🛠️ Member Build 24' WCP Cool Whip

[advnt4re]

Hey everyone! I've been lurking a while on here and figured I'd start a build thread/journal to share with everyone on here. Hope it answers a lot of the questions I commonly get asked, but I'm always glad to answer anymore.

Here is my 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser LC Premium in Windchill Pearl. Picked her up in July of 2024 @ MSRP. At the time, dealers here in the SF bay area CA were still struggling to get these on lots so I jumped on it and traded in the old girl (2016 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro). Almost 1 year later and 5k miles in, the 250 prado definitely has its quirks but I'm enjoying every bit of it so far.

I'm also an ambassador for CATunedOffroad & IKamper, so let me know if you have any questions about their products!
CAtuned Off-Road - High-Quality Off-Road Bumpers & Accessories - CATUNEDOFFROAD
iKamper - Roof Top Tents | Racks | Sleep Systems | Camp Cooking - Use my link to save yourself money on shipping if you're in the market for any Ikamper products!
You can also follow my build on instagram @ www.instagram.com/advnt4re/.

Table of Contents:
1. Pickup date & PPF
2. Wheels, Dobinsons MRRs, & rack on
3. Onboard air
4. CATunedOffroad bull bar, cargo shelf, & rock rails
5. Rear differential breather install


How she currently sits as of 03/2025:

Quick build list / cheatsheet;

• Rooftop tent: @ikamper Skycamp 3.0
• Brush bar & lights: @catunedoffroad @bajadesigns
• Rock sliders: @catunedoffroad LC250 sliders
• Cargo shelf: @catunedoffroad LC250 cargo shelf
• Bumpstops: @durobumps 3 inch Bumpstops
• Suspension: @dobinsonsusa MRR & rear springs
• UCA: @jbaoffroad
• Wheels: @stealth_custom_series Gen5
• Tires: @yokohamatire MT G003 35x12.5s E-Load
• Rack: @uptopoverland Kilo Roof Rack
• Compressor: @arb4x4usa ARB Dual Compressor & @catunedoffroad compressor mount
• Sunshade: @ironman4x4america Deltawing Awning
• PPF: @xpel Stealth PPF

More posts to come as I get around to doing all the write-outs and sorting through my album..

 

[TimHerald]

Looks great ! I am awaiting delivery of an Ice Cap that I am going to do a minor build on. Looking forward to following your post.

 

[advnt4re]

July 27th 2024, the day I traded in old reliable and picked up the new toy from the dealership. You can see her ready in the background for me. They cleaned up the old girl and put her on the showroom for a few days before it sold. My plan was ultimately to build this 250 series very similarly to how I built my 5th gen 4R, a good size/fit for my significant other and our two dogs, and capable/able to take me anywhere I want to go. I have taken the fam in the 4r everywhere, and hopefully if I can take enough days off work, intend to do the same with the 250.

First step was drop the 250 off to ceramic tints and PPF'd on all painted surfaces. This was my first experience with Paint Protection Film, so it was a learning experience for both me and the shop. There were no stencils or precuts at the time, and the vehicle is a bit tricky with all the small boxy shapes. I ended up going with Xpel Stealth (matte) PPF, mainly because I wanted something a little bit different from every other white truck/suv on the road. My experience with the PPF almost a year later has been great, it definitely makes cleaning the exterior of the vehicle a lot easier and quicker when combined with ceramic coat, has self healing properties in the sun, and protected the vehicle from any rock chips / minor scratches. Definitely a great protection option, best suited to be done when the vehicle is new. The PPF/sheen of the vehicle alone gets a lot of questions and comments .

The day I picked her up from after PPF and tint.

 

[advnt4re]

Looks great ! I am awaiting delivery of an Ice Cap that I am going to do a minor build on. Looking forward to following your post.

Thanks Tim for the kind words! I'm hoping you will enjoy the vehicle as much as I have enjoyed mine so far.

 

[advnt4re]

Christmas came early this year, parts started slowly started hitting the market for the 250 series around July/August. Once ordered, they were at my doorstep by August/September. For this build, it was between the King Shocks 250 lift kit (wouldn't start getting shipped until mid October) or the Dobinsons MRR 250 lift kit (readily available at the time with some tweaks). After extensive research I ended up going with the Dobinsons MRR kit, mainly due to availability and wanting to try other struts on the market (had King on the 4R).

Special thanks to Mike from ExitOffroad and the boys at DobinsonsUSA for answering all of my questions regarding the kit and what it would take to fit the 250 series. I paired the Dobinsons struts with JBAOffroad UCAs and Dobinsons rear endlinks + adjustable trackbar. Almost a year later and I've been happy with the Dobinsons struts, great on & offroad at the factory adjustment settings, while still having a lot of flexibility for those who want to put in the work into dialing the high-speed, low-speed, and rebound adjustment. Unfortunately, the MRR kit for the 250 series is/has been on backorder.

How she sat when I picked her up from the shop. Roof rack is the UptopOverland Kilo rack for the 250 series. Wheels are Stealth Custom Series Gen5s 17x8.5 -10mm, tires are 35x12.5r17s Yokohama Geolandars, E Load rated. I stuck with the same tires and size as my 4Runner, mainly because these Yokos have never let me down in rain, snow, mud, and everything else I've thrown at them. The E Load rating + aggressive sidewall profile were the cherries on top. Note: this setup did require minimal trimming at the bottom of the wheel well plastics in the front-side to prevent rubbing lock to lock, and removal of the crash-bracket where the "BMC" is typically done.

Shoutout to Sal and the team at Klean Ridez in San Jose. They're really knowledgeable on Toyotas and other make trucks and have been working on offroad rigs for quite a while. Definitely reach out to them if you're local to the SF Bay Area and they'd be glad to answer all of your questions!

 

[advnt4re]

Next up was onboard air. My group and I often air down and air back up a lot when hitting the trails and nothing beats the convenience of having an onboard air dual-compressor. At the time, only CATunedOffroad had a kit out for the 250 series which included both the compressor and mount. Installation of the mounting bracket and hardware was a breeze, wiring took a little bit more time as I was a little bit rusty and hadn't wired one of these up since my 4r. CATunedOffroad has an install video on their Youtube channel that really helped with the installation, and Max is quick to answer any questions you might have about the installation. I read on here somewhere that some were worried about the ecu being relocated above the compressor, but I can tell you that I've used the compressor plenty of times in all types of weather for long periods of time and have not had any issues. Above is it paired with my 4 way coiled speedflate system.

 

[LCOceans]

Your rig looks outstanding. How do you like the Dobinsons MRR compared to the Kings you had on the 4R, and did it take you a while to get them dialed in on the settings?

 

[advnt4re]

Your rig looks outstanding. How do you like the Dobinsons MRR compared to the Kings you had on the 4R, and did it take you a while to get them dialed in on the settings?

Thank you for the kind words. The struts are pretty close to the out of the box settings right now, with very slight adjustment to tightening up the compression for both high and low speed to compensate a bit for my added weight. They currently handle the weight really well and I have not experienced any crazy amount of body roll like I thought I would. I have not messed around with the rebound settings yet.

Forgot to mention above that I have them with heavier rated dobinsons C59-819V rear springs and C59-818 front springs for any additional weight on the truck.

The Dobinsons MRR are very similar to the King shocks on my 4R in terms of on-road & offroad manners and comfort, very plush and cozy even with the E-Load rated Geolandar MTs. The majority of trails I've done with the 250 have been low-medium speed and they eat those up really well. I haven't had the chance to hit the desert yet with this rig so I'll likely need to find a good adjustment setting for the highspeed / washboard stuff but I have no doubt they'll be fine on that surface as well. It does take some effort to dial them in for sure, but once you do you can just jot them down and always go back and forth.

Like the King shocks the Dobbies are serviceable & rebuildable. They do offer service/rebuild kits for their MRR shocks, apparent service centers, or you could send them in to Dobinsons for servicing. Finding a local shop who has rebuilt enough of these might be a little tougher though but hopefully that improves. To my understanding though their service intervals are much longer in-between when compared to the King shocks.

