Hello Everyone, New Guy here.

[JHogg419]

Hello ya'll.

A little over a week ago I bought a 2004 Envoy SLT 4wd out of need. My wife totaled my car. I am a country boy from Texas so I am not new to muddin. (<<not slang. It is how we say it in Texas) I have always mostly been a low and fast kind of guy but I have been pondering buy a vehicle because I am a family man and my Cobalt SS was too small for my needs. But since my wife totaled my baby, I had to find something in a day. I really wasn't excited about the Envoy until I found this site. I love fishing and hunting but I never knew anything about trail riding. It has really got me excited. My current plans is to get a 3 inch lift and wheel spacers from MarkMC. I will be ordering my wheel spacers tomorrow actually. The lift will come in a couple weeks. Of course I will need some bigger A/T tires. I am just going to take it slow. Buy parts and then stare at them impatiently. I think it will be a good family trail rig with all the luxuries inside and rough and tough on the outside. I really must do my research on places to go here in Texas. We have about every kind of scenery in the US here in Texas. I promise to do my best with spelling and grammar but I am a redneck so I will have my wife review anything I think is wrong for ya'll vets out there.

I have been trolling for about a week and there are some very awesome fab guys here. To be honest though, I am more the kind of guy to build my own then purchase. I take more pride in my vehicles that way. Built not Bought. I have done some searching on a few topics and realize how much information is out here for us and I appreciate ya'll already. Thanks.

Future mods
- 3 inch Lift
- 1.5 inch wheel spacers
- Bigger Tires
- Roof rack and Lights
- Front Bumper ( Not sure if one from the venders here or not. I really like the JK bumper that the user here used. Gives more clearance for the tires to hit the obstacle)
- Back Storage Organizer
- Rear Bumper Guard


What do ya'll think? Anyone know any good beginner trails around Texas? Thanks in advance for all the help in the future.

[navigator]

welcome Jarrod, I think you'll find most everything you need here.

[Cable810]

Welcome!!

[Trail X]

I hear very good things about Big Bend. Start looking there. But generally, find some national forest around you and find their MVUM, and just start exploring.

[Diacom]

Grats on the new vehicle, welcome to the Site.

[djthumper]

Welcome

[JHogg419]

I just made my first purchase! MarkMC wheel spacers. I am still looking into exactly where I want to go in regards to lift options. I love MarkMc's but I have found another lift for about a hundred less. I am looking more for clearance. I am planning more for a fishing/hunting buggy than a rock crawler. I know MarkMc is better quality but if the other will work the same for my needs...Not to sure. I am still looking around the forum.

Still I am excited to have the wheel spacers ordered. First of many purchases!

[navigator]

let us know what you are thinking about before buying. There are some lifts on ebay that aren't safe.

For a low end option you can get a Rough Country for $129 + shipping. It will give you about 2" in the front and level up the rear, you can even run your stock rear shocks if they don't need replacing.
http://www.roughcountry.com/suspension- ... le_year=69

MarkMC also has a low budget model as well for $165 shipped. It will give you about 2.5" in the front and 2" in the rear. Since his lift is 2" more in the rear you really should get longer shocks for the rear.
http://theliftmeister.com/public_html/t ... page4.html

For the fronts in either case you should take the opportunity to replace your shocks since you have everything apart.

Either lift with wheel spacers should allow you to run a 31-32" tire with minimal fender liner trimming and both lifts have proven pretty durable, especially for what you have in mind.

[DustinC1989]

What lift kit? Marks 2.5" lift is only $170, the 3" kits on eBay are a copy of his 2.5" kit and and provide no more lift than his. Or they are outside the strut lift which should be shunned

[JHogg419]

What lift kit? Marks 2.5" lift is only $170, the 3" kits on eBay are a copy of his 2.5" kit and and provide no more lift than his. Or they are outside the strut lift which should be shunned

See those are the things I was looking into. Also the z71 Springs....There is just so much information to look through and I didn't want to ask because I know there are answers out there. I just want to get the most I can without a body lift. I really want the body lift but 400 bucks when I have two little kids seems kind of crazy for me to do for only 2 inches. Maybe later though. But like I said, there is just a lot of information out there I am trying to dig through to figure out my route exactly. I wanted to full 3 inches in the front so my Envoy will be level but maybe I can just swap springs or something. Thanks for the advice non the less.

[DustinC1989]

Mark's kits lift front and rear, so the Z71 springs are needed if you're trying to stay within a budget/stay kid friendly (helping my brother in law with the same thing right now)
2.5" lift uses the stock strut mount, which should be replaced when you do the lift. His 3" lift replaces the strut mount and provides 3"~ of lift so the added cost of that kit gives you more lift and you dont have to buy strut mounts

The Rough Country lift does only provide 2" of lift but also eliminates the factory strut mount, will make the truck level, should have no problem clearing 32" tires with the wheel spacers and is $136 shipped when purchased directly from them. And with new people joining and wanting to lift constantly, a temporary lift can easily be sold when you decide to upgrade.
Or going that route, you may decide to keep the rough country kit and add one of Mark's 1/2" top spacers and switch to Z71's. More lift and spread out cost.

