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What makes an excellent all around truck?

sreidmx

sreidmx

Fortify Offroad
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What attributes make a great all around truck?
I have fought with myself about the purpose of the blazer for a really long time, I have a hard time deciding what directions to go. One side of me likes the horsepower ass hauling stuff, street and dirt. There's a good feeling smoking mustangs with a truck.
On the other hand I like slow crawling stud also.
Part of me wants to build it as a capable trail truck with a lot of power and good street manners.
And part of me wants to build a slinky.
And part of me wants a trophy truck or as close as I can get with solid axles.
 
You aren't going to achieve any of those in an "all around truck".

All those traits are nice, but are also mostly achieved one at a time.

A lot of builds on here go too many different ways, and then don't get properly enjoyed.

An excellent all around truck to me is one that is reliable, comfortable, and gets its job done.

I don't wheel mine much, but its dependable, I can drive it whenever I please, and it does great as a tow/travel rig for me.

To each his own.

I just suggest not trying to build a crawler, and a street truck, and a muscle car beating drag truck out of one.
 
Do you think there is a way to build something fun on the street and on the trail? Basically a fast blazer with a small lift? Or does that sound stupid.
 
sreidmx said:
Do you think there is a way to build something fun on the street and on the trail? Basically a fast blazer with a small lift? Or does that sound stupid.
Click to expand...

No, that totally works. It can be fast, just dont' expect it to handle like a sports car.

Aim for 4" and minimal trimming to clear 35's.

And power and appropriate gearing as you wish.
 
sreidmx said:
Do you think there is a way to build something fun on the street and on the trail? Basically a fast blazer with a small lift? Or does that sound stupid.
Click to expand...


Easy! As long as you don't want to go rock crawling!

Well maybe not easy...but sure it could do both!
 
4" ORD custom springs, 35" radial tires, lsx swap, some body armor, crossover steer with hydro assist, good quality shocks. 3/4 ton axle swap. That would make a pretty capable all around wheeler.
 
It's very doable and doesn't have to be super expensive. I have a modestly built 5.7 tbi w/ about 400 hp in mine w/ just a 2" Skyjacker lift and 35s.

It's not going to catch a pony car, but it's fast enough.

It's not going to crawl over the black trails or competition course at Rausch Creek, but I can go out w/ my friends in their big rock crawling rigs and cover 80% of the park with them. And I don't mind stopping on the by-passes while they thrash around on the VW sized boulders.

I'm not going to follow my friends in their tractor tired trucks through the deepest mud holes. They don't even bust balls about my "little" truck because I'm usually the one running around the edges pulling them out. And I really don't feel like crawling around under the truck w/ a hose for two days afterwards to clean out the mud anyway.

My truck is great for trail riding, camping, hunting, playing on snow days, DDing if necessary, and going surf fishing. This is what I built it for and it does all of them very well.

You have to decide what you want to do, what you'd like the truck to do, and build it accordingly.
 
In my opinion one that works damn good, can tow/haul quite a bit, is dependable/rugged and doesn't cost a whole lot to own/operate.

Lots of gears = lots of versatility?


i think the following could be built for under $13,000:
73-91 c-20
- 6.2 diesel w/ Banks sidewinder kit. So now you have over 350lbs torque and over 20mpg easily.

- TH-400 trans

- Gear Vendors overdrive unit

- Maybe 5.14 rear gear or lower.

- 16" wheels. Not sure of the exact size tire, but 16" whls

i know that this is a 2WD pickup, but the drivetrain can be easily transfered over to a blazer. This is just my opinion of what an ideal truck is to me.

Actually, the real question is probably why i haven't built it yet.......
 
A reliable truck is the best thing imo. You can build a rig with all the coolest parts. But if you have one little wiring issue etc. You worse off than a stock rig that is reliable and driving past you :whistle:
 
I just think I'm coming to terms with capability and budget. With tons o money you can build anything.
 
you might be able to "do it all" if you spend somewhere in the neighborhood of $125,000.00 and made your blazer into a trophy truck with a lot of Monster logos on it.
 
I wish! I think il just put a nice lift and tires and make it a clean fun trail/pavement pounder
 
I think this all really depends on your definition of fast TBH. To cover all the grounds you basically need to build a KOH car with a body. At least to be competitive with what I would consider fast.

Ive slowly learned over the years that the taller the truck gets the harder it is to do anything out of it other than wheel. 2in lift and 33s with some lockers will get you so many places. People are so fast to want big tires for the look but the lockers are what get you there.
 
You are right on, that's funny because I hadn't thought of KOH at all.
I suppose the thought of limitations has brought me back down to planet earth. The blazer being what it is, big heavy and tall in relative terms doesn't make for a good base to go "fast" on. I have a very specific definition of fast after many year on dirt bikes so its hard to have a vehicle that can take that kind of abuse. I am slowly realizing that without spending a boatload and even then Id probally not be where I want. Muscle trucks always were cool to me, they look cool sound cool if the sound matches the GO then all the better. I feel the nice clean uncomplicated build would be better spent, the truck doesn't get as abused or cut up in anyway so when my son gets it the truck isn't totally trashed.
I got a line on an 8 inch lift, Ill probally run military 37s because they are cheap and plentiful, I need to do some body stuff to get it straight and the interior needs help. Those are all enough for a lifetime of projects.



Stomis said:
I think this all really depends on your definition of fast TBH. To cover all the grounds you basically need to build a KOH car with a body. At least to be competitive with what I would consider fast.

Ive slowly learned over the years that the taller the truck gets the harder it is to do anything out of it other than wheel. 2in lift and 33s with some lockers will get you so many places. People are so fast to want big tires for the look but the lockers are what get you there.
Click to expand...
 
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