🛠️ Member Build '26 Trail Dust LCLC Camping Build

[sprnkls]

I should have started this thread a while ago but never got around to it. I've had my LC for about 8 months now, and in that time, I've added or changed quite a few things. Everything below is organized based on when it was purchased and/or installed.

October 2025
SCS Gen5 Wheels in Gunmetal (17x8.5 +20mm)
Toyo Open Country A/T III (34X10.5R17LT)
Husky X-act Contour Floor Liners
Screen ProTech Anti-Glare Film
XPEL Prime XR Black 50% Tint (All Windows, Windshield, and Sunroof)
OEM Style Window Rain Guards

November 2025
Bonobo Front Billet Recovery Points
WeatherTech SillProtector
Redline Tuning Hood QuickLIFT PLUS
PIAA 330/400Hz Horns
OffRoam MagSafe Phone Mount/Charger
Axis Gas Cap Cover
Factor 55 Recovery Bag
Factor 55 7/16" Soft Shackles (x4)
Factor 55 30' x 2" Tow Strap
41.22 Hitch Slider
VIAIR 88P Portable Compressor
Staun Tyre Deflators

December 2025
Fuel and Fire Sunglass Cubby
Carista EVO Scanner & OBDII
Victory 4x4 Rear Window Molle Panels
Maxtrax Carry Bag
Maxtrax MKII Traction Boards
DMOS Delta
BamBeds Leveling Platform

Molle Panel Gear
Step 22 Tiger Trove EDC Pouch
JACO TRX-50 Tire Repair Kit
WYNEX Large Admin Molle Pouch
GOOLOO GT4000S Jump Starter
Step 22 Visimesh Mini Pouch
Step 22 Wrench Roll Mini
Silky Bigboy 2000 Folding Saw
Rhino Rescue IFAK Trauma Kit
TIDRADIO TD-H3 GMRS Radios
Element E50 Fire Extinguisher
Olight ArkPro Ultra EDC Flashlight
Benchmade Custom Mini Crooked River Knife
Gransfors Bruk Outdoor Axe 425

January 2026
Victory 4x4 Skid Plates (Engine, Transmission, and Transfer Case)
ARK Splash Guards and Mudflaps
TEQ Offroad Under Hood LED Light Kit

February 2026
Dissent Off Road Slider Steps
CATuned Ditch Light Mounts (replaced in August)
Baja Squadron Pro Amber Driving/Combo Pod Lights (replaced in July)
CH4X4 Custom Cube Switch

March 2026
Axle Hub Paint
Slumberjack Roadhouse Tarp
Luno Window Screens

May 2026
Dobinsons IMS Lift (+Extras)
Mace MFG Titanium X Ultem Key Fob Case

June 2026
Triple-R Fog Light Upgrade Kit
Running Board Puddle Light Harness Plugs

July 2026
Ditch Light Replacement - Nacho Quatro
CH4X4 Cube Switch Replacement
Rear Diff Breather Extension

August 2026
Ditch Light Bracket Replacement - Triple-R

September 2026
Nacho Nano Reverse/Camping Lights

For now, I'm just keeping a running list here of everything I've done since my last update below (June 2026). I'll add posts below for the months since then as soon as I get some time.

 

[sprnkls]

October 2025

SCS Gen5 Wheels in Gloss Gunmetal (17x8.5 +20mm)

I originally wanted to get these in the Matte Jet Black color, but they were out of stock for quite a while. About a week before the vehicle arrived they were still out of stock, so I decided to settle for Gloss Gunmetal. Looking back I think it actually worked out for the best. I really like the color I ended up with and think they look better than the Matte Jet Black ones would have.

Toyo Open Country A/T III (34X10.5R17LT)

I got these installed at the same time as the SCS wheels. I was bouncing between Falken Wildpeaks, KO3s, these. A friend recommended the Toyos, so I got them. After taking them on a road trip where we got a fair amount of rain and snow and some muddy trail driving, I'm happy with my choice. I don't feel like they were exceptional in any situation, but always performed solidly. As far as the odd size goes, there were a few reasons for my choice.

