Third try - now a Bison!

[CR-Venturer]

Very nice build! Plenty of food for thought here. I may come back with questions at some point. Cheers! :D

 

[TheBison]

It's been a busy summer (we're up to 28 nights of camping so far!) but we're getting a list together of things to be accomplished over the winter. As it gets darker, lighting has moved up on the priority list again so I added side-facing LED lights and integrated them into the Auxbeam switch controller.




We are likely going to completely redo the bed rack this winter, so additional rear-facing lights and amber chase lights will wait until that is done.

 

[TheBison]

Well, after spending 35 nights camping and travelling this year the season has basically come to a close! We learned a couple of important things, some related to my inquiry from a few months ago regarding a MITS canopy. The biggest takeaway is that the Iceco fridge/freezer mounted on the tongue of our trailer definitely does NOT work out in that location since it's caused body damage during tight maneuvers TWICE:


Related to this, although we love the look of the prerunner-style tire carrier and bed rack it leaves absolutely no room for storing camping gear especially when we're leaving the trailer behind on a tougher trail. We decided we can't justify the cost of the MITS canopy as much as I like the Aussie way of overlanding, so we have settled on replacing the Armordillo bed rack and tire carrier with a Leitner Designs bed rack including side storage pods. We'll build a new solar power system for this rack and put the fridge on a tilting slide in the truck bed to get it off of the trailer where it has caused interference issues; this will allow us more storage of gear when travelling light without the trailer and allow us to have the fridge with us in either travel scenario. Parts are staring to arrive, so stay tuned over the winter for more build photos!

 

[TheBison]

Here's some photos of the truck and trailer in their current configurations for posterity.

 

[TheBison]

Thanks to the awesome folks at overlandbuilds.xyz, our truck and trailer got featured on a website! Our Build

Thanks @sebm and everyone make sure to check out the other builds! Overland Builds

 

[TheBison]

Well, I was never really happy with the results from my install of LED bulbs into a standard Hella 500 housing in an attempt to save some money. The light is too diffused to be much stronger than a regular headlight. I was planning on replacing the bumper lights with actual Hella 500LED lights anyway but that timetable has moved up now thanks to the asshat that did a parking lot hit and run and trashed one of the lights (at least the bumper is just paint scratches). I hate people sometimes.

 

[TheBison]

Well, I'm not sure when this happened! Funny thing is the truck still rides really well...


It's out of warranty and the local stealership wanted $1,300 in parts and labor to replace the DSSV shock. Even buying the shock myself online was north of $600, so I'm on the hunt for quality shocks to do the two on the back axle for now and the front later on. I'm looking in Colorado & Canyon Enthusiasts at standard (not remote reservoir) Icon, Bilstein, Icon, Fox etc. I don't drive fast on dirt roads so I don't need remote reservoir shocks, and I'm currently at stock suspension height but may go an inch or two higher with an add-a-leaf or new spring pack due to my loading (I currently sit just about level without the trailer).

Any suggestions or recommendations?

 

[MazeVX]

My first suggestion would be a take out original shock if available anywhere, not sure if you can get cheaper and better

 

[TheBison]

My first suggestion would be a take out original shock if available anywhere, not sure if you can get cheaper and better

Hmmm. I don't know how many random ZR2 parts there are out there. The OEM DSSV shocks have a bad reputation for leaking anyway, and since they're out of warranty due to mileage I'm seriously considering just upgrading. But I can be swayed.

 

[MazeVX]

Hmmm. I don't know how many random ZR2 parts there are out there. The OEM DSSV shocks have a bad reputation for leaking anyway, and since they're out of warranty due to mileage I'm seriously considering just upgrading. But I can be swayed.

OK I have to say I was wrong, apparently there are radflo non reservoir shocks available for $290/piece, not super sure about ZR2 and such but check radflo

 

[GLOCKer]

I'm running Eibach shocks out back on my Ranger and I have been pretty damn happy with them. I've known a couple (literally two) to have gone bad and Eibach has been really responsive when it comes to replacing them. The Eibachs really cleaned up the ride of my Ranger on-road and seem capable off-road.

