This is my first post, so be nice!
I was getting ready to sell one of my company's 3 Trailblazers so I could get a Jeep... but I decided to take a look at lift kits for Trailblazers first. Now i fell in love with the Trailblazer all over again!
Our work has us driving into farm fields and I happened into using one of the Trailblazers for this job when our big pickup truck was in use across the state. It ran smooth and handled the jobs okay. (it needs to have higher ground clearance.)
So, just recently we landed another good size job that is going to require a hydraulic probe mounted in place of the front passenger seat and a hole cut in the floor to run a soil probe down through it. Like I said, a Jeep was in order... However, now i'm convinced that we can get a lift, some wheel spacers, new tires, a hole in the floor and be underway.
By the way, I'm a mountain biking, backpacking adventurer and the idea of an expedition vehicle has eaten up many an hour of dreaming... maybe we'll meet on the trail when the rig(s) are not at work?!
Daryl
Indiana Company to Convert Trailblazer for offroad "work"
29 posts
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- We get paid to drive em!
I live in an area where work and play intersect.
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WorkPlayHorizon - Cruiser
- Posts: 24
- Joined: Sun Jan 01, 2012 5:14 pm
- Location: IN, Lafayette
- Name: Daryl Starr
- Vehicle Year: 2003
- Vehicle: Chevrolet TrailBlazer
- DriveTrain: 4WD w/ G80
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djthumper - Moderator
- Posts: 2702
- Joined: Wed Mar 24, 2010 6:04 pm
- Location: NV, Las Vegas
- Name: Larry
- Vehicle Year: 2006
- Vehicle: Chevrolet TrailBlazer
- DriveTrain: 4WD
- Rank: Offroad Rated
Welcome! You're one lucky guy to have the #1 trailblazer Armorer in your state. Skid plates and custom bumpers. Check my build thread for an Expedition vehicle. I replaced my rear seat with a platform, but removing the passenger front seat would be a first among conversions. Very cool!
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The Roadie - Founder
- Posts: 5013
- 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
Daryl,
Welcome!
Got your email and shot one back!
Actually, what got me into making skid plates, to begin with (before I got into bumpers and all that stuff), was because my wife is an environmental scientist, and was using the TB off-road... She got a piece of rebar up next to the oil pan, so I started looking for the skidplates that, as it happened, nobody made... So, here I am...
Yeah, a little more ground clearance doesn't hurt these things' offroad ability, to say the least! After even a little bit of lift, though, they're surprisingly capable!
Mike
Welcome!
Got your email and shot one back!
Actually, what got me into making skid plates, to begin with (before I got into bumpers and all that stuff), was because my wife is an environmental scientist, and was using the TB off-road... She got a piece of rebar up next to the oil pan, so I started looking for the skidplates that, as it happened, nobody made... So, here I am...
Yeah, a little more ground clearance doesn't hurt these things' offroad ability, to say the least! After even a little bit of lift, though, they're surprisingly capable!
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
Thanks for welcome wishes!
I want to make the hydraulic probe apparatus removable from the front passenger seat area so that we can reinstall the seat and have a little play time excuse!
We need to leave rear seat in so passenger can actually sit in second row single side to help with probe (helps day go faster, and gets a little more work done per day.)
Hilariously, i already started cutting cardboard, mocking up modular box drawers for rear. One behind single seat that will stay and hide our second battery (for electric over hydraulic motor) and then the other can come out so we can have room for soil boxes and paperwork/supplies.
Which gets me thinking... if we mount hydraulic motor, why not leave it in there and just remove the probe?! hmm... exciting possibilities there... mobile hydraulic jack?
I'm already falling in love with this!
Thanks again. I'll continue searching the site to familiarize myself.
Daryl
p.s. AWESOME build thread on the expedition Envoy, Roadie!!
I want to make the hydraulic probe apparatus removable from the front passenger seat area so that we can reinstall the seat and have a little play time excuse!
We need to leave rear seat in so passenger can actually sit in second row single side to help with probe (helps day go faster, and gets a little more work done per day.)
Hilariously, i already started cutting cardboard, mocking up modular box drawers for rear. One behind single seat that will stay and hide our second battery (for electric over hydraulic motor) and then the other can come out so we can have room for soil boxes and paperwork/supplies.