Dont be afraid to ask about lifts, would rather help someone choose the right lift rather than get something that turns your truck into a death trap.

[TBYODA]

Jarrod look through the build threads for ideas. I have just recently lifted and have adjusted my radflo's to 2.5" (front lift) and have on the rear Z71 spring and 2" spring spacer. I am running 265/75R16 tires and have yet to trim the liner but that could be because the tires are about half worn. Take look at my build to before and after pictures to give you a ideas but keep in mind the Envoy wheels wells are a little smaller than TB's so you may have to trim more. Good luck. BTW I have 8 year old boy and he has no trouble climb in.

[navigator]

if you want the full 3" in the front, just wait until you can afford the lift from Mark but keep in mind you really need to upgrade your rear shocks if you go with either of Mark's kits.
If you buy the 2" or 2.5" and add springs at ~$100 you will be right in the price range of the 3" lift which is what you want.
Also most springs used for lift are somewhat stiffer than stock, some are way stiffer than stock and that might be something you don't want.

If you think 3" is your goal, it would likely be best to just wait.

[JHogg419]

What is worrying me about the lifts that the strut mount is built into the mount, like Mark's, is what would happen if that bearing where the strut mounts went out. I haven't read any where that it has happened yet but It is still something I am looking at. I am sure that a new one can be pressed in but what is the cost of a replacement as well as the cost of a shop pressing it in. Just something on my mind.

Realistically, there is not that much difference between 2.5 and 3 inch lift. .5 inch??? not much at all. Like I mentioned before, my needs are coming from more of getting clearance to dig through some mud or sand to get to that better fishing spot. A good skid plate can get me over anything that .5 inch would help me clear. Most of the camping I do is on my wife's grandparents ranch. It is 3000 acres. No mountains or rock climbing just getting all the way to the back through anything Texas can throw at me. I would like to one day get to go on some of the "expedition" type trips but that is years away not months. Thanks for all your comments though. I really appreciate it.

[JHogg419]

Jarrod look through the build threads for ideas. I have just recently lifted and have adjusted my radflo's to 2.5" (front lift) and have on the rear Z71 spring and 2" spring spacer. I am running 265/75R16 tires and have yet to trim the liner but that could be because the tires are about half worn. Take look at my build to before and after pictures to give you a ideas but keep in mind the Envoy wheels wells are a little smaller than TB's so you may have to trim more. Good luck. BTW I have 8 year old boy and he has no trouble climb in.

I have actually looked at your build a couple times. You have the same goals as I do for the most part. Radflo's look amazing but way out of my price range. Perhaps I can find some on the for sale forum....Who knows.

[DustinC1989]

No bearings in the lift to fail, only bushings that can easily be replaced and cheap.
the struts on our platform dont move like normal struts, basically a strut being used as a shock..

[HARDTRAILZ]

What is worrying me about the lifts that the strut mount is built into the mount, like Mark's, is what would happen if that bearing where the strut mounts went out. I haven't read any where that it has happened yet but It is still something I am looking at. I am sure that a new one can be pressed in but what is the cost of a replacement as well as the cost of a shop pressing it in. Just something on my mind.

What bearing? There is none in the strut mount...

[JHogg419]

I figured there was a bearing to help pivot in the Strut mount. See, I am just still in the research process of it all. In my mind, I see where I want to go with my Envoy. I am still researching the best route to get there. By best I mean, the most cost efficient as well as strength. I just rechecked the one I was looking at. It was one by Supreme Suspension. It looks like a knock off of Mark's but I see it is the same price. I will for sure go with Mark's now that I see that. I would rather support a small shop guy rather than a large Chinese shop. I am still reviewing everything.

By the way, as I read the fab forum, I am shocked how many people own tube benders or have readily access to them. I want to try to build my own bumper and rear bumper guard. I know there is someone here that makes amazing kits but I like doing it myself when I can. Strut Lift Machining is out of my range of abilities.

[HARDTRAILZ]

I figured there was a bearing to help pivot in the Strut mount.

The mounts are solid and should not pivot. The top and bottom bolt in and the strut works like a shock . The control arms have bushings that pivot, but most find it cheapest to replace whole arm rather than fight the bushings.

EDIT: The bottom of arm strut bolts to does pivot but not a bearing.

You don't need to worry about having things pressed in somewhere.



The guy making kits is full of knowledge and seems to be willing to help people that want to build their own stuff. No one will fault you here for doing something yourself. Lots of people will offer ideas, input, and answer whatever questions to help you.

[NC_IslandRunner]

Welcome!

Good starter list!