Chevy Avalanche
 

How has them?
How are they for towing?
Comfort level for long hauls?
Hill Climbing? Damn LOTO hills killed my tranny :(
How much will a 1500 tow?
How much better will a 2500 with hte 8.1 and Allison be then the 1500 6.0?

How has the best deal on one??

my friends dad has one 2500/8.1 does doe any real towing with it, rides just like a suburban. They are based on the sub's chasse. I have a 2500 sliverado with the 6.0 and does great for towing. But the 8.1 has more power and you only suffer like 1-2mpg difference. We drove 3.5hrs in his rode just fine compared to my 3/4 ton.

Need to change the look of the truck. Too much bolt on stuff hanging all over it.
Also, don't see an advantage to the "Switch" thing that they pushed on the TV ads.

"Switch"
 

Not sure of the TV thing, but I think it would be real usefull for hauling long stuff. In my home renovation I halled lots of 20 foot stuff (lumber tubing pipe interior trim phberglass car port stuff) in my old BURB with the back window roled down and slid to the dash. Cant do that with a regular short bed truck. Charlie

I have one with the North Face Package, it is more comfortable than the F150 (my opinon) on long halls. I go to on long hall several times a year and it is perrty comfortable for a truck. As for hulling it tows my Donzi 26 fine, no prblems on the hills or the ramps. As for the styling when I bought mine and there was an older couple (60's or so) at the dealer and they walked out the door just infront of me. I over heard the man say it was the uglist truck he has ever seen and that just brought a smile to my face. If you like different this is it.:D :D :D

My dad has a 1500 Avalanche and loves it. Pulls a 29 Outlaw with it and it does great for short pulls on the level roads around here. No problem running 70+ on the interstate. I'm not crazy about the plastic but it is practical. Don't have to worry about door dings and there is some built in storage in the bed. I'm thinking about getting one as my next truck.

Well, Its funny that everyone thinks its ugly, Chevy obviously loves the amount sold cause the new silverado looks just like it. I to thought it was ugly too but no door dings. I sold chevy for 4 years and owned every thing they have to offer and will be keeping this one. Its all around great I only tow about 6500lbs and have no problem. If you wait just little longer you will be able to get duramax in the 2500. If you want a diesel if not the 6.0 or 8.1 are both great motors. Buy one youll enjoy it. Craig

I've got a 2500 with the 8.1L and 3.73 rear end, good for 10,100 towing. I'm pulling a Formula 272 on a triple axle steel trailer that comes in around 9,000#. Compared to my previous truck, a 99 Tahoe, it tows great. The Tahoe used to really squat down with the boat on the hitch and I don't get any of that now. I was over 2000# over my rating with the Tahoe though. Mileage blows, 11-13 in the city, 14-15 on the highway. It does have a 37 gallon tank though, so I was able to drive from Tennessee to Detroit on a tankful. The only problem I've had was that my parking brake cable broke, not good when you're launching and retrieving.

Styling is whatever you think of it. I think they messed up by squaring off the wheelwells and putting the extra detail on the plastic cladding. I've never hit any paint when opening my door close to any car or truck yet though, so it is functional. I like the look, and have gotten a lot of compliments on it, even from some in the Buick demographic. I've seen the pictures of the new "uncladded" version and don't like it. It's way to plain, but they did round off the wheelwells. I've got this one for another 15 months, but if they're running any good specials on them when I turn it in, I'd probably get another.

Thanks guys for the input
I have too at times thought it is fugly :(

BUt when I start to look more into it I like the features it has for me
I have had 3 suburbans and one truck with this boat :)
I like the security of the lockable bed.
I only have the suburban for the storage and security of hte back end. NOt to mention the added wheel base.
As someone mentinoed the switches inside I feel would work great for me
I not always need something long to haul, but even at times with the suburban I am unable to.
Plus this will allow me room to put in a snowmobile or atv in the future.
Like another post was stating, maybe I will just wait and hopld out for the deisel. Even though I am not a deisel person at all.
Never owned one and hate the smell of them :(

Thanks again adn keep the comparisons coming
I really like the color of the one posted, not to mention the lack of plastic. I like the no door dig idea, but it owuld be better if all the plastic was not gray

Sold one to a guy who put a 3" lift and 35" tires on it. That ended up being the first one I could look at without retching. Looked plenty cool. Trans went at 18,000 miles (had 3,000 on it when he bought it from me). 1/2-ton with 5.3 V8. If you plan to run a 1/2 ton, then get a BIG trans cooler for it...

