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NITTO DRIVINGLINE – GAS (GALPIN AUTO SPORTS) FORD RAPTOR
Galpin Auto Sports(GAS) does it again! From the guys and gals who make your wildest automotive dreams come true comes this outta-sight 2013 Ford Raptor. It is one serious beast!Since Ford released the Raptor, I knew it was destined to turn heads in the off-road world and beyond. With looks so close to a Baja pre-runner, and performance to match, you can’t go wrong. I also knew the aftermarket would be latching onto this one for sure! And, well… they did. Galpin has historically brought anyone’s dream to fruition on cars and trucks. Weather it be mild or absolutely wild, they can help you out.This Raptor is definitely tipping on the wild scale. Of course at first look you’ll notice the odd paint scheme – that’s no paint, it’s a Conform Chrome blue wrap. The aggressive stance is set off by a set of ADV.1 ADV6TESL off-road wheelsmated up to a fine set of 35″ Nitto Exo Grappler tires! I’ve always said a set of wheels and skins makes the car or truck, and it defiantly sets this one apart.It’s aggressive stance is achieved with Icon Vehicle Dynamics. The Raptor’s OEM front suspension has been completely replaced by Icon parts, from A-arms to coilovers with remote reservoirs – not only giving it stance, but bringing great handling capabilities.While this truck can certainly hold it’s own on city streets, the real fun starts once you get this thing out in the dirt – it’s true monster comes out and you see just how nice it soaks up the whoops!From the interior you might just forget you’re in an off-road capable vehicle with FoMoCo’s luxurious amenities and styling.Start up this Truck Candy and you’ll find a little something extra when the motor spools up. The 6.2l 2v SOHC V8 engine is adapted to a Roush Performance supercharger and cat-back exhaust. Add to that a Snows Performance’s water methanol injection kit, and it ought be enough power to get ya in plenty of trouble.Puting all those ponies to the rear tires is Ford’s 6-speed automatic transmission. Power and luxury, equally ready for off-road or epic Los Angeles traffic. Yeah, I think that’s something I could handle in my garage… How about you? The guys and gals down at GAS really nailed this one to the wall – great job y’all!
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ADVENTURE DRIVEN’S OVERLANDING LEXUS GX 470 ON EXPEDITION PORTAL
Photography by Ross Addiego and Seth Jacobsen Published on December 18th, 2014 Despite being one of the lesser known and used of overland platforms, it is nonetheless one of the most capable and desirable vehicles available in the U.S. The Lexus GX 470 just as it sits in stock form, is quite something to behold. When given the full overland treatment, as is the case with Adventure Driven’s 470, it is something downright spectacular. We take a closer look at their beautiful build and get a sneak peek at what it’s like to travel in a heavily modified GX 470. Considerations for Choosing and Building the 2007 Lexus GX 470 1. Must be reliable, a good daily driver and be able to withstand thousands of miles of extremely rough terrain, at least slightly luxurious for comfort, heated seats and factory navigation a plus. 2. Must comfortably carry four adults and gear for extended self-supported overlanding adventures. 3. Somewhat small for tight trails. 4. Strong brakes, we know we will be loaded heavy. 5. Must have stock lockers or they must be available for installation. 6. Must have a place to install a water tank underneath, space for a water pump, air compressor, and a second battery. Within easy reach of the driver, space must be viable for installing CB and HAM radios, buttons, trailer brake controller, other gauges and controllers, and extra charging and USB ports. Must also have room in the back for a fridge, and places to install secure anchor points, storage units and drawers. 7. Quality bolt on suspension must be available. We want to crawl over boulder fields, smoothly and quietly do many miles of washboard roads, take big hits, or even get the occasional air time and still ride like a dream on pavement. We wanted something as comfortable as a flying couch. As people who love to ride dirt bikes, sport bikes and horses we expect a lot out of our overlanding rig. We enjoy leisurely taking in the sights but, we occasionally want to go fast, catch air, and adrenaline yet, want to do it safely and comfortably. 