 

[zgfiredude]

Well, I'm not sure when this happened! Funny thing is the truck still rides really well...
View attachment 246647

It's out of warranty and the local stealership wanted $1,300 in parts and labor to replace the DSSV shock. Even buying the shock myself online was north of $600, so I'm on the hunt for quality shocks to do the two on the back axle for now and the front later on. I'm looking in Colorado & Canyon Enthusiasts at standard (not remote reservoir) Icon, Bilstein, Icon, Fox etc. I don't drive fast on dirt roads so I don't need remote reservoir shocks, and I'm currently at stock suspension height but may go an inch or two higher with an add-a-leaf or new spring pack due to my loading (I currently sit just about level without the trailer).

Any suggestions or recommendations?

Wow, that's not good....I think I would look for the largest shaft and maybe rebuildable for the long term fix...but it's dependant on the lift. Perhaps a short term fix now?

 

[TheBison]

After talking in detail to Wyatt, the owner of Colorado & Canyon Enthusiasts, we'll be replacing BOTH rear shocks with Eibach remote reservoir units and adding Rago Fab shock skids (this was a planned upgrade anyway) for less than HALF of what a single OEM shock replacement would have cost. When the front DSSV shocks wear out or leak, we'll look at an aftermarket option there as well.

 

[DRAX]

I'm curious, why do you think your truck has no warranty? Mods don't void your warranty and there have been at least a few similar failures reported by other ZR2 owners since the truck came out. Don't let dealers try and bully you about mods that have no way to cause a covered failure, especially for high-dollar parts like the DSSV shocks.

On the subject of aftermarket shocks, using vehicle-specific replacements are based on running the OEM springs. If you ever decide to replace your factory leaf packs with aftermarket then you'll need to replace the shocks as well, not just a matter of having the appropriate amount of travel but the damping requirements will change. When I installed Deaver leaf packs I also installed Peak rear shocks (supposedly Eibach with slightly different valving) that were tuned for these trucks (but not specifically for the Deavers) and these were a poor match, the ride ended up being quite harsh. I thought about going with some Fox shocks to go with the Fox 2.0 coilovers I have up front, but they aren't matched to my springs and I didn't want to end up in the same position I was already in.

What did I do? I bought a pair of RS9000s meant for the full-size GM trucks, hadn't run these on any vehicle for probably 20 years. These had the correct compressed and extended lengths needed for my lift as well as the correct mounts. Night and day difference, my truck rides and handles great now and the front and rear suspension soak up bumps equally well. The RS9000 are also adjustable, so I can firm them up if/when needed. The price couldn't be beat, either. Here's the size comparison between the Peak/Eiback and the RS9000 I used.



Just something to keep in mind down the road. I know a lot of people swear by Icon/Fox/King/etc (and I am pleased with my Fox 2.0 coilovers), but many times people seem to forget about or overlook some really good and much cheaper alternatives. Whether that's due to image and wanting the "clout" that comes with them, sponsorships, or simply wanting to buy a complete, matched kit is anyone's guess. My truck isn't a show truck and everything I've done has purpose. The problem with complete, matched suspension kits is they tend to be vehicle-specific but not always use/load-specific. I've seen a bunch of Jeep and Toyota owners spend big money on their high-dollar suspension only to end up dragging their behind on the trail because the suspension they installed wasn't tuned specifically to handle their load. Or they hitch up a trailer and stare at the sky.

So, my truck is a combination of components meant to work with my use/requirements and the end result is, IMO, a truck that does what I want and is a pleasure to drive daily as well as off-road, towing, and on long trips.

Here's my current stance (still have the Decked drawers in the bed with tools and such loaded in them) running 265/70R17 Duratracs on ZR2 wheels. Hate the Duratracs...

 

[velo47]

Hmmm. I don't know how many random ZR2 parts there are out there. The OEM DSSV shocks have a bad reputation for leaking anyway, and since they're out of warranty due to mileage I'm seriously considering just upgrading. But I can be swayed.

I just replaced a rear DSSV on my 2019 ZR2 days before the warranty ran (on time). Only 15k on the truck with little serious offroading. The DSSVs ride great but seem to be not very durable. When the next one goes, I'll be looking for something more durable and less expensive too.