I have seen a few that have had the cladding painted. The dealer I bought mine from said they will paint it for something like 1K or so. They use a special paint that adheres well to the plastic and it really looks good. If I get another one, I'd probably buy it and paint the plastic.

Here's some pics of one

http://camaroz28.cardomain.com/id/superair01

Avalanche's.....the ugliest thing to roll down the pike. Nothing but an air hauler for trucker wannabe's. Especially the Cadillac version

That is pretty cool with the plastic painted. Heck, in three years I want another tow vehicle because I hope to move up in size of boat, 33' range.

I think I would consider the Avalanch w/diesel Allison combo having seen the painted plastic. Looks nice!:)

I just bought our second 2002 2500 crew cab, diesel/allison combo. I like the way the Avalanche looks and would have bought one with the Diesel package. The ride of the 3/4 ton package is awesomeas well as the built in storage compartments and storage lid.:D

Dude, if I were a "trucker wannabe", I'd have bought a 2500 pickup. And then I'd put a couple Calvin pissing on the Ford logo stickers on the window and called it good. You make it sound like anyone who isn't hauling a bed full of stuff around everyday is just a poser. Well, I carry stuff around in the back and I pull a boat. I don't wannabe a trucker, I just need something to pull my boat around with. It makes for a practical daily driver, and it doesn't look like everything else out on the road. It's not for everybody, that's for sure...

The painted version looks cool! when can you get the un-clad?Has GM got any good leases on them?????

I bought a 2500 (8.1/4spd Auto) in July. Overall, I really like the truck, a lot. It just got out of the shop on Friday though. The tranny had the valve body replaced. Not sure why the tranny was having problems. I have about 5000 miles on it, and it tows my 26' Sonic on the trailer, full of fuel, and 7000+ pounds, just fine. (85+ mph no sweat.) There is no squat in the rear end, and 1 MILLION TIMES better towing than my 1996 2dr 4wd Tahoe. The 2500 AV rides very smooth.

The 6.0 is not available in the AV. Neither is the Duramax, or the Allison. The Duramax must have the ZF 6spd, or the Allison tranny, and the neither tranny will fit in the (Suburban) frame rails. The 6.0 is available in the Cadillac (Escalade EXT). I drove it, and did not like it. Its powerband is very high, which is not good for towing.

My Brother-in-law has the exact same truck I do. He loves his, and has had it since January, with relatively no problems. He had a front shock tower that cracked, but was also replaced under warranty.

I would highly recommend the truck. The WBH model (less body cladding) is not available yet. You should see it around March or so from what I am told. The 2003s also have DARKER plastic. I am not sure why they did that. but it looks awesome on a black truck. You can tell a difference when you have a 2002 and a 2003 side by side.

Do not ask about gas mileage. It is bad; however, if you have any other questions, please shoot them my way.

"Avalanche's.....the ugliest thing to roll down the pike. Nothing but an air hauler for trucker wannabe's. Especially the Cadillac version"

Here is what I say to that..

"As for the styling when I bought mine and there was an older couple (60's or so) at the dealer and they walked out the door just infront of me. I over heard the man say it was the uglist truck he has ever seen and that just brought a smile to my face. If you like different this is it. "

:D :D :D

You like it. You pay for it. You enjoy it. Meets your needs. Who gives a chit what others say Bill272. In my opinion, being different is what is cool.

"Avalanche's.....the ugliest thing to roll down the pike"

I guess you haven't seen a Aztec:p

The painted version doesn't look too bad I'm sure the black is helping it.:cool:

btw... I have the 8.1/4spd Auto/4.10 rear end.

