What to tell you? Lets see. I am a 34 year old security guard. I love kayaking with my wife. As of this entry we currently have 2 foster kids.
Due to my current position at work I can not miss due to weather so I recently bought a 02 trailblazer. Goals for it are a little hard to define right now. It will face snow and ice on road, then sand and gravel getting kayaks in and out. (Last year we got 20 inches of snow, not including drifts, our county does not clear the roads at night, by morning our s10 blazer from work was one of the few things moving) I know I will carry kayaks on the roof so I can make limited modifications there (Maybe strengthen the rack). I would like to add some Aux lighting, a CB, and a radio for work. Brush guard, nerf bars, rear bumper guard. CAI. Maybe a exhaust? Height may be a issue, one of our kayaks is 18ft and 100lbs, lift that one on a rack a time or two. Other than that suggestions welcome.
Hello From Mo
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- Guardian
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- Name: Will
- Vehicle Year: 2002
- Vehicle: Chevrolet TrailBlazer
- DriveTrain: 4WD
Welcome!
Mike
Mike
- bartonmd
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welcome to the site.
It sounds like you might want a little lift to run larger tires but not a lot of lift.
Everyone loves MarkMC's (member here) lift but that is about 3 inches in the front and about 2 inches rear.
Rough Country makes a 2 inch leveling kit that lifts the front 2 inches and the rear about 3/4.
You can run that with 265/75/16 that seems to be a good all around size run by a lot of folks.
You'll need wheel spacers to run a tire that height. MarkMC can get those for you as well.
For about the same cost of a decent brush guard you can get a really nice front bumper from BArtonMD(another member).
On the kayaks, I have a 16ft aluminum canoe, unsure it's weight but it is hard for me to load by myself.
I bought a bed extender from Harbor Freight, that allows me to prop one end of the canoe on the bed extender (it extends up or out) and slide the canoe up and gently place it on the front cross bar. It makes it much easier to load alone.
That might not help you if you use standard kayak mounts.
http://www.harborfreight.com/truck-bed- ... 45830.html
here is a chart with many popular tire sizes and the items needed to allow that tire size.
viewtopic.php?f=15&t=2290
Also post up your gearing and if you have the G80 locker or not.
It sounds like you might want a little lift to run larger tires but not a lot of lift.
Everyone loves MarkMC's (member here) lift but that is about 3 inches in the front and about 2 inches rear.
Rough Country makes a 2 inch leveling kit that lifts the front 2 inches and the rear about 3/4.
You can run that with 265/75/16 that seems to be a good all around size run by a lot of folks.
You'll need wheel spacers to run a tire that height. MarkMC can get those for you as well.
For about the same cost of a decent brush guard you can get a really nice front bumper from BArtonMD(another member).
On the kayaks, I have a 16ft aluminum canoe, unsure it's weight but it is hard for me to load by myself.
I bought a bed extender from Harbor Freight, that allows me to prop one end of the canoe on the bed extender (it extends up or out) and slide the canoe up and gently place it on the front cross bar. It makes it much easier to load alone.
That might not help you if you use standard kayak mounts.
http://www.harborfreight.com/truck-bed- ... 45830.html
here is a chart with many popular tire sizes and the items needed to allow that tire size.
viewtopic.php?f=15&t=2290
Also post up your gearing and if you have the G80 locker or not.
"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
The answer to many common lift questions can be found here
My Build Thread
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navigator - Moderator
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Looks like gu6 gears. No g80 code. Was thay the only locker they made?
Thanks
Thanks
- Guardian
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Welcome!
Yep the G80 was the only locker offered from the factory.
Yep the G80 was the only locker offered from the factory.
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djthumper - Moderator
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Welcome, tons to read, so I'm sure you'll find some stuff that catches your eye and will allow you to ask more detailed questions.
No doubt the TB will work as well or better than your Blazer did.
No doubt the TB will work as well or better than your Blazer did.
- Diacom
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NC_IslandRunner - Moderator
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Welcome 
to the site!Look out, you stay here long enough and you'll be asking how high the truck can go so your kayaks can fit underneath.
(Easy to launch from that position) 
Got any pics?
- bgwolfpack
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Not much to see. The tires are 245/75/r16
- Guardian
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looks just like mine except your wheels are nicer.
I can't see if you have tow hooks or not.
If you don't have any you might want to get some.
There isn't much to hook to up front to get a tug otherwise.
I can't see if you have tow hooks or not.
If you don't have any you might want to get some.
There isn't much to hook to up front to get a tug otherwise.
"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
The answer to many common lift questions can be found here
My Build Thread
-
navigator - Moderator
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It does have the tow hooks.
- Guardian
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- Mooseknuckle
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I wouldn't go for nerf bars. For a little bit more you can get rock sliders. This will add protection and give the same functionality that nerf bars do. Welcome to the site.
- TVBeachFan
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