So good

"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch) 01/21/2018 at 23:20 • Filed to: None

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The GX with hankook AT-M is sooo good in the snow. Sure a dedicated winter would stop shorter and corner harder, and these tires will certainly loose some cred as they wear but they grab pretty hard and the GX’s traction control - which is both fanatical but yet slow to intervene - Kills it. It allows some slip and some yaw then grabs smoothly and still allows throttle input (thank you!)

Mine is the one on the right.

I like it. I hadn’t had a chance to really try it yet cause of stupid winter 2018, but I did this weekend when I went north to find 6 inches of snow to avoid 12 inches of snow back home...turns out.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > HammerheadFistpunch 01/21/2018 at 23:42

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Did you ever figure out what you’re doing with the Cruiser? Felt like you were leaning closer to keeping it last time...

HammerheadFistpunch > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 01/21/2018 at 23:47

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No leaks, drives great. Probably keep it

AestheticsInMotion > HammerheadFistpunch 01/21/2018 at 23:48

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Do you have any input on a small winch/hoist for recovery? I’m trying to upgrade my “offroad, middle-of-nowhere” safety gear but I have no idea where to start for this particular item.

I saw a review from a trusted source for this half ton hoist and the build quality, size, and weight all seem fantastic. I would imagine it would be powerful enough to pull the Miata enough to break free from whatever I manage to get stuck in...

  http://www.kito.ca/manual-hoists-and-trolleys/lx

HammerheadFistpunch > AestheticsInMotion 01/21/2018 at 23:55

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aVe? For a miata a kito would probably be a good bet in the small enough to not leave it at home but useful enough to help. Truthefully ive never had to winch or use my hilift as such. Traction boards are what i use most and i seem to use them most in the winter to free small cars from snow banks. A little bulky for your use. In your case i would say low profile wire chains a kito and plenty of extension line would be helpful

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > HammerheadFistpunch 01/22/2018 at 00:01

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AT-M? As in Hankook AT-M? If so, yes, they rock.

HammerheadFistpunch > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 01/22/2018 at 00:08

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Yeah those ones. Like em so far

benjrblant > HammerheadFistpunch 01/22/2018 at 00:08

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YESSSSSS! Best news all weekend.

AestheticsInMotion > HammerheadFistpunch 01/22/2018 at 00:22

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Yep, discovered him a month ago. I’ve really been enjoying the vijeos although the dialect I’m picking up is somewhat annoying.

Awesome I’ll look into that, thanks! Just curious, what’s the proper method to free a vehicle that’s beached (high-centered? Whatever you call it when you’re stuck on frame between the wheels).

Oh and that drone shot is awesome. Are you using the thing pretty often now?

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > HammerheadFistpunch 01/22/2018 at 00:30

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My olde Escalade has had a set on it for five or six years now. They’ve done everything I’ve asked of them and been pleasant on pavement. They’ve proved pretty phenomenal over the years on hard-packed snow and ice (for a non-dedicated winter tire.) Back when I got them, they were cheap. I think they were around $85/tire for 265/70R16, and it felt like taking a shot on an unknown tire at the time. For the $125/tire they go for now in that sized, I’d probably get them again so long as something like a Geolander AT-S or Michelin LTX A/T 2 weren’t on sale at the time.

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > HammerheadFistpunch 01/22/2018 at 00:36

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My uncle’s AT-M would have preferred snow...

deprecated account > HammerheadFistpunch 01/22/2018 at 00:36

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First of all - you have two GXs?!?! What is going on here? Second - Would you recommend over KO2s? Are they even comparable? I love the way KO2s look, but I’ve heard they clog easily and I’m not sure I even need something that aggressive.

HammerheadFistpunch > deprecated account 01/22/2018 at 00:39

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A friends gx, just happens to be exactly the same minus a few small details. As for the tires...i bought falkens for my off road truck. The hankooks were just a great at value witha snowflake symbol. So far so good though

HammerheadFistpunch > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media 01/22/2018 at 00:41

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Nissan eh? well theres your problem. Seriously though these are going to see very little trail action so im not too concerned

deprecated account > HammerheadFistpunch 01/22/2018 at 00:44

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Might have to look into those then. Still have probably 20k left in my old Michelin Defender LTXs though.

HammerheadFistpunch > AestheticsInMotion 01/22/2018 at 11:17

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To free a high centered vehicle you need to lift and fill. I just saw your post and it answered the question “why do you ask?” nicely. The 2 ways to do it are hilift and backfill with rocks or some other media, or to exhaust jack and fill. the latter would be your bets bet with the miata, but they aren’t cheap.

https://www.amazon.com/ARB-72X10-Orange-Bushranger-X-Jack/dp/B007RY5NTK

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > HammerheadFistpunch 01/22/2018 at 11:34

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I would love one of these before they’re gone/too old. Are there reasons you’d pick the 470 over the 460 today (or say a year or two from now)? Most I see on the forums is a slight improvement in fuel economy on the 460 and more cargo space thanks to the hide-away 3 rd row (albeit with a higher floor). But it’s already overkill on space for what we’ll need and fuel economy doesn’t matter too much on a regular basis given how little it’ll be driven. I’m thinking it would make a great family adventure mobile that will also serve DD duty for my wife (barely drives 10 miles a day).

To me the 460 is newer and can be had with fewer miles (not that it’s of much concern with these things, it seems) and some newer creature comforts (shoot me, I also like the crazy alien styling on the newer ones). Is there any chance CarPlay/AA will make its way in to these things before the end of the line? The wife is smitten over CarPlay and I agree having that functionality is miles better than manufacturer infotainment systems so I’m totally fine with never having to go back to that as well (especially what Lexus/Toyota seem to think is acceptable).

Neighbor a few houses down has a 470…sometimes I have to stop myself from just staring at it out the window and dreaming of future adventures.

HammerheadFistpunch > ZHP Sparky, the 5th 01/22/2018 at 11:46

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If you are looking for modern you are barking up the wrong tree. Not even 2018 Gx460 have carplay. My 2005 still has a tape deck...I’ve liked my gx but the mileage is poor and its had some maintenance needs. Its a nice versatile machine and highly capable adventure wise. LionZoo bought a 460 for his adventure needs and he seems to like it. I don’t do too much trail in this truck since its the wifes DD but it will do anything that isn’t clearance limited.

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > HammerheadFistpunch 01/22/2018 at 12:02

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I don’t really need modern – just that a few niceties (especially infotainment wise) will help make the sale with the wife. But she loves getting out in to the wilderness and just last year there were a few trips we ended up not doing because of sketchy roads we were unsure if our Subaru would be able to handle. So hopefully that capability along with being more spacious and more solid feeling than a Subaru will still help make it happen.

HammerheadFistpunch > ZHP Sparky, the 5th 01/22/2018 at 12:17

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The 460 has a few upgrades that make it a nice option over the 470 is you aren’t looking for a bargain....which is where the Gx470 sits right now. The 460 engine has timing chains instead of belts, so that service is out right away, the rear diff is also stronger on the 460 than the 470, but unless you are lifted and over tired, its very unlikely that will be an issue. The 470 certainly feels like an old luxury vehicle but it suits our needs well. I mean for me having heated seats again is a luxury. The 460 is a better vehicle in most respects but the 470 is such a great value right now its hard to ignore.

i got mine with 120k and the timing belt service already done for $16500. So far I’ve had to replace the air bags (dry rot), alternator (known bearing problem), brakes (original pads and rotors at 120k) and a rear transfer case seal (not sure why that went bad). I will also have to replace one control arms since the ball joint boot is torn and I can tell its starting to loosen up. Other than that I don’t foresee any major service items on the horizon unless some of the fancier stuff starts to act up (air compressor, ride height sensors, adjustable dampers, etc).

Its so silky smooth on trails I’ve never aired down the tires for comfort and the traction control system coupled with the 4wd is pretty amazing. Its not triple lockers but again, you will run out of clearance before you run out of traction generally speaking. For light adventures its pretty amazing. I think it has 30 inches water fording, but I can’t recall, in any case its more than any sane person would try in a lexus they want to keep nice.

As I said, mpg isn’t great (18-19 highway, 15 city) but the V8 moves it really nicely and it never lacks for power. The range sucks though as a consequence, figure no more than 300 miles from a tank, tops.

All in all its a vehicle that suits us well for now.

It doesn’t tour as well as my Land Cruiser but it pulls the trailer so much better, is so much more comfortable on the trail and road and is generally a more pleasant trip vehicle that the cruiser rarely pulls the trailer anymore.

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > HammerheadFistpunch 01/22/2018 at 13:36

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Wow, thanks for all the info. Great to hear that it’s treated you well and sounds like exactly what we’re looking for. And having read some of your stuff you’re far more into the outdoor lifestyle than we can ever pull off – so I’m sure there’s no risk of this not being enough machine for our needs. Completely agree than the 470 is a great bargain right now – its amazing seeing how cheap the older ones are going for. If I had a sane reason for needing one right now I’d probably have one in my driveway.

