Well, i'm new to this site. But i've owned my 04' TB for 2.5 years, but havent got to do much with it. I'm really just starting the mods, so i figured i could follow the trend and show a timeline. If any of you guys have some advice, please tell me. I need all the help i can get.
Everything still stock for the most part. Except for magnaflow catbacks.
Trans-Continental Trailblazer -5th Award Current Count of Transmission Rebuilds:5.5 ***The more you know, the less you need.*** USMC '07-'12 Dirty Bacon's Build
That pic was taken on the side of Palomar Mountain, CA. Probably withing 2 weeks of buying the TB.
Trans-Continental Trailblazer -5th Award Current Count of Transmission Rebuilds:5.5 ***The more you know, the less you need.*** USMC '07-'12 Dirty Bacon's Build
Yep! I'm in Vista. Glad to help and I LOVE to give advice and mentor new trail-ride buddies for safety in numbers. Check out my build thread and send me a PM if you want to come over and go over the Roadiemobile for ideas. Nate Harrison grade on the south side of Palomar used to be a nice trail until they graded and defanged it. The ridge road on the north side is fantastic for views on a good day, but nowhere CLOSE to needing the full capability of the truck. Been exploring ALL the trails within a couple hundred miles for five years now.
Yea that pic was from a few years ago, before they graded it. I just went up there again like 2 weeks ago and was very disappointed. I dont know where any of the trails on the other side are though. Today I'm puttin in the BDS 2" suspension lift, so i'm lookin to give it a good test this weekend But if someone could direct me to a oil pan skid plate and a radiator skid plate that would be fantastical.
Last edited by DirtyBacon04 on Fri Aug 05, 2011 2:18 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Trans-Continental Trailblazer -5th Award Current Count of Transmission Rebuilds:5.5 ***The more you know, the less you need.*** USMC '07-'12 Dirty Bacon's Build
Looks like Michael is the luckiest guy in the world to fall into ORTB just when I have a spare Saturday at home, and I can show him your stuff from the Trailvoy Armory, Mike. Maybe I can sell him the #1 prototype aluminum oil pan skid plate with some official Roadie trail patina. Probably some ground-in Rubicon pebbles embedded in it also!
The Roadie wrote:Looks like Michael is the luckiest guy in the world to fall into ORTB just when I have a spare Saturday at home, and I can show him your stuff from the Trailvoy Armory, Mike. Maybe I can sell him the #1 prototype aluminum oil pan skid plate with some official Roadie trail patina. Probably some ground-in Rubicon pebbles embedded in it also!
Cool! As long as he gets some protection, new or "gently used" doesn't matter much...
Trans-Continental Trailblazer -5th Award Current Count of Transmission Rebuilds:5.5 ***The more you know, the less you need.*** USMC '07-'12 Dirty Bacon's Build
If you count the five or six on the Roadiemobile, and helping Teebes with four, I think I'm up to 15. Do trail-side strut swaps count? Probably not unless I take the springs off. Never did that on the trail, and never want to, although I always carry the tools. I'm just addicted to air tools now.
Poor Michael, though. Thought the local offroad shops would have a Trailblazer lift kit in stock like it's an F150 mall cruiser. He's gotta get one shipped in. He'll learn.
The Roadie wrote:If you count the five or six on the Roadiemobile, and helping Teebes with four, I think I'm up to 15. Do trail-side strut swaps count? Probably not unless I take the springs off. Never did that on the trail, and never want to, although I always carry the tools. I'm just addicted to air tools now.
Poor Michael, though. Thought the local offroad shops would have a Trailblazer lift kit in stock like it's an F150 mall cruiser. He's gotta get one shipped in. He'll learn.
Yes Master. Grasshopper will learn good.
Trans-Continental Trailblazer -5th Award Current Count of Transmission Rebuilds:5.5 ***The more you know, the less you need.*** USMC '07-'12 Dirty Bacon's Build
Another historic hand-me-down happened today. After Michael drove up and I saw the missing front bumper cover and trail pinstriping, I knew we had a winner. Mrs. Roadie also pronounced him worthy. The condition of his undercarriage was undisputed proof of aggressive trail exploration.
So I pulled out Mike Barton's Trailvoy Armory Serial # 00001 oil pan skid plate from my garage and bequeathed it to Michael. No pics of its current condition, but here it was when I got it on July 3, 2008. Only one other Mike Barton skid plate has ever been on the Rubicon, and that's Teebes'.
Drive it in good health for a long time, Michael! And thanks for the beer and sharing trail stories!!
Well, i certainly introduced myself to the skid plate today up and around the north side of palomar. I didnt want to wait till tomorrow. Got some sweet pics too. And Bill, as for the beer, i figure if i can get you drunk enough, i'll see what else you're willing to give me! Skid plate hard at work! Posing in the ruins of Palomar. A lil chevy customization here...
Trans-Continental Trailblazer -5th Award Current Count of Transmission Rebuilds:5.5 ***The more you know, the less you need.*** USMC '07-'12 Dirty Bacon's Build
JamesDowning wrote:So the question is Bill - when are you guys heading out?
After his lift comes in and we get it installed. I said Michael was worthy to adopt the skid plate. Not yet worthy for sharing a tough trail with. He's already done stuff I never attempted while stock. I think the best summary of him is "irrepressible". He's got 3.42 gears and no G80, so I think a Big Bear weekend is in order. Mrs. Roadie is going to a wedding back east in a couple of weekends. Maybe then.
So, Michael....the gates on Palomar Divide road must have been open if you were at the mine ruins at dusk. You wasted absolutely no time getting up there with the map. (I loaned him a couple of maps and the Massey guidebook.)
Don't forget to use PB Blaster ahead of time on the strut bolts.
Here's a current auction (cheap) for Z71 springs:
And the Bilstein shocks if you want to get those from Shockwarehouse with their 5% discount code offroadtb5 : BE5-A333-H0
It's beat to death, but will still stop more rocks than the OEM tissue paper panel.
The condition of his undercarriage was undisputed proof of aggressive trail exploration. 
He's already done stuff I never attempted while stock. I think the best summary of him is "irrepressible". He's got 3.42 gears and no G80, so I think a Big Bear weekend is in order. Mrs. Roadie is going to a wedding back east in a couple of weekends. Maybe then. 
