I figured I should start a build thread before I got to far in to the build to start one!
I have a 2011 Silverado that was new to me last year. Previously I drove a 5spd 4Runner that took me all over the north east and as far west as Moab and Montana but she met a sad end in the middle of Missouri on a sad Friday evening...
![image.jpg image.jpg](https://expeditionportal.com/forum/data/attachments/258/258118-c047b0dd9d9e23a9f784ec32dee422dd.jpg)
A picture of me and the 4Runner the year I bought her in all its glory in the fall in western Maine
I got a screaming deal on this Silverado that I couldn't be pass up. Wasn't sure I was gonna keep it but I have started to fall for it. First order of business was suspension, originally I bought a rough country 3" kit but immediately rethought the decisions because I wanted to upgrade drivability and performance not just looks!
So after a lot of research and time at my local off-road shop I went with the fox shox 2.0 on all 4 corners I give them 2 thumbs up!
![image.jpg image.jpg](https://expeditionportal.com/forum/data/attachments/258/258117-fbb947f8c6ddf5649617d77c85162080.jpg)
Next was tires the stock highway tires couldn't drive in a snow dusting never mind a trail so I found a deal on some Cooper Discoverer RTX tires and am happy with them so far, they are supposedly almost as good the AT3 tires.
Before
![image.jpg image.jpg](https://expeditionportal.com/forum/data/attachments/258/258126-3dcdc057994f3bb84f3d070d9f029c7a.jpg)
After
![image.jpg image.jpg](https://expeditionportal.com/forum/data/attachments/258/258127-9c180c0aba5da804042ddc3da619f47e.jpg)
With the lift and tires the front end still didn't have any clearance so popped off the front wind valence
![image.jpg image.jpg](https://expeditionportal.com/forum/data/attachments/258/258128-9a36cba6e25888cab5fac529c62cdfbe.jpg)
After popping it off I gained another 2"-3" of clearance and decided it was good time to test the articulation of the suspension and found this perfectly shaped rock to flex on!
![image.jpg image.jpg](https://expeditionportal.com/forum/data/attachments/258/258130-e679a9cb429afab44c6fc6300a3635ea.jpg)
Next I bought an LED bar (knockoff light bar from a guy on Craigslist...it works!). Had to make a wiring harness for it and I took it apart and sealed it but got it installed (holy bright) no pictures of the install.
Last weekend I took a quick trip to Freetown State Forest in MA with my brother to kick off adventure season!
![image.jpg image.jpg](https://expeditionportal.com/forum/data/attachments/258/258132-ed5bfc51ff45bfebf9ca0a39079308ca.jpg)
![image.jpg image.jpg](https://expeditionportal.com/forum/data/attachments/258/258134-54721f63bcc5f0f4df2d86ba1fd1451c.jpg)
![image.jpg image.jpg](https://expeditionportal.com/forum/data/attachments/258/258135-95e6d060c30110a3d99b9fbb2d8803ae.jpg)
![image.jpg image.jpg](https://expeditionportal.com/forum/data/attachments/258/258136-00e17d0a8b861b6bad9b67692b1c9195.jpg)
My brother waiting for dinner to be ready
More to come! I have some stuff on the way and will be fabbing some protection when I have time. I Am also planning on building a pop up bed camper for adventures and surfing this summer, busy busy busy! Stay tuned
I have a 2011 Silverado that was new to me last year. Previously I drove a 5spd 4Runner that took me all over the north east and as far west as Moab and Montana but she met a sad end in the middle of Missouri on a sad Friday evening...
![image.jpg image.jpg](https://expeditionportal.com/forum/data/attachments/258/258118-c047b0dd9d9e23a9f784ec32dee422dd.jpg)
A picture of me and the 4Runner the year I bought her in all its glory in the fall in western Maine
I got a screaming deal on this Silverado that I couldn't be pass up. Wasn't sure I was gonna keep it but I have started to fall for it. First order of business was suspension, originally I bought a rough country 3" kit but immediately rethought the decisions because I wanted to upgrade drivability and performance not just looks!
So after a lot of research and time at my local off-road shop I went with the fox shox 2.0 on all 4 corners I give them 2 thumbs up!
![image.jpg image.jpg](https://expeditionportal.com/forum/data/attachments/258/258117-fbb947f8c6ddf5649617d77c85162080.jpg)
Next was tires the stock highway tires couldn't drive in a snow dusting never mind a trail so I found a deal on some Cooper Discoverer RTX tires and am happy with them so far, they are supposedly almost as good the AT3 tires.
Before
![image.jpg image.jpg](https://expeditionportal.com/forum/data/attachments/258/258126-3dcdc057994f3bb84f3d070d9f029c7a.jpg)
After
![image.jpg image.jpg](https://expeditionportal.com/forum/data/attachments/258/258127-9c180c0aba5da804042ddc3da619f47e.jpg)
With the lift and tires the front end still didn't have any clearance so popped off the front wind valence
![image.jpg image.jpg](https://expeditionportal.com/forum/data/attachments/258/258128-9a36cba6e25888cab5fac529c62cdfbe.jpg)
After popping it off I gained another 2"-3" of clearance and decided it was good time to test the articulation of the suspension and found this perfectly shaped rock to flex on!
![image.jpg image.jpg](https://expeditionportal.com/forum/data/attachments/258/258130-e679a9cb429afab44c6fc6300a3635ea.jpg)
Next I bought an LED bar (knockoff light bar from a guy on Craigslist...it works!). Had to make a wiring harness for it and I took it apart and sealed it but got it installed (holy bright) no pictures of the install.
Last weekend I took a quick trip to Freetown State Forest in MA with my brother to kick off adventure season!
![image.jpg image.jpg](https://expeditionportal.com/forum/data/attachments/258/258132-ed5bfc51ff45bfebf9ca0a39079308ca.jpg)
![image.jpg image.jpg](https://expeditionportal.com/forum/data/attachments/258/258134-54721f63bcc5f0f4df2d86ba1fd1451c.jpg)
![image.jpg image.jpg](https://expeditionportal.com/forum/data/attachments/258/258135-95e6d060c30110a3d99b9fbb2d8803ae.jpg)
![image.jpg image.jpg](https://expeditionportal.com/forum/data/attachments/258/258136-00e17d0a8b861b6bad9b67692b1c9195.jpg)
My brother waiting for dinner to be ready
More to come! I have some stuff on the way and will be fabbing some protection when I have time. I Am also planning on building a pop up bed camper for adventures and surfing this summer, busy busy busy! Stay tuned