Offroad Trailblazers and Envoys

ok so I wonna make some custom mounts...

Dumping ground for offroad Trailblazer or Envoy general discussion.

by 06MidnightBlue » Mon Sep 05, 2011 9:32 pm

for hooks that come out of the front bumper where I'm assuming a front brush guard would mount. does anyone know if these are already made for our application?
User avatar
06MidnightBlue
Addict
 
Posts: 597
Joined: Tue Jul 12, 2011 4:14 am
Location: CA, Sacramento
Name: Jeff
Vehicle Year: 2006
Vehicle: Chevrolet TrailBlazer
DriveTrain: 4WD

by The Roadie » Mon Sep 05, 2011 9:38 pm

OEM hooks mount on the reinforcing bar bolts, and replace the lower nut plate. Brush guards mount to holes in the side of the frame.

WHATEVER YOU DO, don't do what I did when I was an insane idiot noob on my first trail ride with a group who insisted on front mounted recovery points: :wallbash: :wallbash: :wallbash:

Image
User avatar
The Roadie
Founder
 
Posts: 5011
Joined: Mon Sep 07, 2009 11:29 pm
Location: OR, Portland area
Name: Bill Carton
Vehicle Year: 2004
Vehicle: GMC Envoy
DriveTrain: 4WD w/ G80
Rank: Expedition Guide

by 06MidnightBlue » Mon Sep 05, 2011 10:44 pm

so all you did in that pic was bolt on the hooks?
User avatar
06MidnightBlue
Addict
 
Posts: 597
Joined: Tue Jul 12, 2011 4:14 am
Location: CA, Sacramento
Name: Jeff
Vehicle Year: 2006
Vehicle: Chevrolet TrailBlazer
DriveTrain: 4WD

by chevycrew » Mon Sep 05, 2011 10:52 pm

It appears as though thats what he did. Hooks mounted there would have about the same effectiveness as using beer cans for jack stands... :poke:
User avatar
chevycrew
Veteran
 
Posts: 1088
Joined: Tue Mar 08, 2011 2:42 pm
Location: UT, Salt Lake City
Name: Steve
Vehicle Year: 2002
Vehicle: Chevrolet TrailBlazer
DriveTrain: 4WD
Rank: Trail Ready

by 06MidnightBlue » Mon Sep 05, 2011 11:01 pm

I know this is gonna sound OCD...but my biggest concern with mounting recovery hooks is I want to cause AS LITTLE DAMAGE to the front bumper as possible.
User avatar
06MidnightBlue
Addict
 
Posts: 597
Joined: Tue Jul 12, 2011 4:14 am
Location: CA, Sacramento
Name: Jeff
Vehicle Year: 2006
Vehicle: Chevrolet TrailBlazer
DriveTrain: 4WD

by Regulator1175 » Mon Sep 05, 2011 11:04 pm

Proof that Rodie was a noob at one point as well. He just evolved faster then most.
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.
So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.
- Mark Twain
--Build--
User avatar
Regulator1175
Veteran
 
Posts: 1047
Joined: Wed Mar 17, 2010 3:48 pm
Location: IN, Warsaw
Name: Matthew McClelland
Vehicle Year: 2002
Vehicle: GMC Envoy
DriveTrain: 4WD w/ G80
Rank: Extreme Offroader

by chevycrew » Tue Sep 06, 2011 12:13 am

06MidnightBlue wrote:I know this is gonna sound OCD...but my biggest concern with mounting recovery hooks is I want to cause AS LITTLE DAMAGE to the front bumper as possible.



Put on stock hooks, or go aftermarket bumper with d-rings.
User avatar
chevycrew
Veteran
 
Posts: 1088
Joined: Tue Mar 08, 2011 2:42 pm
Location: UT, Salt Lake City
Name: Steve
Vehicle Year: 2002
Vehicle: Chevrolet TrailBlazer
DriveTrain: 4WD
Rank: Trail Ready

by The Roadie » Tue Sep 06, 2011 12:36 am

chevycrew wrote:It appears as though thats what he did. Hooks mounted there would have about the same effectiveness as using beer cans for jack stands... :poke:
You got it. I seriously underestimated the forces involved. And how low I was hanging down. First time I hit a piece of compacted sand on the climb-out from a wash, I pushed them in. That pushed the radiator bracket back and jammed the fan in the shroud and I overheated when driving with the wind. Into the wind, no problem. But I couldn't get back to the campsite without a tug on the bracket to unjam the fan. With no rocks or trees in that part of the desert, I needed help.