Which gets me thinking... if we mount hydraulic motor, why not leave it in there and just remove the probe?! hmm... exciting possibilities there... mobile hydraulic jack?
I'm already falling in love with this!
Thanks again. I'll continue searching the site to familiarize myself.
Daryl
p.s. AWESOME build thread on the expedition Envoy, Roadie!!
I live in an area where work and play intersect.
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WorkPlayHorizon - Cruiser
- Posts: 24
- Joined: Sun Jan 01, 2012 5:14 pm
- Location: IN, Lafayette
- Name: Daryl Starr
- Vehicle Year: 2003
- Vehicle: Chevrolet TrailBlazer
- DriveTrain: 4WD w/ G80
Welcome. Beaded to badlands to play next weekend if you wanna join.
they've always worked for me.
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HARDTRAILZ - Moderator
- Posts: 6342
- Joined: Sat Sep 12, 2009 1:49 am
- Location: IN, Batesville
- Name: Kyle
- Vehicle Year: 2006
- Vehicle: Chevrolet TrailBlazer
- DriveTrain: 4WD w/ Aftermarket Locker
- Rank: Extreme Offroader
Welcome!
IF THE FISH STOP BITING... HUNT FOR SHELLS!!!
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NC_IslandRunner - Moderator
- Posts: 3021
- Joined: Fri Dec 03, 2010 4:49 pm
- Location: NC, Sanford
- Name: Rory
- Vehicle Year: 2004
- Vehicle: Chevrolet TrailBlazer
- DriveTrain: 4WD w/ G80
- Rank: Offroad Rated
Hey, Hardtrailz! I doubt my rig will be suitable for Badlands by the weekend. I'm just getting ready to order initial parts! It's a great time, though... Brother-in-law has a lifted JK and i've taken one of our Rhinos before. It'll be one of the first places i go to test articulation and hill climbing power.
Maybe I could talk him into going. I haven't seen a lifted TB in real life, yet!
D
Maybe I could talk him into going. I haven't seen a lifted TB in real life, yet!
D
I live in an area where work and play intersect.
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WorkPlayHorizon - Cruiser
- Posts: 24
- Joined: Sun Jan 01, 2012 5:14 pm
- Location: IN, Lafayette
- Name: Daryl Starr
- Vehicle Year: 2003
- Vehicle: Chevrolet TrailBlazer
- DriveTrain: 4WD w/ G80
Sweet. May be a JK with me. Thats usually who I wheel with. Will be a few members from here and maybe a few from Expo. If you cant make it, but want to see a few rigs, we may meet at my place Sat bight beforehand.
they've always worked for me.
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HARDTRAILZ - Moderator
- Posts: 6342
- Joined: Sat Sep 12, 2009 1:49 am
- Location: IN, Batesville
- Name: Kyle
- Vehicle Year: 2006
- Vehicle: Chevrolet TrailBlazer
- DriveTrain: 4WD w/ Aftermarket Locker
- Rank: Extreme Offroader
That sounds great. I'll see if I can talk him into going... If not catching up before for quick look old be cool of you.
I live in an area where work and play intersect.
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WorkPlayHorizon - Cruiser
- Posts: 24
- Joined: Sun Jan 01, 2012 5:14 pm
- Location: IN, Lafayette
- Name: Daryl Starr
- Vehicle Year: 2003
- Vehicle: Chevrolet TrailBlazer
- DriveTrain: 4WD w/ G80
I've got too much to do to wheel next weekend, but I'll make an appearance at Kyle's on Saturday, if people are going to be there...
Mike
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
hey, if i can see several at once, including meeting Mike, i'll make it a point to be there! Is this officially becoming an Indiana outing thread?!
I live in an area where work and play intersect.
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WorkPlayHorizon - Cruiser
- Posts: 24
- Joined: Sun Jan 01, 2012 5:14 pm
- Location: IN, Lafayette
- Name: Daryl Starr
- Vehicle Year: 2003
- Vehicle: Chevrolet TrailBlazer
- DriveTrain: 4WD w/ G80
Yep. I have a thread on gmt and it started w expo thread
they've always worked for me.
