Is This Custom Overlander for Charity the Ultimate Off-Road Lexus LX600 Build?

Founded in 2009, Overland Expo is the leading event series for do-it-yourself adventure travel enthusiasts. As the popularity of overland travel, or what we used to refer to as ‘car camping,’ has exploded, so has the Overland Expo series. More than 400 vendors and thousands of enthusiasts will descend on the mountain town of Flagstaff, Arizona, over a three-day weekend for the kickoff event of the 2023 season.

The 2022 Lexus LX600 was chosen in part because of its rugged body-on-frame platform, powerful 3.4-liter twin-turbocharged engine, luxurious cabin, and of course its famed Land Cruiser lineage. The LX600 is just slightly wider than a midsize pickup and sports a 112-inch wheelbase, which is slightly less than a Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited. This makes the LX600 ideal for maneuvering down tight trails while also maximizing cargo carrying capacity. Still, there’s always room for improvement. Let’s dig into what makes this build the ultimate.

The Lexus LX600, which is based on the global Land Cruiser platform, comes from the factory with a very robust set of off-road features. Complementing this capability, the team chose to add upper and lower front control arms along with rear links from Total Chaos Fabrication. Front and rear shocks and struts have been replaced by 2.5-inch diameter remote reservoir units from Radflow. The combination resulted in 2.5 inches of increased ride height along with improved suspension travel and articulation. The elevated suspension enabled the fitment of 33-inch Kenda Kelver R/T tires, which are wrapped around 17-inch Compression wheels from ICON Vehicle Dynamics.

The front of the LX600 has been transformed through the addition of an ARB Summit MKII bumper, behind which is a new SOLO Series 12.5 winch from Comeup. A pair of ARB’s new Intensity IQ lights illuminate the trail ahead, while the Summit bumper also plays host to Midland Radio’s new Bull Bar Antenna. The Lexus is further transformed by and all-new rear dual swing-out bumper by CBI Off-Road. This bumper carries the LX600’s fullsize spare tire on one arm while the other holds a five-gallon Jerry can and set of traction boards.

What’s stored inside is just as important as the exterior gear. Open the rear hatch and you’ll find an impressive camp kitchen setup from Goose Gear. The company’s new Ultimate Chef Package for LX600s also includes a Dometic CFX3 45 fridge freezer and has a custom crafted box from Mule Expedition Outfitters attached, which houses the vehicle’s Smart BMS 12/100 auxiliary power management system from Victron Energy. A Midland MXT 575 GMRS radio keeps communication flowing, while off-road navigation is handled by the onX Off-Road Trail Maps app displayed through Apple CarPlay.

Meals prepared in the backcountry can be enjoyed on Tactical Tables and Chairs from Helinox. Additional water for drinking and washing is stored in a pair of Dometic Go Hydration Jugs and is utilized through a Dometic battery-powered water faucet.

If you’ve ever encountered an overland vehicle, you’ll know that the roof is where it’s at. Mounted to the roof rails is a first-of-its-kind Prinsu roof rack for the LX600. The rack holds the Armadillo A2 rooftop tent along with a Peregrine 270 awning, both from both from 23 ZERO. Vison X’s Overland Area Lights are mounted along the perimeter of the rack and provide ample camp site lighting.

Hooked to the rear of the LX600 is a Pando 2.0 teardrop-style trailer from Off Grid Trailers. Not your grandmother’s teardrop, the Pando 2.0 features 8 inches of wheel travel, 24 inches of ground clearance, a 360-degree articulating hitch, has a 29-degree departure angle, features Timbren 3500HD axle-less suspension, and rolls on 32-inch all-terrain tires. The trailer comes equipped with a large queen-size bed in the sleeping quarters, air conditioning, a hot water on-demand system, 23ZERO shower enclosure, and 33-gallon freshwater capacity. Camp meals will be kept on-point thanks to a rear slide-out galley kitchen with a hot and cold-water sink and a dual-burner stove. The Pando’s slide-out storage compartment houses a Pi Duale pizza oven from Solo Stove. With a starting price of just about $35,000, that’s only scratching the surface of what’s built into the rugged Pando 2.0.

The 2023 Ultimate Overland Vehicle will make its public debut at Overland Expo West in Flagstaff, Arizona, on May 19th 2023. From there it will head to Overland Expo Pacific Northwest in Redmond, Oregon, and Mountain West in Loveland, Colorado. It will also be on display at the first-ever Outdoor Adventure X show in Huntsville, Utah. At the conclusion of the show season, the 2022 Lexus LX600 and Pando 2.0 trailer will be auctioned off, separately, with the proceeds going to support the Overland Expo Foundation. Check out the full gallery below: