| Off-Road For suspension, wheel, and tire questions DIRECTLY related to Off-Roading. |
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08-26-2008, 07:33 PM
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Super Moderator
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2004 GMC Envoy SLT "Roadiemobile"
Extreme Offroad Pewter 4.2L I6 4X4
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Vista / San Diego, CA
Posts: 18,607
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Black Horse brand Tail Light Guards
As discussed in another thread, there is a new manufacturer of grill guards and tail light guards besides Waag and Westin. I wanted tail light guards, but not enough to pay $190-220 for the pair. And Envoys are a niche vehicle not supported by a lot of vendors.
Anyway, after a hint in that other thread (thanks firebear!), I found they were imported by Xanatos Automotive, and there are only a few distributors signed up yet, and not all of them have the full product range listed on their web sites yet. Even Xanatos Automotive disn't have the Envoy listed at their own http://blackhorseoffroad.com/ site.
No matter. $135 later from Truck Stuff USA (888-480-4060) I had them drop shipped from Xanatos. They came stapled into an indestructible box, very nicely foam wrapped and then plastic bagged for moisture protection. Obvious Chinese printing on the box:
Tail light removed
Rear - they want you to mount them using the factory holes in the rear only.
Side - it touches the front of your light just with a rubber standoff screwed to the guard.
That's not going to hold off a branch trying to rip them off from the front, so I went to West Marine and got some stainless steel, rubber covered 3/4" cable bundle clamps.
Marked some holes to drill in the opening. That's a threaded insert install tool - called rivnuts or nutserts.
Rivnuts installed (10-32)
Stainless hardware installed on the cable clamps - guard hinged open
Guard hinged closed
Tail Light installed
Yes, I need to take the rubber off the clamps someday and paint the stainless black.
Now WHY IS THIS A FUNCTIONAL AND NOT AN APPEARANCE-ONLY MOD, you might ask?!? It's a perfect place to hose clamp a vertical PVC pipe to, to hold a miniature fold-up ham antenna to get better range when in the desert set up at a base camp or stopped for lunch, to hit a repeater 60-100 miles away possibly. On trips, I'll probably carry 16 or 24 feet of PVC and some couplers to get it as high as possible.
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08-26-2008, 08:07 PM
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TrailVoy Alumni
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2006 Chevy TrailBlazer LS
Bordeaux Red Metallic 4.2L I6 4X4
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Quakertown, Pennsylvania
Posts: 3,744
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Nice Bill!!!!
I sold my taillight guards because they did not mount at the front just like those. Wish I had thought of your idea 
Another great job Roadie!
Chris
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2006 TB LS -Added: Heated side view mirrors with signals, SS shifter, rear view w/ compass and temp, strobes, air horn, brush guard, homelink console, custom decals, rain guards. Removed: roof rack crossbars, badges.
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08-26-2008, 08:34 PM
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TrailVoy Guru
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2003 Chevy TrailBlazer LT
Light Pewter Metallic 4.2L I6 4X4
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Southside Chicago Suburb
Posts: 5,908
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looks great, good price, and innovative solution....
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"Loyalty to the country always. Loyalty to the government when it deserves it."
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08-26-2008, 11:45 PM
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Member
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2002 Chevy TrailBlazer LT
Sierra Mountain Silt 4.2L I6 4X4
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 371
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All your OFFROAD trailblazers are belong to us @ www.offroadtb.com.
Come check out the new offroad designated fun 
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08-27-2008, 12:31 AM
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Super Moderator
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2004 GMC Envoy SLT "Roadiemobile"
Extreme Offroad Pewter 4.2L I6 4X4
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Vista / San Diego, CA
Posts: 18,607
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Close. Need to bring our own shade to Coyote Canyon:
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08-27-2008, 01:32 AM
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TrailVoy Alumni
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2005 GMC Envoy SLT XL
Onyx Black 4.2L I6 4X4
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Homer glen, IL
Posts: 3,090
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Wow very nice clean install. I like how you did the rivet install
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08-27-2008, 07:39 AM
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TrailVoy Alumni
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2005 GMC Envoy SLE XL
Monterey Maroon Metallic 4.2L I6 4X4
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Bixby,Okla.
Posts: 1,183
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QOUTE FROM ROADIE;
Anyway, after a hint in that other thread (thanks firebear!), I found they were imported by Xanatos Automotive, and there are only a few distributors signed up yet, and not all of them have the full product range listed on their web sites yet. Even Xanatos Automotive disn't have the Envoy listed at their own http://blackhorseoffroad.com/ site.
your welcome roadie for the hint lol nice job its too bad there isnt a way to affix a small piano hinge along that side might make it a stronger bracket??
as far as the ham radio what about a hinged telescoping pole mounted to the side of your roof rack kinda like the temp flag poles or those poles for cleaning the pool....just an example, that with a 8' telescoping pole extended to 16' on top would almost give you a 20' rise for the antennae just a thought .... 
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South Chapter Okla. Rep.
KN 77 CAI, NGK, pcmforless tune, bartonmd skid, 2.5 lift by lift meister,res delete
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08-27-2008, 07:55 AM
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Basic Vendor- Skid Plates
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2007 Chevy TrailBlazer LS
Silverstone Metallic 5.3L V8 4X4
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Posts: 2,682
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Perfect!
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08-27-2008, 11:21 AM
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Super Moderator
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2004 GMC Envoy SLT "Roadiemobile"
Extreme Offroad Pewter 4.2L I6 4X4
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Vista / San Diego, CA
Posts: 18,607
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chevy-TB-lover
Wow very nice clean install. I like how you did the rivet install
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Once you drill the first hole in your vehicle, the next dozen are easier. 
Quote:
Originally Posted by firebear
your welcome roadie for the hint lol nice job its too bad there isnt a way to affix a small piano hinge along that side might make it a stronger bracket??
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The weakest points are the pull-out force of the rivnut threads, which are aluminum. I thought about stainless rivnuts, but then they would just pull out of the sheet metal, damaging the vehicle. That is for thinking about an impact from the front. For a rear impact, the plastic screws holding the lamp housing in are the weakest spots, and I'm convinced I need to upgrade those to rivnuts and stainless hardware as well. I think it's about as strong as I want it to be.
Quote:
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as far as the ham radio what about a hinged telescoping pole mounted to the side of your roof rack kinda like the temp flag poles or those poles for cleaning the pool....just an example, that with a 8' telescoping pole extended to 16' on top would almost give you a 20' rise for the antennae just a thought ....
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Thought about it.  Normally, my HiLift is along one side of the rack, and my bridging/sand ladders will be on the other side. I haven't built those mounting brackets yet, but I did post about the bridging ladders. But by far the most important reason for using the guard for the ham antenna is that I've got JamesDowning nipping at my heels.  If I don't demonstrate that the guards are FUNCTIONAL, he'll mock me in my home forum  , and I just can't allow that. Grant me this small attempt at rationalization?
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08-27-2008, 03:26 PM
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TrailVoy Alumni
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2004 Chevy TrailBlazer LT
Onyx Black 4.2L I6 4X4
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Levittown, PA
Posts: 3,140
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the clamps are a really nice idea. I went the cheaper quicker route, and went to a craft store, bought some circle shaped velcro pieces. Attached one part to the taillight, and one part on the rubber end of the taillight guard. Of course it isn't as sturdy as yours...but it did stop them from wiggling.
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Tim
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