Chevrolet Avalanche Owners -- Do you like your truck?

[Sinus211]

I use the word "truck" with some hesitation here, but it basically qualifies

Here's the thing. My F-150 tried to kill me yesterday and after everything that truck has put me through, I'm done. Selling that death trap and taking a loss. Don't care. Done. So I'm in the market for a crew cab pickup, with leather interior, 4x4, and a short truck bed for under $20k preferably.

I've been scouring craigslist and I keep coming back to the Chevy Avalanche. I know this is not really a "truck" but it has a basic truck bed that I can toss shit in without worrying about messing up the cargo area of an SUV. And to be honest, this will basically be family (wife/kid/dog) transport and a grocery getter. Plus I'm a sucker for a nice interior and the Avalanche basically has a Yukon Denali interior.

I'm mostly looking for opinions from Avalanche owners (JP/Miko) and mechanics who have worked with them. What's good? What sucks? Major issues with engine/transmission? 5.3 or spend the extra to get the 6.0?

Thanks in advance!

[zombie66]

DONT DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!

[AR15L]

If you must...
http://carsort.com/compare/Chevrolet-Avalanche-vs-Honda-Ridgeline
http://www.thecarconnection.com/car-compare-results/chevrolet_avalanche_2012-vs-honda_ridgeline_2012

[Sinus211]

Still in the brainstorming process. Thanks for the links Rick!

[mcyclonegt]

Not a damn thing wrong with them. A suburban might be a better option. I sold my dodge and bought an excursion because I was tired of shit getting wet or worrying about it getting stolen. I have put so much crap in the back, it is basically a truck. But doubles as a school bus when family comes to town.

[Sinus211]

Not a damn thing wrong with them. A suburban might be a better option. I sold my dodge and bought an excursion because I was tired of shit getting wet or worrying about it getting stolen. I have put so much crap in the back, it is basically a truck. But doubles as a school bus when family comes to town.

I don't mind the idea of a Suburban or Yukon XL but I'm currently fixing up a small SUV for the wife, can't see much need for 2 SUV's in the driveway. I have a 1-ton work van for major hauling and big loads. My supercrew F-150 has been working great for us even with the 5.5' bed. It's just a huge piece of shit and I'm getting really tired of having to fix it. Not to mention total brake failure while driving because of a retarded little sensor even after all 4 corners have had calipers/pads/rotors/hoses replaced kind of puts that F-150 on the "fuck you, you're dead to me" list.

[Massivedesign]

I drive a 5.3 Tahoe, which is basically a filled in avalanche. Love it. 5.3 is a good motor as is the tranny.

Biggest downside to an avalanche is that the plastic trim fades pretty badly after a few years, making it look pretty torn up. But that's just cosmetic.

[Arisaka]

I had an early one. It was a,good,rig until ot hit 100k and then it just fell apart. However, the bed is,too narrow to haul a lot of things you would like to,haul

[Mediumrarechicken]

I drive a 5.3 Tahoe, which is basically a filled in avalanche. Love it. 5.3 is a good motor as is the tranny.

Biggest downside to an avalanche is that the plastic trim fades pretty badly after a few years, making it look pretty torn up. But that's just cosmetic.

303 aerospace protestant and that will never be a problem

[deadshot2]

Friend in Colorado bought an Avalance when they first came on the market. Was driving down the road one day when suddenly the divider between cab and bed decided to lower itself with a BLAM!!. He said he thought he'd been rear-ended by a huge truck it was so loud. That was an on-going problem he found out.

Sold it before he owned it a year.

[L_O_G]

I bought my '03 Z71 5.3l in 2005 from Good Chevrolet and it had just hit 16k miles. I wasn't a huge fan of the plastic cladding on the sides when I bought it, but after some back woods shooting, camping and hiking trips and the adventures in store parking lots with runaway carts I am now glad it has the cladding. It has saved my bacon numerous times.

12 years later, one rear ending, one side swipe, & now sitting right at 185k miles I'm still glad I bought it. I have beat this shit out of it, countless firewood, bark, gravel, dump trips, and long nasty drives all over the PNW. The only things I would have done different is I would have opted for one with leather and a sunroof. I couldn't pass up the deal I was getting on this, so I settled for the lesser interior trim package.

Pros:
Removable hard tonneau cover
Removable back window
Rear bed panel folds down along with the rear seats for a ton of cargo room
Tons of extra and hidden storage compartments

Cons:
New transmission at 110k miles
New fuel pump at 120k miles
Odometer fuse went tits up, factory recall fixed that

I will be in the market next year for another rig at some point, and a newer version is definitely going to be considered.

Great rigs. Don't let the Nissan driving chubby guy who wears shits two sizes to small talk you out of it.

[Sinus211]

Thanks for the input guys!

I'd be looking at the newer body style without the plastic so fading wouldn't be an issue. I have a guy in the family that rebuilds transmissions so that also won't be much of an issue. And leather is a must have for me so I'll be looking at the higher trim packages.

Jp- how has it been past 100k? Lots of little things breaking or pretty reliable? Did the seals ever fail on your back wall or window?

[TechnoWeenie]

I drive a 5.3 Tahoe, which is basically a filled in avalanche. Love it. 5.3 is a good motor as is the tranny.

Biggest downside to an avalanche is that the plastic trim fades pretty badly after a few years, making it look pretty torn up. But that's just cosmetic.

I'd listen to Dan, he knows his trannies....

[das_napeth]

I drive a 5.3 Tahoe, which is basically a filled in avalanche. Love it. 5.3 is a good motor as is the tranny.

Biggest downside to an avalanche is that the plastic trim fades pretty badly after a few years, making it look pretty torn up. But that's just cosmetic.

I'd listen to Dan, he knows his trannies....

He might have learned, I don't see Holly on WaGuns...

[clay]

Thanks for the input guys!

I'd be looking at the newer body style without the plastic so fading wouldn't be an issue. I have a guy in the family that rebuilds transmissions so that also won't be much of an issue. And leather is a must have for me so I'll be looking at the higher trim packages.

Jp- how has it been past 100k? Lots of little things breaking or pretty reliable? Did the seals ever fail on your back wall or window?

5.3 is a good engine. Mine was still running strong at 256k miles. The transmission died so i decided to do the 6.0 swap while it was apart.

The 6.0 definitely makes more power, but nothing wrong with the 5.3

Rear ends aren't very strong in the 1500's

Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk