New to ORTB

[iGough13]

To Start I have 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer, but that is obvious.

My goal for joining this forum was to create a suggestion style build for my TB. I want to start interior to exterior, front to rear bumper, tires to recovery rack (hopefully). Please give me suggestions on what would be functional and frankly bada$$.

I will have Before/during/after pictures of the whole process.

Now I don't make alot of money, so the suggestions might have to go one piece at a time.

My wishlist/ to-do list is as follows...
-Aftermarket Custom Steel bumpers
Front w/ winch, lights, and guard
Rear w/ spare contraption or recovery rack on top
Side, unsure
-Lift
And everything that may be needed(Skid plates, sliders, anything...)
-Essential offroading gear
-Lighting
Headlights
Tailights
Exterior
Interior
Sound System!
Subs and all
Exhaust System

Anything else that might catch my interest.

Please I welcome everything. Oh and Denver, Colorado and it's surrounding areas are where I a looking for all of this, so if you have any connections or knowing, please relay!

Thanks,
Zac

[CHIEF BIG RIDGE]

Welcome to one of the coolest places on the web.

[NC_IslandRunner]

Welcome!

First bit of advice, save the mall crawler/ricer mods for last or better yet forget them all together. I.E.- Exhaust system,subs,taillights,sound system, etc.

Second, your in trouble, I make pretty good $$ and still want alot of the stuff on your list and I've been at this for a couple years!

Third, have fun doing it!

[Trail X]

First get recovery gear (you need to ensure you can get unstuck), then save up some money for repairs (you need to ensure you can pay for potential repairs), then proceed and get a lift. From there, modifications should be made on a functional basis.

[Cable810]

Welcome!

[djthumper]

Welcome. I totally agree with James on the order to do things in.

[Karo]

Welcome, agree with James and don´t forget to do the regular maintenance to your TB. Have a look to the build threads to get the idea of "what" is possible and think about your "mission".

KaRo

[jhmeg2]

hold on... so i'm a mall crwler cause I have a stereo? Welcome aboard, yeah make sure you can kix things, cause once you start playing with it, somthings gonna break. I may have to come out of retirement so I can afford this hobby.

[TangoBravo]

hold on... so i'm a mall crwler cause I have a stereo? Welcome aboard, yeah make sure you can kix things, cause once you start playing with it, somthings gonna break. I may have to come out of retirement so I can afford this hobby.

We're a pretty purpose directed forum here so just get use to the mall cruiser comments so long as your talkin about subs and other crap that takes up useable space for true wheeling stuff. With that said its your truck man do what you want, but when you ask a forum for thier suggestions be ready for the fallout. Save up and purchase smart, read everything you can and learn from others mistakes, we have collectively made thousands of mistakes. When advice is given by senior members it would do you good to take it seriously. Most of all build it your way and have fun.

Not sent from a Iphone.

[hobbstisdaman]

I may have to come out of retirement so I can afford this hobby.

That is intense...

[jhmeg2]

the last system change I made was to have as much, if not all if my cargo room back. I still have a bad @$$ system in it, but I welded the amp rack into the back seat, and fiberglassed the sub into the side wall. With it all in, I could still fit two of my new wheels in. Yeah, what ^^ they said about mistakes. We all make em, but if you can limit yours buy learning from ours.... it WILL save you money. Build it the way you want. I cantch flack around my area for the way mine looks, but if you see some of these redneck ( not the kool kind) builds, where it can only be drivin off road in a small area, and uses A LOT OF FUEL, and always breaks. Yeah, mine is different than. LOL. welcome aboard. I have made what I think are a few friends, and good contacts here. Good bunh of people.

[iGough13]

Well thank you all for the responses! I really do appreciate everything said.

I did not intend to become a mall cruiser (but I like that phrase, can I use it?), right now I am just staying with an aftermarket deck cause I have to have my own music, and when the trails come, radio stations don't tend to follow.

I have separated funds for my two-month oil changes and annual fluid flush. Also building a repair fund. i.e. breakdowns. i.e. my AC unit right now.

Thanks again~!
Zac

[The Roadie]

We even have GIFs for the copying:

[iGough13]

OH HELL YES!!!

[bartonmd]

Welcome!

Mike

[NC_IslandRunner]

right now I am just staying with an aftermarket deck cause I have to have my own music, and when the trails come, radio stations don't tend to follow.
Zac

Really? I never have trouble getting radio on the trail...XM follows me everywhere!

[iGough13]

right now I am just staying with an aftermarket deck cause I have to have my own music, and when the trails come, radio stations don't tend to follow.
Zac

Really? I never have trouble getting radio on the trail...XM follows me everywhere!

I have a barebone basic TB nothing special about it. Just automatic windows...

[iGough13]

Base radio deck. no tape deck and a broken CD player

[HARDTRAILZ]

I have upgraded speakers and subs and plenty of room for offroad needs. If you think a stereo makes a mallcrawler or a non-offroad truck...you are just dumb.

Welcome. Do some reading and do what you want with YOUR truck. Lots of people on here have opinions and little experience. Be sure to look at what they have built not realize it is often just their 2 cents...

[The Roadie]

Really? I never have trouble getting radio on the trail...XM follows me everywhere!

Exactly why I pay for XM in a truck I only use a few days a month. News as well follows me into the deepest canyons. Also why I've got a SPOT satellite emergency beacon and 2M amateur radio gear.