• The tire is just about as large a diameter as you can fit in the spare location.
• The width is almost the same as the OEM tires, which means the spare doesn't really hang down any further than before.
• Because the wheels have a relatively low offset compared to OEM, these tires sit right at the edge of the OEM fender flares.

Because of those reasons, the 34X10.5 has definitely been the right fit. I'm doing 5-tire rotations in case I decide to change tires in the future, but I've been very happy with these tires so far.

Husky X-act Contour Floor Liners
I don't like driving in flip flops, but I wear them constantly in the summer, so I kick them off when I drive. The OEM rubber floor mats weren't comfortable barefoot. I did some searching and ended up deciding on these. There is a square section with a diamond plate pattern where my heel rests, but the pattern is fairly shallow and doesn't bother my foot. I also bought the one for the rear seat. I'm very happy with both of these.

Screen ProTech Anti-Glare Film

This kit came with a glossy film for the instrument cluster and a matte anti-glare one for the center screen. If you've ever installed a screen cover on a phone, the process is more or less the same. I applied both without issue, but they do offer an option to include an extra set for like $15 more.

XPEL Prime XR Black 50% Tint (All Windows, Windshield, and Sunroof)
I spent a while researching different tint options, and XPEL ceramic was definitely one of the top options. The quote I got from a local shop was a fair bit lower than I expected, so I decided to go with that. I went with Prime XR Black because it was much more of a true gray color. CA is fairly strict about tint when it comes to front windows and windshield. It seems like hardly anyone actually follows the law about tint, but cops don't generally bother with you unless your windows are nearly blacked out. I'm really happy with how this turned out. Unless it's a sunny, cloudless day I never have to wear sunglasses, but it's not dark enough to be an issue at night. The extra tint on the sunroof has been nice as well. I've just started closing the shade during the day in the last month or so.

OEM Style Window Rain Guards

I really liked the look of the OEM rain guards, but I found an install thread on here that showed some post install pictures from the driver's seat. The OEM rain guards attach with both VHB and clips. The clips were visible from inside the vehicle and I just knew it woujld end up bothering me. I found these, which look almost identical to the OEM ones, but only use VHB and not clips. I've been very happy with these as well. I've already been camping in the rain a couple times and being able to crack the windows was nice.

 

[sprnkls]

November 2025

Bonobo Front Billet Recovery Points

Lots of recovery point options out there. I chose these because they're billet, they have a WLL, and I think they look good. I haven't had to use them yet, but they feel very solid and install was about as simple as can be.

WeatherTech SillProtector
Installing these was very simple and quick. I've already done some minor damage to them rather than the door sills, so I'm happy to have them.

Redline Tuning Hood QuickLIFT PLUS

This is an upgrade that certainly isn't necessary, but on a vehicle this expensive, I'm also surprised it wasn't included from the factory. This kit does require minor modification to the vehicle, but only opening up a couple of existing holes. They include a step bit in the package, which is nice since it's probably a less common tool for people to own. I would definitely recommend placing a towel over the engine bay when opening up those holes to make sure the metal shavings don't end up anywhere they shouldn't be. Also, attaching the mounting points to the newly enlarged holes was a little fiddly, but solid once you get them in place. Overall, install was quick and easy and I'm happy with the end result.

PIAA 330/400Hz Horns
The first time I used my horn I knew I needed some sort of upgrade. I'm honestly surprised by how gutless the OEM horn is. This horn feels much more appropriate. The install was quick and easy, but I did also opt to purchase some wires so that I could plug the horns in to the existing harnesses rather than cutting them off and adding generic plugs.

