attended the Overland Expo in Loveland this past summer, I evaluated a number of front bumper options with two contenders topping out the list; The Dissent Offroad bumper and the CBI GX550 Front Bumper. I chose the CBI front bumper prioritizing the ease of install and requiring less cutting of the front facia while recognizing the approach angle would be less with the CBI vs the Dissent version.

What I didn't fully appreciate is that the CBI bumper makes no allowance for accessing the winch clutch until after I purchased but while waiting for delivery. Had I realized that, I most certainly would have ordered the Dissent bumper instead. Because of the inability to access the clutch without cutting a gapeing whole in the front grill, I was forced to purchase a version of the Warn winch that allowed for remote clutch engagement/disengagement, the Warn Zeon XP 10-S, which has bluetooth capability to operate from a smart phone. I prefer an old school approach to manually disengaging the clutch to run out winch line.

Also, the fit and finish of the CBI front bumper leaves a gap on the extreme corners, almost as though the wings sag out on the ends. I could have shimmed out the wings, but then gaps would have been noticeable near the center piece.

Here are some pics of the CBI bumper installed with the Warn winch:
View attachment 18297View attachment 18298View attachment 18299View attachment 18300View attachment 18301

I have purchased a number of items from CBI/Prinsu over the years and for different vehicles as well as a number of items for this specific build. Until I installed this CBI GX550 bumper, I have been quite pleased with the all the products purchased from CBI. I plan to purchase the Dissent Offroad front bumper to replace this CBI bumper later this year.

Your CBI bumper fitment quality looks like my NYTOP bumper. Same reason for ordering the Dissent bumper which is something I should have done from the beginning. You live, waste money, then learn I guess.

 

[Arewethereyet]

SPOD Bantam Touch Screen Light Control Panel, FitCamX front and rear cameras, iPhone Charger
Here are some interior mods:



















The SPOD control panel is attached to a ProClips (no affiliation with any brands here) Lexus GX Left Dash Mount | ProClip USA. ProClips offers two options for the GX550. I have used many of their mounts over the years and highly recommend the GX Left mount. I have not tried nor am I interested in the center console mount.

The SPOD Bantam controller was taken off my 2019 4Runner build after my son totaled that vehicle. Otherwise, I would have gone with the Garmen light controller option that integrates with Apple CarPlay, a cool idea I may explore in the future.

I am also a huge fan of the FitCamX cameras and have installed these cameras on many of my vehicles. I also installed a wire tap for my radar detector. I have a heavy foot and need the extra help staying out of trouble.

 

[WT25TC]

SPOD Bantam Touch Screen Light Control Panel

Looks clean. Which side of firewall did you pull the cable through? Do you need to remove a lot of trims/panels to get the wire pull?

 

[sleepreceptionistbug]

thats too bad to hear on the cbi bumper, thats the one I was looking at but the extreme gaps on the ends is a deal breaker for me.
Otherwise very nice build

 

[Arewethereyet]

Looks clean. Which side of firewall did you pull the cable through? Do you need to remove a lot of trims/panels to get the wire pull?

I came through on the driver side. I’ll grab some photos and post those so you can see them. If you don’t have an SPOD, go with the Garmin light system, then no wires to run inside the cab. This one here, Garmin PowerSwitch, 6 Gang Compact Digital Switch Box, Requires Compatible Garmin Navigator or Smartphone, Switch Panel for Car SUV UTV ATV Caravan Boat Marine https://a.co/d/byYFLMb

You can control the lights on an app from your phone or even better through Carplay.

 

[Arewethereyet]

thats too bad to hear on the cbi bumper, thats the one I was looking at but the extreme gaps on the ends is a deal breaker for me.
Otherwise very nice build

I futzed with the bumper for some time trying to close the gap and can usually figure a way to Jerry rig such things but finally threw in the towel and decided to just upgrade to the Dissent bumper down the road. Buy once, cry once. Now twice.