Image

06MidnightBlue wrote:I know this is gonna sound OCD...but my biggest concern with mounting recovery hooks is I want to cause AS LITTLE DAMAGE to the front bumper as possible.
Sorry, but I gotta say it's way beyond OCD. It's a downright dangerous attitude to carry if you're going to do serious offroading. Not sure what your mission is, but if you have a split-second decision to make to choose between scratching or totalling the vehicle to save your life in a rollover or runaway loss of brake issue, if you spend two brain clock cycles on weighing what the damage might cost you, that delay might be the thing that costs you your health. Not to say that your daily driver has to look beat up or crappy, but you should spend some time thinking about your relationship with the truck before you take it in harm's way. That's all. :drive:
User avatar
The Roadie
Founder
 
Posts: 5011
Joined: Mon Sep 07, 2009 11:29 pm
Location: OR, Portland area
Name: Bill Carton
Vehicle Year: 2004
Vehicle: GMC Envoy
DriveTrain: 4WD w/ G80
Rank: Expedition Guide

by chevycrew » Tue Sep 06, 2011 12:48 am

The Roadie wrote:
chevycrew wrote:It appears as though thats what he did. Hooks mounted there would have about the same effectiveness as using beer cans for jack stands... :poke:
You got it. I seriously underestimated the forces involved. And how low I was hanging down. First time I hit a piece of compacted sand on the climb-out from a wash, I pushed them in. That pushed the radiator bracket back and jammed the fan in the shroud and I overheated when driving with the wind. Into the wind, no problem. But I couldn't get back to the campsite without a tug on the bracket to unjam the fan. With no rocks or trees in that part of the desert, I needed help.




At least you had a hook to pull it back out with! :raspberry:
User avatar
chevycrew
Veteran
 
Posts: 1088
Joined: Tue Mar 08, 2011 2:42 pm
Location: UT, Salt Lake City
Name: Steve
Vehicle Year: 2002
Vehicle: Chevrolet TrailBlazer
DriveTrain: 4WD
Rank: Trail Ready

by bartonmd » Tue Sep 06, 2011 8:03 am

The Roadie wrote:
06MidnightBlue wrote:I know this is gonna sound OCD...but my biggest concern with mounting recovery hooks is I want to cause AS LITTLE DAMAGE to the front bumper as possible.
Sorry, but I gotta say it's way beyond OCD. It's a downright dangerous attitude to carry if you're going to do serious offroading. Not sure what your mission is, but if you have a split-second decision to make to choose between scratching or totalling the vehicle to save your life in a rollover or runaway loss of brake issue, if you spend two brain clock cycles on weighing what the damage might cost you, that delay might be the thing that costs you your health. Not to say that your daily driver has to look beat up or crappy, but you should spend some time thinking about your relationship with the truck before you take it in harm's way. That's all. :drive:


Exactly... and this is why my '07 5.3L TB has cowboy stripes all down the sides of it... Much better when going up switchback fire trails to hug the mountain side and get some brush scratches than to try and stay away from them, and drive closer to the drop-off, where the ground is less secure, and you don't have to slip around nearly as much to be in REAL trouble...

Mike
bartonmd
Moderator
 
Posts: 4469
Joined: Wed Sep 09, 2009 9:35 am
Location: IN, Indianapolis
Name: Mike
Vehicle Year: 2007
Vehicle: Chevrolet TrailBlazer
DriveTrain: 4WD w/ G80
Rank: Offroad Rated

by 06MidnightBlue » Tue Sep 06, 2011 9:57 pm

I've thought about covering the lower part of the truck in that Rhino bed liner stuff to prevent from low end scratches....too much?
User avatar
06MidnightBlue
Addict
 
Posts: 597
Joined: Tue Jul 12, 2011 4:14 am
Location: CA, Sacramento
Name: Jeff
Vehicle Year: 2006
Vehicle: Chevrolet TrailBlazer
DriveTrain: 4WD

by Diacom » Tue Sep 06, 2011 11:30 pm

06MidnightBlue wrote:I've thought about covering the lower part of the truck in that Rhino bed liner stuff to prevent from low end scratches....too much?


Do you mean scratches like this??

Image

Image

Image

Dunno if the liner will really prevent much. :poke:
Diacom
Addict
 
Posts: 881
Joined: Fri Jul 23, 2010 9:08 pm
Location: NV, Yerington
Name: Noel
Vehicle Year: 2003
Vehicle: Chevrolet TrailBlazer
DriveTrain: 4WD w/ Aftermarket Locker

by 06MidnightBlue » Wed Sep 07, 2011 10:50 pm

No no no...I meant around the lower part of the doors and bumpers...to protect the pain from scratches...and to somewhat give it a rugged look.
User avatar
06MidnightBlue
Addict
 
Posts: 597
Joined: Tue Jul 12, 2011 4:14 am
Location: CA, Sacramento
Name: Jeff
Vehicle Year: 2006
Vehicle: Chevrolet TrailBlazer
DriveTrain: 4WD

by fishsticks » Wed Sep 07, 2011 10:52 pm

06MidnightBlue wrote:No no no...I meant around the lower part of the doors and bumpers...to protect the pain from scratches...and to somewhat give it a rugged look.



