Offroad Trailblazers and Envoys

*Insert Generic New Guy Title Here*

New members: please introduce yourself here.

by _HeadOfTheBeast_ » Thu Sep 12, 2013 5:22 am

Hey, what's up everybody? After bouncing around on what my next rig would be for a couple of months, my old one finally left me stranded and I had to make a decision yesterday. I ended up picking up a 2004 Trail Blazer from a local dealership. I test drove a few other mid sized SUVs, but this one really surprised me with how nimble it was and what it did off road (for the small portion of the test drive I got to take off road). I've put about 120 miles on it so far and am really impressed.

My ride is completely stock for now. The first thing that will change with be the tires (I'm hoping to find some Mickey Thompsons that fit a stock TB, but haven't had a chance to look yet). After that will be skid plates, grill and tail light guards, and a light rack for the roof. I probably won't do much more than that unless I decide to go with a slight lift because aside from going off road this is going to be my daily driver for a while.

Anyways, here is me saying hi. I look forward to talking with you guys and sharing some stories and pics from woodland adventures. Later \m/
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by TBYODA » Thu Sep 12, 2013 6:51 am

Welcome
2008 TB Radflo coil overs, Z71 rear springs, 2" spacer, skyjacker N8030 shocks, LT285/75R16E Goodyear MTR

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by jonbo2002 » Thu Sep 12, 2013 6:53 am

welcome
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by Opeth » Thu Sep 12, 2013 8:35 am

Welcome!
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by Cable810 » Thu Sep 12, 2013 9:01 am

Welcome!!
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by navigator » Thu Sep 12, 2013 9:03 am

welcome
"Please consider a search before posting. Folks on this site PIONEERED functional offroad use of these trucks."
The answer to many common lift questions can be found
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by boog2006 » Thu Sep 12, 2013 9:33 am

...the daily driver excuse...that doesn't seem to work around here.

Welcome! :flex dirty:
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by Moots1288 » Thu Sep 12, 2013 12:02 pm

Welcome
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by Trail X » Thu Sep 12, 2013 1:07 pm

_HeadOfTheBeast_ wrote: *Insert Generic New Guy Title Here*


FNG

boog2006 wrote:...the daily driver excuse...that doesn't seem to work around here.


:Iagree:
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by jonbo2002 » Thu Sep 12, 2013 2:30 pm

FNG :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
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by 87chevy » Thu Sep 12, 2013 8:56 pm

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by _HeadOfTheBeast_ » Thu Sep 12, 2013 11:25 pm

boog2006 wrote:...the daily driver excuse...that doesn't seem to work around here.


Haha yea well if I say it enough maybe it will at least convince myself for a few months. I've already been looking at lift kits etc that I'd like to slap on there. This is the same problem I had with my Harley's. There are too many things that I "need" :lol:
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by NC_IslandRunner » Thu Sep 12, 2013 11:30 pm

Welcome!
IF THE FISH STOP BITING... HUNT FOR SHELLS!!!
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by DirtyBacon04 » Thu Sep 12, 2013 11:32 pm

Welcome. Seems like you have the right attitude. I know you'll learn alot here, and as long as you are willing to do the leg work and take some hazing, you'll have our full support.
Read, Work, Cuss, Drive, Stare Blankly at map, cuss some more, then have fun... thats our motto here (that i just made up)
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by _HeadOfTheBeast_ » Fri Sep 13, 2013 12:48 am

DirtyBacon04 wrote:Welcome. Seems like you have the right attitude. I know you'll learn alot here, and as long as you are willing to do the leg work and take some hazing, you'll have our full support.
Read, Work, Cuss, Drive, Stare Blankly at map, cuss some more, then have fun... thats our motto here (that i just made up)

Funny, the club I rode with down south had a similar motto. I had done some offloading with buddies of mine and after moving up here the Harley And club life became far from practical. I needed to find something to fill my time. I love being in the woods and I'm an adventurous dude so I started looking for an older jeep or truck. My car died and so I had to find a replacement to get to work etc. I more or less said f*** it let's do what I really want to do here and left the dealership with my trail blazer. I've definitely got a lot to learn when it comes to this stuff so hopefully I can gain some knowledge from you guys.
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by djthumper » Fri Sep 13, 2013 1:51 am

Welcome!

You want to put MT tires on? You are going to have to at least get spacers... 1.5" to get away from the steering knuckle. You are going to want at least a 2.5" lift to get the lip of the fender well away from your new tires...

"Daily driver excuse..." Out the window... Most of us it is our daily driver.

The trailvoy MOD bug has just kicked into overdrive. :awesome:
Last edited by Trail X on Fri Sep 13, 2013 9:02 am, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Fixed important misinformation/typo :)
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by v7guy » Fri Sep 13, 2013 1:55 am

yup, lots of daily drivers around here. If you get in there and start working on it you'll be good to go before you know it.
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by navigator » Fri Sep 13, 2013 8:33 am

djthumper wrote:Welcome!

You want to put MT tires on? You are going to have to at least get spacers... 1.5" to get away from the steering knuckle. You are going to want at least a 2.5" lift to get the lip of the fender well away from your new tires...
:


there, I fixed that typo for you ;-).
Technically you can go with about 1.3" spacers but then you have to trim your studs. the 1.5" make it easy.
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The answer to many common lift questions can be found
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by Trail X » Fri Sep 13, 2013 9:04 am

Plus, you only need wheel spacers and a lift if you go over 30.5" tires. 30.5" is the max tire size on a stock vehicle.

But then again, you probably already know that if you're started reading the stickies.
viewtopic.php?f=14&t=763
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by _HeadOfTheBeast_ » Fri Sep 13, 2013 2:46 pm

Ha well the daily driver thing is going to limit me for a while because of my commute. I don't want to mod anything that is going to bend me over at the gas pump or hurt my handling on the freeway until I get settled into a job without the commute (I had an interview two days ago and it sounds like they'll be making an off, so if they'll work with me on my vacation that could be in the next few weeks). As soon as I get rid of the commute and can afford it I am planning on doing a 2" suspension lift and a 3" body lift. As well as changing out the wheels and tires.

I have been a fan of MT tires since I worked in the oilfield, but I am open to other brands. What are some of the tires you guys use?
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