8. After much deliberation, the Lexus GX 470 with KDSS was chosen. We found a cherry one in Phoenix, traded our lowered BMW sports sedan (that we have overlanded in—it couldn’t go far off road but it was still a fun two weeks of camping adventures) for it and drove home. Already falling in love, we named the GX Lexy on the way back. 9. Devise a plan, overcome obstacles, and do what has not been done before to morph this luxury SUV into a comfortable, capable, reliable, high-flying, rock crawling, people carrying, overlanding rig. 10. After the must factors were known, and the vehicle chosen we decided on a list of other needs and wants. We want to live out of this vehicle for months at a time. We especially wanted a hot water shower, a foodie’s kitchen, and a rooftop tent. The tent because, we are like the “Princess and the Pea” when it comes to uneven sleeping surfaces, due to all of our various bodily injuries from bike, horse, and sports accidents. An awning for shade and inclement weather protection. Other necessary items including a roof rack for the tent, front and rear bumpers, winch with synthetic rope, various recovery and get out of sticky situation equipment. Also, rugged all-terrain tires, skid plates, rock sliders, space for extra gas, bright lights so we do not hit large animals or big holes and can find great camp spots at night. And, of course, a snorkel for cool, clean air, just in case the water gets deep, and because “It completes the look.” And last but not least, a twelve volt electric blanket outlet on the roof rack because we don’t stop when it gets cold. Lexy took a little over three months to build. After a few somewhat local Northern AZ shakedown runs, on June 18th, 2014 we headed to Baja Sur for a two week 2700 mile overland adventure of a lifetime. (I got to swim with bioluminescent plankton! There were a lot of other amazing experiences as well but, that is another story.) After that, we then headed back up to southern AZ for some fast desert flying fun with friends and up to the rocky trails and passes of the Colorado San Juan range in the Rockies during August. This summer we comfortably lived out of Lexy for over two months during all sorts of weather conditions, including extreme heat, high winds, driving rain and snowy cold. We put a little over 10,000 miles on since she morphed into this beautifully proven, comfortable and capable overlanding rig. We are very pleased with the choice of the Lexus GX 470. Lexy suits our needs perfectly, is capable of smoothly doing thousands of rough dirt road miles, catching a little air time and rock crawling without damaging anything. And as we found out in the extreme high temperatures in Baja, has a fantastic air conditioner. Lexy became dubbed “The Meat Locker” by our back seat passenger who happily claimed to have “frozen knee caps.” Build Components Howling Moon Stargazer / Eezi Awn 1600 3 Series Fox Wing awning and one extension wall Rhino Rack roof rack Synergy Manufacturing hot water shower heat exchanger — hot water in the wilderness makes for unusually clean and very happy campers. 20 Gallon fresh water tank in the stock spare tire location on an RV 12v pump with an extendable metal hose. ARB snorkel Three ARB drawers, the top surfaces slide out. ARB 12V air compressor ARB 82 quart 12v fridge Custom fold down cutting board and utensils installed on the rear gate for easy food prep and fridge loading. Custom super special foodie’s dream spice box. Two Blue Sea power distribution blocks, one under the hood and one in the rear cargo area with 100 Amp circuit breakers. Overland Solar 95 Watt solar panel with quick connector. SunForce 30 amp solar panel controller. 5 gallon jerry can Cobra CB BlackBerry Bluetooth module Ultra Gauge Extra front, middle and back dual USB ports. Trash-A-Roo, a great place outside the cab for our trash and other litter we find along the way. IBS dual battery controller Twin Sears DieHard Platinum batteries A shovel, hatchet and machete come in handy.
