| Author | Message | ||
     Not_purple_s2 |
So I'm doing an extended test drive on a 07 Avalanche LT. On the ride home I'm all but sold. It rides like a plush SUV has a aggressive blacked-out look and averaged 19.9mpg through town and on the highway back, thanks to displacement-on-demand. It's in great shape other than a crack in the windshield which the dealership has agreed to replace. I've been less than pleased with my '08 Raider and need something comfortable enough to take the better-half to the track and mountains. The Raider got decent mpg but was weak, sparse, and not very comfortable for long hauls. And we have quickly run out of room in it on track and buelltoberfest trips. But the dealership wants my Raider and is offering an excellent "private sale" price for trade in. So this would be a great opportunity to unload it. The avalanche is the best truck/suv they have in my price range. I'm basically taking on extra miles 80K vs the Raider's 40K but getting a heck of a lot more truck. The plan will be to get a trailer for hauling the bikes. But I'm pretty certain I can get one bike in the back when it's just me riding on the track. Anyone have an Avy? Ever hauled your Buell in it? | ||
| 2008xb12scg |
will a bike fit in there? I have a nieghbor who has one I thought it looked really small in the back. | ||
| Americanmadexb |
I have an 03' now for about 4 years. I love it. Its tons of different uses. I WISH the 03's got 19mpg. I average 15. Yes you can haul a buell or quad in the back. You will have to leave the tailgate down though. I drove round trip 900 miles with my 1125r in the back..  Doesn't show much here, thought i had a better pic.. | ||
| Not_purple_s2 |
Checking the Avalanch Forums reveals that a modern sportbike can fit with the tailgate down. One guy even claims to have fit to 600's in the back but it took an hour and some tools (no specifics) I think I'll try rolling the 1125CR in there tomorrow just to check, but it should be no problem. If it will fit then the others will fit no problem.  I don't think I'd ever try to fit two in there, it's not very wide. | ||
| Scottykrein |
I love mine. I wouldn't drive anything else. It's a tank in the snow, and it's great on long trips. | ||
| Fahren |
Most of the "small" pickups have become bigger over the years. Tacoma's got bigger in 2005:  They ride like SUV's, or at least, mine does, in terms of comfort and convenience. The 5' bed is a limitation, for sure, when it comes to hauling stuff like lumber, but it beats my old Accord hatchback :-) | ||
| Xb9er |
The Avalanche is a great truck. They are super comfortable. My buddies dad got one when they 1st came out and we've taken it very trip down to hatfield/mccoy for our ATV trips and it pulls the trailer + 4 quads very nicely through the lower WV mountains. Before I bought my new truck last month I was actually thinking long and hard about an avalanche. | ||
| Velocity |
I have one, haul many bikes with it. Its an 02. Switched from a full size pickup. I will never go back. From hauling people to moving buddies stuff it works for me. Scott | ||
| Sayitaintso |
I bought mine in '01 when they first came out and have wanted to get rid of it since '02. There hasn't been anything wrong with it and its done what I needed without complaint for 10 years now. I bought one b/c with 2 growing kids I needed a full back seat and super crew trucks were few and far between..... hell they didn't even offer them in the 1500 or F150 class trucks back then. It is comfortable, both in the the front and in back seats. I can tow my boat or camper easily and dont have to worry about stopping the weight of whatever I'm towing. Based on how good its been to me I know I should love it but there is just one thing I cant get past..... it aint a truck. It seem like every time I turn around I'm having to borrow a trailer from a buddy b/c the "suedo bed" is either too small or not suitable for the loose dirt/mulch/sand I need to haul. One other thing....it continually reminds me of my grandfathers old ElCamino. It kinda looks like a truck but it sure as hell aint one. | ||
| 86129squids |
Say- +1. Pardon me for sayin so, I've always thought they were kinda lame. At least the ElCamino had a fullsize truck bed... A king-cab or a crew-cab TRUCK is where it's at! My daily driver is a '92 Nissan king-cab, 4banger/2WD, absolutely the BEST, MOST RELIABLE vehicle I've ever owned. Planning on driving it until the wheels fall off, which I've no indication of that happening AT ALL. It'll probably outlast me! | ||
| Sayitaintso |
To me they are Tahoe's without a roof over the cargo area. If you go into it thinking of it as an SUV that allows you to carry tall things in the back.... you'll be happy with it | ||
| Pwnzor |
I've never been a fan of the body style, but it is my understanding that they are a very capable offroad vehicle. I'm with Squiddy on this one, long bed super cab trux rule.  | ||
| Dfishman |
You mean a "taint"........................................... ..............................................Tain t a car or a truck.  | ||
| Court |
I'm loving that picture of the Tacoma . . having spent a couple years zooming around with a white S2 and a Parkway Blue S1 in the back of an F-250. | ||
| Not_purple_s2 |
