Lifting Ext Questions

[Justin505]

Hey offroadtb,
I recently bought a trailblazer in the beginning of January. I am absolutely in love with it and after coming to this forum.... well i am addicted now. So I would like to get my truck lifted soon. I love Markmc's lift and I think that is the one I am going to purchase. I am moving from Oregon to Colorado in the beginning of April. Since I am going to be towing a trailer I wanted to eliminate the rear sag because I will have everything I got in the trailer and in the car. I was looking at the air bag systems but soon realized that the trailblazer air bags and the tahoe z71 air bags are not the same. So after doing tons of research on here and getting ready to purchase everything I need, I wanted to ask a few questions before I set it up. So my set up so far will be like this.
Markmc front lift kit 2.5"
As of now I was thinking of keeping the spring and shock up front stock, any problems with that?
Rear I was thinking of using the z71 springs.
Good idea for all the trailer weight I would think, and I will be camping all the time this summer as well as towing my 26' heavy boat.
I was looking at the MAXXLinks - Heavy Duty Sway Bar End Links but it says available for lifts up to 2".
So going with the 2.5" I will not be able to use these? And will that cause any problems?
I will never be doing any serious off roading, but I would love to be able to feel comfortable crossing small creeks and 25 degree angle medium to easy difficulty trails.
So overall I was thinking of doing the 2.5" front, z71 rear for now. Any issues with that and do I need to flip the UCAs? Should I stick with the 2" in order to be able to use the sway bar end links? And issues with keeping the stock shocks all around for now and the front springs? Or do i need to upgrade the rears for the extra 1.5" from the z71.
I have read around a lot and since I am finally ready to do it I just want to make sure I am going the correct route. Thanks so much guys!!!

[fishsticks]

Do the shocks while you're doing the lift. You'll thank yourself.

Stock springs in front are fine unless you need more front lift or are planning on adding weight to the front.

Flipped UCAs aren't required in the 2.5" zone, but they help with upper ball joint angle on any lifted TB.

I say skip the MaxxLinks. I think some folks here have broken them fairly easily.

Airlift makes airbag setups that will live happily under our rides with Z71 or stock springs.

[Justin505]

Okay so in that case I would use which shocks?
REAR: Tahoe/Yukon 4x4 Replacement: F4-BE5-E375-H0
or
REAR: Avalance/Suburban/Tahoe/Yukon Replacement: F4-BE5-E380-H0
or
REAR: Trailblazer/Envoy replacement: F4-BE5-A335-H0
considering I will be going with the z71 springs in the rear.
and are these bilsteins good?
I wont be adding weight up front any time soon, but since marks lift is in the strut should I just replace those shocks as well with the Trailblazer/Envoy replacement: F4-BE5-A333-H0?
So I will just flip the UCAs then, pretty easy process I would assume? Any tips or tricks on that?
And I will also skip the Maxxlinks.
And is their any difference in the airlift brand compared to the firestone brand besides price?
And would you recommend the air bags even with the springs or are the springs enough. For now I will probably stick with the springs for the trip to colorado but during the summer I will be towing my 5800lb boat with gear in the trunk as well so would you suggest the airbags at that point?

[fishsticks]

Run the BDS 55619's in the rear. They are half the price of the Bilsteins and 2" longer, which is important if you're lifted.

http://bds-suspension.com/product-display?sr=55619


Bilsteins are fine for the front. It's what we all run.

All of your other questions can be answered by reading on here.

[Justin505]

Okay so marks lift and bilsteins up front.
and z71 and bds in rear.
Flipped UCAs.
And that should pretty much cover it to start? Just making sure I'm not forgetting anything.

[fishsticks]

I'd say you're on the right track.

[Justin505]

Thanks so much! I appreciate your help.

[high-voltage]

Wow you guys are getting soft.

[Justin505]

Im just completely new to the lifting scene. I have had built cars lowered, coilovers, etc. The lift game is a whole new world. Fun though. You guys got a pretty good community going on over here.

[mikepeters1983]

Wow you guys are getting soft.

Softness comes with age, thats all I got to say lol

[fishsticks]

Wow you guys are getting soft.

I was in a good mood.

[high-voltage]

I was in a good mood.

I'll let it go.
THIS TIME!

[Philberto]

Wow you guys are getting soft... Need something?






In all seriousness though, flip through the build threads to get some more ideas. Best place I can think of for anybody to start, next to the stickies and FAQ.

Oh, and welcome!

[DmccartneyFF2TB]

This just gets me. The forum is for info and questions I understand they should read but that's basically what the form is for. That's my 2 cents don't want to start a war.

[Mooseknuckle]

Sounds like a good set-up for what your gonna be doing. Check out the build threads like the other guys were saying. Good luck.

[Zero]

I have an EXT as well, if you care to view my thread for ideas.

[Philberto]

This just gets me. The forum is for info and questions I understand they should read but that's basically what the form is for. That's my 2 cents don't want to start a war.

You do realize most of the statements in this thread are tongue in cheek ya? Consider it our form of hazing the thinner-skinned.

-edit: I suspect you may have meant to comment on the OTHER new lifting ext thread, which has poor grammar and spelling + noob questions raising the ire of our fine community.

[bgwolfpack]

-edit: I suspect you may have meant to comment on the OTHER new lifting ext thread, which has poor grammar and spelling + noob questions raising the ire of our fine community.

Philberto being silly again.

[Justin505]

Also I have been looking into the body lift as well. But seems as if nobody has done it on the ext yet. From what I am reading, you would need to do a custom bracket for the radiator only? And is there any update on anyone doing this yet? I would assume it's not too far out of the question considering they have the same amount of body mounts.

[janesy86]

I believe a member on the OS did a BL to an Envoy XL. Kaneman I believe.