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ICON 2010-2014 FORD SVT RAPTOR RXT REAR SUSPENSION SYSTEM
The Ford SVT Raptor is an extremely capable truck that has captured the attention of the off-road community over the past few years. Since the Raptor’s release, ICON Vehicle Dynamics’ engineers have pushed this vehicle to extremes in order to develop the most sophisticated suspension components on the market. From the brutal deserts of the Southwest, to the deep snow of Michigan’s U.P., to the wooded trails of the East Coast, ICON suspension systems have been put to the test and performed flawlessly. Unable to leave “well-enough” alone, ICON is once again aiming to raise the bar in Raptor performance with the introduction of the RXT Rear Suspension System. Development and Design Through a combination of in-house R&D and close collaboration with several Raptor enthusiast groups, ICON has spent the better part of the last year identifying limiting factors in OE components and looking to further extrapolate performance out of this vehicle. The RXT Rear Suspension System includes an all-new RXT 3.0 Rear Bypass shock and an RXT Multi-Rate Leaf Spring that work in conjunction with the ICON Raptor Rear Bumpstop Kit. Installation of this system replaces the aforementioned “limiting factors” and completely redefines the potential of this truck with a 20% increase in up-travel, a 30% increase in down-travel, and the ability to adjust the leaf spring rate to compensate for varying vehicle setups. ICON Raptor Rear Bumpstop Kit The job of the bumpstop is to control and limit the final position of the suspension during up-travel. The OE rear bumpstop is made of foam rubber, is limited on how much energy it can absorb, and is also a limiting factor in the amount of travel that can be had in the rear of the Raptor. The ICON Raptor Rear Bumpstop Kit utilizes a velocity-sensitive 2.0 hydraulic bumpstop that increases the amount of energy absorbed the faster it is hit. This kit was originally designed to limit bump at the factory location but has always had a provision to allow for more up-travel through the use of a removable spacer. When combined with the RXT leaf spring and rear shock, the spacer can be removed, resulting in a drastic increase in up-travel and off-road performance. ICON RXT Multi-Rate Leaf Spring To take advantage of the additional travel that the RXT Rear Suspension System offers, ICON engineers had to scrap the OE leaf springs and develop a replacement that addressed issues found in the R&D process. The result is a user-adjustable multi-rate leaf pack that offers a major performance gain for almost every Raptor setup imaginable. Features like tip inserts and leaf separators add to ride comfort, while a triple military wrapped front and rear half wrapped eyelet increases durability and strength of the leaf spring. A rebound leaf was added to reduce the axle wrap of the Raptor, which was another issue that has been found through ICON’s extensive testing. To increase the ride quality of the truck and gain additional droop travel, the spring rate has been lowered slightly. While most Raptor owners will embrace this, there are those who have outfitted their trucks with a significant amount of weight in the form of a chase rack, spare tires and parts, or other additions. Understanding this, the leaf pack was designed with an additional leaf (included with kit) that can be exchanged or added to the pack, yielding an additional 10% or 20% spring rate that will handle heavier vehicles. ICON RXT 3.0 Rear Bypass Shock To complete the RXT Rear Suspension System, a new shock had to be developed that could control the suspension throughout this new range of travel, as well as stand up to the off-road abuse that the Raptor would now be capable of delivering. The increase in up-travel was answered with a unique side-mount eyelet approach that allowed ICON engineers to develop a shock that is shorter in collapsed length, longer at extension, and still fits in the factory mounting location. A Dual Hose Recirculating Reservoir (Patent Pending) incorporates a check valve that allows hot fluid in the shock body to be exchanged with cooler fluid in the reservoir. The result of this is the ability of the Raptor to be driven harder for longer periods of time without the worry of shock fade and degraded performance. Key Features ICON Raptor Rear Bumpstop Kit Reduces rear end kick and improves overall performance Clamshell brackets strengthen frame in critical areas preventing frame damage from extreme off-road use Crossmember and tension rods stabilize frame rails and prevent twisting under hard impacts Bump pad striker keys into leaf pad for increased resistance to rotating out of place Vehicle-specific bumpstop tune yields minimal engagement force and maximum bottom-out resistance Configurable for stock or increased up travel ICON RXT Multi-Rate Leaf Spring 3 user-adjustable spring rates for unique vehicle setups Triple military wrap front eyelet and rear half wrap for increased durability Rebound leaf reduces severe axle wrap ICON RXT 3.0 Rear Bypass Shock 3.0 3 tube bypass shock body with 3.0 remote reservoir Unique side-mounted upper eyelet allows for increased up-travel while utilizing factory mounting location Recirculating Dual Hose Reservoir (Patent Pending) keeps shock temperatures low by pumping heat to the reservoir for increased dissipation Anti-Wobble Link (Patent Pending) keeps bypass tubes clear of leaf spring and tire Easy-to-adjust detented knobs offer quick adjustability without the use of tools Special engineered damped valve stops for quiet and precise operation without the loud “clicking” noise you will find with other brands Includes UHMH machined shaft & rod end protective shin guards
