Colorado Trail Boss build

[sj2020]

As requested, a build thread on my Colorado Trail Boss. Picked it up around a month ago - I don't have plans to do anything too crazy with it, just a mild overland build. I don't rock crawl or anything like that and don't really want to go out and break things.

So far I've fitted previous gen ZR2 rock sliders that were a marketplace find, plus the oem front skid plate package - can you believe they charge $1700 CAD for this as an option, but you can just buy the parts for less than $600 and fit them yourself?





I also went for a little explore in Squamish a few weeks ago...



So the plan is to head down to California in just over a week to pick up a Topo Toppers Mesa canopy camper, and then I'll be building out a camper deck for the back. I already have 2 x 100w renogy solar panels, Ecoflow Delta 3 + alternator charger, BougeRV Rocky 55 fridge and a handful of other things. But if anyone has any smart ideas on water storage I'm all ears.

And for bonus points, I had all my toys in one spot a few weeks ago, so took an obligatory photo. Hoping to build the Xterra out a bit more too at some point. It's got high KMs but runs great - currently has a 2.5" lift.

 

[Jurfie]

...oem front skid plate package - can you believe they charge $1700 CAD for this as an option, but you can just buy the parts for less than $600 and fit them yourself?

Wow, $1100 to install? Good tip to check what the parts costs are for options; I would definitely buy later if I was doing a factory build.

As I mentioned in the other thread, I'm looking at a Canyon ATX and the skid plate package (front and mid) is a $1,170 CAD option...I wonder why so much less than for the Colorado? Still: unless I find one on a lot that otherwise has the options I want and already had that option box ticked, at ~$600 for the factory to install, I'd do it myself and put that money towards something else.

Looking forward to watching this build and hearing your thoughts on the Mesa when you get it. I'm also interested to hear your thoughts on the Rocky 55 dual-zone. I've got two cheapo 53QT fridge/freezers (single zone) that I currently use, plugged into Bluettis, but they take up so much room - a combo unit would be nice.

 

[sj2020]

Looks like I miscalculated - the skid plate package is $1300, and there's a couple that I missed, though you can still save something like $400 by DIYing it. I'll need to grab the mid skidplates still, though I'm less concerned about those.

Heading down to pick the camper up in a week, hopefully California isn't still on fire by then...

 

[sj2020]

Drove down to Ventura, Cali, to get the Topo Toppers Mesa installed. Epic trip. Very happy with the topper. Now to get the build-out underway.
For anyone wondering, the Topo Toppers team are incredibly professional and provided excellent customer service. Would recommend.

 

[MisterNoisy]

Great looking truck and I like where your build is going! I gave a lot of thought to a Trail Boss with some options when I bought my truck, but ended up saying, 'why not?' to the ZR2, despite the TB being the smarter money pick.