who has an avalance??

[jamie72]

the wife is looking at a few and i think that is what we will end up buying, and words of caution???

[Jimbotronics]

I have an '04 - it's a great vehicle.

[jamie72]

thats exactly what we`re looking for, black and no cladding.
looks great!!
have your had any big issues with it?? anything to warn me about?
thanks for posting.

[qksilver]

I had a 04 until gas went up earlier this year. It towed a few vehicles across the country( AZ to NC) comfortable ride. Overall a good vehicle. I got it with out the cladding, thought it looked better and the only thing I didn't like about it was the rear end sat really high so if there was something right behind you it was hard to see, and it was a 2 wheel drive 1/2

[msgross]

I heard that they are based on a Burb frame and not a truck frame, that might affect the GVW for towing but I don't have numbers. I had a 2003 Z71 Burb and loved it, the 5.3 seemed a little underpowered compared to a Tahoe though.

[Jimbotronics]

Originally Posted by jamie72

thats exactly what we`re looking for, black and no cladding.
looks great!!
have your had any big issues with it?? anything to warn me about?
thanks for posting.

No 'major' issues, I've had it in the shop twice. Once for the intermediate steering shaft (common issue amongst newer chevy trucks of all kinds) and the lower A/C acuator. No major issues that I can think of. It rides and drives soooo smooth. I've pulled quiet a few trailers with some pretty heavy vehicles with no issues. The bed appears small, however, with the mid-gate down I can haul a stack of 4x8 plywood with the tail gate closed. it's definitely on my list of vehicles I would purchase again.

Tip - Mother's 'Back to Black' will keep the molding and top looking new and not chaulky like most you see running around.

[jamie72]

wife pick her 03 up last night,very nice truck, got the cladding but its blends in nice with the paint.
thanks guys for all the info!!

[useRc10]

I just bought one today too... No pictures yet because i don't have a camera. I need to get some "back to black" for the cladding and get it all cleaned up. It came with a truck cap, that I have not decided whether or not I like.

[jamie72]

i`d like to see the cap, when you get a chance to get a few pics!

[kna4977]

I bought my cladded 03 new. So far, it is my most favorite vehicle. I liked the cladding then as I do now. Just not the maintenance of it. It's the best riding vehicle I have ever ridden in.

[useRc10]

I haven't gotten ahold of a camera yet, but the dealership still has pic up of the truck with the top...

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...ag=1&cardist=9


I took it off, but I haven't decided whether I'm going to keep it around for camping or what.

[Jimbotronics]

Right on fellas! Congrats to the both of yas! Here's a good site for avy owners - www.chevyavalanchefanclub.com

[useRc10]

I signed up for that site, but it is really hard to navigate with all the categories and sub-categories.... I want to do a 3" body lift and crank the keys, so I can run 33s, but otherwise no big plans

[Jimbotronics]

ya - it's alot harder than this site to navigate but once you get used to it it's not so bad.

[lolife99]

My wife loves her '04. They do ride great. I guess it's because it has coil spring rear suspension instead of leafs. (3/4 ton versions have leaf springs.) The plastic bed cover is starting to fade in spots. Whats the best thing to use on it?

[useRc10]

mines not faded too bad, but i used mothers back to black....you can also use tire shine, but supposedly it runs when it rains and gets on the paint

[72CSTC5]

There is a product that Chevrolet recommends to paint the cladding when customers come in complaining about the cladding when under warranty. When I get back to work Monday I will tell you the name. We did it all with a foam brush to paint on and no more maintenance.

[jamie72]

the chevy dealer gave us a can of silicone to spray the cladding?? and yea when it rained it ran right off with streaks..

jim the wife is on that site, be t you have seen her posts..

[sbrban]

I bought the warden an '03 Avalanche last fall,black with the claddings.
I absolutely love it! It has the ride of a suburban with the use of a box-I'm almost tempted to get myself one...then I just remember that I can use hers...sometimes.
Only downfall is the speedometer needle on her's (alot of '03,s I guess) is starting to stick so I might need to buy a dash cluster. Overall it's a great truck.
I've had 2 buddies go out and buy an Avy after they went for a road trip in ours!

[Mad House]

Word to the wise. I have a 04' Avalanche. Bought it new . I have the z-66 package with out the cladding. I am the type of man who uses a truck for a truck. A Avalanche is only good for traveling and hauling groceries. I have had several front end issues with this truck. Me the dealer and GM have had several go rounds about the the front suspension. They replaced the complete front suspension twice. And to this day I still have that aggravatingg bump in the front end. I switched the stock 17" wheels for some 22's. They improved the overall ride and I get better gas mileage. But the first good pot hole you hit takes the alignment away with no problem. overall this is probably the worst trust i have ever owned. I drive my 72' more than i do the Avalanche. The 72' is a great work truck , but I wished I had of kept my 96' extended cab. That was best truck i ever owned. The look of a Avalanche is great, but thats about as far as it goes.

[sbrban]

Sounds like you got a bad one,huh.
Did you have them replace the intermediate shaft,that sounds like the culprit to me.
When you "upgraded" to the larger wheels, did you have the speedometer recalibrated for the size difference?
It seems odd that you would get better mileage due to a wheel swap.
I don't use my avalanche for a day to day truck,if I did I would have a 3/4 ton duramax. I do,however love the ride of my avy seeing how it's on the suburban chassis.
It's a good thing they make different rides for different needs!