New to offroadTb and need help!

[jhurgin]

I just purchased a 2007 Trailblazer LT with all the bells and whistles and need some help with modifications. I use my TB for work which is a a mix of backroads/highway but also love to do some minor off-roading and camping during the warmer months. I want the most aggressive look without compromising the functionality of a commuter vehicle. I would like to go as big on the tires as I can without lifting or adding wheel spacers as I have read the bearings are put under quite a bit of stress. I also plan to purchase a bajaRack and some front and rear guards. please help. thanks

[TBYODA]

Welcome, please update you location so other members can find you. Please read through the welcome thread, there are links in the thread to all your answers. viewtopic.php?t=3060

[Cable810]

Welcome!! ^ LOTS of info there that Rob linked to help you get started also use that search bar and read read read!

EDITED: to prevent further confusion!

[NC_IslandRunner]

I just purchased a 2007 Trailblazer LT with all the bells and whistles and need some help with modifications. I use my TB for work which is a a mix of backroads/highway but also love to do some minor off-roading and camping during the warmer months. I want the most aggressive look without compromising the functionality of a commuter vehicle. I would like to go as big on the tires as I can without lifting or adding wheel spacers as I have read the bearings are put under quite a bit of stress. I also plan to purchase a bajaRack and some front and rear guards. please help. thanks

Welcome! If you have all the bells and whistles then it has to be a LTZ! OK, ball busting out of the way...

I you really want larger tires I would recommend a small lift and wheel spacers, I've had the BDS lift since 09 and 30.5"-33" tires since 2010 with over 165K miles I am still on my stock hubs, 70-80K miles with over sized tires/spacers. BajaRacks are great racks I had one for a few years, I would go with the MegaMule, their website will suggest the Mule but the MegaMule has a lot more space and doesn't look tiny on our roof, but if you aren't really going hardcore offroad and need to carry a lot of supplies then skip the rack. I found I didn't really need it and when I came off I regained 3mpg and a hell of a lot of clearance. Learning to pack your truck is the one of the most important skills when going off road, I'm still figuring out new and better ways to maximize my cargo area, we are blessed with a lot of room in our trucks.

I would suggest skipping the rack, for the price of buying the BajaRack and shipping it to you, you could get a lift and spacers, then all you need is some AT/MT tires and you have a nice looking capable truck, off and on road. Also don't forget to get rad/oil skids.

[navigator]

welcome

[djthumper]

Welcome

[Trail X]

Welcome!! Make sure to thoroughly read the welcome e-mail you should have received. LOTS of info there to help you get started also use that search bar and read read read!

All new users get is a "confirm registration" email. The thing that people keep referring to as having all of this information in it is the "welcome thread", which people are diverted to upon their first log in. There is no informative welcome email, so jhurgin, please do not go looking for it. The thread that Yoda sent you to is the "welcome thread" that I referenced above. It is your book of genesis, read it, know it.

Otherwise, it seems like you know what you want, just a matter of reading through and finding what you want.

If you get stuck somewhere, regurgitate your findings, and explain why you're stuck, and we will be happy to help prod you in the correct direction.

[HARDTRAILZ]

I just purchased a 2007 Trailblazer LT with all the bells and whistles

Welcome! If you have all the bells and whistles then it has to be a LTZ! OK, ball busting out of the way...

2007 did not offer a LTZ trim level, so the consider your balls busted.

LS, LT, 1SS and 3SS were the levels available that year.

EDIT: "For 2004, Chevrolet has dropped the high-line LTZ trim level"

[Cable810]

Welcome!! Make sure to thoroughly read the welcome e-mail you should have received. LOTS of info there to help you get started also use that search bar and read read read!

All new users get is a "confirm registration" email. The thing that people keep referring to as having all of this information in it is the "welcome thread", which people are diverted to upon their first log in. There is no informative welcome email, so jhurgin, please do not go looking for it. The thread that Yoda sent you to is the "welcome thread" that I referenced above. It is your book of genesis, read it, know it.

Otherwise, it seems like you know what you want, just a matter of reading through and finding what you want.

If you get stuck somewhere, regurgitate your findings, and explain why you're stuck, and we will be happy to help prod you in the correct direction.

Ah my bad, sorry.

[NC_IslandRunner]

I just purchased a 2007 Trailblazer LT with all the bells and whistles

Welcome! If you have all the bells and whistles then it has to be a LTZ! OK, ball busting out of the way...

2007 did not offer a LTZ trim level, so the consider your balls busted.

LS, LT, 1SS and 3SS were the levels available that year.

EDIT: "For 2004, Chevrolet has dropped the high-line LTZ trim level"

Now they are blue.

[Diacom]

Welcome

[jhurgin]

thanks so much everyone, i appreciate all your responses. Yes, only an LT in the 2007 but an LTZ sounds pretty great lol. I will do a bit more research on my end before I post some more but I'm grateful for all the feedback. As of now I'm leaning to simply get a rack with some 30.5" tires and maybe wheels with some bumper guards. I love the look of this truck but serious off-roading will be a bit down the road when this isn't my primary vehicle. When we go away I usually drive (4 people) so a rack is pretty essential to save interior space. One other thing I heard was that these inline six engines were pretty noisy and need regular maintenance (more than most vehicles). Any truth to that? thanks in advance

[DustinC1989]

I just purchased a 2007 Trailblazer LT with all the bells and whistles

Welcome! If you have all the bells and whistles then it has to be a LTZ! OK, ball busting out of the way...

2007 did not offer a LTZ trim level, so the consider your balls busted.

LS, LT, 1SS and 3SS were the levels available that year.

EDIT: "For 2004, Chevrolet has dropped the high-line LTZ trim level"

I still have my window sticker and the "bells and whistles" package is the LT/LS



Welcome, I have essentially the same truck so I would guess that you probably have the LT 18" rims?
If so a 265/60-18 is the ABSOLUTE largest tire you can run with no lift or spacers

[jhurgin]

yes I have the window sticker as well and yes the 18" wheels are causing quite an issue for me haha. I've done the calculations and have found, just as you have, that 265/60/18 is as big as i can go. Oh well. I'll start there. thanks guys

[DustinC1989]

I've been running 265/60-18's for awhile now issue free, was my starting point also

[The Roadie]

We used to say "LS" stood for "Less Stuff".

[DustinC1989]

Maybe its actually LT minus LS...
Luxury Trim minus LS engine

[jhurgin]

lol dustin, it might be. This engine is serious though. that thing flies on the highway with little effort. To be honest I couldn't care less about all the "stuff" it has. It's a great looking truck with a lot of room which I need. I'm really interested to see where it brings me. As long as it functionally gets me from point A to point B, with point A being my house and point B being a beach, mountain, campground or trail, Im happy!

[DustinC1989]

I bought mine with the intention of lowering the rear to match the front. Then I saw Kuchar's TB and watched of Bill and Tebee's offroad videos... my mind changed REAL quick.

The inline 6 has plenty of power and the truck is very capable while stock, looking forward to seeing how well it does lifted. Once I'm back to a steady schedule I'm going to find out

[jhurgin]

I hear ya, I'm self employed so I know all about being on a steady schedule. Things have picked up recently so we'll see how much of that $ I'm willing to invest in the TB. good luck