OffRoam MagSafe Phone Mount/Charger

I actually planned to leave my phone on the wireless charging pad and just use Android Auto on the center screen for everything, but after a couple of weeks I just couldn't get used to not having my phone mounted on the dash. Also, the wireless charger in the car was really slow and seemed to barely maintain the current battery level, much less charge it. In the past I have used a vehicle specific mount from ProClip USA. While that was really solid and I was very happy with it in the past, I read multiple recommendations for OffRoam and decided to give them a shot. I'm blown away by how solid the mount feels and how stable the phone is on the mount. I would absolutely recommend either company for phone mounts, but between the two OffRoam wins hands down.

My only concern was how to route the charging wire to keep it tidy and out of the way. I did some digging around and managed to find a couple different products that fit perfectly. I ended up using the following:

• This 1.6' USB-C cable from Amazon is just long enough without any extra length that has to be dealt with
• These 90° USB-C adapters help keep the cable tight to the dash
• Small 3D printed clips that press into the gaps in the dash to hold the cable in place

I tried some different 90° adapters that were lower profile, but they ended up being too low profile and didn't insert into the USB-C plug on the dash fully. These ones stick out a bit further, but work perfectly. I think the end result looks about as clean as possible without pulling apart the dash and running the wire completely out of sight.

Axis Gas Cap Cover

This was kind of a stupid upgrade, but I decided to use red as an accent color and this managed to catch my eye. Install just involves sticking it to the gas cap with some preapplied VHB.

Factor 55 Recovery Bag

• Factor 55 7/16" Soft Shackles (x4)
• Factor 55 30' x 2" Tow Strap
• 41.22 Hitch Slider
• VIAIR 88P Portable Compressor
• Staun Tyre Deflators

This bag of goodies lives permanently in the back of the vehicle. Some of it I had previously or received as gifts, but the hitch slider and compressor were new purchases. The hitch slider I bought in red to keep that accent color rolling. The compressor I've been really happy with. I've only used it a handful of times so far, but each time I've been able to air all 4 tires up from ~17psi to ~38psi relatively quickly and without having to take a break and let the compressor cool down.

 

[sprnkls]

December 2025

Fuel and Fire Sunglass Cubby

I know the LC gets a lot of complaints regarding storage space in and around the driver's seat, but I'm really happy with it. My last car became very cluttered over the years and the lack of space in the LC has forced me to only keep things that are actually useful up front. My only real complaint on that subject was the lack of somewhere to store my sunglasses. I looked through the standard options, clips that mount to the visors, compartments that replace the grab handles, etc., but didn't find anything I really liked. I came across this option and really liked that it blends in well. Install was quick and easy, and it doesn't block my view at all. I've read some complaints that larger sunglasses don't always fit, but I have a huge head, and sunglasses to match, and it's never been an issue for me. I firmly believe that the LC should have come from the factory with a sunglass cubby in this location.

Carista EVO Scanner & OBDII
There were two main reasons I purchased this guy. The first was so that I could adjust the auto blinker from 3 blinks to 5. It's a stupid thing, but 3 blinks felt too short and I always felt rushed for whatever reason when changing lanes. The second reason was so that I could disable the seatbelt warning chimes. I always stop to grab my mail and then drive from there to my garage unbuckled. This car has the most aggressive seatbelt warning I've ever heard and it was driving me crazy. I also really like being able to remove my seatbelt on trails without the car losing its mind.

Victory 4x4 Rear Window Molle Panels

Despite liking the lack of storage around the driver's seat, I did want more storage in the back. This seemed like a good solution that utilized space in the vehicle that would otherwise go unused. I like that the Victory 4x4 panels don't require modification to the vehicle and can be easily removed in the future if desired. Despite that, they feel very solid and don't have any trouble holding a good amount of gear. The next post down details everything I have mounted on the molle panels.

Maxtrax Carry Bag

• Maxtrax MKII Traction Boards

The traction boards don't live in the vehicle permanently but only get tossed in the back when I'm going out on the trails. Most of the time I run around the trails on my own, so traction boards were a must have for self-recovery. I've contemplated adding a winch, but I'm a relatively casual off-roader, and the extra cost and weight doesn't seem worth it.

DMOS Delta
Again, this seemed like a must have for self-recovery but only gets tossed in the back when I'm going out on the trails. I also take it with me when I camp, but those often overlap.

BamBeds Leveling Platform
I've always camped in my car, and with the LCs seats not sitting flush with the cargo area when folded down I needed something to make up the height difference. I've used this a couple times now and I'm really happy with it. My only complaint is that the boards arrive bare and unfinished. I was worried about them getting damaged over time and so I gave them each a few coats of polyurethane and a light sanding.

 

[sprnkls]

Molle Panel Gear

Step 22 Tiger Trove EDC Pouch

• JACO TRX-50 Tire Repair Kit

This was one of the more popular tire repair kits on Amazon that came with additional plug insert tools. I've had those bend on me in the past, so having extra was a requirement. I haven't had to use it yet, but it seems to be good enough quality. The Step 22 pouch holds everything well.

WYNEX Large Admin Molle Pouch

• GOOLOO GT4000S Jump Starter
• Step 22 Visimesh Mini Pouch
• Step 22 Wrench Roll Mini

I already had the jump pack and I spent some time digging around through different pouches to find one that would fit the jump pack as well as possible. The jump pack fits perfectly and left some additional room to add some straps and ties as well as a small tool pouch. Everything in the tool pouch was extra tools I had lying around.

Silky Bigboy 2000 Folding Saw
I was very skeptical about the price of this saw and whether or not it would be worth it. I'm still not entirely sure it's worth the price they're asking, but it is an outstandingly good saw. I've had a couple other folding saws in the past that were good quality, but they don't even begin to compare to this one. At the end of the day, I'm happy with this addition. I designed and printed custom mounts and used velcro straps to hold it to the molle panel.

Rhino Rescue IFAK Trauma Kit
I always carry some sort of first aid kit in my car, and this seemed like a good balance of price, quality, size, and what was included. It mounts to the molle panel with a velcro panel that allows you to undo the clip on the front and then rip the whole kit off the molle panel, which I really like.

TIDRADIO TD-H3 GMRS Radios
Radios seem to always be a good idea for off roading and camping and these were reasonably priced and well reviewed.

Element E50 Fire Extinguisher
A fire extinguisher also seemed like a good idea to keep in the car for off roading and camping, but I wasn't super keen on keeping a traditional one in the LC. I'm actually surprised these aren't more common. It's small, not pressurized, can handle a very wide temperature range, and doesn't need to be periodically inspected and/or recharged. I haven't had to use it, but I am very happy with this purchase.

Olight ArkPro Ultra EDC Flashlight
This was a present, and I actually carry it on me most days, but I wanted a spot to mount it specifically for camping and off roading. The mount is a custom 3D print I made and the knife below attaches to the same 3D print.

Benchmade Custom Mini Crooked River Knife
This knife was my daily carry for a long time. I had more or less retired it by the time I got my LC and decided it could live in the back.

Gransfors Bruk Outdoor Axe 425
This axe is definitely overpriced, but I absolutely love it.

 

[sprnkls]

January 2026

Victory 4x4 Skid Plates (Engine, Transmission, and Transfer Case)
Installing these was pretty simple, but I would definitely recommend having someone to assist. I installed all three of them on my own with the use of a second jack to help support the skid plates as I bolted them on, but a second set of hands would have made things that much easier. The seem to offer solid protection and bolted on very easily. I specifically wanted something that didn't bolt to the weak radiator support crossmember, which was a big reason I went with the Victory skids over other options, although Slee now has a radiator brace that likely eliminates that concern. Regardless, I'm still happy with my choice. I have done one oil change so far, with the next quickly approaching. There is a removable panel in the engine skid to access the oil filter and a hole below the drain plug to drain the oil, but I have a couple comments on each of those.

Oil filter access: The removable panel is a little on the small side, but I have pretty large hands and I didn't have too much trouble getting the old filter out and the new one in. My main issue with the removable panel is how it attaches to the skid plate. As sold, there is a nut on the back side that you have to figure out how to hold while you bolt the panel on. Maybe they've changed it now, but that's how mine came. My solution was relatively simple though. I ended up threading the hole on the skid plate and opening the hole on the panel up to accept a larger bolt. Now my panel gets bolted directly to the skid plate and all I need is an allen key to get it off/on.

