2005 Chevy Colorado Build Up
- Thread starter Northern Explorer
- Start date
Schattenjager
Expedition Leader
I just found your post and have really enjoyed reading it - very detailed and well thought out mods! Thanks for taking the time to let us know what your doing to your rig!
:Mechanic:
:Mechanic:
Northern Explorer
Explorer
Skid Plate Numeral II
Put this on today.
It's the transfer case skid plate. As you can see, it attaches to two of the cross members. The hardest part of the instillation was drilling two, half inch holes through a thick, fully boxed cross member, with there only being a 1/4 inch of clearance between the ground and the drill. My arm was about to fall off at the end. Fortunately the other two bolt holes were already there.
Put this on today.
It's the transfer case skid plate. As you can see, it attaches to two of the cross members. The hardest part of the instillation was drilling two, half inch holes through a thick, fully boxed cross member, with there only being a 1/4 inch of clearance between the ground and the drill. My arm was about to fall off at the end. Fortunately the other two bolt holes were already there.
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Northern Explorer
Explorer
Haggis said:
I decided to use your break it, spend money fixing it, spend money preventing it from happening again philosophy on my latest mod.
Step One: Crush rocker panel.
Step Two: After having looked for the 100th time, I finally found some Colorado rock sliders on the internet.
Step Three: Repair damaged rocker panel and have rock sliders welded on.
(Still working on this step.)
Yep....I had a little "mishap" due to 100% driver error. That night I got on the computer and thanks to the ColoradoFans website I found a place out in Washington that is just starting to make rock sliders for the Colorado. I think I have the second set ever made. The company is called BigRocks Offroad http://bigrocksoffroad.com/index.html. They specialize in aftermarket Toyota parts. The Colorado rock sliders are a new product and are not yet listed on their web site.
Specifications:
1.75" diameter tubing
.120" wall thickness
about 34 pounds each
They come with the legs not attached so they can be custome angled. I plan on having them angled up so they just miss my open door by about 3/4 of an inch.
Unfortunately I have to wait about a month to get them put on. Rocker panel still needs to be fixed.
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Northern Explorer
Explorer
XM Radio
XM Radio
Ok…this may not be a necessity to expedition travel but it sure would have been nice on our James Bay Road trip last summer. There were no radio stations in range. The last station that faded out as we headed north was a French speaking station. We had a good supply of cd’s and music on the iPod but nothing comes close to the variety on XM radio. It’s one of those things that I wouldn’t have bought myself but my wife gave me the subscription as a gift. Now that I have it I will probably renew the subscription when it runs out. I get spoiled way to easy.
My Jensen Multimedia Receiver came XM ready. This means that I can operate the XM controls through the receiver and I don’t need an extra controller sitting on my dash. All I needed to get was the tuner and the antenna.
I found a place to hide the tuner behind my dash to the right of the glove box.
I just ran the antenna wire behind the weather stripping.
XM Radio
Ok…this may not be a necessity to expedition travel but it sure would have been nice on our James Bay Road trip last summer. There were no radio stations in range. The last station that faded out as we headed north was a French speaking station. We had a good supply of cd’s and music on the iPod but nothing comes close to the variety on XM radio. It’s one of those things that I wouldn’t have bought myself but my wife gave me the subscription as a gift. Now that I have it I will probably renew the subscription when it runs out. I get spoiled way to easy.
My Jensen Multimedia Receiver came XM ready. This means that I can operate the XM controls through the receiver and I don’t need an extra controller sitting on my dash. All I needed to get was the tuner and the antenna.
I found a place to hide the tuner behind my dash to the right of the glove box.
I just ran the antenna wire behind the weather stripping.
Scott Brady
Founder
Northern Explorer said:
That is a really nice piece of gear... Your truck is coming along very nice. :jumping:
ujointclothing said:
Factory UCP is available but expensive ($400 for parts I think). I think maybe 2 other aftermarket UCPs out there. Colorado UCPs don't fit the H3 (more frame supports on the H3). There is a stock skid plate, but pretty small. I haven't measured it yet, but know of a couple H3ers who basically just bolted up a 3/16" steel plate to the frame rails. Other than potential heat issues in the xmission/xfer case, that's just about the cheapest way to go...
dennisuello
Adventurer
Northern Explorer said:
Did you use liberal mounts of thread locker on the bolts? It's better to buy a correct size tube and cut spacers instead of using stacked washers.
Northern Explorer
Explorer
BCJC said:
No and No. I get the topper this saturday. I will try to post a picture before I head to lower Michigan for the long Xmas weekend. As for the sliders, I am still waiting to have my damaged rocker panel fixed. We had a huge hail storm on June 20th and my brothers body shop is still somewhat backlogged from that. I told him to get to me when he could.
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