Best TB for offroad

jak03TB

Original poster
Member
May 7, 2020
25
FL, USA
i have a 2003 tb ext and love my truck. i also plan on keeping it as long as humanly possible. i was toying the idea of buying a swb tb for an off road project truck. i was wondering if there was any consensus on the best version of tb's for off road purposes. factors such as engine size, g80 or no, year. price and reliability are of course large factors with any build. i want to start keeping an eye out for when i see them for sale. also is there a unicorn tb out there that we will never find? insert opinions below. =P
 

HARDTRAILZ

Moderator
Nov 18, 2011
49,665
He told me a TB could not do what mine has done and I would not run 35s n such....

To be fair I had not prototyped the 3 inch lifts yet when he was telling me that.
 

jak03TB

Original poster
Member
May 7, 2020
25
FL, USA
i assume 5.3 was mostly in ext, and 4.10s were in the ss? also any particular year? or just the best mileage to year ratio i can find?
 

Mike534x

Member
Apr 9, 2012
894
Off the top of my head;

05 - Envoy Denali (SWB + LWB), mostly came with 3.73 (some had 3.42).
- Trailblazer EXT, had the option but hard to find one with the 5.3
- Rainer came optioned with the 5.3

06-09 - Envoy Denali trims, TB SWB/EXT received the 5.3, Rainer, 9-7x, and TBSS.
 

Mooseman

Moderator
Dec 4, 2011
25,257
Ottawa, ON
Earlier years (03-05?) the 5.3 could only be had with the EXT/XL. Then later years could be had in the SWB as well. Gearing is all over the place but the most common with the 5.3 was the 3.73. A 4.10 could be in any truck. I think it was an option for those who asked for it.

No 02's ever had the 5.3.
 
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HARDTRAILZ

Moderator
Nov 18, 2011
49,665
Off the top of my head;

05 - Envoy Denali (SWB + LWB), mostly came with 3.73 (some had 3.42).
- Trailblazer EXT, had the option but hard to find one with the 5.3
- Rainer came optioned with the 5.3

06-09 - Envoy Denali trims, TB SWB/EXT received the 5.3, Rainer, 9-7x, and TBSS.

I can't believe you would recommend a version without a low range transfer case as best for offroad....
 

Mike534x

Member
Apr 9, 2012
894
I can't believe you would recommend a version without a low range transfer case as best for offroad....

I was just listing them, not recommending.
 

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