Say a year or two down the road (we’re expecting a baby this May, so we won’t be doing much camping or road-tripping for a bit) something like this sounds great to be big enough to get outdoors again in (the crosstrek already gets packed to the gills just with our camping gear and dog) in a vehicle we feel we can trust to get us where we want to go reliably and with plenty of ability over what we actually need. Only problem is the 470 will be that much older then, probably too old, so hoping 460s will be in a similar place to where the 470 currently is from a value for money perspective. Glad to hear if anything they’ve improved over the previous generation (for our needs) and not moved backwards ability/reliability-wise to where I’d feel like I want the older one while the newer car was the “saner” choice.

p.s. how do you like that pop-up trailer? my coworker has one very similar and they seem to love it. pulling a huge camper always sounded like a nightmare...but something that small and light to tow sounds like a nice luxury to have once we get to the point of “having to pitch a tent and sleep on the ground isn’t really fun” anymore.

HammerheadFistpunch > ZHP Sparky, the 5th 01/22/2018 at 13:43

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460's are getting reasonable in price, not cheap but reasonable. I wouldn’t worry too much about age on the 470, the V8 and transmission thats in there just went a 1,000,000 miles in a tundra so they will last if maintained just fine, its more a matter of seat wear and rubber rot that you have to worry about.

As for the trailer, we love it. Ite more trailer than we were shopping for and, truthfully, more than we need but the price was right. I’ll camp in the my truck, I’ll tent and I’ll trailer but for any camping that doesn’t require me to break camp each night its trailer 100%. Better beds, hot and cold running water, heater. Its the biz. its may not be “real camping” but screw that noise. I want to enjoy nature during the day not have to worry about having to convince my wife that it’s worth it to “rough it” for the experience, or to have grumpy kids because of a cold night. The kids LOVE it. My 4 year old has been asking me EVER DAY for the last 2 weeks when we are going to use it again.

Pistol Whipped Cream > HammerheadFistpunch 01/22/2018 at 18:18

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I meant to ask you the other day. Does yours have KDSS?

HammerheadFistpunch > Pistol Whipped Cream 01/22/2018 at 18:24

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Nope, I would have made a point of it if it was for me, but it matters so little for her uses.

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > HammerheadFistpunch 01/22/2018 at 18:30

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Actually the problem was under inflation of middle aged tyres on a very stony road...under the exact same circumstances it wouldn’t have mattered what brand of AT tyre it was.

HammerheadFistpunch > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media 01/22/2018 at 18:33

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That’ll do it too.

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > HammerheadFistpunch 01/22/2018 at 18:41

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I wish I’d taken a photo of every AT tyre I have killed over the years.

HammerheadFistpunch > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media 01/22/2018 at 18:42

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The funny thing is, I’ve only killed 2 tires in my life and both of them were me being REALLY stupid as a teen. Never one tire since.

Pistol Whipped Cream > HammerheadFistpunch 01/22/2018 at 18:42

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I have found exclusively KDSS equipped models. The search continues.

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > HammerheadFistpunch 01/22/2018 at 18:43

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You need to get out more!!!

HammerheadFistpunch > Pistol Whipped Cream 01/22/2018 at 18:44

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you DON’T want a kdss truck? why for?

Pistol Whipped Cream > HammerheadFistpunch 01/22/2018 at 18:46

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Just because you are limited on the lift. Not saying I will go more than 3 in but it would nice to have the ability in a few years.

HammerheadFistpunch > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media 01/22/2018 at 18:49

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They say that just because a carpenter goes through a lot of hammers in a month it doesn’t mean he’s a good carpenter, it just means he has a lot to learn about proper hammer maintenance.

HammerheadFistpunch > Pistol Whipped Cream 01/22/2018 at 18:50

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ah, yeah, I’ve come to the conclusion that unless you are seeking out intentionally difficult trails, a 2 inch lift and 33's will do everything you want to do. How was the party, btw?

Pistol Whipped Cream > HammerheadFistpunch 01/22/2018 at 19:52

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I would agree with that. It’s not a total dealbreaker for me but I would prefer one without. Party was good. They moved most of it inside due to the snow so it was a little cramped, but it was a good time. It was neat to see the rigs in person.

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > HammerheadFistpunch 01/23/2018 at 00:29

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Perhaps I just need a better hammer....