The Road I Bought It For
My 2006 Lexus GX 470 was never supposed to be perfect. It was supposed to take me farther.
Somewhere on a rocky dirt road near Jackson Hole, I finally understood why I had bought my Lexus GX 470.
The road was not extreme. Four-wheel drive probably was not required, but clearance definitely was. In nearly every vehicle I had owned before, I would have second-guessed it. I might have slowed to a crawl or decided it was not worth the risk.
In the GX, I felt completely confident.
This is it, I thought. This is why I bought this vehicle.
I originally bought my 2006 GX 470 because I wanted to go places I had never been able to reach before. At the time, that idea felt less like an adventure plan and more like a reaction to the car I was leaving behind.
Before the GX, I owned a 2007 Ford Fusion—which is another story for another day. I despised that car almost from the beginning. Eventually, the transmission gave out, and I borrowed a vehicle from my dad while I searched for something I actually wanted rather than settling for whatever happened to be available.
Then I found the GX at a dealership in Salt Lake City.
I had been messaging the dealership, going back and forth until we finally negotiated a price that made sense for both of us. Then, with a little hope and a lot of prayer, I made the three-hour drive to see it.
I had not test-driven it. I knew enough to know what I was looking at, but buying any used vehicle comes with uncertainty—especially one that is nearly 20 years old. Still, I had already made up my mind: I was not coming home without it. I was done shopping. For better or worse, this was the one.
I inspected it as carefully as I could. The rear air suspension was still working, but in the back of my mind, I knew I would eventually need to replace it. I just hoped “eventually” meant much later.
I bought the GX and could not wait to start driving it.
Instead, it sat in my garage collecting dust for almost a month because the dealership had not given me the correct paperwork to register it in Idaho. When that was finally sorted out, the honeymoon did not last long. Within three months — probably less — the rear air suspension failed, and the back of the GX sagged completely.
I knew it was coming. I just did not expect it to happen that soon.
I went into research mode. I used ChatGPT to work through what I needed to buy, what it might cost and whether I could do the job myself. I started a thread with my dad and brother to decide if this was something we could tackle together.
Their assessment was that, with a case of beer, we could probably make it happen.
I love them, but that was not exactly reassuring.
Ultimately, I decided to have Teton Toyota handle the suspension rebuild. I ordered the parts through MUDIFY, which was excellent to work with. The setup included:
Dobinsons coil springs
Bilstein B8 6112 front shocks
Bilstein B8 5100 rear shocks
KYB SM5640 front strut mounts
Replacement upper control arms
A front differential spacer kit
A two-inch lift
It was a significant purchase for me, and I was honestly terrified. I was putting a lot of money into a vehicle with more than 200,000 miles on it, hoping the result would justify the cost.
Then I drove it.
The GX felt like a completely different vehicle. The suspension was smooth, composed and predictable. More importantly, I finally felt as though I could take it to the places I had imagined when I bought it. I had never fully trusted the aging air suspension. Once I converted the rear to coils, that hesitation disappeared.
Based on my experience, if you own a GX 470 and are on the fence about converting the rear air suspension to coils, I would absolutely recommend it. For me, the difference was night and day. The two-inch lift also made the GX look the way I always thought it should.
I have not noticed a significant change in fuel economy. On my most recent trip to Grand Teton National Park, I averaged around 18 miles per gallon. Admittedly, I was trying to stretch every gallon: I drove gently, kept my speed down and left the air conditioning off. Still, I will gladly take 18 miles per gallon from a 4.7-liter V8 with more than 203,000 miles on it.
The GX is certainly not perfect. There is still a list of maintenance waiting for me: the calipers, wheel bearings and a valve cover leak all need attention. Eventually, I would also like to add a cargo rack—not a rooftop tent, just a place to carry gear on longer trips so I can keep the inside open for sleeping.
That is one of my favorite things about it. During my trip to Jackson Hole, I could pull into a campsite, park the GX, crawl into a sleeping bag in the back and call it a night. There was no tent to pitch and almost nothing to pack the next morning. I could wake up and go.
And, somehow, my favorite feature may still be the CD player. I am a ’90s kid, and there is something nostalgic about sliding in a disc and listening to it on repeat. There is no searching for a signal and no worrying about service. The music is simply there.
Little by little, this GX is becoming the vehicle I imagined when I first found it. It is not a pristine showpiece or a finished build. It is a tool—one that lets me reach places and do things I could not otherwise do.
That dirt road near Jackson Hole was not the hardest road I will ever drive. It did not need to be. It was the first time I felt the promise of the GX become real.
I had set out to do the thing I bought it to do.
And I did it.
Now I am ready for the next adventure.
The Road I Bought It For places you behind the wheel as an unpaved road cuts through sagebrush toward the Grand Tetons. A hand on the steering wheel and the wood-trimmed dashboard frame the mountains beyond, transforming a Wyoming landscape into an invitation to keep going.
Printed on thick, museum-quality matte paper and shipped free within the United States.
THE STORY
I bought my 2006 Lexus GX 470 with one intention: to reach places I had not been able to reach before.
This photograph is that reason distilled into a single frame. From the driver’s seat, a dirt road rises through the sagebrush toward the Grand Tetons. The vehicle is present, but it is not really the subject. The subject is possibility—the moment a machine becomes a key to a larger world.
For me, this photograph represents the road that exists beyond comfort, pavement, and familiarity. It is the road I bought the vehicle for.
WHAT YOU WILL RECEIVE
One unframed photography print
Printed on 189 gsm enhanced matte paper
Paper thickness of 10.3 mil / 0.26 mm
Smooth, low-glare matte finish
Professionally printed and made to order
Frame and mat are not included
SIZES AND CROPPING
Available in:
8 × 10 inches
11 × 14 inches
12 × 16 inches
16 × 20 inches
18 × 24 inches
20 × 30 inches
24 × 36 inches
Because these sizes use different proportions, the composition will vary slightly between formats while preserving the driver’s perspective, open road, and Grand Teton skyline.
WHERE IT WORKS
This immersive road-trip photograph works especially well in a home office, garage, cabin, adventure room, mountain home, creative studio, or travel-inspired gallery wall.
PRODUCTION AND SHIPPING
Each print is made to order. Please allow 2–5 business days for production before shipment. Shipping time is additional, and tracking will be provided once your order leaves the production facility.
Free shipping is included on all U.S. orders.
RETURNS AND DAMAGE
Because every print is made to order, returns or exchanges for changes of mind are not accepted.
If your print arrives damaged, defective, or incorrectly produced, contact me within seven days of delivery with your order number and photographs of the issue. A replacement will be arranged at no additional cost.
ABOUT TYLER RICKENBACH
Tyler Rickenbach is a photographer, filmmaker, and writer based in Idaho Falls, Idaho. His work explores landscapes, sport, adventure, and the quiet human moments surrounding larger stories.
Artwork remains the copyright of Tyler Rickenbach. Purchasing a print does not transfer reproduction or commercial-use rights.