Offroad Trailblazers and Envoys

winch carrier and rear Tire carrier

Any special projects involving a decent amount of fab work (bumpers, sliders, roof racks, etc)

by Cable810 » Wed Oct 02, 2013 10:25 pm

:thumleft:
The FIRST Solid Axle Swapped Trailblazer in Presque Isle County MI
My Build
The Roadie wrote:Research, plan your mods, fund the plan, then GO DO THEM. THEN WHEEL IT.
User avatar
Cable810
Veteran
 
Posts: 1989
Joined: Thu Feb 09, 2012 6:43 pm
Location: MI, Rogers City
Name: Caleb
Vehicle Year: 2002
Vehicle: Chevrolet TrailBlazer
DriveTrain: 4WD w/ Aftermarket Locker
Rank: Offroad Rated

by mikekey » Thu Oct 03, 2013 8:32 am

You know, it's amazing GM couldn't come up with something similar, considering the tire carrier they had on the older Blazers. I really like your setup Karsten. It almost looks like it could of come from the factory that way. I've been tempted to try the same thing when I get my welder.

Have you considered coming up with a method for rear recovery points?
Once lifted 03 Trailblazer on 35's, gave it up to travel the USA with my family.
User avatar
mikekey
Lifer
 
Posts: 2585
Joined: Sat Jan 15, 2011 4:08 am
Location: North America
Name: Mike
Vehicle Year: 2003
Vehicle: Chevrolet TrailBlazer
DriveTrain: 4WD w/ G80
Rank: Expedition Rated

by Karo » Thu Oct 03, 2013 4:20 pm

Thank´s Mike you have reminded me to install my rear recovery points ;-) Thank´s for more work, i can tell you my wife won´t be happy about that. :cheers:
So this is another reason to remove the rear bumper plastic part to install the damper AND the recovery points and take some measurements from what´s behind the bumper for the tire carrier. Have I already told that the complete rear tire carrier is bolted to the frame? Nothing is welded to the frame that way it can be easily swapped to another TB.

I have borrowed a picture from AlekG, HE HAD THE IDEA FOR THE REAR RECOVERY POINTS! So here is the picture I really like:

Image

When I saw that picture I liked the fact that it looks functional and factory clean. The tire carrier was not what I have liked so I had to do it my way. But the Idea for the recovery points is excellent. I don´t wanted to bold / screw it to the bumper so I found another kind for attaching the recovery points with drilling only one hole for each recovery point.
Here is a picture of what I got and haven´t installed so far:

Image

These recovery points can turn in the drilled hole and are secured with the retaining ring.
Simple installation one hole for every recover point drilled in the reinforcement bar. This is the view from behind on the reinforcement bar. Holes will be drilled to the left and the right parts that go into the rear frame of the TB.

Image

That´s the idea.
Karsten
User avatar
Karo
Trail-Blazer
 
Posts: 342
Joined: Fri Sep 11, 2009 3:02 am
Location: Berlin Germany 52°30'35.16"N, 13°15'31.99"E
Name: Karsten
Vehicle Year: 2002
Vehicle: Chevrolet TrailBlazer
DriveTrain: 4WD w/ G80
Rank: Trail Ready

by Trail X » Thu Oct 03, 2013 6:07 pm

Be sure to really beef that area of the stock bumper up if that's your plan. I had discussed this with Alec at one of the events we were attending and we agreed that his rear recovery points might be less than stellar, and might pull through the factory metal portion of the bumper.

If you are set on the location, I'd get something like a 2" x 2" tube, cap it with something thick. Put your mounting hole for your recovery shackle in the cap. Then bolt the tube to the outside of your frame rail (there should be room in the frame tube for some more nuts), pointing the shackle out the back, like Alek's. Then you just need to cut away a little of the steel bumper for clearance, but don't worry, the steel in that area isn't structural (and hence why Alek's shackles are potentially weak).

Hope that makes sense.
8-) Build Thread | ExPo Build | YouTube Videos
Not all who wander are lost. -Tolkien
User avatar
Trail X
Founder
 
Posts: 9935
Joined: Mon Sep 07, 2009 10:22 pm
Location: VA, Roanoke
Name: James Downing
Vehicle Year: 2005
Vehicle: Chevrolet TrailBlazer
DriveTrain: 4WD w/ Aftermarket Locker
Rank: Expedition Guide

by Karo » Fri Oct 04, 2013 3:22 am

Good point James, I think going directly into the frame horns and bolting some 2" x 2" which holding the recovery eyes is the better and safer idea. so this is more work but overall much saver!
Karsten
User avatar
Karo
Trail-Blazer
 
Posts: 342
Joined: Fri Sep 11, 2009 3:02 am
Location: Berlin Germany 52°30'35.16"N, 13°15'31.99"E
Name: Karsten
Vehicle Year: 2002
Vehicle: Chevrolet TrailBlazer
DriveTrain: 4WD w/ G80
Rank: Trail Ready

by Darkrider_LS » Wed Nov 06, 2013 3:43 am

Ok i have a question about this pic:

Image

Is that piece with the round tubing in the middle just a mock up to get the correct spacing or is it part of the mount itself? From what im seeing im guessing its a mock up and your actual mounts are just on pieces of angle iron that were bolted to the outside of the trucks chassis possibly using some of the bolt holes from the OE bumper.
Darkrider_LS
Cruiser
 
Posts: 32
Joined: Thu Nov 22, 2012 2:47 am
Name: Chris
Vehicle Year: 2008
Vehicle: Chevrolet TrailBlazer
DriveTrain: 4WD

by AlekG » Fri Nov 08, 2013 12:08 am

JamesDowning wrote:Be sure to really beef that area of the stock bumper up if that's your plan. I had discussed this with Alec at one of the events we were attending and we agreed that his rear recovery points might be less than stellar, and might pull through the factory metal portion of the bumper.

If you are set on the location, I'd get something like a 2" x 2" tube, cap it with something thick. Put your mounting hole for your recovery shackle in the cap. Then bolt the tube to the outside of your frame rail (there should be room in the frame tube for some more nuts), pointing the shackle out the back, like Alek's. Then you just need to cut away a little of the steel bumper for clearance, but don't worry, the steel in that area isn't structural (and hence why Alek's shackles are potentially weak).

Hope that makes sense.



James is correct ... what happened back then was that there was a time crunch to get the build finished before my trip out to Colorado (where the picture was taken). The recovery points were the last item to be worked on and due to my departure date, the shop could not get a reinforced solution done up. They asked me if I wanted them bolted only to the reinforcement bar or left off. I decided to get them bolted up and revisit later ... but unfortunately ... never did.



|| Documenting and sharing overland travels ||
|| adventures and expeditions ||
|| Trailblazer modifications ||
User avatar
AlekG
Off-Roader
 
Posts: 116
Joined: Tue Sep 15, 2009 9:29 pm
Location: Guelph, Ontario, CANADA
Name: Alek
Vehicle Year: 2006
Vehicle: Chevrolet TrailBlazer
DriveTrain: 4WD w/ Aftermarket Locker
Rank: Expedition Rated

by JHogg419 » Wed Apr 23, 2014 9:34 am

That is some amazing work. Great job!
'A “burro” is an ass, and a “burrow” is a hole in the ground, but your typical English-speaking person can’t tell one from the other.'
JHogg419
Member
 
Posts: 51
Joined: Tue Apr 08, 2014 12:17 pm
Location: Central TX
Name: Jarrod Hogg
Vehicle Year: 2004
Vehicle: GMC Envoy
DriveTrain: 4WD

Previous

Return to Fab Work