I also compared the 2003 AV with the 2003 Silverado; front end wise. They are NOT EXACTLY the same. The grill is bigger on the Avalanche. You have to look close, and/or go with a tape measure. It looks as though the uncladded version is the same as the new Silverado. Expect the Suburban and Tahoe to be next.

I have driven an Avalanche for a long distance (not towing) and really liked it.
This thread makes me LOL cause I work for Chevy Advertising and hear these brands all day long.....
However, i enjoy reading peoples opinions...etc. It's like an online focus group :)

Cmon guys are true love is boats, lets remember we are all friends here i understand some people are very passionate about what they drive but its obvious he wants to know both good and bad but you dont have to put in the sarcastic, If he wanted to buy a truck he would buy a truck, lets keep it friendly. I'm sure you wouldnt want someone to say that you wanna have a fast , boat but i see you you have that piece of !@#$%. Craig

Well put skaterize. Obviously, MNFastBoat has a liking to the styling, otherwise he would not be asking. He just wanted to know capabilities.

MNFastBoat... send a PM to bsag, (Brett Dean), he will walk you through the entire process, and take very good care of you.

Hugh

I would hold out for the diesel I was'nt a disel person untell now for towing your boat I'm telling you it would be the cats meow.

If your interested you could tow your boat around town whith my tuck some afternoon and you will see what I mean for towing disel is ware it's at.:)

Hey guy's,Long time no post from me.But when I came on and seen and Avalanche post I couldn't resist.I bought mine almost one year to the date.And I have to say I absolutly love it.It works awesome on the highways and rides like a gem.Motortrend even said it rode better than a Caddy.There just over priced wannabe trucks anyway. The only thing that pissed me off the most is I email'd Chevy about a year before this truck came out.I actually saw a drawing from a friend who's buddy designed the truck.Thats when I got intetested.I kept my eye on it from then on and knew I wanted it.Finally it got released at the auto show and fell in love with it even more.Right after I found out it was going into production I emailed them and asked if they were going to make it in Yellow.I wanted it in yellow so bad.They said no imediate plans for yellow then or in the future.And what do they offer this coming January ??? North Face edition in yellow.Looks amazing with the darker cladding.As for the new Av's,they look terrilbe without,To me thats what distinguishes this truck from others. I also wish I could have got the Duramax. But other than that.I wouldn't trade this truck for anything (unless I could afford and H2) Talk to you later guys.

Hey guy's,Long time no post from me.But when I came on and seen and Avalanche post I couldn't resist.I bought mine almost one year to the date.And I have to say I absolutly love it.It works awesome on the highways and rides like a gem.Motortrend even said it rode better than a Caddy.There just over priced wannabe trucks anyway. The only thing that pissed me off the most is I email'd Chevy about a year before this truck came out.I actually saw a drawing from a friend who's buddy designed the truck.Thats when I got intetested.I kept my eye on it from then on and knew I wanted it.Finally it got released at the auto show and fell in love with it even more.Right after I found out it was going into production I emailed them and asked if they were going to make it in Yellow.I wanted it in yellow so bad.They said no imediate plans for yellow then or in the future.And what do they offer this coming January ??? North Face edition in yellow.Looks amazing with the darker cladding.As for the new Av's,they look terrilbe without,To me thats what distinguishes this truck from others. I also wish I could have got the Duramax. But other than that.I wouldn't trade this truck for anything (unless I could afford and H2) Talk to you later guys.

I hear they call it an Avalanche because it looks like a bunch of crap just fell on it.

Nice SD, nice post. :rolleyes:

I l love mine. Just have the 5.3 but I only tow a 24'. Seems to have more power than my extended cab did. Works good w/kids and rides alot better than the extended cab. My buddy has the 8.1 he will be looking to get rid of he is going to a Hummer. When he bought he wanted something different but there is a bunch around now. My town has about 2000 people and there are 8 Avalanches that I know of.