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Will You take a new truck off road?

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GatorMike

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I have fallen in love with 2023 colorado ZR2 Desert Boss.
I would get that trim for the looks.
But.. I honestly can't see myself paying 65,000 for a new truck and taking it off road.
This would be my daily driver and 65K is all the money in the world to me right now.

What are some opinions....
 
#3 ·
What is your concern about taking it off road? I've been an off-road enthusiast since the beginning of time, the key is knowing what the limits are and taking it slow while you get used to what the vehicle is capable of.

Every 4WD vehicle we've owned has gone off-road shortly after purchase to play around and test the capabilities. Just use common sense.
 
#4 ·
I took my 22 ZR2 off-road after a month of having it. I don't go crazy on it as it sees slow speed trails and beach use. If I lived in a more mountainous area it would be off-road even more frequently.

The great thing about the ZR2, IMO, is it's great on and off-road. As a DD it's great. Handles well for a truck.

Some people are hard to their toys and that's fine. I take a much more controlled, slow approach when off-roading.
 
#5 ·
Was out on my dirt bike a couple weeks ago and saw some modified Jeeps doing their thing crossing this river. I might stop short of following these folks with a new ZR2. I had my lunch and watched a conga line of about 15 lifted trucks on large tires come through, they all made it!
 

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#6 ·
Look folks can so as they please. If you want to jump it and risk bending a frame go for it. If all some want to do is jump a curb at the mall that is just fine too.

Just enjoy your trucks the way you like and let others do the same.

Trucks today are everything from general transportation to custom hot rods. They can be raced bogged or pampered and that is all fine. Thought I do not understand the lights in the fender wells but hell more power to em as most are younger kids that have nothing else to fix up today than a roached out Honda.

It is tough being a kid into cars today. Not much to chose from anymore.
 
#7 ·
I have everyone beat, I've posted about this before.
I drove several hours from my home in Pittsburgh, Pa to Columbus, Ohio to pick up my new 17 ZR2 (It was the closest place that had one, they were hard to find back then).
Had the paperwork done at noon and then drove several hundred more miles, and got to Silver Lake Michigan at 10 PM.
Where at 8AM the next morning (20 hours after buying it), I was beating the crap out of it on the dunes.

Gently though! :) I have been off-roading, mud-bogging and riding on sand dunes since the late 70s, so I know how to take care of my equipment while beating on it!
 
#8 ·
gregg6668 said:
I have everyone beat, I've posted about this before.
I drove several hours from my home in Pittsburgh, Pa to Columbus, Ohio to pick up my new 17 ZR2 (It was the closest place that had one, they were hard to find back then).
Had the paperwork done at noon and then drove several hundred more miles, and got to Silver Lake Michigan at 10 PM.
Where at 8AM the next morning (20 hours after buying it), I was beating the crap out of it on the dunes.

Gently though! :) I have been off-roading, mud-bogging and riding on sand dunes since the late 70s, so I know how to take care of my equipment while beating on it!
Click to expand...
hahah that's awesome. Just curious but how has your truck held up to the off-roading you put it through? Rattles?
 
#10 ·
I bought my truck ~8 hours away from home. Stopped at a hotel halfway, since it was getting late. Then proceeded to meet up with friends to go wheeling and camping for the following couple days. All before I made it home. ~600 miles (~100 miles of dirt) on her when I pulled into the garage for the first time.
 
#11 ·
The purpose of every vehicle I have bought is to get me to my hunting and fishing spots. From my New 1974 Datsun pickup to the ZR2 I have now. Every vehicle has gotten better in about every way, and yes, more expensive.
But I do take care of them also..
I had just bought my truck an was hoping the toneau cover would arrive before i went elk hunting in Colorado.

I do not "off-road" but drive through pastures, fields and the main thing is wash board roads. In which the ZR2 excels in.

I orded a vehicle, I picked it up on a Friday when the guy was finishing waxing it. I took it goose hunting the next morning after we had several inch of rain, it was covered with mud. not just a little mud either
 
#12 · (Edited)
Desert Boss, AT4X and Day 1 Editions are going to mall crawls exclusively.

You chose the right one. đź’©

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In all seriousness, people pay way more and destroy vehicles on paved roads and tracks. You got a truck, let 'er breathe. Explore. You have a spare tire, be safe and pack accordingly. Otherwise, you could probably save some serious money by getting a Maverick or a Ridgeline. I'm in the category of where ever I go, the car wash is on the list on the way back and you'd never know some of the things I do in my truck by how clean it is on a 90% basis. You don't have to destroy it because "It's a truck"... but why spend $65k for a bunch of bolt on crap you are never going to use. Not the biggest brain move. Get a trail boss or a Z71, or one of those cute little Subaru's with the beds in the back.
 
#14 ·
I totally understand what you are saying and $65,000 is A LOT of money for any kind of vehicle, in my opinion. You should enjoy your truck the way that pleases you. I’ve seen new trucks with scratches and dents in almost every body panel and the owners quite proud of each and every one of them. I’ve also seen trucks with more chrome under them than I’ve ever had on the top of mine. To each his own. You can enjoy your truck off-road without beating the hell out of it. You will be amazed the satisfaction you can get out of navigating a mild trail or cruising the beach. Just take it easy and NEVER drive through salt water like on the commercials! Common sense is the key. A member on here said it best, I think it was Tom S, off-roading is more of a ballet than a break dance. Very well put, and very true.
 
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#15 ·
My approach is simple - do you own it or does it own you?

I also try to remember something my Dad told me about going off-road. He said there’s a big difference between wanting to get somewhere and needing to get somewhere.

I try to strike a balance between my approach and my father’s advice.
 
#16 ·
I'm still breaking in my engine (not even 3000km on the truck yet), but I've already been hauling stuff...not trailering yet, but I think it is just about ready. Conditions here are not quite ripe for off-roading yet (I try for minimal impact, just like my mountain biking and things are in the spring melt / bog range right now), but I'm ready to do some getting dirty when the opportunity presents. I've only got the stock rubber on it, so I know it will be on the mild side for now, but I am looking forward to getting my truck properly christened in the dirt before the white stuff returns again in the fall ;)
 
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#17 ·
I'm not an off-road guy at all. It is just nothing that interests me, but I do have friends that love it. Mine stays spotless and on paved roads only.
Why do I buy 4WD Colly's? So I can tow them behind my motorhome!
 
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#18 ·
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#19 ·
I think I was just past break-in, 1500 miles or so, when I first took it off road, although I took it easy. Just past 3,000 miles I had KO2's, AEV engine, trans, transfer case skid plates, Rago shock skids.. took it off road on some of the harder stuff. Rubbed the whole passenger side down with a tree, luckily a smaller one that left some barely noticeable dents.
 
#20 ·
Without cheating, I challenge anyone to guess how many miles are on my truck and how much off-roading I've done with it. If someone were local I'd even invite them to crawl underneath if they thought it would help with their answer.

The punchline is that going "off road" isn't something that hurts vehicles if you drive them reasonably, keep them clean, and do proper maintenance. I'm 100% certain there are trucks that are the same age and miles as my truck that are in much worse condition and they've never been off pavement.

People should enjoy their vehicles, not pamper them so the next owner gets a pristine vehicle that the previous owner was scared to use the way they wanted. I see/hear so many people talking about how they keep their vehicle clean, covered in the garage, never drive it because they don't want to "hurt the value" or whatever...and I just don't get it. If you're not going to USE the vehicle then why buy it? It's not art. It's not going up in value just sitting there being unused. You paid/are paying for it, use it. Letting it sit (Not that the OP would just let it sit) is worse for it than driving it.

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