Originally Posted by
purplezuk
Some quality walking shoes! With a brand new loaded up ifs 1/2 ton on oversized tires, your gonna need them. I guess if you stick to fire roads and oil leases you might be ok.
Anyways, looks like you are committed since you already have the Chevy. Rather than wasting your money on a lift kit for the stock garbage that's currently under your truck, take it to a reputable offroad shop in your area and have a solid axle conversion done to the front. Winches front and rear are a must, reciever mounted winches are often unaccessable when your stuck. Have at least a rear locker or selectable locker installed you'll be amazed at how useless a stock 4x4 system is. Also since new trucks are made out of pop cans, have some nerf bar/ running boards made that attach to the frame so that you protect the doors from trees and rocks.
My personal opinion: you bought a comfortable truck, not a survival truck. When the going gets tough, it will leave you. I don't consider myself a survivalist, but I know vehicles and offroading is in my blood.
Best truck to use for what your doing would be a 3/4 ton dodge or ford and age doesn't matter. Chevy quit building trucks around 1987 when they started installing car front suspension in them. For modern vehicles there are really only 3 options: dodge power wagon, ford raptor, jeep Rubicon. The power wagon being the top choice for what your doing. Comes lifted with tires, winch, lockers, etc.
My own survival vehicle won't hold all the gear, but I don't need roads so I can get to the most remote areas if need be.