Matt_
Full Access Member
- Joined
- Jul 10, 2016
- Posts
- 445
- Reaction score
- 485
Finally at the point where I can post an actual build thread with action, not just 'plans'.
So a bit of background... I've always had an offroad vehicle of some type, from Explorers to Wranglers to Cherokees to Silverado & Sierra trucks. My most recent vehicle was a nicely modified Jeep Commander. It was our go-to for trips to OBX, skiing, mountain biking, and local (legal) wheeling spots.
Well, 4 kids later and plans of buying a travel trailer sort of put a damper on the Commander's capabilities. With the 3rd row up there was essentially no interior cargo room, and with towing capacity just over 7k, our travel trailer options were extremely limited especially after factoring weight of passengers/cargo (as the kids grow anyway). There aren't many vehicles out there that can comfortable seat a family of 6+, and still be configured for everything from beach driving to towing a large travel trailer.
I knew what I wanted, and needed, but I also knew finding my "unicorn" was going to be a challenge. I searched NATIONWIDE for almost a year for a GMT800 or GMT900 Suburban or Yukon XL2500. Every time I found a truck it sold before I was able to get there.
Then I found her. She wasn't perfect, but damn near close. Every option I wanted, and none of the ones I didnt. The only thing that would make my unicorn perfect is if she was a Suburban instead of the Yukon, just because i dislike the GMT900 Yukon front clip... but that wasn't going to stop me.
The dealer was awesome, salesman text me pictures of the undercarriage and everything i requested, made the deal over the phone, gave them a deposit, booked an airline ticket, told my boss i was taking a day off work.... then a few days later left NJ at 6AM, flew to OH, dealer picked me up, test drove the truck, signed the paperwork (which was all prepped nicely btw), hopped in my new truck and drove ~600 miles straight home, nearly non-stop... i only stopped because my wife was getting mad at me and told me to get a coffee around 10PM even though I was less than 2 hours from home. But boy those were a looooong two hours!
So here's my Unicorn, on the dealer lot and then in my driveway (pic taken the next morning as I left for work... because I only took 1 day off)
And here she is in her most current form:
Build Thread Cliff Notes:
4-6" Cognito NTBD
35×11.5 STT Pro's
ATX201 Wheels 18x9 0mm
2" Steel rear wheel spacers
FOX Shocks
4.56 Yukon Gears
G2 Differential Cover
BBP Autocal Tune
SS Extended Brake Lines
AMP Powersteps
AIRLIFT 1000 Helper Bags
Rhino Rack Vortex SX load bars
1up-usa Bike Rack
Silver Carbon Fiber Emblem overlay
Trimmed front valence
Kryptonite Tie rods (KRTR10)
Kryptonite Idler Arm/Pivot/Support Bracket (KRISP10)
Kryptonite Pitman Arm (KR6654)
To Do:
Tow mirrors (coming fall 2018- power fold!)
Double Cardon Front D'S
HD Upper Control Arms
....suggestions???
So a bit of background... I've always had an offroad vehicle of some type, from Explorers to Wranglers to Cherokees to Silverado & Sierra trucks. My most recent vehicle was a nicely modified Jeep Commander. It was our go-to for trips to OBX, skiing, mountain biking, and local (legal) wheeling spots.
Well, 4 kids later and plans of buying a travel trailer sort of put a damper on the Commander's capabilities. With the 3rd row up there was essentially no interior cargo room, and with towing capacity just over 7k, our travel trailer options were extremely limited especially after factoring weight of passengers/cargo (as the kids grow anyway). There aren't many vehicles out there that can comfortable seat a family of 6+, and still be configured for everything from beach driving to towing a large travel trailer.
I knew what I wanted, and needed, but I also knew finding my "unicorn" was going to be a challenge. I searched NATIONWIDE for almost a year for a GMT800 or GMT900 Suburban or Yukon XL2500. Every time I found a truck it sold before I was able to get there.
Then I found her. She wasn't perfect, but damn near close. Every option I wanted, and none of the ones I didnt. The only thing that would make my unicorn perfect is if she was a Suburban instead of the Yukon, just because i dislike the GMT900 Yukon front clip... but that wasn't going to stop me.
The dealer was awesome, salesman text me pictures of the undercarriage and everything i requested, made the deal over the phone, gave them a deposit, booked an airline ticket, told my boss i was taking a day off work.... then a few days later left NJ at 6AM, flew to OH, dealer picked me up, test drove the truck, signed the paperwork (which was all prepped nicely btw), hopped in my new truck and drove ~600 miles straight home, nearly non-stop... i only stopped because my wife was getting mad at me and told me to get a coffee around 10PM even though I was less than 2 hours from home. But boy those were a looooong two hours!
So here's my Unicorn, on the dealer lot and then in my driveway (pic taken the next morning as I left for work... because I only took 1 day off)
And here she is in her most current form:
Build Thread Cliff Notes:
4-6" Cognito NTBD
35×11.5 STT Pro's
ATX201 Wheels 18x9 0mm
2" Steel rear wheel spacers
FOX Shocks
4.56 Yukon Gears
G2 Differential Cover
BBP Autocal Tune
SS Extended Brake Lines
AMP Powersteps
AIRLIFT 1000 Helper Bags
Rhino Rack Vortex SX load bars
1up-usa Bike Rack
Silver Carbon Fiber Emblem overlay
Trimmed front valence
Kryptonite Tie rods (KRTR10)
Kryptonite Idler Arm/Pivot/Support Bracket (KRISP10)
Kryptonite Pitman Arm (KR6654)
To Do:
Tow mirrors (coming fall 2018- power fold!)
Double Cardon Front D'S
HD Upper Control Arms
....suggestions???
Last edited:
... and yes, i verified they were done before leaving lol 
