mid30
Bone Stock
Posts:41
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| 06/03/2007 8:28 AM |
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| I am considering purchasing a Avalanche 2005 to 2007. Any coments on the good/bad of this truck? |
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webby4x4
Forum Admin, Magazine Editor
Rock Star
Posts:2375
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| 06/03/2007 8:26 PM |
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Hi Mid - what are you buying it for? Is this just a daily driver, are you going to use it to tow things, are you planning on taking it off road, etc.?
Like any vehicle, it has it's strong points and it's weak points - but they're geared towards certain purposes, so getting an idea of what you'll be using it for will be helpful in answering your question.
Thanks,
Rick |
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Rick Webster
Editor, 4X4REVIEW.COM - A Tork Media, Inc. Publication
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'74 FJ40 Land Cruiser
"Measure once, cut twice" |
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SnoMan
Lift & Lockers
Posts:943
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| 06/04/2007 4:03 AM |
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| I think your money could be better spent unless you just have a burning desire to own one of these. Personally even if someone gave me one, I would sell it. I had one once for several days as a loner and that was long enough to convince me that I never wanted to buy one. |
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mid30
Bone Stock
Posts:41
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| 06/04/2007 5:56 PM |
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| It will be a dialy driver and also used pulling my boat in and out of the lake in deap sand. I like the stance of it with a 4'' lift. I just have allways liked them, not as stock, to low and to small of tires. |
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webby4x4
Forum Admin, Magazine Editor
Rock Star
Posts:2375
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| 06/04/2007 9:46 PM |
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For what you're using it for, it will likely do the job and then some. The Avalanche isn't a horrible vehicle (there are certainly worse out there), but it's not an off-road machine at all.
Get some fairly wide tires if you're going to be on the sand at all, but don't expect to get out of it, if you get stuck.
There's not a lot you can do the Avi, save a lift kit and tires... it's not really designed to be altered all that much.
Anyhow, they're cool looking rides, and if you like the way they look and ride, and for what you're planning to do with it - it'll be just fine.
Best of luck!
Rick |
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Rick Webster
Editor, 4X4REVIEW.COM - A Tork Media, Inc. Publication
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
'74 FJ40 Land Cruiser
"Measure once, cut twice" |
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SnoMan
Lift & Lockers
Posts:943
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| 06/05/2007 9:45 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by mid30
It will be a dialy driver and also used pulling my boat in and out of the lake in deap sand. I like the stance of it with a 4'' lift. I just have allways liked them, not as stock, to low and to small of tires.
If you do this, DO NOT forget new deeper gears to go with lift and tires or you will be buying a new tranny soon (likely if under warranty too if you install big tires without a gear change) and also get worse towing performance and MPG unless you regear it. Many seem to think it does not matter and that a chip or a air cleaner or dual exhausts will fix it but it will not. |
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mid30
Bone Stock
Posts:41
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| 06/05/2007 8:51 PM |
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| So you all think that maybe a check pickup would be better? |
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SnoMan
Lift & Lockers
Posts:943
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| 06/06/2007 5:04 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by mid30
So you all think that maybe a check pickup would be better?
Not sure what a "check" P/U is? The point I am making is if you want to lift anything and install big tires, you need to regear it because if you do not you increase strain on complete drive line and reduce its effective pulling power. You also reduce its braking capacity as well. This is why 3/4 tons are a better starting point for lift because at least as far as brakes are concerned, you start with more brake capacity. |
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ChevyMan0784
Lift & Lockers
Posts:699
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| 06/11/2007 6:23 PM |
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| A pickup is better (in my opinion) for wheeling, because they are inherently lighter when compared to their counterpart..the hardbody or unibody. For example, Avalanche vs. Pickup...or pickup vs. blazer. But the Blazer is better because of the wheelbase. If you really want to wheel something, go with a reg cab shortbed. But if you have family, go with a 4 door, or a Tahoe. Or heck, for the price of a new truck...you could have a REALLY sweet K5 Blazer. No joke. |
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gimmie fuel gimmie fire gimmie that which I desire-James Hetfield
*Never give an Irish man good cause for revenge.
*Guns dont kill people, but they sure help!!
*98% OF AMERICANS SAY 'OH S**t' BEFORE GOING IN THE DITCH ON A ICEY ROAD.
THE OTHER 2% ARE FROM ALASKA, AND THEY SAY, 'HOLD MY BEER AND WATCH THIS |
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bigduramax
Bone Stock
Posts:8
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| 10/21/2007 1:41 PM |
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| i dunno why but everything snoman says about a lift he always says that you need to regear it.. why?!?!?!?!????? we have a truck with a body lift its an 05 crew cab short bed 1/2 ton with 33's on it. which is all this guy wants is 33's. itll be fine that truck gets 17 to 18 mpg. A freind of ours bought my old truck it has a 6" procomp and 35"s itll roast the he** out of them tires and it still gets about 14 mpg 12 if you hammer the sh*$ out of it.
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02 K2500 HD Duramax
K&N Cold Air Intake
4" Exhaust All The Way
16.5" Center Lines
Airbrushed Realistic Flames
2006 Front Clip
Edge Juice W/ Attitude
Soon to Come: Homeade front and rear traction bars just for the looks |
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SnoMan
Lift & Lockers
Posts:943
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| 10/21/2007 3:27 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by bigduramax
i dunno why but everything snoman says about a lift he always says that you need to regear it.. why?!?!?!?!????? we have a truck with a body lift its an 05 crew cab short bed 1/2 ton with 33's on it. which is all this guy wants is 33's. itll be fine that truck gets 17 to 18 mpg. A freind of ours bought my old truck it has a 6" procomp and 35"s itll roast the he** out of them tires and it still gets about 14 mpg 12 if you hammer the sh*$ out of it.
