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“Budget” Duramax Trail Boss build

pewterliftedz
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pewterliftedz Enthusiast

pewterliftedz

Posted
Posted (edited)

The 3 things I had to have when upgrading my 17’ Sierra All Terrain were power folding mirrors, Duaramax, and 2 speed transfer case.  So this limited me to either a LTZ or High Country, I really wanted a RST or TB.

Found the cheapest Duramax LTZ Z71 I could find, and went to work building a budget Trail Boss.

 

Here is my complete product:

Trail Boss 20” wheels with 275/55r20 Nitto Ridge Grapplers

Bumpers wrapped white and sensors painted

Traill Boss black grille bars

Factory power folding tow mirrors

Suspension - Eibach front struts set to 1.5”, Traill Boss rear lift blocks and taller jounce bumpers, and rear Bilstein 5100 shocks.

 

In the end it's a blend of a RST, LTZ, and Trail Boss.

9B2D54D1-8D00-44FB-821C-F263D3A1B092.jpeg

06E5DC1F-3571-4F4F-B870-24604D550A0E.jpeg

87653572-AE23-446B-84B1-E4C9F23494E9.jpeg

592F0A16-280B-45DC-8A1B-314B793A66F1.jpeg

F50C6C99-C397-4325-ACEC-8E73C7E03056.jpeg

Edited by pewterliftedz
  • Like 2
chizzoy Enthusiast

chizzoy

Posted
Posted (edited)

nicely done.    I went and actually got the Trail Boss stock suspension installed on my RST.  I wouldn’t have minded powered mirrors  but not enough for me to jump up a trim level 

On another note, looking at the 2021 Tahoe/Sierra AT4 off road trims with the adjustable lift control, GM decided that they not include the 3.0L Duramax as an option for off roading.      That was disappointing to hear

 

74B2DBD0-0E4D-4F3B-9295-55A9D2F27EFF.jpeg

Edited by chizzoy
pewterliftedz Enthusiast

pewterliftedz

Posted
  • Author
Posted
53 minutes ago, chizzoy said:

nicely done.    I went and actually got the Trail Boss stock suspension installed on my RST.  I wouldn’t have minded powered mirrors  but not enough for me to jump up a trim level 

On another note, looking at the 2021 Tahoe/Sierra AT4 off road trims with the adjustable lift control, GM decided that they not include the 3.0L Duramax as an option for off roading.      That was disappointing to hear

 

74B2DBD0-0E4D-4F3B-9295-55A9D2F27EFF.jpeg

The main reason for the power folding mirrors is that I park in a one car garage every day, it would get very annoying if I had to get out and fold my mirrors in daily lol

 

truck looks good man, Since I’m only $300 into this lift, I didn’t make the jump to the actual trail boss suspension. But I would like those front CV axle’s one day

ullose272 Enthusiast

ullose272

Posted
Posted

Heres mine, 2.5 front 2 rear, they are just spacers, now that bilstien released TB struts i will likely go that route in the future. Truck came with the TB wheels and tires from the dealer3daa1b143ea394d0ebe74448b2dd026d.jpg

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

  • Like 2
f8l vnm Senior Enthusiast

f8l vnm

Posted
Posted
9 hours ago, pewterliftedz said:

The 3 things I had to have when upgrading my 17’ Sierra All Terrain were power folding mirrors, Duaramax, and 2 speed transfer case.  So this limited me to either a LTZ or High Country, I really wanted a RST or TB.

Found the cheapest Duramax LTZ Z71 I could find, and went to work building a budget Trail Boss.

Here is my complete product, Trail Boss 20” wheels with 275/55r20 Nitto Ridge Grapplers, bumpers wrapped white and sensors painted,  Traill Boss black grille, factory power folding tow mirrors, Eibach front struts set to 1.5”, Traill Boss rear lift blocks and taller jounce bumpers, and rear Bilstein 5100 shocks.  In the end it pretty much looks like a RST with the Trail Boss lift installed, and that’s exactly the look I wanted. 

06E5DC1F-3571-4F4F-B870-24604D550A0E.jpeg

87653572-AE23-446B-84B1-E4C9F23494E9.jpeg

9B2D54D1-8D00-44FB-821C-F263D3A1B092.jpeg

592F0A16-280B-45DC-8A1B-314B793A66F1.jpeg

Nice looking truck right there.  Have you thought about going with white door handles? 

pewterliftedz Enthusiast

pewterliftedz

Posted
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Posted
12 minutes ago, f8l vnm said:

Nice looking truck right there.  Have you thought about going with white door handles? 

Installing them today.  Got them back from the painter yesterday along with the parking sensors 

BABC09BD-AA7A-4F56-9967-19FB2D3D826C.jpeg

  • Like 1
pewterliftedz Enthusiast

pewterliftedz

Posted
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Posted (edited)

Spent last night Swapping out door handles from chrome to white, also you can see where I had the chrome trim wrapped in gloss black.

43D80287-D719-4744-A5BB-20E644315A4D.jpeg

Edited by pewterliftedz
  • Like 1
Lunar68 Enthusiast

Lunar68

Posted
Posted

If I may ask, does anyone know why they do not offer the Duramax in the Trailboss from the factory ? Thanks

pewterliftedz Enthusiast

pewterliftedz

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  • Author
Posted
On 8/14/2020 at 9:43 AM, Lunar68 said:

If I may ask, does anyone know why they do not offer the Duramax in the Trailboss from the factory ? Thanks

It would only be a guess at this point, GM has not released a reason.  Here’s my thought, the diesel is geared towards mpg savings, putting it in a truck that is lifted and has off road tires goes against that.  GMC does sell the diesel in a AT4 configuration, but if you notice their mpg numbers are actually lower than Silverado.  Just my thoughts 

pewterliftedz Enthusiast

pewterliftedz

Posted
  • Author
Posted (edited)

Drove about 400 miles on the New setup towing my 5,000 lb camper through the Texas Hill Country, these new shocks felt amazing while towing.  No more bouncy front end!

Edited by pewterliftedz
ullose272 Enthusiast

ullose272

Posted
Posted
It would only be a guess at this point, GM has not released a reason.  Here’s my thought, the diesel is geared towards mpg savings, putting it in a truck that is lifted and has off road tires goes against that.  GMC does sell the diesel in a AT4 configuration, but if you notice their mpg numbers are actually lower than Silverado.  Just my thoughts 
You can get the same duratracs on the silverado, just doesnt have the trailboss lift.

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

  • 1 year later...
8100 Power Enthusiast

8100 Power

Posted
Posted
 

Heres mine, 2.5 front 2 rear, they are just spacers, now that bilstien released TB struts i will likely go that route in the future. Truck came with the TB wheels and tires from the dealer3daa1b143ea394d0ebe74448b2dd026d.jpg

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk
 

 

Can you give a parts list for this look? It looks great!

ullose272 Enthusiast

ullose272

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, 8100 Power said:

 

Can you give a parts list for this look? It looks great!

What you want to know? Its an rst, 2.5 front 2 rear with trailboss wheels and tires

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