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.

 

[sj2020]

Thanks! Yeah the ZR2 would have been nice, but once I've built this thing out I will have really maxed out my available cash, so the Trail Boss made more sense for me. It really packs in a lot of functionality to a more affordable vehicle.

 

[sj2020]

Fitted the Iron Man Deltawing 270 awning and started the build out with the fridge slide-out and electrical box. So far so good

 

[sj2020]

Almost done building this thing out. A few small jobs left to do including electric etc and lots of sanding and sealing. Will post better photos once it’s complete but this gives a good idea.

 

[2025 deleted member]

Looks real nice, also looks heavy- is the rear end sagging now?

 

[sj2020]

Yeah it is sagging a bit, I’ve got it in the shop to fit an add a leaf kit right now.
I should probably load it up and get it to a scale at some point. The cabinets on the left aren’t actually that heavy, but the big one on the right has a 5ft drawer slide that weighs a fair bit.

 

[sj2020]

Add a leaf done.
I do plan on getting my router out to remove some excess material from the bases/sides etc. of the cabinets to save some weight

 

[ThundahBeagle]

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.

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Just want to know where you were in these pictures, sir. Strikingly beautiful

 

[sj2020]

Just want to know where you were in these pictures, sir. Strikingly beautiful

Beautiful is right.
First photo is Keyhole lookout in Joshua Tree. The other two are on the road up to Cerro Gordo ghost town, near Lone Pine.

 

[sj2020]

I figure I should update this since it's been a while. My intention with this build was always to rent it out on Outdoorsy as, at best, a decent side hustle, and at worst, a way of covering the finance payments.
It's been out on the road pretty steadily since May, and I've managed to make a handful of trips in it myself, but for the most part I don't see it much. Feedback has been great, and every time I've taken it anywhere, it's checked all my boxes. People love this thing. It's got 28,000km on it now, and it'll probably be close to 40,000 by the end of the year. ZERO issues so far, touch wood.

Shameless plug: for anyone that's interested in a BC road trip, here's my website: WildRoad Rentals

Drawer system finished. Plywood works well but is heavy and marks easily. Might put some more work into this over winter.

Ecoflow Delta 3 Plus power station combined with 100w flexible Renogy panel and the 800w Ecoflow Alternator Charger keeps the battery topped up consistently, though the alternator charger proved a little finicky to dial in without throwing error codes on the truck (power steering dropped out a couple of times, that was scary going around a corner).

Kuat Pivot V2 swing away for the bike rack is useful but ultimately crap. On my third one now and it still doesn't open and close nicely.

Topo Toppers Mesa camper has been great. I'm thinking of trying an Exped Megamat mattress since the foam one isn't great. It took three side windows to get one that didn't leak (I think I was just really unlucky), but the folks at Topo provide truly top notch support.

I mounted a 5lb propane tank on the side of the canopy for the stove with a mount from ORO racks, nice little addition.