Did the deal last night. My ideal of a truck is a single cab short bed, like my old chevy. And if it were just me that would be what I'd get. However, the need to carry a passenger for 5-8hr trips in comfort with quite a bit of luggage and gear excludes that option. I think I'm going to be happy with it. I'll get some pics up soon. | ||
| Sayitaintso |
Good for you, I hope it works out well for you. Like I said, mine has been a very reliable vehicle and done most everything that I needed for ten years now. My kids and wife have been very happy with the comfort and are very glad I didn't get a truck with a supercrew cab. As long as a person knows what they are getting when going into the purchase an Avalanche is a great vehicle. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
I wish I could afford a full size super crew cab truck. Right now, I have a 1990 Toyota Pickup with a two seat box of a tiny cab and a 2007 Honda Fit for passenger duties. If I could afford to, I would love to swap both out for a full size monstah truck. Everything is a compromise, you know? | ||
| Not_purple_s2 |
I had to drive a fullsize ram super cab long bed truck for a job in the past. I didn't like driving that monster around all the time. The Avy is big but not too big. It's basically an SUV that can haul a bike. I'm also looking forward to warm weather so I can let down the mid gate and let my dogs ride in the back. | ||
| Pkman |
Enjoy your new Avy! From my trip to Colorado last summer:  | ||
| Socoken |
My 02 Avy has 160k miles on it and is bulletproof. When I was contracting, I could haul 12ft sheets of drywall, and then take the crew to lunch. I love everything about my avalanche, and the only way I would get rid of it is to get another one. Great power, tons of locking storage compartments, including the bed, smooth as silk ride, with great off road capabilities. I drive mine through snow and mud, mostly for hunting. On snowy roads, you cant beat it. If you are going somewhere you might be camping, just leave the panels on and the gate up, and fold down the back seat. Its the most useful truck I have ever owned. Also, chevyavalanchefanclub is an incredible resource when it comes to tech or customizing an avalanche. Enjoy it! Ive never talked to an owner that didnt! | ||
| Firebolt32 |
Great looking trucks...but the plastic around the rear window and bed doesn't last long due to the sun. I see a lot of them in Florida with faded plastics. | ||
| Crackhead |
What do you need the pick up for? A trailer is a lot easier on the back for loading building supplies and bikes then any pickup bed. If you are thinking about doing any camping at the track, check out http://www.mikenchell.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=4 2 It has examples of Cargo Trailer conversions for hauling and camping in. | ||
| Preybird1 |
Only problem with the avalanche is the rear e-brake design. If you have one you will find out soon enough. Do not forget to release the e-brake before moving the truck or the the brake shoe will shift (rotate) just a little and wear out to soon. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
+1 for trailer....camper... hauler....base camp http://www.sylvansport.com/ | ||
| Court |
What's the difference between an Avalanche and a F-150 CrewCab with a short bed? I have a killer deal available on one with an Ecoboost. | ||
| Americanmadexb |
i can explain, but i will let this guy do it... kinda... lol | ||
| Xbrad9r |
to any avalanche owner (especially older models) if you have the really faded areas on your plastic "cladding", I used to work at a Chevy dealership and the stuff we used to make all the black/gray moulded parts of the truck look brand new is called "Armor-dillo TS1" and here is their website...http://shop.armordillots1.com/ their stuff works wonderfully and makes the plastic look better than the new truck's plastic parts that came in from the factory if you follow the directions 100% and take your time and do it right. | ||
| Blk_uly |
A friend of mine has one and he complains that it eats brakes too fast. have any of you guys noticed this on your avalanches? | ||
| Americanmadexb |
What i meant to say is, i only put around 10-12k a year and i change them every other year. So i get around 20-24k on a set of front brakes. Last time i changed them they where only half gone so i could have went longer. (Message edited by americanmadexb on January 29, 2011) | ||
| Socoken |
I get about 50k out of front brakes, and Ive olny changed the rears once since I bought my truck, but they last longer than the fronts. Complaints- The bed is only 49" wide, so parking an ATV in there is not doable. Also, sheets of plywood must be laid down on the bottom of the bed, and will not fit through the top, when laid flat. Id rather take the last panel out and leave my gate up when hauling plywood, but thats a no no, as the tracks under the panels make the opening too narrow. Also, when the rear seat is folded down, the front seats must be moved forward. Not a big deal, just a minor inconvenience. The cargo boxes over the rear fenders are deceptively huge. I lose things in there sometimes. | ||
| Crackhead |
court, The 4 door or the 2 door? | ||
| Court |
I've got the 4 door "SuperCab" now . . it's the one with the small back seat and the small suicide doors. Kinda looking. Have, what could be a killer opportunity to special order one of the first of the EcoBoost F-150's. Not entirely sure I need the pickup bed anymore and exploring options. I've put together a list of pros and cons for the 3 options I'm considering. |
