Another MIB fan.........Nice turck by the way....

 

You won't have a problem. I just got back and if my 09 Mariner can do it, your Suburban will have no problem. Aired down I probably have 8" of ground clearance, and at times I was pushing some sand, I never got stuck.

 

When I look at the pictures I think the running boards and air dam give the illusion of low clearance.

Guess I will air down and keep some beer handy for helpers.

 

also it helps to carry your own tow strap and have it pre-rigged just in case you need help

 

i've got the same truck (only with the 20" wheels/tires) and it plows quite a bit. i installed the curt C31012 front hitch to accept a surf mate rack. havent gotten stuck yet because of the plowing, but it could happen. also, if it's windy, be sure to cover the reels with something (like crown royal bags) because sand will be blowing everywhere (again, because of the plowing).

 

I have a Z-71 suburban now and am looking to updating to a newer model soon, after having driven most of the outer banks beaches I have concluded after my fair share of being stuck that I could have used another 3 inches of clearance. I have a front rack on the car and like most have said it sometimes catches a high pile of sand and kicks it up.

 

That front air dam is held on by 6 or 8 screws if I'm not mistaken...You could always remove it before heading to the beach to give you an additional 3 or so inches.

If you add a front hitch to that baby, I can't see howit wouldn't leave a ditch in the sand behind the truck! May want to look at sticking with the basket on the back and maybe getting extender so you can still open the hatch.

Only reason I have stuck with the old body style is because I am afraid the new style will plow all the way to the point and back!

 

Update post Hatteras trip:

I knew my truck rode low when I put on the hitch under the front of my Tahoe. Over the weeks prior to my trip I have been feeling the curbs and parking lot bumpers all over Guilford County.

All went OK on Hatteras with an occasional spray of sand when the front plowed in the deep ruts. I also noticed a new rut in the sand behind me where the neck dipped into the sand. My only MAJOR hiccup came when I took the ferry to Ocracoke. On the way off the ferry going to O'cock I drug for a brief second on the ramp from ferry to dock, no biggie. When we returned to Hatteras I was making a little steam behind the traffic line when "WHAM!" my Tahoe stopped dead in it's tracks. To my extreme embarrassment (and lots of gawks and wide eyes from the ferry staff) my hitch or rack had hung and I had to back up and angle the truck to get it to go off. My wife claims that I caused her whiplash. I am also fortunate that I was the last person in my line so I had no rear enders.

When I got around to taking my basket off this morning I noticed that the hitch was bent down about 1 1/2". :--| So, lesson learned. Be very cautious and consider a little lift kit.

 

I knew my truck rode low when I put on the hitch under the front of my Tahoe. Over the weeks prior to my trip I have been feeling the curbs and parking lot bumpers all over Guilford County.

All went OK on Hatteras with an occasional spray of sand when the front plowed in the deep ruts. I also noticed a new rut in the sand behind me where the neck dipped into the sand. My only MAJOR hiccup came when I took the ferry to Ocracoke. On the way off the ferry going to O'cock I drug for a brief second on the ramp from ferry to dock, no biggie. When we returned to Hatteras I was making a little steam behind the traffic line when "WHAM!" my Tahoe stopped dead in it's tracks. To my extreme embarrassment (and lots of gawks and wide eyes from the ferry staff) my hitch or rack had hung and I had to back up and angle the truck to get it to go off. My wife claims that I caused her whiplash. I am also fortunate that I was the last person in my line so I had no rear enders.

When I got around to taking my basket off this morning I noticed that the hitch was bent down about 1 1/2". :--| So, lesson learned. Be very cautious and consider a little lift kit.

Right there with you - you'll learn to not pull into parking spots all the way, and take it a little slower, especially when boarding the ferries.

 

Just a note.

Looks like you may need to take a look at your rod butts while they are in the rack. From the pic. they looks to be dragging the sand.

 

Optical illusion.... they checked out fine.

 

07 Subourbon

My 07 burb z71 has been a great beach machine. Portsmouth, Ocracoke, Carova, Ft Fisher, Topsail never got stuck. ...Well just one time a little but it was night and I got into a soft drift that I couldn't see - just needed a quick little tug to get thru but that's why we drive in pairs.
Put my rack on the back with rodholders on the very back. That way the window will clear, and even the tailgate will lift and clear the rods if the cooler is off.
For longer rods, I put a little clip thru the bottom of the pipes to keep em high.
Never had ground clearance problems but I wouldn't mind a little lift. I have D range tires normally run at 50 so I air to about 20.

 

Nice rear rack. Did you add the rod holders yourself or is that a complete set up? I recently got the same truck in black. It was hard to find one used. Apparently the Z71 is rare in the new body style. At least thats what a couple of different dealers told me. I have a black steel folding cargo rack on the back now with out the rod holders. Thanks for the info.

 

I've seen several z71 at dealers around here. Got this new in 07 and it's been a great truck. I like black too but live on a gravel road and the dust blends in better with the silver! One thing I do like is that you can monitor your tranny temp while driving in the sand.

The rack fits a 120q cooler perfect,+ a 5gal bucket, and room for spikes, and folding chairs behind the rod holders.

I've had the alum rack for a long time and just a couple years ago added rod holders.
Took pvc pipe (elec conduit cause I wanted gray) and U-bolts thru to hold em on tightly. Cut notches to hold the reels and keep em from swinging around, then dipped the end of pipe in a liquid plastic coating (i think from home depot, used to coat ends of pliers, etc.)

One of the best things i did for the rack was a couple of turnbuckles that go down to each chain loop on the receiver. Tighten down and the thing is solid - will not wobble, sway, or rattle at all.

 

Buffalo,

You may want to check into this leveling kit http://www.roughcountry.com/chevy_tahoe-yukon_leveling_kit.html. Got it for my 07 Suburban and got about 2 1/2 inches in the front. Looks great and took about an hour to install.

VA Slacker

 

Did any of you guys put a front mounted trailer hitch on your 07 Z71 tahoe or suburban? I was thinking of doing it. I called a shop today and they said it's not made, but I found it online. Also would I loose my front tow hooks? Thanks.

 

Someone here mentioned 20 inch wheels. I 'll be taking the wife's 07 Tahoe this yea instead of my trustworthy '95, 2 door Tahoe. This newer Tahoe has 275/55/20 tires. Has anybody out there aired these down? I'm a little concerned with less rubber from the rim to the outside diameter.

Thanks.

 

you deffinetly want to air down because those tires will sink you like an anchor. also a lelving kit might not be nessery if you still have a torsion bar suspension. if you do right under the truck where they hook to the frame you will see two 19mm bolts[one one each side] just tighten those bolts down and it will lift the front of the truck about 1 1/2 to 2 inches. just use a measuring tape and lower back down to original height after words. dont leave it lifted on factory torsion keys for a long time though cause the can snap under haevy load. if like the way it rides you can order after market keys from rough country lifts

 

OChunter, I installed a curt hitch for my 07 Sub a couple of months back. Not too difficult, just had to remove the bottom airdam. THe hard part was drilling the frame rail. Make sure to use gloves and a hammer drill with the handle up front or you will bloody your knuckles. I also installed a leveling kit from Rough Country (it was really inexpensive) that brought the front end up about 2 or so inches.

 

Put a hitch lift on it and the basket wont hit any more. My Jeep hitch was too low for my liking so I picked up one from HF and now it rides higher and has now problem in the soft deep stuff. Here's a pic of it on the Jeep.