Just how rugged are these things???

apogee · April 11, 2005

Just got my self a 2005 GMC Canyon crew cab with 4Wheel drive and I was wondering how tough these things are??

I plan on doing a fair amount of off roading and taking it up logging roads to get to MTBike trails.

Is this truck going to be able to take the abuse or should i go easy on it... what can I do to beef it up if it needs it???

I am pretty new to the whole truck think, my last car was a golf..

Thanks in advance!

Apogee

snoman · April 11, 2005

Just got my self a 2005 GMC Canyon crew cab with 4Wheel drive and I was wondering how tough these things are??

I plan on doing a fair amount of off roading and taking it up logging roads to get to MTBike trails.

Is this truck going to be able to take the abuse or should i go easy on it... what can I do to beef it up if it needs it???

I am pretty new to the whole truck think, my last car was a golf..

Thanks in advance!

Apogee

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If you do not go crazy and keep it reasonable stock it should hold up okay but I would at the very least add a aux tranny cooler as fatory cooling is not very good and meant more for street than trail even though it is a 4x4. When you start putting on greatly oversizes tires and such is when you have to be more careful about over stressing its components.

apogee · April 11, 2005

Just got my self a 2005 GMC Canyon crew cab with 4Wheel drive and I was wondering how tough these things are??

I plan on doing a fair amount of off roading and taking it up logging roads to get to MTBike trails.

Is this truck going to be able to take the abuse or should i go easy on it... what can I do to beef it up if it needs it???

I am pretty new to the whole truck think, my last car was a golf..

Thanks in advance!

Apogee

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

If you do not go crazy and keep it reasonable stock it should hold up okay but I would at the very least add a aux tranny cooler as fatory cooling is not very good and meant more for street than trail even though it is a 4x4. When you start putting on greatly oversizes tires and such is when you have to be more careful about over stressing its components.

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any recommendations for a tranny cooler??

And I should add that the truck is a Z71 too.. might make a difference.

snoman · April 11, 2005

Just got my self a 2005 GMC Canyon crew cab with 4Wheel drive and I was wondering how tough these things are??

I plan on doing a fair amount of off roading and taking it up logging roads to get to MTBike trails.

Is this truck going to be able to take the abuse or should i go easy on it... what can I do to beef it up if it needs it???

I am pretty new to the whole truck think, my last car was a golf..

Thanks in advance!

Apogee

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

If you do not go crazy and keep it reasonable stock it should hold up okay but I would at the very least add a aux tranny cooler as fatory cooling is not very good and meant more for street than trail even though it is a 4x4. When you start putting on greatly oversizes tires and such is when you have to be more careful about over stressing its components.

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any recommendations for a tranny cooler??

And I should add that the truck is a Z71 too.. might make a difference.

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Does not matter that it is a Z71 as factory is not generous with tranny coolers. A B&M or Hayden will work just fine and it is very cheap insurance. You can get one at a Advanced Auto store if you want. Something about 5 or 6 inches by 10 to 13 inches would do just fine as there is not need to get carried away here with size on that vehical. Heat is the number one cause of tranny failures.

Tex2kZR2 · April 20, 2005

Better buy some skid plates.. because what you have stock from the factory barely holds up to a snowball.

Custom Skid Plates Check out coloradofans.com while you are at it too.

snoman · April 20, 2005

Better buy some skid plates.. because what you have stock from the factory barely holds up to a snowball.

Custom Skid Plates Check out coloradofans.com while you are at it too.

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I question the wisdom of this because if I am going to be dragging bottom in the rocks and dirt, it is not going to be in a new truck either that a new scratch or ding is nothing to get upset about.

Wingnut · April 20, 2005

Better buy some skid plates.. because what you have stock from the factory barely holds up to a snowball.

Custom Skid Plates Check out coloradofans.com while you are at it too.

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I question the wisdom of this because if I am going to be dragging bottom in the rocks and dirt, it is not going to be in a new truck either that a new scratch or ding is nothing to get upset about.

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Yeah well, I question the wisdom of you telling him not to buy skidplates when he flat out said that he will be taking THIS truck off road.

snoman · April 20, 2005

Better buy some skid plates.. because what you have stock from the factory barely holds up to a snowball.

Custom Skid Plates Check out coloradofans.com while you are at it too.