Drain plug: I don't see how to possibly drain the oil without getting some on top of the skid plate below. Again though, the solution was relatively simple. I swapped the OEM drain plug with a Fumoto Drain Valve during the first oil change. The valve came with a length of tubing that I attached, ran through the skid plate, and cut just about flush. Now all I have to do is place my drain pan below the tubing and reach my hand behind the skid to open the valve. Getting my hand back there is simple enough and oil changes are a breeze now with the skid plates.

ARK Splash Guards and Mudflaps

The very first time I took my LC off road, it was wet and muddy, and I managed to get that mud into just about every nook and cranny on the vehicle. Quite a bit made it through the wheel wells and into the engine bay, and I managed to drag one of my front mudflaps on a small rock ledge I went over. I wanted some smaller mudflaps the fix that issue and came across ARK. After noticing that they also make splash guards for the wheel wells, I figured I'd get the kit and install both the mudflaps and splash guards. The mudflaps were very quick and easy, just a handful of bolts and/or plastic clips for each one. The splash guards were a little more of a pain, but still a relatively easy install. The hardest part was getting them bent correctly so that all of the holes lined up correctly, but it was a fairly minor inconvenience. I would absolutely recommend jacking each corner up as you go to give yourself as much room between the wheel and wheel well as possible.

TEQ Offroad Under Hood LED Light Kit

This is probably an unnecessary upgrade for the vast majority of people, including myself, but man does it look slick when you open the hood and it clicks on and bathes the engine in bright white light. I don't need to get under the hood of the LC nearly as much as I have with other cars I've owned, but it's really nice not having to fiddle with a headlamp or flashlight. The light also has a cutoff switch in case you need to leave the hood open for an extended time and don't want to worry about draining the battery.

Install was pretty quick and easy with this, but there were a few things that I'll bring up for anyone that potentially decides to install this in the future.

• The wiring harness is sized appropriately for the vehicle and I didn't end up having a bunch of excess wire that needed to be looped up and zip tied or anything like that.
• I couldn't find a good spot to attach the pressure switch that activates the lights, so I ended up 3D printing a small mount for the switch.
• I would recommend measuring to find the center of the light strip and match that up with the center of the hood.
  • I didn't do this and my light strip is just off center enough that I notice it, other people don't seem to, but I always do.

 

[sprnkls]

February 2026

Dissent Off Road Slider Steps

I actually ordered these not long after I picked up my LC, but they had a 16-18 week lead at the time. I'd gone back and forth for some time on which rock sliders to order, but I really liked how these ones looked and found that I kept coming back to them. Dissent is also local (a little over an hour drive) which meant I could support a local business and pick them up to avoid the shipping charges. Aside from being local and really like them aesthetically, they seemed to be well built and solid, and can be used as a jack point. Being a jack point wasn't a requirement, but definitely a big positive for me.

Install wasn't too bad, and because of how they're designed they can absolutely be installed solo. Each slider is broken into 6 parts, 4 brackets that mount to the frame, the slider body which slots over those brackets, and a top plate for the slider which is what you step on. Having small hands or some low profile high tooth count ratcheting wrenches would go a long way to improving the install. One of the brackets (I believe the third one from the front) has an incredibly small slot to shove your hand or a wrench through to start the bolts. Even with my giant hands and basic wrenches, I was able to get the bolts started and tightened down, but there was a significant amount of cursing during that portion of the install. Either way, I'm very happy with these sliders and would absolutely buy them again if I were to do it all over.

CATuned Ditch Light Mounts

I have some mixed feelings regarding the company, but these brackets are great. I specifically wanted something that would be easy to install and didn't require permanent modification to the vehicle. These nailed both of those requirements and, like the rock sliders above, they're a local company which allowed me to support a local business and avoid shipping charges. Also like the rock sliders, I would absolutely buy these again.

