Truck help, avalanche??
- Thread starter mat0485
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Yeah, avalanches come in 1500 or 2500 trim which gives you different motor options.
Start here
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Avalanche
Start here
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Avalanche
So second gen , good, no body cladding!
Drivetrain should be good, rust is your enemy if you buy one up here. I don’t know if any TCG people have one but plenty of guys have that generation go truck or suv with similar parts, frame or drivetrain that can chime in.
[MENTION=19]Yaj Yak[/MENTION] [MENTION=2449]ilikemtb999[/MENTION]
Drivetrain should be good, rust is your enemy if you buy one up here. I don’t know if any TCG people have one but plenty of guys have that generation go truck or suv with similar parts, frame or drivetrain that can chime in.
[MENTION=19]Yaj Yak[/MENTION] [MENTION=2449]ilikemtb999[/MENTION]
Got an 07 Tahoe. Runs and drives phenomenal. Just replaced a fuel pump, lines and upper/lower ball joints. The fuel pump still worked but the lines coming off it rusted through, same with a piece of the fuel line by the drivers door. Besides brakes, battery, front bearings, (typical wear items) it’s been a great truck to own. The gauge cluster went out but that was 150$ fixed for life. Those 2 winters we had a few years ago is when the issues associated with rust started popping up.
Personally, I find the Avalanche less useful than the Suburban, unless you plan on carrying a lot of tall objects that require an open area in back. The payload area is a little bit narrower than a regular pickup. So if you're needing the cargo area for wider things, this may not be the ticket.
The mid-gate is a nice, but kinda a novelty thing personally. And I recall on first gens, some people having sealing issues when putting it back in place. Not sure if those types of things were fixed by the second gens as I was out of service by then. I've looked at 1st gen GMT800's because in 3/4-ton, you can get the 8.1 Big Block. But I keep running into the issue that on weekends, I usually have both kids and a big 100lb dog with me, and an Avalanche isn't the most suitable for all that. It'd be fine in the nice months, but come winter... In the Suburban, the kids get the 2nd row, and he's got plenty of room in the cargo area. But that's my usage, so...
Otherwise, it is a 1/2-ton GMT900 truck. Same engines, drivetrains, suspension, etc, as other GMT900 1/2-ton trucks. They're all stout GM GenIV small blocks, the same as generation of engines as the LS2's and LS7's. These three 5.3's DO NOT have Displacement on Demand (called "Active Fuel Management" or AFM, in GM speak), which was known to have high oil consumption due to the lifters and their actuation of the DOD feature. There WAS a 6.0L V8 available also, RPO L76... I.E. the same engine from the G8's. This one DOES have AFM/DOD and has had issues with high oil consumption due to that AFM/DOD.
The trans is a 4L60/65E. Not the strongest in the tool shop, but as long as you don't start modding the shit out the truck, removing torque management, increasing line pressure, shift points, etc, etc, it should last with regular maintenance.
The mid-gate is a nice, but kinda a novelty thing personally. And I recall on first gens, some people having sealing issues when putting it back in place. Not sure if those types of things were fixed by the second gens as I was out of service by then. I've looked at 1st gen GMT800's because in 3/4-ton, you can get the 8.1 Big Block. But I keep running into the issue that on weekends, I usually have both kids and a big 100lb dog with me, and an Avalanche isn't the most suitable for all that. It'd be fine in the nice months, but come winter... In the Suburban, the kids get the 2nd row, and he's got plenty of room in the cargo area. But that's my usage, so...
Otherwise, it is a 1/2-ton GMT900 truck. Same engines, drivetrains, suspension, etc, as other GMT900 1/2-ton trucks. They're all stout GM GenIV small blocks, the same as generation of engines as the LS2's and LS7's. These three 5.3's DO NOT have Displacement on Demand (called "Active Fuel Management" or AFM, in GM speak), which was known to have high oil consumption due to the lifters and their actuation of the DOD feature. There WAS a 6.0L V8 available also, RPO L76... I.E. the same engine from the G8's. This one DOES have AFM/DOD and has had issues with high oil consumption due to that AFM/DOD.
The trans is a 4L60/65E. Not the strongest in the tool shop, but as long as you don't start modding the shit out the truck, removing torque management, increasing line pressure, shift points, etc, etc, it should last with regular maintenance.
Who dat be?
Yea, not sure what sealing issues Wolfe has had on normal doors and windows. I just remember some 1st gen Avy owners having sealing issues after reinstallation of the mid-gate. Of course, it could've been owner too...
Avalanche’s share suspension under-pinnings with the Suburban (suspension setup wise Vs the half ton pickups).
An comparable half ton avalanche will ride much smoother than a F-150, but won’t have quite the tow/hauling ratings.
They also seem to take a much harder resale value hit than the pickups, making them a better value used normally.
Edit*
And yea, unless you NEED the bed, just buy a Burb.
An comparable half ton avalanche will ride much smoother than a F-150, but won’t have quite the tow/hauling ratings.
They also seem to take a much harder resale value hit than the pickups, making them a better value used normally.
Edit*
And yea, unless you NEED the bed, just buy a Burb.
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