Two seat Tahoe overlander build...

[08 Tahoe LTZ]

What part of AZ you in? Moving back to AZ from MN next month and I'd love to run into you sometime. Putting my 5" Rough Country lift on this weekend with kickers and 33s. Eliminating magnaride with resistors and new struts, coils in rear. Keeping auto ride for now until Bilsteins go in. BTW, did you ever fix your flares? I have the Bushwacker pocket flares and hated how they tapped on the sides in high winds or highway speeds. Ordered a hardware kit for cutout flares to switch cosmetic bolts for screws with spacers.

 

[Sparksalot]

That is me. I do a lot of off road exploring in my rig.. I just went over 190,000 miles with it and it is still going strong. The weather is starting to cool down here in Arizona so I am looking forward to this camping season coming up.

Nice digs!

 

[Sparksalot]

This is the center of Black Rock city where they have burning Man.

View attachment 260677

Great shot.

 

[Tozan]

What part of AZ you in? BTW, did you ever fix your flares? I have the Bushwacker pocket flares and hated how they tapped on the sides in high winds or highway speeds. Ordered a hardware kit for cutout flares to switch cosmetic bolts for screws with spacers.

I live about 80 miles north west of Phoenix just outside of Wickenburg.

I still have the Bushwacker flares, I am not sure when or if I will bother with them.

 

[NOSOK]

Great to see someone else has done a 2 seater build. I'm in the process of doing something similar with a Suburban, but without the offroad gear you've put on. Z71 is capable enough for now, especially since a vast majority of my miles will be on pavement.

I bet that full insulation is real nice. I'd like that but it's a little to involved for me, especially with the headliner removal - I'll have to settle for some down comforters.

Your bed platform is an interesting design - looks like you modified some heavy duty wire shelving. I'm going the more traditional 3/4 plywood route.

What flavor of AR is that?

 

[Tozan]

Great to see someone else has done a 2 seater build. I'm in the process of doing something similar with a Suburban, but without the offroad gear you've put on. Z71 is capable enough for now, especially since a vast majority of my miles will be on pavement.

I bet that full insulation is real nice. I'd like that but it's a little to involved for me, especially with the headliner removal - I'll have to settle for some down comforters.

Your bed platform is an interesting design - looks like you modified some heavy duty wire shelving. I'm going the more traditional 3/4 plywood route.

What flavor of AR is that?

It is a 6.5 Grendel.

 

[NOSOK]

That definitely packs a punch compared to my lowly 5.56! I saw some nice glass on there as well.

 

[Tozan]

That definitely packs a punch compared to my lowly 5.56! I saw some nice glass on there as well.

For me it is good out to 1000 yards..

 

[NOSOK]

If you're curious what removing the seats saved you, it's probably 250+ lbs. I just weighed the seats we removed from our suburban and the 2nd row captains are 68 lbs each while the rear 2 part bench is 62 lbs per side.

 

[Sparksalot]

If you're curious what removing the seats saved you, it's probably 250+ lbs. I just weighed the seats we removed from our suburban and the 2nd row captains are 68 lbs each while the rear 2 part bench is 62 lbs per side.

I had a similar discussion this morning with some overlanding folks about the weight saved by deleting the rear seat.

 

[Tozan]

If you're curious what removing the seats saved you, it's probably 250+ lbs. I just weighed the seats we removed from our suburban and the 2nd row captains are 68 lbs each while the rear 2 part bench is 62 lbs per side.

I think mine is more. I have the 1/3 - 2/3 bench second row, I never weighed the 2/3 seat but, it weighs a lot. Your third row seat weights sound about right.

The 4x6 bed platform I installed might weigh around 80 pounds stripped bare. I think mine with all the stuff under it and the carpet weighs in around 110 pounds.

Wire shelves are much better than anything you can build with wood. Lighter weight and each section can hold 800 pounds... Talk about over kill...

Plus I like a hinge so, they will lift up. Putting a metal screw through the shelf into the legs will keep it from falling off when you lift it up.

I had a similar discussion this morning with some overlanding folks about the weight saved by deleting the rear seat.

For me related to overlanding it was not just weight savings but, picking up a lot of storage space too. When you can trade dead weight for items you will use camping it is a win win...

 

[Sparksalot]

Definitely worth it for the space gain. The weight reduction is a good side benefit.

 

[Tozan]

Definitely worth it for the space gain. The weight reduction is a good side benefit.

Yes space savings is huge. I have a 37 qt refrigerator taking up the space of the 1/3 seat.

 

[Sparksalot]

Yes space savings is huge. I have a 37 qt refrigerator taking up the space of the 1/3 seat.

That’s in my mind as well. Which fridge did you get?

 

[Rocket Man]

This is a great build, great thread. I’d love to do this to one of these rigs if I was a bit younger. Back when I was young I did a lot of camping and hiking in the Oregon back country. Great job. Whose front bumper is that?

 

[Tozan]

The refrigerator is an Alpicool CF35

Front bumper is a no longer available FabFour

By the way I am 63 years old and still exploring and camping.

 

[Sparksalot]

How long have you had the Alpicool? How do you like it? I’ve been eyeing those.

 

[Rocket Man]

The refrigerator is an Alpicool CF35

Front bumper is a no longer available FabFour

By the way I am 63 years old and still exploring and camping.

Dang it. I’m 61 but into different stuff now although it looks like I’m retired ( haven’t decided yet) and now you are making me want to get back out there. I wanna build a bagged and bodied C10 next but who knows. Too bad I don’t have more room, I might follow along in your foot steps. Hmmmm.

 

[NOSOK]

Wire shelves are much better than anything you can build with wood. Lighter weight and each section can hold 800 pounds... Talk about over kill...

I agree wire shelves are stronger/lighter but plywood is easier to customize (and it's strong enough). I'm planning to build a drawer system as well as a dining/working area in the 2nd row.

BTW where did you get your shelves?

The refrigerator is an Alpicool CF35

I've heard mixed things about Alpicool - on one hand they're a fraction of the price of a Dometic, but I've heard reliability is not amazing.

Perhaps I missed it, but what are you using for an electrical system?

 

[Tozan]

How long have you had the Alpicool? How do you like it? I’ve been eyeing those.

Almost 2 years and it has been running 24/7 for the last 6 months at 35 degrees.