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SEMA 2014: ICON VEHICLE DYNAMICS HAS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE BY OFFROADEXTREME.COM
While walking the SEMA floor, we came across a fellow Southern California based company, ICON Vehicle Dynamics, that has been providing the off road market with high quality shocks and suspension systems for nearly a decade. Upon entering the ICON booth, we caught up with their Sales and Marketing Manager Brad Myers to get the scoop on what’s new in their world. New for SEMA was a brand new setup for the 2008+ Toyota Land Cruiser that continues to be a strong market for ICON. Myers explained by saying, “We brought the 2013 200-series Land Cruiser kit because it is so popular on the international platform as they get older and people start to customize them. Brand new for ICON is a new coil over with compression adjustment, a new billet upper arm available in January, an Omega 2.5-inch bypass shock in the rear, and new billet trailing arms.” With new rear springs currently in development, this system will be the perfect addition to anyone looking to increase the capabilities of their Land Cruiser. ICON did not forget about the Jeep market either and as Myers alluded to, the Jeep market continues to be a strong segment for ICON. Myers explained, “The Jeep JK coilover conversion continues to be our top seller in the Jeep lineup because of its versatility. You have the adjustability to set the ride height using our system from 1.75-inches to four-inches while still having a good amount of articulation, droop, and bump for great ride quality.” Finally, for those diehard Raptor owners out there, ICON brought with them their new rear suspension setup that they say will greatly increase the off road handling of the Raptor by reducing the tendency for the rear end to “buck” in harsh off road conditions by adding more up-travel. Myers addressed their new products by saying, “Our new Raptor RXT rear suspension system uses a mount that comes off the side of the shock allowing us to use a longer shock to gain 20-percent more up-travel than stock when used with an aftermarket set of springs and our bump stop system. This will allow the rear to keep up with the front end and have a really balanced truck. It releases next week.”With so many great things coming from ICON, take a visit to their homepage and stay locked onto Offroad Xtreme for future releases!
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SEMA SHOW 2014 – ICON VEHICLE DYNAMICS BOOTH #36149
Attending the 2014 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, NV? ICON Vehicle Dynamics will be there in full force, ready to show & tell you about all our great products, including a couple new ones we think you will really be excited about. We here at ICON have been hard at work developing and testing cool new products that will take your ride to a new level. Make sure to drop by the the South Upper Hall November 4th – 7th to visit us in BOOTH # 36149 – SEE YOU THERE!
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ICON 2011-UP FORD RANGER T6 SUSPENSION SYSTEMS
Ford Ranger T6 Suspension Overview The 2011-UP Ranger T6 (or Global Ranger) is a mid-size pickup that has been dubbed “the most capable small pickup” that Ford has ever built. With a sturdy body-on-frame construction and a well-designed front and rear suspension layout, the Ranger T6 is a perfect platform for performance suspension upgrades. With this in mind the ICON engineering team went to work on the Ford, assessing the vehicle from front to back looking for possible wheel travel increases, improvements to damping ability, and weak points in the OE components. Development and Performance When the research and development process came to a close, the ICON team yielded products that included 2.5 VS (Vehicle-Specific) Series coilovers and 2.0 Aluminum Series rear shocks. These components were then combined together with additional options to form three staged suspension systems that suit different driving styles, vehicle setups, and intended uses. All three of these stages offer the T6 1-3” of lift, which is adjustable to compensate for larger wheel and tire setups or the addition of accessories such as winches and bumpers. Performance is never sacrificed with ICON products, as even Stage 1 systems have been