03 Tahoe "Wife" Build

[goldenbeagle]

So, where do I begin.

My wife has been hounding me that she wanted her own expedition rig….she was sick of the mini van and also sick of not being able to jam all 3 kids, a dog, and camping gear in my Jeep TJ.

It was about 2 weeks ago when I was sitting at work when I got an email from her saying she found what she wanted. Well here it is….I dub the “Project Wifey”.

I am so lost with this rig folks. I don't know where to begin. Any ideas?

I figure so far 2in lift, 285/75/16 BFG's, roof rack, roof lights, and a CB. Any other ideas from you folks?

 

[shortbus4x4]

Add a traction device in the rearend, good shocks, skid plates and some storage and call it good. You will find its nicer taking your camping trips with the family having a bigger rig.

 

[goldenbeagle]

Add a traction device in the rearend, good shocks, skid plates and some storage and call it good. You will find its nicer taking your camping trips with the family having a bigger rig.

Agree...best advice yet! Any websites out there with a lot of Tahoe after market parts? I have been looking, but have not found much. I am a Jeep guy...this full size stuff is not as easy..

 

[shortbus4x4]

I don't know of any off the top of my head but there have been some good build ups on this sub forum of some fullsize GM Tahoes and Suburbans.

 

[Martinjmpr]

I figure so far 2in lift, 285/75/16 BFG's, roof rack, roof lights, and a CB. Any other ideas from you folks?

My idea: Get rid of the running boards before the rocks do it for you.

 

[Silverado]

is it 4wd?


dig around here for some ideas

http://z71tahoe-suburban.com/iboard/

 

[TreeTopFlyer]

Yah, go look up 02Tahoe's ride. It's pretty slick

I don't know of any off the top of my head but there have been some good build ups on this sub forum of some fullsize GM Tahoes and Suburbans.

 

[Desert Dan]

FYI
The Z71 package has skid plates and the newer ones have a rear locker.

The Tahoe is a nice size for camping and exploring. I see lots of them everywhere in town so parts and service should be easy to find.

 

[shortbus4x4]

My idea: Get rid of the running boards before the rocks do it for you.

Ditto, I took the wifes Sequoia offroad and it didn't take much to tweak the running boards. Get some sliders made up for it, your rockers will thank you.

 

[locrwln]

Great rig capable of 250k+ miles. The weakness' are the front Tie-rods (they're tiny) and be careful with the Gov-Loc rear differential. They work, but when they go boom, they go and it is expensive to fix. Keep the lift to a minimum, no bigger than 33's and enjoy one of the nicest to drive, comfortable SUV's out there.

Jack

 

[goldenbeagle]

It's 4WD...

Running boards are coming off soon.

I am going with the idea of "less is more" with this rig. I think some minor changes and it will be perfect...gonna let my wife tell me whats missing and what she would like out of it more. Right now I just want a damn fridge in it...cause warm beer sucks while camping!

 

[02TahoeMD]

Yah, go look up 02Tahoe's ride. It's pretty slick

Thank you so much for that compliment! By the way, my rig started exactly like yours - a retired soccer mom taxi.

Here is my list of what you can do for your wife to make it completely capable, for minimal investment:

2 inch spacers under the coil springs in the rear. Replace the factory torsion bar keys with F150 keys and crank up the front to be level with the rear. You can then put a 295 tire under the rig, which will give you about an inch additional to the factory ride. Get some Z71 metal skid plates for the underside, any Z71 NBS truck will fit - the ones on the LT / LS series are plastic for pete's sake.

Good to go from there, unless you want to try and put a locker in the rear, of which you do have some options.

Check out my build thread and also go to the aforementioned z71 site, you will get lots of feedback and ideas.

Any questions, do not hesitate to drop me a PM, glad to help.

 

[goldenbeagle]

Thank you so much for that compliment! By the way, my rig started exactly like yours - a retired soccer mom taxi.

Here is my list of what you can do for your wife to make it completely capable, for minimal investment:

2 inch spacers under the coil springs in the rear. Replace the factory torsion bar keys with F150 keys and crank up the front to be level with the rear. You can then put a 295 tire under the rig, which will give you about an inch additional to the factory ride. Get some Z71 metal skid plates for the underside, any Z71 NBS truck will fit - the ones on the LT / LS series are plastic for pete's sake.

Good to go from there, unless you want to try and put a locker in the rear, of which you do have some options.

Check out my build thread and also go to the aforementioned z71 site, you will get lots of feedback and ideas.

Any questions, do not hesitate to drop me a PM, glad to help.

Thanks, Man! I have been checking out your build and I got ideas brewing now. I do have a couple of questions and I will send you a PM in the next few days with them....Thanks again for all your help.

 

[Silverado]

Check the glovebox for option code g80, that's the factory rear locker code

 

[HenryJ]

It should work out great. I have gone a bit farther with my Avalanche than you want to go with this Tahoe, but many of the same ideas can be used.

I can do no more than repeat some of the suggestions you have been told already: F150 keys, coil spacers, tie-rod sleeves, Z71 shields, Z71tahoe-suburban.com .

This can be a handy tool for seeing what you have: GM VIN decoder

It will list all of your RPO codes.