 

[advnt4re]

Some glamour shots from a weekend trip up to Tahoe National Forest area right before all the snow hit. Rig performed spectacularly. Also added an Ironman Deltawing 180* awning, rear diff breather kit, and hard-wired up a midland mxt275 gmrs radio + midland antenna before the trip. I can do a quick individual write-up how I have these setup if there's any interest. Sleeping accommodation - gazelle t4 overland edition ground tent.

 

[PixelMagic]

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Some glamour shots from a weekend trip up to Tahoe National Forest area right before all the snow hit. Rig performed spectacularly. Also added an Ironman Deltawing 180* awning, rear diff breather kit, and hard-wired up a midland mxt275 gmrs radio + midland antenna before the trip. I can do a quick individual write-up how I have these setup if there's any interest. Sleeping accommodation - gazelle t4 overland edition ground tent.

Excellent build out! Beefy tires!!! Please tell us about the rear diff breather kit and radio installs.

 

[surf fishing offroader]

How are you handling the spare situation with 35s? Just carrying a tire repair kit?

 

[advnt4re]

Excellent build out! Beefy tires!!! Please tell us about the rear diff breather kit and radio installs.

Thank you! I'll snap some pics and do a quick write up soon.

How are you handling the spare situation with 35s? Just carrying a tire repair kit?

The end-goal for this rig is to have a steel dual-swingout bumper to carry a full-size spare & additional jerry/water cans. Currently there's a few options available but I've not decided on which option to go with completely yet. I'm still hoping there'll be more options in development in the near future, but I'll likely be making a decision really soon. In the meantime I carry the Gluetread complete tire repair kit with me in the rig incase I ever have require a plug or sidewall repair. This is also another reason why I went with the E-load/10ply rated Yokohama Geolandar MT, to minimalize the chances of any punctures or tears.

 

[LCOceans]

Thanks so much for all of the details on suspension and components. King, Icon, Dobinsons for 2" lift - probably cannot go wrong with any of them. Like @PixelMagic above, I too am curious about the rear diff breather kit and look forward to your write up and pics. Do you do a lot of deep water crossings?

 

[bkral]

Both the 250 and that Gen5 are beautiful.

Just picked up my LC2 Premium today in Heritage Blue and I can't stop looking out the window at it.

How much did full PPF + Ceramic run you, if you don't mind me asking?

 

[advnt4re]

Thanks so much for all of the details on suspension and components. King, Icon, Dobinsons for 2" lift - probably cannot go wrong with any of them. Like @PixelMagic above, I too am curious about the rear diff breather kit and look forward to your write up and pics. Do you do a lot of deep water crossings?

Once it's nice and warm out, I'll get that write-up here! I wouldn't say a lot / often but we generally run into some decent depth water crossing up in some of my favorite Tahoe camping spots. Deepest I've taken her was up to the Toyota badge on my 4R. LC has only seen water deep enough to cover my wheels mostly.

Both the 250 and that Gen5 are beautiful.

Just picked up my LC2 Premium today in Heritage Blue and I can't stop looking out the window at it.

How much did full PPF + Ceramic run you, if you don't mind me asking?

Thank you! When shopping around the SF Bay Area I received quotes for 6-8k for all painted surfaces PPF'd with xpel. I ended up going with a package deal from my local xpel retailer/applier that included; full painted surfaces PPF w/ xpel stealth, a 2 year ceramic coat, and all windows minus front windshield tinted with 3M ceramic tint for ~6400 OTD.

 

[surf fishing offroader]

Thanks so much for all of the details on suspension and components. King, Icon, Dobinsons for 2" lift - probably cannot go wrong with any of them. Like @PixelMagic above, I too am curious about the rear diff breather kit and look forward to your write up and pics. Do you do a lot of deep water crossings?

Diff breather kits are super easy to install. Grab an ARB diff breather kit. Install the fitting on the rear diff (removing the existing fitting). Then run the line to wherever you have the breather. I had mine installed in the engine, it's that circle thing below the panel

I only deal with saltwater so I'm not planning on doing any saltwater crossings anytime soon... but I do live in Houston and this city floods at least twice a year.

