The ZR2 SPEC-R3

[OFC Ranger]

I bought mine from Tyger. I think they're 5+" but don't remember exactly. What I do remember is they came in various widths. And no, I didn't get the ones with the stars on them. I'll go see if I have a pic...

Think I might go as far as to go 6" on mine. Maybe even 6.5"

In an ideal world of unlimited funds I'd go with some powered AMP steps, but I ain't paying that much for something to step on.

Thinking maybe something like this with a bit of drop to it;

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[OFC Ranger]

Yea well that whole storm thing really threw a wrench in the gears. Besides the total cluster F to me locally, AVO lost power and all the nearby areas were flooded in Asheville. (luckily they themselves were not)

I'm now scheduled for October 25th for my install.

Kind of over the waiting at this point, ready to just be done.

 

[bsr956]

Yea well that whole storm thing really threw a wrench in the gears. Besides the total cluster F to me locally, AVO lost power and all the nearby areas were flooded in Asheville. (luckily they themselves were not)

I'm now scheduled for October 25th for my install.

Kind of over the waiting at this point, ready to just be done.

"Kind of over the waiting at this point, ready to just be done"... think you've said that before LOL!!

 

[OFC Ranger]

No fancy pictures yet (just one during install) and I am tired so a quick sypnosis;

1.) We believe this is the first Khaya installed on a gen 3 Colorado in the world, let alone the United States. So there were some unknown variables going into this and numerous were encountered. The bed walls are so high (like the Ranger) and the bed overall width just a tad to small (by a matter of inches) that a spacer frame had to be built to raise it up because without it the eye-bolts (front anchor points) would not clear the bed caps.

That aside, everything else fit like a glove with inches to spare in other dimensions.

2.) I had on hand some Peak Suspension add-a-leafs (750lb rated), sold specifically for my model (ZR2), however they were an inch too long each side and were making contact with the leaf pack retainer clips on each end. Contact was made with Peak and they said they believe Chevrolet changed some specs mid-cycle and have a redesigned version being sent to me. We will see.

3.) Air bags have also been installed, these will work for now until I can combine the new leaf additions.

4.) Surprisingly before the bags were filled, the rear only dropped about 3" from stock height. All of us were like "Wtf" cause the supposed weight of the Khaya basic is 400kg (880lbs). See the picture below, the install jacks are raised and are holding none of the weight...

5.) Trip home was 180 miles from AVO's shop. Half of that is interstate and the other half was either mountain roads (sometimes 7% grade) and winding up and down hills on back roads. I can't comment on emergency maneuvers, but the truck basically acted like nothing was installed in the rear. Very very surprising. I also only dropped about 1 MPG in fuel efficiency, not sure how it did so well.

6.) Install took 2 days for everything (some other accessories not pictured) Really speaks to the attention to detail of AVO. I'll be going back to them in the future for a Dickenson furnace install and some other items.

I will update further after I get some rest.

 

[Chris M]

No fancy pictures yet (just one during install) and I am tired so a quick sypnosis;

1.) We believe this is the first Khaya installed on a gen 3 Colorado in the world, let alone the United States. So there were some unknown variables going into this and numerous were encountered. The bed walls are so high (like the Ranger) and the bed overall width just a tad to small (by a matter of inches) that a spacer frame had to be built to raise it up because without it the eye-bolts (front anchor points) would not clear the bed caps.

That aside, everything else fit like a glove with inches to spare in other dimensions.

2.) I had on hand some Peak Suspension add-a-leafs (750lb rated), sold specifically for my model (ZR2), however they were an inch too long each side and were making contact with the leaf pack retainer clips on each end. Contact was made with Peak and they said they believe Chevrolet changed some specs mid-cycle and have a redesigned version being sent to me. We will see.

3.) Air bags have also been installed, these will work for now until I can combine the new leaf additions.

4.) Surprisingly before the bags were filled, the rear only dropped about 3" from stock height. All of us were like "Wtf" cause the supposed weight of the Khaya basic is 400kg (880lbs). See the picture below, the install jacks are raised and are holding none of the weight...