engineered to deliver increased wheel travel and damping characteristics for an improved overall ride. Moving from Stage 1 onward introduces technology such as remote reservoirs for increased shock cooling and the ICON CDC (Compression Damping Control) Valve for the ability to dial in ride comfort in different situations. Global Versatility The Ranger T6 is used around the globe in many applications including a commuter vehicle, an off-road capable weekend warrior, and an industrial workhorse. This fact motivated ICON engineers to develop a line of products that were robust enough to handle the most extreme conditions while still being versatile enough to allow the vehicle to be used in every-day scenarios. ICON Vehicle Dynamics’ Ford Ranger T6 suspension systems have been designed with maximum performance, versatility, and the serious driver in mind. This attention to detail is why ICON Vehicle Dynamics performance suspension systems are the ultimate solution for the Ford Ranger T6. Key Features Increased wheel travel and ride quality over stock Vehicle-specific tuned front and rear shocks for superior damping and control Adjustable 2.5” diameter coilovers offer 1-3” of lift height Corrosion-resistant CAD plated coilover shock body with 7/8” shaft CDC Valve offers 10 user-adjustable compression settings for comfort in any situation FK rod end bearings for extended longevity and minimal deflection 100% bolt-on makes for easy install and ability to be put back to stock Made in the USA
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ICON 2007-UP GM 1500 2WD / 4WD 1-3? LIFT SUSPENSION SYSTEMS
ICON Vehicle Dynamics’ 2007-UP GM 1500 1–3″ suspension systems are designed to dramatically increase the on- and off-road ride quality of Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups. With wheel travel and ride quality in mind, ICON engineers researched each component of the GM platform’s suspension and addressed any areas where performance could be extracted. After this initial step, an array of products including coilovers, rear shocks, and upper control arms were developed and put to the test in varying terrain and extreme conditions. Once these products had seen many miles of on- and off-road abuse without failure, they were organized into several stages that deliver unique levels of performance to the vehicle. Proven Performance and Quality ICON’s reputation of quality and performance are established with the Stage 1 system’s combination of 2.5 Series coilovers and 2.0 Aluminum Series rear shocks. These products use high-quality components such as Eibach coil springs, precision-machined internals, and FK rod end bearings to provide a tuned ride quality that is second to none. As the stages increase, the products that make up the systems begin to include tubular steel upper control arms, additions of remote reservoirs, and ICON’s CDC (Compression Damping Control) Valve technology. The Stage 5 system combines the best products that ICON makes for these trucks for the ultimate in on- and off-road performance. Lift Height and Installation ICON Vehicle Dynamics 2007-UP GM 1500 systems all offer 1–3″ of vehicle lift height, allowing for the fitment of larger and more aggressive wheel and tire combinations. These systems are also 100% bolt-on, making for an easy install and the ability for the vehicle to be returned to stock if need be. ICON products are all proudly made in the USA at our Southern California-based facility by a team of passionate off-road enthusiasts. With a reputation for quality, performance, and service, ICON is the top choice for performance suspension systems and shock absorbers. Part Numbers ICON Part #78600 – 2007-UP GM 1500 UCA KIT (Steel Suspension) ICON Part #78601 2014-UP GM 1500 UCA KIT (Aluminum Suspension) Key Features Fits 2007-UP GM 1500 steel suspension and 2014-UP aluminum suspension Chevy Silverado / GMC Sierra Increased wheel travel and ride quality over stock with no change in towing capacity Vehicle-specific tuned front and rear shocks provide superior shock damping and vehicle control Coilovers are adjustable to yield 1–3″ of lift height CNC machined 6061 aircraft-grade aluminum components Corrosion-resistant CAD plated coilover shock body with hardened 7/8″ corrosion-resistant shaft CNC machined and heat-treated alloy bar pin FK rod end bearings for extended longevity and minimal deflection 2.0 Aluminum Series rear shocks with hardened 5/8″ corrosion-resistant shaft 100% bolt-on system, no drilling or welding necessary for install Made in the USA
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ICON 2005-UP TOYOTA HILUX 0-3-INCH LIFT SUSPENSION SYSTEMS