DENTS give your truck a "rugged looK".

Bedliner is simply there to keep the metal from rusting. :mrgreen:
11 Silverado LTZ - 6.2L/6l80, 2/3 drop, self tuned
85 Hilux - 3RZ, dual cases, caged, 40s, chromo everything
02 TrailBlazer LTZ - 35s, lockers, balls - Gone but not forgotten - Build
User avatar
fishsticks
Moderator
 
Posts: 4356
Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2010 11:30 pm
Location: WA, Vancouver
Name: Donny
Vehicle Year: Other
Vehicle: Other Vehicle
DriveTrain: 4WD w/ Aftermarket Locker
Rank: Extreme Offroader

by 06MidnightBlue » Mon Sep 12, 2011 1:56 am

true that...however it does give it a more rugged...off-road type look.
User avatar
06MidnightBlue
Addict
 
Posts: 597
Joined: Tue Jul 12, 2011 4:14 am
Location: CA, Sacramento
Name: Jeff
Vehicle Year: 2006
Vehicle: Chevrolet TrailBlazer
DriveTrain: 4WD

by chevycrew » Mon Sep 12, 2011 6:58 am

Ive never met anyone who was concerned with getting the offroad "look" that actually ever needed to have tow hooks...
User avatar
chevycrew
Veteran
 
Posts: 1088
Joined: Tue Mar 08, 2011 2:42 pm
Location: UT, Salt Lake City
Name: Steve
Vehicle Year: 2002
Vehicle: Chevrolet TrailBlazer
DriveTrain: 4WD
Rank: Trail Ready

by The Roadie » Mon Sep 12, 2011 10:54 am

I think I read on the OS that somebody's tow hooks bent or broke during a mud extraction. They certainly aren't good for much more than a flat tow on pavement, or for pulling a ricer out of a snowbank backwards.

I love this video:

User avatar
The Roadie
Founder
 
Posts: 5011
Joined: Mon Sep 07, 2009 11:29 pm
Location: OR, Portland area
Name: Bill Carton
Vehicle Year: 2004
Vehicle: GMC Envoy
DriveTrain: 4WD w/ G80
Rank: Expedition Guide

by navigator » Mon Sep 12, 2011 11:04 am

wow, it reminds me of one I saw with I think an old jeep that was stuck in a river bed or something and they had a big diesel trying to pull him out and they snatched the front axle out from under it.
"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
here
My Build Thread
User avatar
navigator
Moderator
 
Posts: 4651
Joined: Wed Mar 09, 2011 10:16 am
Location: NC, Winnabow
Name: Chris
Vehicle Year: 2006
Vehicle: Chevrolet TrailBlazer
DriveTrain: 4WD
Rank: Trail Ready

by Regulator1175 » Mon Sep 12, 2011 12:07 pm

I love the "spotter" covering his ass, "I said stop, I said stop, I said stop."
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.
So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.
- Mark Twain
--Build--
User avatar
Regulator1175
Veteran
 
Posts: 1047
Joined: Wed Mar 17, 2010 3:48 pm
Location: IN, Warsaw
Name: Matthew McClelland
Vehicle Year: 2002
Vehicle: GMC Envoy
DriveTrain: 4WD w/ G80
Rank: Extreme Offroader

by fishsticks » Mon Sep 12, 2011 3:01 pm

I LOLd. I believe an "Oh ////!" escaped my lips too. :mrgreen:


Shoulda pulled him sideways out of that bank.... and should put the truck in 4WD.
11 Silverado LTZ - 6.2L/6l80, 2/3 drop, self tuned
85 Hilux - 3RZ, dual cases, caged, 40s, chromo everything
02 TrailBlazer LTZ - 35s, lockers, balls - Gone but not forgotten - Build
User avatar
fishsticks
Moderator
 
Posts: 4356
Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2010 11:30 pm
Location: WA, Vancouver
Name: Donny
Vehicle Year: Other
Vehicle: Other Vehicle
DriveTrain: 4WD w/ Aftermarket Locker
Rank: Extreme Offroader

Next

Return to Off Road Discussion

cron