Baja Squadron Pro Amber Driving/Combo Pod Lights

These lights have been great the handful of times that I've used them, and overall I've been happy with them. Install was done by a local shop because I wanted to run them off an OEM style switch on the dash and didn't feel like going through the hassle of running wires through the firewall myself. Because of that, I can't really comment on the install, but I imagine it's not any harder than any other accessory lights, so probably pretty simple.

Despite liking these lights, I have been thinking seriously about switching them out. I've been looking at the Nacho Quattro Supreme 80s for the fact that they have multiple different modes and you can set up to hot swap between. I'd definitely be interested in hearing from anyone that has the Nachos to see what they think of them and whether it would be worth it to swap out my Bajas.

CH4X4 Custom Cube Switch

This is the switch I purchased to run my ditch lights. At a quick glance, you very well could mistake it for an OEM switch, but there are a few noticeable difference on closer inspection.

• The switch is ever so subtly a different shade of black and just a touch glossier. Normally you wouldn't notice this, but if the light catches it right it becomes very noticeable.
• The backlight on the switch is both a different shade of white and almost as bright as looking directly at the sun. That may be a bit of an exaggeration, but it is incredibly bright compared to the OEM switches. Bright enough to be very distracting at night.
  • I was able to fix this by adding a 20kOhm resistor in line with the backlight wire from the switch.
• Once the resistor was added the difference in backlight color became almost unnoticeable.
• The click of the switch is a little higher and not as solid as the OEM switches. It's a minor complaint, but it doesn't make the switch feel cheaper.

After adding the resistor, this switch blends in well enough with the OEM ones that I would have no problem buying it again.

There is one additional thing I would like to bring up regarding the switches on the left side of the steering wheel. Each of these switches is "keyed", meaning they have small ridges on the top and bottom of the switches, but each in different locations. This means that each switch can only slot into one location. TheCH4X4 switch has no ridges, so it can slot into any of the spots. If you'd like to move the other switches around, you can snip the ridges off with flush cutters and slot them back in wherever you want. It doesn't have any impact on the functionality of the switches or cause them to be loose at all in the dash. The exception to this is the dimmer switch which had a different design altogether. You may be able to pull it out and modify it to move it, but I didn't feel like messing with it.

 

[sprnkls]

March 2026

Axle Hub Paint

I absolutely love my SCS wheels, with one exception. The Gen5 wheels don't come with center caps, and there aren't any good aftermarket ones, at least no good ones that I could find. The front axle hubs area nice gloss black, but the rear ones are bare metal and began to rust very quickly. After going back and forth with different options, trying to print some center caps, etc., I finally decided my best option was to pull the wheels, mask the hubs, and paint them to match the front hubs. Here is the process I used to paint them:

• Jack up one of the rear corners and remove the wheel.
• Clean hub up with brake cleaner and wire brush.
• Cut open a black outdoor trash bag so that it lays flat.
• Tear a small hole in the middle and stretch it over the hub.
• Tape the loose edges of the trash bag to the vehicle.
• Apply a coat of paint to the hub.
• Set a heat gun up on a box, pointing at the hub, and let it run for 5-10 min.
• Repeat those two steps 4-5 times, but leave the heat gun on the hub for 45-60 min on the final coat.
• Reinstall the wheel and drop the jack.
• Repeat process on other side.

I was probably a little conservative on the time between coats considering I was using a heat gun, but I'd rather take a little longer than not let it dry enough. Either way, this process seemed to work well, and the paint is holding up excellently. This was a relatively easy and cheap mod, but it made a significant and immediately noticeable difference, and it was absolutely worth the time and money to me.

These next two items were both received as gifts and have improved my camping setup significantly.

Slumberjack Roadhouse Tarp
This tarp can be a bit of a pain to set up solo, but it is definitely doable. It can be attached to the back of the car or set up freestanding. The first time I used it I had it set up on a lakeside during a tornado watch and it had no problem. As long as it's anchored properly, I doubt I'll ever worry about it blowing away or coming loose and beating up my LC.

