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Our new Trailblazer...

HillHound

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HillHound Senior Enthusiast

HillHound

Posted
Posted

My wife just bought her new 03 Trailblazer 4x4 home last weekend.  It's a Indigo blue LT-the only options she got were running boards and upgraded BFG tires.  Nice smooth ride and great engine (4.2L I6)!  :thumb:

 

What kind of mileage should we get after it's broke-in?  She checked the first two tanks and it was about 16.5mpg mixed driving.  What should it get on highway?  

 

Also, has anybody that hangs around here towed anything with their TB?  I'm going to use it to pull my utility trailer after a few hundred more miles and I'm curious to see how the engine does with about 2000lbs behind it.

 

Last; were we supposed to get a wire harness for a brake controller with it?  My 01 Silverado had one included when I bought it and so did my F250.  I can't even find anywhere if it's pre-wired for electric brakes and I haven't had a chance to look under the dash for a plug-in unit.  Anybody ever look into it or have a brake controller installed?

 

Thanks!  :chevy:

bravada2002 Enthusiast

bravada2002

Posted
Posted

What should it get on highway?

While on a trip from south Texas to Washington state I went though Yellowstone National Park. I filled up just before entering the park, went though on cruise control at the posted speed limits, which were quite slow because it took all day, stopped numerous times for pictures and such. Filled back up after we got through Yellowstone and doing the old trip odometer miles divided by fill up receipt gallons it came out be a little over 24 MPG so no DIC trickery either. I was shocked since we were no where near highway speeds. The averages during the trip outside of Yellowstone varied between 19-22 MPG. All of this mileage was done with the odometer starting at 2,081 miles and by the end of the trip I had 9032 miles on the odometer. Of course lately I've only been getting 13-14 MPG but I haven't gone on any long trips recently either.

Also, has anybody that hangs around here towed anything with their TB?

I haven't towed anything myself but have heard nothing but praise for the triplets towing capabilities from other owners. Good to see that you'll wait after a few hundred more miles, as it's often suggested to wait till you get past the 500 mile break-in period.

Anybody ever look into it or have a brake controller installed?

There's a 4-wire harness attached to a large harness under the left side of the steering column. Remove the lower fascia, 2 vertical facing screws on a Trailblazer, the wires have a white tag wrapped around them and is taped the larger harness. These wires are connected to the controller wires ACCORDING TO THE BRAKE CONTROLLER INSTRUCTIONS, do not match the color of the wires, the connections and colors vary with manufacturers of the controller.

 

Also here's a couple of fan sites you might find interesting.

 

http://www.timlauro.com/cars/trailblazer/1-main-page.html

 

http://www.trailblazer.homestead.com/

jmhornz71 Enthusiast

jmhornz71

Posted
Posted
We have an 03 Trailblazer EXT 2wd with the 4.2. It runs great and has just over 2500 miles on it. 90% of the driving right now is city and we get around 14.2 mpg with it I'm hoping to get more once wstart traveling with. Its a great vehicle
HillHound Senior Enthusiast

HillHound

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Congrats on the new truck. Pics?

Thanks for the replies.  Bravada-if I can get 20+ mpg I'll be more than pleased with it.  I won't need the brake controller anytime soon-just curious.  My 5x8 is 4-wire plug and no brakes and I don't want to use it to tow the enclosed trailer-it's weight would be pushing the limits of the Trailblazer's tow rating.

 

I'll get some good photos soon.  My wife doesn't get home with it until after dark the next few days.   Actually I've only gotten to drive it twice.  So far I'm impressed.  The build quality blows away the old S10 Blazers we owned.  I just went out in the garage and took a few quick shots of the cab and motor, I'll get the exterior when I get it washed up and catch a sunny day:

tb1.jpg

tb2.jpg

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