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HARDTRAILZ - Moderator
- Posts: 6342
- Joined: Sat Sep 12, 2009 1:49 am
- Location: IN, Batesville
- Name: Kyle
- Vehicle Year: 2006
- Vehicle: Chevrolet TrailBlazer
- DriveTrain: 4WD w/ Aftermarket Locker
- Rank: Extreme Offroader
Well, my bro-in-law is cramming for his CFP exams so he's out. I'm interested in seeing rigs before you enter park if it works. Don't go out of your way to accomadate me, but meeting in Attica before you go in would be closer for me (coming from Lafayette, IN.) What time?
Hardtrailz, i couldn't find your event thread... maybe i'm not searching right? What is GMT? In order to find Expo thread, should i have searched it? (i'm learning how to navigate in here.)
I spoke with Mike on phone yesterday (and ordered some armor! ... radiator and oil pan skids and front bumper.)
Hardtrailz, i couldn't find your event thread... maybe i'm not searching right? What is GMT? In order to find Expo thread, should i have searched it? (i'm learning how to navigate in here.)
I spoke with Mike on phone yesterday (and ordered some armor! ... radiator and oil pan skids and front bumper.)
I live in an area where work and play intersect.
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WorkPlayHorizon - Cruiser
- Posts: 24
- Joined: Sun Jan 01, 2012 5:14 pm
- Location: IN, Lafayette
- Name: Daryl Starr
- Vehicle Year: 2003
- Vehicle: Chevrolet TrailBlazer
- DriveTrain: 4WD w/ G80
Pm sent.
they've always worked for me.
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HARDTRAILZ - Moderator
- Posts: 6342
- Joined: Sat Sep 12, 2009 1:49 am
- Location: IN, Batesville
- Name: Kyle
- Vehicle Year: 2006
- Vehicle: Chevrolet TrailBlazer
- DriveTrain: 4WD w/ Aftermarket Locker
- Rank: Extreme Offroader
WorkPlayHorizon wrote:Hardtrailz, i couldn't find your event thread... maybe i'm not searching right? What is GMT? In order to find Expo thread, should i have searched it? (i'm learning how to navigate in here.)
For future noobie's knowledge...
GMT (or GMTN) is code for GMT Nation (or NOS, which is code for "New OS" ("OS" is code for "other site" (which is code for trailvoy.com (which shall no longer be named because of the NOS)))) is a different trailblazer enthusiast site... but it's not for off-roading. I think of GMTN as more of a troubleshooting database.
ExPo is code for "expedition portal", which is an enthusiast site for general off-roading, exploring, and camping (otherwise known as "overlanding" (or if you're snobby, it's "expeditioning"
) but is not a trailblazer specific site.
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Trail X - Founder
- Posts: 9925
- 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
stay away from Expo. It is like getting a new bass pro shops catalog every day!
Especially stay away from the trailers thread, I want to build one and really don't have a need.
Especially stay away from the trailers thread, I want to build one and really don't have a need.
"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
- 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
OH! Shut UP!navigator wrote:stay away from Expo. It is like getting a new bass pro shops catalog every day!
Especially stay away from the trailers thread, I want to build one and really don't have a need.
You sound just like my wife!
- bgwolfpack
- Veteran
- Posts: 1794
- Joined: Fri Sep 18, 2009 7:19 pm
- Name: Randy
- Vehicle Year: Other
- Vehicle: Other Vehicle
- DriveTrain: 4WD
bgwolfpack wrote:OH! Shut UP!navigator wrote:stay away from Expo. It is like getting a new bass pro shops catalog every day!
Especially stay away from the trailers thread, I want to build one and really don't have a need.
You sound just like my wife!
So your wife says that to you on a daily basis?
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djthumper - Moderator
- Posts: 2702
- Joined: Wed Mar 24, 2010 6:04 pm
- Location: NV, Las Vegas
- Name: Larry
- Vehicle Year: 2006
- Vehicle: Chevrolet TrailBlazer
- DriveTrain: 4WD
- Rank: Offroad Rated
djthumper wrote:
So your wife says that to you on a daily basis?
At least the "Shut up!" part.
BTW: Welcome on board
WPH!- bgwolfpack
- Veteran
- Posts: 1794
- Joined: Fri Sep 18, 2009 7:19 pm
- Name: Randy
- Vehicle Year: Other
- Vehicle: Other Vehicle
- DriveTrain: 4WD
29 posts
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