 

[TheBison]

I'm curious, why do you think your truck has no warranty? Mods don't void your warranty and there have been at least a few similar failures reported by other ZR2 owners since the truck came out. Don't let dealers try and bully you about mods that have no way to cause a covered failure, especially for high-dollar parts like the DSSV shocks.

On the subject of aftermarket shocks, using vehicle-specific replacements are based on running the OEM springs. If you ever decide to replace your factory leaf packs with aftermarket then you'll need to replace the shocks as well, not just a matter of having the appropriate amount of travel but the damping requirements will change. When I installed Deaver leaf packs I also installed Peak rear shocks (supposedly Eibach with slightly different valving) that were tuned for these trucks (but not specifically for the Deavers) and these were a poor match, the ride ended up being quite harsh. I thought about going with some Fox shocks to go with the Fox 2.0 coilovers I have up front, but they aren't matched to my springs and I didn't want to end up in the same position I was already in.

What did I do? I bought a pair of RS9000s meant for the full-size GM trucks, hadn't run these on any vehicle for probably 20 years. These had the correct compressed and extended lengths needed for my lift as well as the correct mounts. Night and day difference, my truck rides and handles great now and the front and rear suspension soak up bumps equally well. The RS9000 are also adjustable, so I can firm them up if/when needed. The price couldn't be beat, either. Here's the size comparison between the Peak/Eiback and the RS9000 I used.

View attachment 246720

Just something to keep in mind down the road. I know a lot of people swear by Icon/Fox/King/etc (and I am pleased with my Fox 2.0 coilovers), but many times people seem to forget about or overlook some really good and much cheaper alternatives. Whether that's due to image and wanting the "clout" that comes with them, sponsorships, or simply wanting to buy a complete, matched kit is anyone's guess. My truck isn't a show truck and everything I've done has purpose. The problem with complete, matched suspension kits is they tend to be vehicle-specific but not always use/load-specific. I've seen a bunch of Jeep and Toyota owners spend big money on their high-dollar suspension only to end up dragging their behind on the trail because the suspension they installed wasn't tuned specifically to handle their load. Or they hitch up a trailer and stare at the sky.

So, my truck is a combination of components meant to work with my use/requirements and the end result is, IMO, a truck that does what I want and is a pleasure to drive daily as well as off-road, towing, and on long trips.

Here's my current stance (still have the Decked drawers in the bed with tools and such loaded in them) running 265/70R17 Duratracs on ZR2 wheels. Hate the Duratracs...

View attachment 246721

Trust me, I hear everything you're saying. I knew, when the OEM shocks died, that I wouldn't replace them in-kind. I just didn't expect it to be at 50k miles. I have no need for fancy shocks - I was looking at going with a quality name-brand monotube shock just like you did. I spoke with Wyatt (owner of Colorado & Canyon Enthusiasts) since he took my call on his cell phone (!) and explained my exact usage - no high speeds, occasional trailering, current stock ZR2 height (2" above regular Colorado height), plans to maybe do an add-a-leaf in the future, don't want a second mortgage or an Affirm payment. We came up with this solution since I'm not changing ride height in the near future (if I do the add-a-leaf, it will be in lieu of the 1" lifting block that ZR2's have on the rear leaf springs). And I'm definitely adding that rear shock skid!

 

[DRAX]

Trust me, I hear everything you're saying. I knew, when the OEM shocks died, that I wouldn't replace them in-kind. I just didn't expect it to be at 50k miles. I have no need for fancy shocks - I was looking at going with a quality name-brand monotube shock just like you did. I spoke with Wyatt (owner of Colorado & Canyon Enthusiasts) since he took my call on his cell phone (!) and explained my exact usage - no high speeds, occasional trailering, current stock ZR2 height (2" above regular Colorado height), plans to maybe do an add-a-leaf in the future, don't want a second mortgage or an Affirm payment. We came up with this solution since I'm not changing ride height in the near future (if I do the add-a-leaf, it will be in lieu of the 1" lifting block that ZR2's have on the rear leaf springs). And I'm definitely adding that rear shock skid!

