Sierra Vs. Avalanche

[kawtoy_77]

Sierra, although my opinion may be biased.....

[dogzapper]

I just had to have the first Avalanche that hit the dealership near our home. It was a Victory Red 2002 - 2500. Loved the engine, absolutely hated the almost total lack of rear visibility.

 

And the leaks, both in the bed and all over the frackin' rear carpet. Constantly!!!!

 

I then bought a 2003 Chevy Silverado EC/SB 5.3-3.73 Z-71 with leather. Great truck and I made the huge mistake of selling it and buying a 2006 Duramax CC/SB.

 

Now the Duramax is GONE ... Life is GOOD ... and I'm back in a half-ton.

 

Current rig is a 2010 Victory Red 1500 CC/SB LTZ - Z-71 5.3/3.42 with the marvelous 6-speed tranny. My friends, this new 2010 truck is the finest truck I have ever owned ... by a long shot.

 

Loving it!!!

 

Advice? Screw the Avalanche. The truck, either Silverado or Sierra, is GREAT.

 

Steve

[pknoerzer]

I've had two Avalanches - a 2002 3/4 ton and a 2010. I never had problems with leaks at all but the midgate in both rattled continuously and there is a lot of road noise from the back. The new ones ride better than a Tahoe because of the wheelbase and feel carlike compared to a pick-up. In the end I just like having a pick-up.

[IanM]

Does the tailgate on the Sierra lock? I can't recall if it did or not. I know the caps and the lift up covers lock, so I assume if I was to put one of these on the tailgate wouldn't open without unlocking the cap/cover.

 

I know the Avalanche's tailgate and storage bins lock, so the contents in the bed are somewhat secure.

[Nick The Great]

Does the tailgate on the Sierra lock? I can't recall if it did or not. I know the caps and the lift up covers lock, so I assume if I was to put one of these on the tailgate wouldn't open without unlocking the cap/cover.

 

I know the Avalanche's tailgate and storage bins lock, so the contents in the bed are somewhat secure.

 

It is an optional thing. And even if your truck doesn't have it, it is a fairly cheap and fairly easy mod.

[Nick The Great]

I've had two Avalanches - a 2002 3/4 ton and a 2010. I never had problems with leaks at all but the midgate in both rattled continuously and there is a lot of road noise from the back. The new ones ride better than a Tahoe because of the wheelbase and feel carlike compared to a pick-up. In the end I just like having a pick-up.

 

Wouldn't a half ton Avy ride awfully similar to a half ton CCSB truck?

[sabre364]

Avalanche's are pretty nice. But you gotta consider the price difference too...you can get a loaded to the gills crew cab pickup for much less than an avalanche...

[sabre364]

Better, uses rear coil springs from a tahoe/suburban rather than the leafs

I've had two Avalanches - a 2002 3/4 ton and a 2010. I never had problems with leaks at all but the midgate in both rattled continuously and there is a lot of road noise from the back. The new ones ride better than a Tahoe because of the wheelbase and feel carlike compared to a pick-up. In the end I just like having a pick-up.

 

Wouldn't a half ton Avy ride awfully similar to a half ton CCSB truck?

 

[Wingnut]

my envoy XUV was a great truck. much more useful than an avalanche. GM should've used that concept in a tahoe configuration.

 

 

with power midgate window, power rear window and power retractable roof it did way more than an avalanche. you could easily power down the midgate glass and rear glass with the touch of a finger to haul long items over the midgate, still have the midgate down and cab secure by closing the roof and back window, etc.. hauled 4'x5'x6' shower unit, 13'x15' carpet, etc. load floor was 8'6" with both gates down, was awesome.

 

at 208" long it's only 11" shorter than a suburban, a suburban with this setup would've been great.

 

I'm trying to figure out how that's more useful than an Avalanche? Both gates down on an Avalanche will net you a load floor over over 10' x 4'. You can drop 4x8 sheets of sheetrock in there, close the tailgate, and drive all over town in the rain without worrying about it.