5.) Trip home was 180 miles from AVO's shop. Half of that is interstate and the other half was either mountain roads (sometimes 7% grade) and winding up and down hills on back roads. I can't comment on emergency maneuvers, but the truck basically acted like nothing was installed in the rear. Very very surprising. I also only dropped about 1 MPG in fuel efficiency, not sure how it did so well.

6.) Install took 2 days for everything (some other accessories not pictured) Really speaks to the attention to detail of AVO. I'll be going back to them in the future for a Dickenson furnace install and some other items.

I will update further after I get some rest.

Wow!

 

[OFC Ranger]

Unintended consequences.... Gonna have to re-build me some new doors.

At least the process was easy enough. Mainly had to undo the cross beam, move it up, reinstall, and cut the extra out. At the end of the day she is back under protective cover.

I'll go back tomorrow and finish trimming out the extra so I can install new 4x4 beams.

 

[airline tech]

So, did you hit the door with the new rig?
Hopefully no damage to the bed rig after all you went through to get it.
Ironically when I saw the pic - my first thought was - Overhangs in Drive Throughs will possibly be an issue.

Had a co-worker who bought a house - signed the paperwork and his first trip to the house with a load of his stuff, pulled into the garage and hit the door opener bar that hangs down and attaches to the door - putting a crease in the roof of his truck, so I assume that he was the first owner in the house with a truck.

 

[OFC Ranger]

So, did you hit the door with the new rig?
Hopefully no damage to the bed rig after all you went through to get it.
Ironically when I saw the pic - my first thought was - Overhangs in Drive Throughs will possibly be an issue.

No no no. I knew before hand I was going to have to open it up once they had to install a spacer frame (added about +6" to over all height). I also wanted to account for future rigid solar panel installation. So I just opened up all the way another 12" just to make sure.

I think I want to try building some accordion style doors this time instead of the sliding barn ones I had. lol RIP to my old doors.

 

[ppfd]

You leaving that on year round Jack?

Any transmission issues with the truck? Girlfriends dad has a 2021 Colorado and the transmission fell out
He was a week out of warranty and always bought an extended warranty, except this time.

GM to his shock and amazement covered 90% of a quoted $7k transmission.

 

[awd.nv]

No no no. I knew before hand I was going to have to open it up once they had to install a spacer frame (added about +6" to over all height). I also wanted to account for future rigid solar panel installation. So I just opened up all the way another 12" just to make sure.

I think I want to try building some accordion style doors this time instead of the sliding barn ones I had. lol RIP to my old doors.

Look, the ZR2 is cool n all but that garage I am jealous about!!!!

 

[OFC Ranger]

Well finally got around to re-installing some roof boxes and gave it a bath. Now I am dealing with some trailer rear light gremlins I've been troubleshooting most of the day.

 

[bsr956]

Looks great! How close are you to a test run?

 

[OFC Ranger]

Looks great! How close are you to a test run?

We are headed up to Black Rock mountains end of November.

 

[OFC Ranger]

Power station is on the way. I opted to find a discontinued (as of this year) Bluetti AC200 MAX. The big draw for me is it has a 30A DC screw on aviation plug. Most stuff now a days comes with a 10A cigarette lighter plug style. That and there seems to be a big push to the portable stations going for 48V connections.

Going to build a contained cabinet for it to the right of the entrance door and then I have an old 8" Onn tablet I am going to mount to run the app for monitoring. I will also use my NOCO shore power plug to hardwire into so I can charge it in the garage as needed, or if I am somewhere with shore power.

I think these larger expandable stations are the future of off-grid electrical because they take all the misc bits and pieces that take up a lot more space and condense them into a total package.

Will work on getting some solar panels a bit down the road, this unit can be configured for 900W max input from solar.

 

[OFC Ranger]

Project this weekend; install the new flooring so I can start mapping out the interior build.

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