Although many think the Hilux is more or less similar to a Tacoma it is, in fact, a very different vehicle. The frame is very stout, and the rear suspension is designed for quite a bit more load and service than a Tacoma. These differences prompted an approach to this international chassis that was quite different than the USDM counterpart. In standard fashion, ICON engineers took an all-encompassing approach and addressed the Hilux’s suspension as a whole rather than focusing on one particular component. The result of this is a dramatic increase in wheel travel and damping ability, translating into outstanding vehicle control and ride quality both on and off-road. Performance and Development Approach This unique approach to vehicle dynamic theory allows our team to maximize performance by developing coilovers, shocks, control arms and other products that are all designed to work at their full potential when used with each other. These parts are then organized into several stages that suit different driving styles, vehicle setups, and intended uses. Each available stage offers 0-3” of lift allowing the use of larger, more aggressive wheel and tire combinations. The Toyota Hilux Stage 1 system provides a baseline level of performance that will drastically improve the on and off-road ride characteristics of the vehicle. Each increasing stage adds to the suspension performance of the Hilux with additions such as rear shackles, remote reservoir shocks, upper control arms, and ICON’s Compression Damping Control (CDC) Valve. Engineered for Maximum Performance ICON Vehicle Dynamics’ Toyota Hilux suspension systems have been designed with maximum performance and the serious driver in mind. The varying uses of this vehicle worldwide were acknowledged and catered to in ICON’s research and development process. The stiffer chassis allows for the application of a much more robust overall shock tune, allowing for sufficient damping ability across varying terrains and differing vehicle payloads. Rear lift is achieved by utilizing a leaf spring lift shackle, which maintains the factory load rating while also allowing for more up-travel. This attention to detail is why ICON Vehicle Dynamics performance suspension systems are the ultimate solution for the Toyota Hilux. Key Features Increased wheel travel and ride quality over stock Vehicle-specific tuned front and rear shocks for superior shock damping and control Adjustable coilovers provide 0–3″ of lift height CNC machined 6061 aircraft-grade aluminum components Corrosion-resistant CAD plated coilover shock body with 7/8″ shaft FK rod end bearings for extended longevity and minimal deflection 100% bolt-on system, no drilling, cutting, or welding necessary for install Made in the USA
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LOU ORTEGO’S ICON EQUIPPED TOYOTA TACOMA: FIT FOR OVERLANDING ADVENTURE
The Tacoma is certainly one of the more well known and coveted Overlanding vehicles in the United States. As a close relative to what is considered to be one of the most bulletproof cars in Aus, the Hilux, means that it should share in its incredible reliability. Now if you take a 2013 Tacoma Access Cab and throw a few modifications onto it like Lou Ortego from Restop has done, then you end up with one mean little machine. To start this project Lou knew that the best way to protect his investment was to throw on a whole range of Demello Off-Road body armor onto it. On the front he put on a Baja style front bumper, a set of weld-on Rock Crusher sliders, and a custom rear swing out bumper. The rear bumper is certainly one that has been well put together, it allows Lou to carry a large range of gear. It can carry a drop down table, set of red Maxtrax, 4 red 2-gallon Rotopax cans, a Trasharoo, and a USA Quik-Rack 2 bike carrier. Now if you ask me, that is one well equipped rear swing out. To help carry this extra load and to replace the underperforming factory suspension, Lou approached Icon Vehicle Dynamics. On the front end they installed billet upper control arm assemblies combined with Icon extended travel coil-over shocks. This gives the front of the Tacoma about 2.5-inches of lift. The rear of the Tacoma is lifted with All-Pro Expedition heavy duty springs and Icon 2.0 Aluminum series shock absorbers with remote reservoirs. Lou says that the Icon kit is the most important upgrade he has done as it allows him to carry gear for work or have great performance off-road. To keep Lou’s truck stuck to the ground he runs BFG 285/75R16LT All Terrains and they fit snuggly around Level 8 Tracker 16×8 matte black rims. A great addition to the Tacoma for both looks and usability is the Soft Topper. This good looking black canvas back uses a combination of zippers and Velcro to ensure that it stays weatherproof. Hidden under the canvas is an ARB 50 qt fridge on a slide out, as well as a Bed Rug and Adventure Trailer storage boxes. Lou is still working on fully decking out his car, and has a list of future improvements a mile long. A few of the big items on the list are: a Nitro 5.46 re-gear, National Luna dual battery system, Superwinch Talon 9500pb winch, and he hopes to eventually upgrade the rear shocks to Icon 2.5s over the 2.0s. The truck and Lou will be getting out and about over the next few months, if you are around at the FJ Cruiser Summit make sure you chat to Lou at Restop and check out his decked out Tacoma.
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