🛠️ Member Build San Juan OT+ Build

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jclaffee

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May 15, 2024
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SW Colorado
I'm no noob to vehicle forums, but have never done a build thread. This won't be anything earth shattering for sure but what the hell.

For background:

We have a 6.2L Silverado Trail Boss that serves as dedicated horse trailer and camper tow vehicle and it's nicely set up for camping. (Now subject to the GM engine recall - YAY!)



But it's primarily my wife's vehicle and I've spent more than a year looking for the replacement for my trusty 4th and 5th gen 4runners. Seriously considered the Defender 110, Grenadier and a 2025 Tahoe Z71.

The beautiful 4th gen V8 was sold to a guy in New Mexico who was planning to turn it into a built overland rig. 5th Gen is getting passed down to our daughter - lucky kid.
 
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Picked up a 2025 OT+ two weeks ago. Deposit was placed in May 2024, so it was a wait. Stevinson Lexus did it right in every way, no shenanigans, gave me full controll of all port installed options / deletions, so huge thanks to them!

Flew to Denver, Uber'd to the dealer in a mix of fog, rain and slush. Not picture perfect pick-up day weather. Transaction went smoothly and headed out for a 3 day / 2 night cruise over 6 or 7 mountain passes on the way home.

First day was a mess with fog and snow. Actually got high enough up that the shitty weather was below me here (at ~12,000 ft). The brand new truck was a mess, but the color does a fantastic job of hiding the crap.

 
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In the last week I've had a Peak Suspension spacer leveling kit installed (pics and "after" measurments to come), a Sherpa Atlas rack, EXPEL on the full front clip and A-pillars, and CS 2 Titanium ceramic applied to the whole thing.

As soon as I got it back, I put the Canvasback rear liners in (including the nifty bumper protection piece this time). Huge fan of their product and company.

 
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Next tried to install Victory rear window MOLLE panels. They sent some of the wrong brackets and hardware, but I still got them in place for now. I think they'll add some welcome additional gear storage options.

 
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Next is the awning. But I need a few extra hands, and the massive Bush Company brackets don't appear to be easily compatible with the Sherpa rack. If anyone has any guidance here, I'd appreciate it.

 
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nonamex said:
Nice ride! How is the ride on the Peak lift? Any more plans for your build out?
Click to expand...
No noticable difference at all in ride, and I was looking for it.

Wheels and tires for sure and probably Westcott sliders. I expected the OEM ones would be fine but I'm already getting beef from my wife and daughter about the lack of a "step".

I may do bumpers. But that would be new ground for me, and I'm going to live with it for four seasons before making that leap.
 
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nonamex said:
Is that the 270 or 180? I’m thinking about the 180 but a little leery on adding more weight to the roof rack.
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180. (We have the 270 on the pickup, but it wouldn't really work with the GX liftgate)

I'm not putting a tent on the GX, so the awning will be the only heavy thing up there, and ~ 57 lbs doesn't worry me too much.
 
Here's a look at the ProClip charging phone mount. There may be a better option for me down the road, but I wanted to de-clutter the area around the cup hodelrs and lighter and wanted the phone higher up, so this was the best I could find.

I thought having the phone on the left would be weird, but I like it.

 
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jclaffee said:
No noticable difference at all in ride, and I was looking for it.

Wheels and tires for sure and probably Westcott sliders. I expected the OEM ones would be fine but I'm already getting beef from my wife and daughter about the lack of a "step".

I may do bumpers. But that would be new ground for me, and I'm going to live with it for four seasons before making that leap.
Click to expand...
I swapped my OEM steps out for OEM sliders and won’t hear the end of it from my 5’2” wife & my parents 😅
 
jclaffee said:
Next tried to install Victory rear window MOLLE panels. They sent some of the wrong brackets and hardware, but I still got them in place for now. I think they will add some welcome additional gear storage options.

Click to expand...
FYI on the panel install, I'd suggest not following their instructions, and loosely attaching at least the upper bracket to the panel before attaching the bracket to the vehicle. Trying to get the lock nuts onto the bolts behind the panel and tightening them forever with the brackets already installed was ridiculous. For the second panel I also loosely attached the bracket that uses the 3M tape before mounting. The bottom bracket isn't too much of a pain in the ass so I loosely mounted that one to the vehicle first as the instructions prescribe.
 
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jclaffee said:
Updated pic with the Peak levling kit installed and the new cargo box and awning mounted.

Measurements from center of hubs to bottom edge of wheel arches with the spacer leveling kit:
Front = 22.5 in.
Rear = 23.0

Click to expand...
Is that the Peak kit that adds about 1.25” of lift, or did you stick with just leveling the front on your ‘25 model? I’ve been talking with them about options for my 2024 OT. Did you use an installer in Durango?
 
DJ’s Sled said:
Is that the Peak kit that adds about 1.25” of lift, or did you stick with just leveling the front on your ‘25 model? I’ve been talking with them about options for my 2024 OT. Did you use an installer in Durango?
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Just the front - this spacer kit https://www.peaksuspension.com/product/2024-lexusgx550-1-25-lift-kit/

I've had all of my work on our two 4Runners, our Tundra TRD Pro, the Siverado and now the GX done by the accessories / customization guys at Durango Motor Company (the local Toyota dealer). They are an authorized dealer and installer for every brand of off-road suspension or accesory I've ever looked into. See DGO Autogear | Auto & Truck Accessories In The Four Corners
 
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jclaffee said:
Just the front - this spacer kit https://www.peaksuspension.com/product/2024-lexusgx550-1-25-lift-kit/

I've had all of my work on our two 4Runners, our Tundra TRD Pro, the Siverado and now the GX done by the accessories / customization guys at Durango Motor Company (the local Toyota dealer). They are an authorized dealer and installer for every brand of off-road suspension or accesory I've ever looked into. See DGO Autogear | Auto & Truck Accessories In The Four Corners
Click to expand...
NICE! I will definitely strongly consider having those tougher jobs done there. Easy drive Ridgway to Durango over the 3 passes most of the year. Thank you much 😊👍
 
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