 

Not bagging on the XUV, I loved those things. But you'd have to do better than what you described to convince me that an Envoy will haul more crap than an Avalanche

 

OP, one of the big reasons I went with an Avalanche this time around is because they're being discontinued after next year (2012 MY). I've had GM pickup after GM pickup after GM pickup, with and El Camino here and a K1500 Blazer there for good measure. I've always liked the Avy, and since it's going away, I wanted to add one to my list of vehicles I've owned.

 

And I've not been disappointed with it yet. It drives GREAT. I've hauled a couple of decent sized loads so far, and it's no hassle at all. The bed is bigger than people give it credit for, even with the midgate up. There's also the impressive little touches that still get me. The saddle bags are just plain awesome. They'll hold TONS of stuff. The midgate itself is a marvel. I'm still shocked that GM ever produced these trucks.

 

/drives around on nice days with the back completely open and midgate down...Because he can

 

 

 

quite simply, you're limited in height on a stock avalanche for "weatherproof" hauling, the XUV turned into an SUV, that's my point, yes the avalanche is bigger. also the power featurs of the XUV were much easier to deal with than the manual adjustments made by the avalanche conversion, also the storage of the XUV roof compared tot he panels on the avalanche. the XUV roof moves up and over the body, where do the avalanche panels go? at thetouch of a button and it's done on the XUV, etc., etc.

 

 

Gotcha. I guess I just don't really think about weatherproof hauling, as I've always had a pickup and it has never been an option

 

I've had two Avalanches - a 2002 3/4 ton and a 2010. I never had problems with leaks at all but the midgate in both rattled continuously and there is a lot of road noise from the back. The new ones ride better than a Tahoe because of the wheelbase and feel carlike compared to a pick-up. In the end I just like having a pick-up.

 

Wouldn't a half ton Avy ride awfully similar to a half ton CCSB truck?

 

 

Not at all. Shorter wheelbase (doesn't pogo on those pesky sections of concrete highway), and a bit heavier. Plus, coil springs like sabre said.

 

It rides better than any pickup I've ever owned by a large margin. It's really, REALLY nice.

 

BUT...I do like the truck ride, and while I miss it a bit, I won't be selling the Avy any time soon

[KMGZ400]

my envoy XUV was a great truck. much more useful than an avalanche. GM should've used that concept in a tahoe configuration.

 

 

with power midgate window, power rear window and power retractable roof it did way more than an avalanche. you could easily power down the midgate glass and rear glass with the touch of a finger to haul long items over the midgate, still have the midgate down and cab secure by closing the roof and back window, etc.. hauled 4'x5'x6' shower unit, 13'x15' carpet, etc. load floor was 8'6" with both gates down, was awesome.

 

at 208" long it's only 11" shorter than a suburban, a suburban with this setup would've been great.

 

I'm trying to figure out how that's more useful than an Avalanche? Both gates down on an Avalanche will net you a load floor over over 10' x 4'. You can drop 4x8 sheets of sheetrock in there, close the tailgate, and drive all over town in the rain without worrying about it.

 

Not bagging on the XUV, I loved those things. But you'd have to do better than what you described to convince me that an Envoy will haul more crap than an Avalanche

 

OP, one of the big reasons I went with an Avalanche this time around is because they're being discontinued after next year (2012 MY). I've had GM pickup after GM pickup after GM pickup, with and El Camino here and a K1500 Blazer there for good measure. I've always liked the Avy, and since it's going away, I wanted to add one to my list of vehicles I've owned.

 

And I've not been disappointed with it yet. It drives GREAT. I've hauled a couple of decent sized loads so far, and it's no hassle at all. The bed is bigger than people give it credit for, even with the midgate up. There's also the impressive little touches that still get me. The saddle bags are just plain awesome. They'll hold TONS of stuff. The midgate itself is a marvel. I'm still shocked that GM ever produced these trucks.