Water crossings in the city can easily be 3-4 feet deep, and this lets me cross those modern city hazards easily

 

[advnt4re]

Got the opportunity to meet Max and the team at CATunedOffroad in the North Highlands CA, become a brand ambassador, and to test out their latest 250 series Land Cruiser products! Meeting the guys and watching them work was a stellar experience, and their products speak for themselves. Great purpose-built products that are made in the USA. Stoked to see what else they have in development for the 250 series Land Cruiser. Disclaimer: while these were offered to me at a discounted rate, I will do my best to give an honest review of the products and answer any questions regarding them as a consumer.

CATunedOffroad LC 250 Brush Bar - Super sturdy brush bar that sits close to the bumper for some added protection. Not ideal for heavy off-roading where you want steel all around in case stuff gets gnarly, but these are great for some light-medium trails and great at being a brush guard. The bar mounts directly to the 250 series recovery points so they don't budge at all. Also a great way to mount some auxiliary lights (pictured are Baja Designs LP6s).

CATunedOffroad LC 250 Multipurpose Shelf - This was something I found super useful. I often carry a bunch of stuff with me in the rear cargo area and the shelf allows me be a grown adult when it comes to organizing stuff instead of just tossing everything on the cargo floor. The shelf has ~4.5 inches of depth to the roof so that was plenty of room for my use-case. I keep my camera gimbal, folded up dog seat-cover, and some of my recovery gear up there 24/7. The tote attachment is also a great feature that I find myself using a lot when moving stuff & organizing.

CATunedOffroad LC 250 Rock/Frame Sliders - High-clearance: These sliders are bolted on high & tight to the vehicle’s body & frame, giving you more clearance when compared to some of the other options out there. Durability: Made from 3/16-inch steel plate and .095 DOM tubing. Corrosion-Resistant: Zinc-coated and powder-coated for long-lasting protection. Bolt-On Installation: Simple no-drill installation directly to existing oem frame points (some super-easy trimming of the lower plastic required for the high clearance mounting). Angled & kickout: They feature a slight angle and slight kickout for even more of that sweet clearance & to push you away from any nasty boulders or trees.

 

[advnt4re]

@LCOceans @PixelMagic

Installation of a rear differential breather kit on the 250 series is a breeze. A rear differential breather kit is crucial for an off-road truck because it helps prevent water and debris from entering the differential, which can cause damage and premature wear and shorter service life. This is more important if you find yourself doing water crossing quite often.

You will need some basic tools and some zip-ties. You can buy either the ARB Diff Breather Kit or Amazon Diff Breather Kit on amazon. Both kits are almost identical and interchangeable. The hose that ARB and other companies both supply are a harder plastic hose. For those who live in cold climates, you can opt to replace the hose with higher durability fuel line of the same size. This should hold up better and have more longevity.

Pull off your oem breather vent with a wrench and attach the new vent & hose. The differential breather hose attaches to the rear axle. It's important to leave some additional length (in my case I left a coil or 2) before securing the hose to the vehicle to account for suspension travel / full drooping of the rear axle.

Next is to determine where you want the breather and filter mounted. Popular places are high up in the engine bay or high up in the rear interior cabin, with the later being much more work and routing. I chose to mount the filter & end high up in my engine bay on the passenger-side. When routing, make sure the hose is clear of any moving suspension components to avoid damaging the hose when the suspension cycles. I routed my hose on the right-side along the frame, zip-tying it along the way to existing hoses and/or harnesses to full secure the hose and get rid of any slack.

Routed and secured the other end to behind my fuse-box, in-between that and the hybrid system. I may consider relocating that in the future as it takes up some space for wiring around my Garmin Powerswitch but that's a job for another day. Excuse the dirty truck, it's been raining a lot here. The whole thing can be done in an hour or two, hardest part is the planning & routing of the hose!

 

[LCOceans]

Thank you @advnt4re for all of that great information. Those are three awesome looking land cruisers parked in front of that building!

 

[Area 51]

Now i have a local shop for the LC, great post.