Luno Window Screens
These window screens are great for keeping the windows open at night without letting the bugs in. They fit the doors well and seal fantastically. They're a little on the expensive side compared to similar products, but the quality it top notch and I have no complaints, which for me justifies the higher than average price tag.

 

[sprnkls]

May 2026

Dobinsons IMS Lift (+Extras)
I went back and forth on different lift options, everything from a Westcott Leveling Kit all the way to a Kings Coilover. In the end, I decided the biggest requirements for me came down to 2-3" lift, reduced rake, and no set maintenance or rebuild intervals. Dobinsons IMS managed to not only hit those requirements, but also offered red springs to match the front recovery points, hitch slider, and gas cap. Unfortunately I ended up having to wait almost 5 months for the red springs to be in stock, but I'm happy I did. Most of the time you can't see the springs, but when you can I think they look really good, and tie in with those other red components well.

In addition to the front and rear shocks and springs, I also replaced the UCAs, panhard rod, and sway bar links, and installed a diff drop kit. Here is a list of the exact components I purchased:

• Front struts - IMS59-60660
• Front coils - C59-816
• Rear struts - IMS59-60441
• Rear coils - C59-817V
• UCAs - UCA59-212K
• Panhard rod - PR59-1421
• Sway bar links - SE59-591
• Diff drop kit - DD59-644K

I used a local shop, Stellar Built, to get this installed. They were great, responded to emails very quickly (often within an hour or two), and got everything installed and performed an alignment in about 6 hours, give or take. I wouldn't think twice about recommending them to anyone in the Sacramento area, and I will absolutely be going back to them in the future if I need more work done.

As far as the suspension goes, I've been very happy with the IMS kit and have no regrets going with it over other options. The LC rides smoother now, especially off road, and I think I ended up with a perfect amount of lift and just enough rake left that the rear doesn't sag when I'm fully loaded down. My only complaint was the UCAs, but only for the first couple weeks. Being bare aluminum they definitely stand out as you're walking up to the vehicle, but they've actually grown on me. If I were to go back and do it again, I would probably look into powder coating them to match the springs, recovery points, etc., but I really don't mind them being bare aluminum now that I've gotten used to them.

Mace MFG Titanium X Ultem Key Fob Case

This was a stupid, unnecessary upgrade similar to the Axis Gas Cap Cover listed above. Despite that, I'm not mad about purchasing it. It's a cool piece and a conversation starter when people see it. I have a knife that I carry daily that uses a nearly identical color on the grip, so it matches that as well. My only complaint here is that the buttons are hard to feel in my pocket, and it takes me a second or two longer to make sure I'm on the trunk button as I'm walking up to the vehicle. Or I just end up pulling they key out of my pocket, but it was generally easier to distinguish between the individual buttons on the OEM fob by feel alone.

 

[lcoverlandaz]

Love the layout of this. When you have time. Can you take a picture of the front and rear so I can see the tire poke. We are going with +25 but a 17x9 with a 285 75 17

 

[sprnkls]

Love the layout of this. When you have time. Can you take a picture of the front and rear so I can see the tire poke. We are going with +25 but a 17x9 with a 285 75 17

Absolutely. I just updated the pictures and there are shots from the front, back, and above now. With my wheel and tire combo, the sidewall sticks out past the fenders, but the tread doesn't.