When you lift truck and install bigger tires you do to thing, you make the EFFECTIVE final drive ratio TALLER and you increase the amount of HP required to make truck roll down the road due to increased drag. Yet there always seem to be those that think that this has no negative impact on brakes, driveline or pulling power. It is like it is immune to it. Some of those lifts must be magic or something. It is kinda like say I am going to go from 3.42 gears (which suck in a fullsize 4x4 anyway to cut it even with stock tires) and I am going to put is 3.08 or 2.73 gears with stock tires and it is going to make it run better and reduce drive line strain as this is kinda the same as install bigger tires on stock gear except they have more drag and they reduce braking capacity too. |
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bigduramax
Bone Stock
Posts:8
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| 10/21/2007 7:43 PM |
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| well if ur going to gripe so much go somewhere else.. trust me i know about the longevity of having a truck with a lift... 01 1 ton dually bought it wrecked before it was even fixed we put a 6inch lift on it it ran fine for 50,000 niles no problems we used it to haul other wrecked cars no problems with u-joints or anything. the truck had an 8.1 in it and no matter what you do to those they tend to get about 11-12 mpg. weve had about 7 and their all the same. back to the one with the lift we ended up putting a body lift on top of it because we wore the 36's down so we put a bodylift on and then 38's. still no problem |
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02 K2500 HD Duramax
K&N Cold Air Intake
4" Exhaust All The Way
16.5" Center Lines
Airbrushed Realistic Flames
2006 Front Clip
Edge Juice W/ Attitude
Soon to Come: Homeade front and rear traction bars just for the looks |
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batch
Street Queen
Posts:117
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| 10/21/2007 7:58 PM |
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Mid30
Getting back to the original question - An Avalanche should do what you are looking to do quite nicely. Personally I think they are pretty cool looking trucks.
Since they are based on the Chevy pickup you should be able to find lifts and other aftermarket equipment pretty easily. |
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SnoMan
Lift & Lockers
Posts:943
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| 10/22/2007 3:32 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by bigduramax
well if ur going to gripe so much go somewhere else.. trust me i know about the longevity of having a truck with a lift... 01 1 ton dually bought it wrecked before it was even fixed we put a 6inch lift on it it ran fine for 50,000 niles no problems we used it to haul other wrecked cars no problems with u-joints or anything. the truck had an 8.1 in it and no matter what you do to those they tend to get about 11-12 mpg. weve had about 7 and their all the same. back to the one with the lift we ended up putting a body lift on top of it because we wore the 36's down so we put a bodylift on and then 38's. still no problem
A 8.1 has more power to play with and a better tranny but there is still a big loss of pulling power.See I guess I am old fashioned, I buying and truck to use as a truck and I would do nothing to it to redcue its pulling power or its braking ability. To many trucks are toys or ego extensions. If I was ever to install even a mild lift and bigger tires I would never consider it without changing axle gears because I would not want ANY loss of pulling power and I have been known to regear stock trucks with stock tires for even more pulling. power. Many years ago I own a few big block 60's family sedans that would have badly embarrassed some of these modern SUV's in pulling power. Todays half ton 4x4 are more car than truck and lack in pulling power before you lift them. Many do not know better and assume this is the norm but there was a time when it was not and I remember it well. I would never own a truck that is handicapped by taller gear or big tires. It would be regeared or sold. Many have lower standards today. |
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bigduramax
Bone Stock
Posts:8
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| 10/24/2007 7:04 PM |
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| oh well i dont care.. man your avalanche would look awesome even with a body lift "regear" it sounds like what you need to do just ask snoman. i wouldnt waste my money on regeaing it just for a body lift or a 4 inch. go for it itll pan out for you just fine. |
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02 K2500 HD Duramax
K&N Cold Air Intake
4" Exhaust All The Way
16.5" Center Lines
Airbrushed Realistic Flames
2006 Front Clip
Edge Juice W/ Attitude
Soon to Come: Homeade front and rear traction bars just for the looks |
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JEC
Bone Stock
Posts:6
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| 10/29/2007 11:10 PM |
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| hey we get what we get vecause we wabt it! i had to have a new 03 avalanche Z71 with all the bells and whistles offerend. then i added more options. it was awesome machine and fun to play in. when it was stock i got 10-13/14 mpg dity or highway. loaded with nothing or 1000lbs in the bed 13 maybe 14 mpg up hill gown hill empty or loaded. i thoughy it ean like a deisel but it was gas. this is an awesome truck. before i did cosmetic and then performance it would run 65mph up & down hills if is was loaded or empty and after the works getting added it ran 65 up & down loaded or empty didn't matter. so why with all the lift kits, big tires, performance goodies, removeable rear window did i get rid if it. "THE CARGO BED" the hard covers a big abd heavy and in the way and HOT in the summer. the bottom of the bed is high off the ground and i'm 6.4", the bed has a liner built in that things don't slide in and hard to get things inculding yourself in and out of the bed so i used it 3 times and that was enough for me and my wife. we stopped using the bed!! now we have a $43000.00 truck that looks good but not good for real life. got me a new chevy 4x4 suburban LTZ that does everything i want to do plus extras that did everything plus and i can usw it more and it gets about 4 ro 5 miles a gallon better. i thought the the avalanche was fun for about 4 of the 8 months we kept it. i love my new 07 chevy surburan LTZ execpt i can't find a 6" lift kit because the have a special autotrack system. thnank hard befote you buy. what if you can't use the bed is what left worth the money |
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primetimek5
Lift & Lockers
Posts:537
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| 10/30/2007 6:05 AM |
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| lift it & gear it is the right way.
snoman is correct. |
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rick p. |
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