Trail Blazer III
This is my daily driver 2015 F150 which I also use for SAR, disaster response, and over landing.
My goal is to keep it stealthily, modular, and quickly adaptable. I want to keep a low profile.
I will not be doing any rock crawling, mud bogging, or pre running so I don't need any extreme mods.
I will be towing multiple trailers such as my 8,000lb travel trailer and 7,000lb disaster response command center. This will require me to compromise on what type of suspension capabilities I will have off road.
I like to have safe power so I have a Livernois tuner with 3 different tunes(87 towing, 91 towing, and 93 performance) along with a stainless down tube, different thermostat, and plugs. Insane power and drive ability increases.
The interior has some simple mods. I installed a rear under seat organizer as well as a Builtright Industries rear seat latch to access some extra storage.
I had great luck with SPOD accessory management on my Jeep so I added the SE system with touchscreen and Bluetooth. This is amazing and also allows me to flash and strobe my lights during call outs. (not legal everywhere so be careful).
I installed Rigid LED lighting, they are top notch and a brand that I can trust. I used their custom bracket to replace the stock fogs with one pair spots and one pair dispersed each pair on their own circuit. I mounted 2x2 scene lights in the front stake pockets and are individually controlled. The rear lights are SRQ2 dispersed. This is an awesome combo. I added smoke covers to the scene lights so they better blend with the truck.
The stock tires stunk in anything beyond good weather or rougher than dirt roads so I went to BFG KO2 tires, wow what a difference!
To keep people from peeking in I added 35% tint all around except the front windshield.
My bed cover is a backflip f1. Pretty awesome and very strong.
I just installed BuiltRight's truck bed system, it's not too bad, I've only populated one of the four panels using quick grips with stainless hardware. I also am testing some homemade cargo bars using untreated 2x8 lumber, quick grips, and some e track brackets/mounts to add modularity to the bed. ill tweak the design and perhaps have a welded up steel or aluminum version eventually. The front section has the perfect space for Jerry cans of gas and water in addition to my solar panels, tripod, or bag chairs, the middle section for cooler, chuck box, etc, and the rear my aluboxes.
One alubox holds my SAR sustainment pack, boots, shirt, paints, and socks and during trips will be clothing. The second holds my tools and recovery gear/bottle jack/jack stand/ratchets straps/etc. instead of a winch I use the larger capacity more power puller with synthetic line.
I am not a fan of RTT set ups so I went with a Shiftpod 2. That stores perfectly under the cargo bars.
I made this checkbox when I was 16 and it has been awesome however it doesn't fit under the bed cover so this winter I will be designing something a bit different.
My next project is to install my Icom ID5100A. The radio will be in my unused glove box, the remote head on the top of the center stack, external speaker mounted near the SPOD screen out of sight, and the mic will be routed through the center console for cable management. My antenna will be on the drivers side fender. In an NMO mount, it's a 40" Comet. Once again, low profile and clean install is key.
I'm currently using RAM suction mounts for my cell and handheld Icom ID51A. Once my mobile ham is installed I will likely add a cellular iPad mini where the handheld currently is.
I have a wireless air ride airbag kit to install for towing, I'll remote mount 2 shraeder valves behind the gas filler door in case the compressor fails.
An ARB compressor is in the future, I will either mount it in the bed or under hood this winter. No tank, just the compressor. Mainly for airing up tires and kids toys.
I have a Yakima rack for my canoe that goes on the roof. I would like to install rails on the bed and find a high end aluminum rack to use as a platform/hardmount point/bike rack. We will see what winter brings.
I doubt I will lift it but I wouldn't mind an extra 2". That would be the most I would want to see so I don't lose the ability to park in structures. I would also like to find some low profile fairly stock looking rock sliders/steps.
My goal is to keep it stealthily, modular, and quickly adaptable. I want to keep a low profile.
I will not be doing any rock crawling, mud bogging, or pre running so I don't need any extreme mods.
I will be towing multiple trailers such as my 8,000lb travel trailer and 7,000lb disaster response command center. This will require me to compromise on what type of suspension capabilities I will have off road.
I like to have safe power so I have a Livernois tuner with 3 different tunes(87 towing, 91 towing, and 93 performance) along with a stainless down tube, different thermostat, and plugs. Insane power and drive ability increases.
The interior has some simple mods. I installed a rear under seat organizer as well as a Builtright Industries rear seat latch to access some extra storage.
I had great luck with SPOD accessory management on my Jeep so I added the SE system with touchscreen and Bluetooth. This is amazing and also allows me to flash and strobe my lights during call outs. (not legal everywhere so be careful).
I installed Rigid LED lighting, they are top notch and a brand that I can trust. I used their custom bracket to replace the stock fogs with one pair spots and one pair dispersed each pair on their own circuit. I mounted 2x2 scene lights in the front stake pockets and are individually controlled. The rear lights are SRQ2 dispersed. This is an awesome combo. I added smoke covers to the scene lights so they better blend with the truck.
The stock tires stunk in anything beyond good weather or rougher than dirt roads so I went to BFG KO2 tires, wow what a difference!
To keep people from peeking in I added 35% tint all around except the front windshield.
My bed cover is a backflip f1. Pretty awesome and very strong.
I just installed BuiltRight's truck bed system, it's not too bad, I've only populated one of the four panels using quick grips with stainless hardware. I also am testing some homemade cargo bars using untreated 2x8 lumber, quick grips, and some e track brackets/mounts to add modularity to the bed. ill tweak the design and perhaps have a welded up steel or aluminum version eventually. The front section has the perfect space for Jerry cans of gas and water in addition to my solar panels, tripod, or bag chairs, the middle section for cooler, chuck box, etc, and the rear my aluboxes.
One alubox holds my SAR sustainment pack, boots, shirt, paints, and socks and during trips will be clothing. The second holds my tools and recovery gear/bottle jack/jack stand/ratchets straps/etc. instead of a winch I use the larger capacity more power puller with synthetic line.
I am not a fan of RTT set ups so I went with a Shiftpod 2. That stores perfectly under the cargo bars.
I made this checkbox when I was 16 and it has been awesome however it doesn't fit under the bed cover so this winter I will be designing something a bit different.
My next project is to install my Icom ID5100A. The radio will be in my unused glove box, the remote head on the top of the center stack, external speaker mounted near the SPOD screen out of sight, and the mic will be routed through the center console for cable management. My antenna will be on the drivers side fender. In an NMO mount, it's a 40" Comet. Once again, low profile and clean install is key.
I'm currently using RAM suction mounts for my cell and handheld Icom ID51A. Once my mobile ham is installed I will likely add a cellular iPad mini where the handheld currently is.
I have a wireless air ride airbag kit to install for towing, I'll remote mount 2 shraeder valves behind the gas filler door in case the compressor fails.
An ARB compressor is in the future, I will either mount it in the bed or under hood this winter. No tank, just the compressor. Mainly for airing up tires and kids toys.
I have a Yakima rack for my canoe that goes on the roof. I would like to install rails on the bed and find a high end aluminum rack to use as a platform/hardmount point/bike rack. We will see what winter brings.
I doubt I will lift it but I wouldn't mind an extra 2". That would be the most I would want to see so I don't lose the ability to park in structures. I would also like to find some low profile fairly stock looking rock sliders/steps.
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