 

[sprnkls]

June 2026

Triple-R Fog Light Upgrade Kit
CANNY Contactless CAN Interface

I've been wanting to swap out the fog lights for a bit, but wasn't super excited about the Diode Dynamics kit. I stumbled across this option recently and really liked that it actually has 3 separate functions, running light, fog light, and high beam. The kit is made by Lazer in the UK, but distributed in the US under the Triple-R name. The light housings and bezels are 3D printed, but the bezel was post-processed really well and none of it looks 3D printed once installed. Install was a bit of a pain, but mainly because this was the first time I'd removed the bumper and there was some trial and error with exactly what bolts needed to be removed and how the wiring harnesses came apart. The instructions were good, but the pictures could have been better. My only complaint so far about the product itself is with the wiring harness for the lights. The fuse block is too close to the ring terminal to connect to the battery wire on the passenger side fuse box. Extending the wire was easy enough, but it would have been nice if the fuse was in a different location. I should have taken some before and after pictures to compare the brightness of the lights compared to stock, but I definitely dropped the ball on that. Either way, they do seem to be brighter than the OEM fog lights, and the extra light in high beam mode is noticeable.

 

[stinshady]

May 2026

Dobinsons IMS Lift (+Extras)
I went back and forth on different lift options, everything from a Westcott Leveling Kit all the way to a Kings Coilover. In the end, I decided the biggest requirements for me came down to 2-3" lift, reduced rake, and no set maintenance or rebuild intervals. Dobinsons IMS managed to not only hit those requirements, but also offered red springs to match the front recovery points, hitch slider, and gas cap. Unfortunately I ended up having to wait almost 5 months for the red springs to be in stock, but I'm happy I did. Most of the time you can't see the springs, but when you can I think they look really good, and tie in with those other red components well.

In addition to the front and rear shocks and springs, I also replaced the UCAs, panhard rod, and sway bar links, and installed a diff drop kit. Here is a list of the exact components I purchased:

• Front struts - IMS59-60660
• Front coils - C59-816
• Rear struts - IMS59-60441
• Rear coils - C59-817V
• UCAs - UCA59-212K
• Panhard rod - PR59-1421
• Sway bar links - SE59-591
• Diff drop kit - DD59-644K

I used a local shop, Stellar Built, to get this installed. They were great, responded to emails very quickly (often within an hour or two), and got everything installed and performed an alignment in about 6 hours, give or take. I wouldn't think twice about recommending them to anyone in the Sacramento area, and I will absolutely be going back to them in the future if I need more work done.

As far as the suspension goes, I've been very happy with the IMS kit and have no regrets going with it over other options. The LC rides smoother now, especially off road, and I think I ended up with a perfect amount of lift and just enough rake left that the rear doesn't sag when I'm fully loaded down. My only complaint was the UCAs, but only for the first couple weeks. Being bare aluminum they definitely stand out as you're walking up to the vehicle, but they've actually grown on me. If I were to go back and do it again, I would probably look into powder coating them to match the springs, recovery points, etc., but I really don't mind them being bare aluminum now that I've gotten used to them.

Do you have any pictures of the LC now that you're on the Dobinson's setup? I'm thinking of doing a similar setup on mine and am curious to see how it looks with the 2" spring in the rear, 2.5" spring up front, and 34s.

 

[sprnkls]

Do you have any pictures of the LC now that you're on the Dobinson's setup? I'm thinking of doing a similar setup on mine and am curious to see how it looks with the 2" spring in the rear, 2.5" spring up front, and 34s.

Here's a couple shots from a recent trip to the Bonneville Salt Flats.

 

[stinshady]

Here's a couple shots from a recent trip to the Bonneville Salt Flats.

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Absolutely killer. Thanks!!

 

[DrockinWV]

Awesome build, excited to follow along!

Have the same tires on order (should have been here today, but FedEx sucks). How much of a mileage hit did you take with them?

 

[sprnkls]

Awesome build, excited to follow along!

Have the same tires on order (should have been here today, but FedEx sucks). How much of a mileage hit did you take with them?

I lost around 0.7-0.8 mpg. I only had the original tires for 209 miles before swapping them out though, so it's tough to say how accurate that is.

Before I swapped the wheels and tires, I was getting 18 mpg. After, I was in the low 17s. Now, with the wheels and tires, the lift, ditch lights, skid plates and sliders, etc., I get 16.5.

I've seen a number of people report a small mpg bump after a break-in period though, so I've probably lost a bit more than that 1.5. I'm sitting just under 17k miles currently.