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I question the wisdom of this because if I am going to be dragging bottom in the rocks and dirt, it is not going to be in a new truck either that a new scratch or ding is nothing to get upset about.

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Yeah well, I question the wisdom of you telling him not to buy skidplates when he flat out said that he will be taking THIS truck off road.

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I never said not to, I only questioned the wisdom of it. When I am going to get down and nasty, I use a old 4x4 I have, not a newer one.

Truckman031 · April 20, 2005

Well, he is going to be offroading in a new truck and it needs better protection than the factory offers. Why would you question the wisdom when he stated that he will be using his new truck for offroading? Not everyone has an extra 4x4 for offroad use.

snoman · April 20, 2005

Well, he is going to be offroading in a new truck and it needs better protection than the factory offers. Why would you question the wisdom when he stated that he will be using his new truck for offroading? Not everyone has an extra 4x4 for offroad use.

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I question of taking a new truck still under warranty in place the can damage it and that conditions are so bad that you need skid plates. Only one 4x4 out of all the 4x4's I have owned has had skid plates and it was on the vehical when I got it (the burb) as I would not have ordered them. The truck I get the nastiest with in my old J20. It is smooth underneath with nothing hanging down below frame rails and I have drug it in the dirt a few times too. (it does have a factory standard fuel tank sheild with is not a bad idea because in that truck the tank is exposed though above rails. The NBS trucks have the stupid cross member hanging down under them that can snag easy. I guess the real issue hear is if Detroit is going to build and market a offroad truck, it should be designed from day one (like my old Jeep) that everything is tucked up inside of frame rails and the frame is smooth rather than having to hang mickey mouse sheilds on it to try to protect items that are sticking out under it and these sheilds also reduce ground clearance too (which is another reason I do not like them) and can allow mud and snow to pack in on top of them too between item there are protecting and the plate.

99-2door · April 20, 2005

BOTTOM LINE:

1. He wants to take his truck off-road.

2. Its his truck, he can do what he wants with it.

3. You don't have to piss on every thread you come across.

Tex2kZR2 · April 20, 2005

First of all Snoman.. this thread aint about you. It's about Apogee and his question of the truck's offroad worthieness and what should be looked at on upgrading.

And your experience dont mean jack with these trucks especially since A you do not own one, and B you sure as hell don't know what the offroad issues are with this design.

IF you ever bothered to look at the underside of the Colorado rather than speaking out your ass and spouting off your opinon on why skid plates suck you would understand why I made my recommendation of buying skid plates. Conditions don't have to be bad offroad to warranty the use of skid plates.

I am not recommending he gets the truck setup to go rock crawling. But for any kind of decent offroading almost everyone would feel a lot better having a piece of 1/8", 3/16", or 1/4" steel protecting an oil pan and front dif. from being exposed and catching a rock or stump than not having it at all and instead having a 1/2" better clearance and no skid plates and risk doing damage(punching a hole in the oilpan being at the top of the list of real bad things to happen, especially when you are miles away from civilization) to a "BRAND NEW Vehicle" as you point out. Why this scenario? Because that is exactly how the Colorado Z71 package is setup.

NO Skid plate protecting the oil pan.

NO Skid plate protecting the front dif.

NO Skid plate protection for the transmission.(It has a bump stop which is a joke)

The upside of skid plates while offroading far outweigh the upside of not having them.

You go tear up your own vehicle. Let others protect theirs.

snoman · April 21, 2005

First of all Snoman.. this thread aint about you. It's about Apogee and his question of the truck's offroad worthieness and what should be look at on upgrading.

And your experience dont mean jack with these trucks especially since A you do not own one, and B you sure as hell don't know what the offroad issues are with this design.

IF you ever bothered to look at the underside of the Colorado rather than speaking out your ass and spouting off your opinon on why skid plates suck you would understand why I made my recommendation of buying skid plates. Conditions don't have to be bad to warranty the use of skid plates.

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This really says it all about you and why someone would take advise from such a hot head responce is beyond me. Your comments do not warrant further comment from me.

Tex2kZR2 · April 21, 2005

This really says it all about you and why someone would take advise from such a hot head responce is beyond me. Your comments do not warrant further comment from me.

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Hello pot.. this is kettle.

And why take advice from me?? Maybe it's because I know the friggin truck, unlike some people here.