What to spend money on??

by **JD8181** » Fri May 01, 2015 2:02 pm

I have an 05 trailblazer LT i6 4x4 with 3.42's. Mark's 3" lift with a set of 30.5" copper at3 tires. I'm looking at doing a little off roading and wonder what else I really need. Would a brush/skid (bull guard) do any good? Also I have oem running boards (I have a 3 and 5 year old and they are mostly for them getting in and out). Would tube steps be any better? Thanks for the input.

by **Eredin** » Fri May 01, 2015 3:49 pm

I'd highly recommend an oil skid plate from MDB.

Bull bars are mostly useless on our platform, as the ones left on the market tend to bolt to the lower core support and can damage it if it takes an impact. Running boards just reduce ground clearance and the tubes wouldn't really be of any additional benefit over what you have, I'd save the money there as well.

Just my .02 cents, but it is your cash. Poke around a bit in the build threads, that'll give you an idea of what others have vested in.

MY Youtube Channel · by **TBYODA** » Fri May 01, 2015 9:53 pm

I agree with above , I'd also highly suggest the MDB radiator skid also, our radiator sits very low and you could hit it very easily on a trail.
Here a example from my last wheeling trip.

Do you see the pushed up dirt in the middle between the ruts, yep the rad skid did that, my TB would have been done here if didn't have a rad skid. In the end that hill was to rutted for my 32"tires

but I did gave it a good old try, me and the side of the hill didn't get along.

I'd also say wheel spaces and 32". That size is very doable with 3.42 gears with a aux tranny cooler for added Insurance.

by **ErikSS** » Fri May 01, 2015 10:38 pm

Plan, Buy, Build, Wheel. You need to look at the places you intend to wheel and decide which modifications best fits your needs.

That said, in my opinion, radiator skid is the most important. I beat mine several times. Oil skid, and rock sliders are close behind...

by **v7guy** » Sat May 02, 2015 6:45 am

you've got good advice so far. If you like the running boards I'd look at doing something like Barton did with his "wife safe sliders", it's a novel idea that works well. Sliders in general might also help the running board deletion. In the end any significant time offroad is going to end up badly for the running boards.

radiator skid and oil pan skid are pretty high on the list of things you need, especially with smaller tires.

by **JD8181** » Sat May 02, 2015 7:28 am

Thanks for the advice guys. About how much does a skid plate run? And where have you guys been getting rock sliders from and around what is there cost?

by **Opeth** » Sat May 02, 2015 8:17 am

Radiator and oil skids for sure! They saved me on an easy seasonal use road. Message Mike on here in the vendor section. He's got prices in one of his threads.

by **Jrgunn5150** » Sat May 02, 2015 11:42 am

TBYODA wrote:I agree with above , I'd also highly suggest the MDB radiator skid also, our radiator sits very low and you could hit it very easily on a trail.
Here a example from my last wheeling trip.
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1430531600.532280.jpg

Do you see the pushed up dirt in the middle between the ruts, yep the rad skid did that, my TB would have been done here if didn't have a rad skid. In the end that hill was to rutted for my 32"tires but I did gave it a good old try, me and the side of the hill didn't get along.
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1430531008.728436.jpg

I'd also say wheel spaces and 32". That size is very doable with 3.42 gears with a aux tranny cooler for added Insurance.

I hit mine, now I have a leak, and need to replace my radiator

by **Jrgunn5150** » Sat May 02, 2015 12:08 pm

JD8181 wrote:Thanks for the advice guys. About how much does a skid plate run? And where have you guys been getting rock sliders from and around what is there cost?

Most guys use the Trail gear universals, I believe they are around 180. I need some of those also, I've whanged (technical term), my rockers several times as well

MY Youtube Channel · by **TBYODA** » Sat May 02, 2015 12:22 pm

v7guy wrote:radiator skid and oil pan skid are pretty high on the list of things you need, especially with smaller tires.

Unless your going to be a Mall crawler, IMHO armor should be first on the list of things to buy and/or make even before lifting.

MY Youtube Channel · by **TBYODA** » Sat May 02, 2015 1:05 pm

Jrgunn5150 wrote: I hit mine, now I have a leak, and need to replace my radiator

Be happy that is all you hit, the radiator could possibly be patched on a trail enough to get you out and really won't damage the motor if caught in time. Unlike a short lived member from Albany NY that that took his stock TB on some (illegal ) power line trails and punched a hole in the oil pan. Needless to say he had to be towed out. He replaced the oil pan and dumped his TB on some unsuspecting buyer. I am sure the motor was damaged some how.
This all could have been avoided if he would have done the research here on this site and saved and spend the cash. Instead he was in a rush to go hit the trails.
You also need to be ready for some other damage like I did above. I wasn't to upset because a fender is cheaper that door. I was about to pound it out pretty good.

by **bartonmd** » Sat May 02, 2015 6:38 pm

Jason, it's "wife-resistant running boards" in honor of my wife who is an environmental scientist, and ripped 3 running boards off of rental SUVs in Colorado, around the time I made these on our (her) TB.

Mike

by **v7guy** » Sat May 02, 2015 6:55 pm

LOL, maybe I have too much faith in your fab! I figured they were safe for her to take it out and not rip em to pieces... If they're just wife resistant then I would expect a story of her tearing em up by now. LOL

They've been on there for quite a few years now haven't they?

by **bartonmd** » Sat May 02, 2015 9:24 pm

v7guy wrote:LOL, maybe I have too much faith in your fab! I figured they were safe for her to take it out and not rip em to pieces... If they're just wife resistant then I would expect a story of her tearing em up by now. LOL

They've been on there for quite a few years now haven't they?

They're still fine, but they're called "wife resistant" because NOTHING is wife-PROOF!

Mike

Offroad Trailblazers and Envoys