Awesome! I haven't done business with them before but I've heard good things and they seem to always be trying to find or create some awesome accessories for our trucks since we don't have the same aftermarket support as other brands, their prices seem to be really good as well so I really hope they're able to succeed long-term as it would suck to lose a good company like that. I'm sure you will, but keep us posted on how the truck rides once you've got the new shocks on. Good luck! Also, be glad you don't have the diesel because the DEF tank, which lives above the spare tire, has to be dropped enough to remove the upper shock bolt on the driver's side. Should be a piece of cake with your truck!

 

[TheBison]

Trust me, I hear everything you're saying. I knew, when the OEM shocks died, that I wouldn't replace them in-kind. I just didn't expect it to be at 50k miles. I have no need for fancy shocks - I was looking at going with a quality name-brand monotube shock just like you did. I spoke with Wyatt (owner of Colorado & Canyon Enthusiasts) since he took my call on his cell phone (!) and explained my exact usage - no high speeds, occasional trailering, current stock ZR2 height (2" above regular Colorado height), plans to maybe do an add-a-leaf in the future, don't want a second mortgage or an Affirm payment. We came up with this solution since I'm not changing ride height in the near future (if I do the add-a-leaf, it will be in lieu of the 1" lifting block that ZR2's have on the rear leaf springs). And I'm definitely adding that rear shock skid!

Awesome! I haven't done business with them before but I've heard good things and they seem to always be trying to find or create some awesome accessories for our trucks since we don't have the same aftermarket support as other brands, their prices seem to be really good as well so I really hope they're able to succeed long-term as it would suck to lose a good company like that. I'm sure you will, but keep us posted on how the truck rides once you've got the new shocks on. Good luck! Also, be glad you don't have the diesel because the DEF tank, which lives above the spare tire, has to be dropped enough to remove the upper shock bolt on the driver's side. Should be a piece of cake with your truck!

There's many reasons we got rid of our 2018 Z71 diesel. They almost all have to do with DEF and that system's issues.

 

[DRAX]

There's many reasons we got rid of our 2018 Z71 diesel. They almost all have to do with DEF and that system's issues.

Sorry you had issues, really seems to be hit or miss with modern diesel emissions and I think a lot of it has to do with incorrect diags or repairs by dealers because they're not taking the time to isolate the actual cause and instead just throw parts at it based on whatever DTC has popped up. The low % of 2.8 Duramax trucks out there and the even lower % of ones with issues means dealers/techs don't get a lot of experience with them but they should still have a clue due to training by corporate in order to be certified. One of the most face-palm-worthy things that I've seen (and experienced myself when I was calling around just to get info) is that a lot of techs and service writers either insist these don't have a timing belt or that they do have a timing belt but it's on the back of the engine (They're thinking of the 3.0 Duramax oil pump belt) and quote insane prices for replacing the timing belt (it should be $1,000 or less but some have quoted as much as $2,500 without even looking it up). Doesn't matter the brand, having a good dealer can make all the difference in the ownership experience.

I'm just shy of 90k on mine, bought new in 2017, and it's been great. Only issue was a PM sensor at 16k and the updated sensor resolved the common issue with the earlier sensors. Never had any problems with the emissions, knock on wood, even in sub-zero winter temps here in Illinois.

The 3.6 is a good engine, hopefully you don't experience the 8-speed shudder issue!

 

[Autism Family Travels]

To eliminate glare off of the hood (from sunlight as well as the roof-mounted lights) we got the hood wrapped with a matte black vinyl that has a topographic map design on it. Really pleased with how it turned out! And it's not just any topo map - I had the graphics shop use the map of a trail my wife and I hiked on one of our first dates as the basis for the design. Let me tell you about the mad props I got for that! I haven't put up any whole-vehicle photos to show the status of the build in a while, so here's a few from today while I was out scouting the area for June Jam 4. A bigger change is coming next week - getting new and bigger shoes on!
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Love the Hella's. Best light (after some mods) that I have used. Better than all those fancy led light bar thingys. Put 55w 4300K hid in the driving beam Hella 500 housings, and you have a set of lights that will outperform 2000 dollar lightbars.
Great rig.