Towing Sierra Or Avalanche

[ddp1960]

Well, my lease is up on the 2007 Sierra 6.0 Litre, I am looking at my options, have been considering a Sierra SLE 6.2Litre. I just found out you can get an Avalanche with a 6.2 Litre in it!

I don't haul much in the back of the truck, most of my stuff goes in the back of the crew cab or I am also looking to get a tonneau cover for it. So maybe the Avalanche is an option.

Most of my driving is just me and test equipment etc. BUT I do have a boat, and live next to the mountains so hauling the 5000 lb boat in the mountains means I need towing capability. The 6.0 litre has been good,but the 6.2L with 6 speed sounds like a good fit for me.

 

I do not see much on the boards here from Avalanche owners, what does everyone have to say about them? I have never driven one, so I guess that's something I am going to have to check out.

 

As a note, I have weighed the truck and boat on one of our trips and basically all the axles, truck and boat are at max capacity so I will have to look closely at the specifications. When I had previously run the numbers on a 2007 tundra I calculated that there wasn't enough payload capacity on the Tundra to have both passengers and a cooler and some luggage in the box it would have been overloaded, so I had ruled it out.

 

So how useful are the Avanlanches? I have heard the coil springs give a smooth ride, and now with Dodge Ram going to coil there must be something good about it.

 

Thanks for any input.

 

Doug

[C. Charles Hahn]

The biggest complaints I've heard about the Avalanche is that there are a lot of blind spots when backing up since the rear window is smaller, and there have been some instances where the divider between the "bed" and cab leak. I was talked out of an Avalanche by the Chevy dealer I went to, so I got the GMC crew cab instead (from a different dealer I might add).

 

I'd go with the Sierra with the 6.2L/6L80E myself.

[txab]

Sierra.

 

A buddy of mine has an Avalanche. It does leak. It is also noisy from all the pops and creaks at joints.

[music]

Sierra x10. The Sierra CC has has ~300 lbs higher payload, not to mention much better looks (IMHO of course).

[dogzapper]

Get the Sierra. It's a real truck.

 

I owned a 2500 Avalanche that I bought new. The two happiest days of my life were the day I bought it and the day I sold it ... the absolutely happiest day of my life was when I SOLD it.

 

The Avalanche is afflicted with a horrible design that results in a HUGE blind area to the rear right. Changing back into the lane after passing is totally an act of faith and trust.

 

Leaks, creaks, popping; No I will never own another Avalanche.

 

Sierra or Silverado, that's the way to go.

 

Steve

[amtz.zero]

I would go with the Sierra just because I'm not really into how the Avalanche looks. The new Sierra's look awesome though.

[KMGZ400]

idk anything about avalanches, but i think they look good. i would get one with the 6.2 if you are not going to be hauling much in the bed. the older plastic avalanches were absolutley hideous.

[brims]

I'd go with the Sierra, the Avalanche doesn't strike me as being a real truck.

[ddp1960]

Thanks, any one with some good points on the Avalanche, don't be shy, speak up please.

 

I had my dealer search for a 6.2L and there doesn't appear to be any around, why were the 6.0L and now the 6.2 L engines so hard to find?

 

As a side note, can someone PM me or reply on how to resize my sig picture.

Thanks

Doug

[huero626]

I would go for the 6.2L Sierra Crew Cab, not fan of Avalanches at.

[KMGZ400]

what you really need to do is drive both of them and see what you like and dislike about them then make your decision

 

if you cant find a 6.0 or 6.2 avalanche definatley get a 6.2 sierra

[250motorsportz]

I've never heard of any problems with the Avalanches from the few friends I know that own them, however 1 of them traded his in for a EXT, but that was solely because the EXT looks 10x better. It's all under warranty, if it leaks take it back? However, I do like the looks of the Sierra more than a avy... and the 6.2 is a awesome engine.

[Rat4go]

Comparably equipped, the Av is a bit heavier than a CC P/U so even if GCWR is the same, your max trailer load will be somewhat less. It's about 10" shorter than a CC with 5'4" box, so a bit easier to park if that's a concern. It basically rides on a Suburban frame with (as others have pointed out) coils in the rear instead of leaf springs, so ride quality is a bit better, although I think the RAWR is lower because of the coils. The lockable cargo area (bed) on the Av is really nice, but if it's gunna be empty 99.9% of the time, that's not a benefit. Powertrains are identical. Just looking at the front ends (VERY SUBJECTIVE) the pickup looks to have better airflow to the cooling system, so if you are running heavy on grades, you might appreciate the extra air, even if the radiator, etc are identical.

 

I've spent quite a bit of time in a friends 2009 Av and didn't notice any of the creaks or leaks that others have mentioned.

 

Good luck!!

[drdoublej]

I have used both to tow my boat which is about 6000lb for the boat motor and trailer. The silverado handles much better. The rear of the avalanche bounced a good bit after going over bumps and with a tow capacity of 7000lb's I was close to max capacity with friends, coolers, and gear.

 

If your not towing much the avalanche is a nice vehicle. It is ugly but to be able to open it all up was nice to do in the Spring and Summer.

[SLESierra]

I towed a box trailer all last summer loaded with two atvs and a side by side plus gear, food, camping supplies, and gas with no problems. However the ride in the Avalanche is way smoother than both the 07 sierra 1500 or 07.5 silverado 2500 I owned.

 

But you are looking at two different classes of vehicles - the Avalanche is basically for someone who is looking more for ride than working it and the truck well it is meant to work. What I like about my Avalanche towing is the fact it is far easier to manuveur (sp) to park the trailer or corner with it. The avalanche does however offer more room to haul when you need to haul as long as you do not exceed the roof height of the cab if you need the additional length. I had 25 sheets of plywood and 50 2x4s in one load would of had more but was afraid they would take my head off by sliding over the front seats.

 

Avalanches are great at being a dual purpose vehicle and that is what they are meant to be however a truck is meant to be a brute force power plant with a cab and work areas behind them.