09 Tahoe Hybrid - Kid Hauler

[Russell]

I bought a Hybrid 09 Tahoe to use as a daily driver. I've been racking up the miles on my Denali way too fast commuting back and forth to work, which is the main reason I'd been watching for a new DD. I don't care about the fuel economy at all - I bought this thing dirt cheap because I think it'll be hilarious to turn it into a wheeler after our kids have punished it enough to justify a new DD and I've destroyed the Escalade off roading it. My wife has a CX-5 and it's too small for more than one adult and one child seat in the back, so I can see her taking it if we have more than one before I turn it into a wheeler someday. It's black, fully loaded with 170k miles on it. Runs and drives mint, hybrid battery cells all tested good as well.

First order of business is a big winch bumper up front, some fender flares and some new wheels for the winter tires to make this thing look as bad for the environment as possible. I've settled on either the Fab Fours bumper or the Trail Ready bumper. I'm leaning towards the Fab Fours, as I like the grille guard a bit better. That said, I had a Trail Ready on my old Sierra and it was a rock solid unit and really well built. It looks pretty dang good too, but I'm less a fan of the larger OD tubing for the grille guard.

What say CK5, which do you like better?

Fab Fours
Trail Ready:

 

[Scribbles]

I like the trail ready, I’m not a fan of the first one.

 

[Smokinthehippies]

I almost by default had to go with the third option but that wouldn’t have helped you much.

 

[beags86]

I voted for naked as that's my choice.

But the trail ready looks more proportionate for the vehicle. The headlights bars on the fab fours are to wide and aren't hugged up close enough to the body in my opinion.

 

[obijuank5]

Fab fours can be installed on a stock truck and not look out of place. The trailready better have a 6" and 37s to look right.

 

[KirsL]

I've had a fab fours on my Dodge for 12 years. It's held up awesome.

 

[yellowK20]

I prefer the TrailReady , the rounder lines match the body lines of the ‘hoe better.

 

[max 02]

Another vote for Trailready

 

[dhcomp]

Helped my boss put a fabfours on a 12 2500 burb. Looked great.

And the only one that has a matching rear for the Tahoe/suburban setup with integrated rear quarter panels.

 

[muddybuddy]

Is custom tube bumper out of the question? Both seem really bulky, especially on a near stock truck.

Fabfours seems to flow more with the lines of the truck, but I dont like the center cross bar that covers up the bowtie, well mostly covers it up. To me that little detail is something that would drive me crazy every time I looked at it. But maybe I just have a problem

Fabfour w/o the tubing on the top (just the solid bumper on bottom) would be a win for me. Im sure thats not an option though.

 

[imiceman44]

Is custom tube bumper out of the question? Both seem really bulky, especially on a near stock truck.

Fabfours seems to flow more with the lines of the truck, but I dont like the center cross bar that covers up the bowtie, well mostly covers it up. To me that little detail is something that would drive me crazy every time I looked at it. But maybe I just have a problem

Fabfour w/o the tubing on the top (just the solid bumper on bottom) would be a win for me. Im sure thats not an option though.

I agree with you that the fab four without the tubing is the best.
The other one needs matching big tires or it will look gay

 

[Russell]

Agreed that the fab fours center bar covering up the bowtie would bother me too. I'd want it lower down so I can mount a couple off highway lights on either side of the bowtie.

I'm finding it difficult to find one of those bumpers. Fab Fours stopped making it a while back. I found one vendor who has one in stock, but they want nearly $4000 cad for it. That's a little rich for my blood. Almost what I paid for the truck lol

 

[dhcomp]

Fabfour w/o the tubing on the top (just the solid bumper on bottom) would be a win for me. Im sure thats not an option though.

When I ordered for a friend, you can get base bumper,
Light bar, or full grill guard. They offered them however you wanted.

 

[imiceman44]

Agreed that the fab fours center bar covering up the bowtie would bother me too. I'd want it lower down so I can mount a couple off highway lights on either side of the bowtie.

I'm finding it difficult to find one of those bumpers. Fab Fours stopped making it a while back. I found one vendor who has one in stock, but they want nearly $4000 cad for it. That's a little rich for my blood. Almost what I paid for the truck lol

If I were you, I'd either shop used or better yet make one

I know time is a commodity we don't have much of but we still have to do things right and this ain't right

 

[fordsucks!]

I believe the hybrid Tahoes are two wheel drive and have a low front bumper for Aero.... if I'm right, then sell it and get another platform to start with

 

[Hosalabad]

Trail Ready. Fab Fours doesn't need to be getting money from anyone.

 

[Russell]

I believe the hybrid Tahoes are two wheel drive and have a low front bumper for Aero.... if I'm right, then sell it and get another platform to start with

There were 2wd, 4wd and AWD hybrids available in Tahoe, Yukon and Escalade. This one has an autotrac 4wd transfer case in it. It does have an extra big air dam up front, but that'll eventually go away haha!

I'm tempted to try building my own, but I'm not sure I've got the skills for that haha

 

[Scribbles]

I say build it! Worst case you hate it and buy your favorite of the two!

 

[NorCalAnthony]

Fab Fours match the truck better IMO. Nice choice on the truck I drove a 2010 Sierra Hybrid for work and was always impressed with the power and mpg's compared to our other vehicles.

 

[Russell]

I was trolling FB marketplace last night and spotted a set of the Fab Fours bumpers for this truck locally. Went and snagged them this morning $800cnd for both. It even came with a Smittybuilt 10k winch (Needs a new solenoid pack and a wire rope)

I need to get lots of new hardware for everything as the guy got a little acetylene torch happy removing it, but its all there otherwise. Its the version with the pre-runner push bar instead of the full guard for the grille. I intend to cut that off and get a local fabrication shop to put together a more ARB style grille guard on it instead. I also need to modify the rear bumper to allow for the installation of the parking sensors out back. I will also likely add a swing out tire carrier to the rear bumper fixed into those two big bumps on either end of the bumper.

It'll need new fog lights and turn signals for the front and I'll put the smittybuilt winch on my trailer and swap the warn 9.0Rc comp winch I have on the trailer right now into the Tahoe. Nothing like a $2500 competition winch on a trailer lol!

Fully enjoying this truck, by the way! Solid daily driver and it has been very reliable for me. I had a couple of fix-me-ups that are normal with an older high mileage rig, but all in all it's been well taken care of.