 

/drives around on nice days with the back completely open and midgate down...Because he can

 

 

 

quite simply, you're limited in height on a stock avalanche for "weatherproof" hauling, the XUV turned into an SUV, that's my point, yes the avalanche is bigger. also the power featurs of the XUV were much easier to deal with than the manual adjustments made by the avalanche conversion, also the storage of the XUV roof compared tot he panels on the avalanche. the XUV roof moves up and over the body, where do the avalanche panels go? at thetouch of a button and it's done on the XUV, etc., etc.

 

 

Gotcha. I guess I just don't really think about weatherproof hauling, as I've always had a pickup and it has never been an option

 

I've had two Avalanches - a 2002 3/4 ton and a 2010. I never had problems with leaks at all but the midgate in both rattled continuously and there is a lot of road noise from the back. The new ones ride better than a Tahoe because of the wheelbase and feel carlike compared to a pick-up. In the end I just like having a pick-up.

 

Wouldn't a half ton Avy ride awfully similar to a half ton CCSB truck?

 

 

Not at all. Shorter wheelbase (doesn't pogo on those pesky sections of concrete highway), and a bit heavier. Plus, coil springs like sabre said.

 

It rides better than any pickup I've ever owned by a large margin. It's really, REALLY nice.

 

BUT...I do like the truck ride, and while I miss it a bit, I won't be selling the Avy any time soon

 

 

do you still have the "Frederado"?

 

what ever the **** that is

[pknoerzer]

Better, uses rear coil springs from a tahoe/suburban rather than the leafs

I've had two Avalanches - a 2002 3/4 ton and a 2010. I never had problems with leaks at all but the midgate in both rattled continuously and there is a lot of road noise from the back. The new ones ride better than a Tahoe because of the wheelbase and feel carlike compared to a pick-up. In the end I just like having a pick-up.

 

Wouldn't a half ton Avy ride awfully similar to a half ton CCSB truck?

 

 

 

 

I drove the Avalanche and a 1/2 ton CC back to back right after driving a Tahoe. The Avy felt like a Cadillac compare to either of the other two. Unfortunately i bought the Avy to please my wife instead of the 3/4 ton pickup I wanted. I was trading a Cummins Dodge so anything would have ridden better , including the used 3/4 ton I traded the Avy for (lower payments).

[tonygxp]

Better, uses rear coil springs from a tahoe/suburban rather than the leafs

I've had two Avalanches - a 2002 3/4 ton and a 2010. I never had problems with leaks at all but the midgate in both rattled continuously and there is a lot of road noise from the back. The new ones ride better than a Tahoe because of the wheelbase and feel carlike compared to a pick-up. In the end I just like having a pick-up.

 

Wouldn't a half ton Avy ride awfully similar to a half ton CCSB truck?

 

 

 

 

I drove the Avalanche and a 1/2 ton CC back to back right after driving a Tahoe. The Avy felt like a Cadillac compare to either of the other two. Unfortunately i bought the Avy to please my wife instead of the 3/4 ton pickup I wanted. I was trading a Cummins Dodge so anything would have ridden better , including the used 3/4 ton I traded the Avy for (lower payments).

 

 

 

that's what they make the 2500 avalanche for ;) look identical except for the extra lugs, she would've never noticed

[pknoerzer]

Better, uses rear coil springs from a tahoe/suburban rather than the leafs

I've had two Avalanches - a 2002 3/4 ton and a 2010. I never had problems with leaks at all but the midgate in both rattled continuously and there is a lot of road noise from the back. The new ones ride better than a Tahoe because of the wheelbase and feel carlike compared to a pick-up. In the end I just like having a pick-up.

 

Wouldn't a half ton Avy ride awfully similar to a half ton CCSB truck?

 

 

 

 

I drove the Avalanche and a 1/2 ton CC back to back right after driving a Tahoe. The Avy felt like a Cadillac compare to either of the other two. Unfortunately i bought the Avy to please my wife instead of the 3/4 ton pickup I wanted. I was trading a Cummins Dodge so anything would have ridden better , including the used 3/4 ton I traded the Avy for (lower payments).

 

 

 

that's what they make the 2500 avalanche for ;) look identical except for the extra lugs, she would've never noticed

 

 

I had one of those and she did like it but the 11-12 mpg on the highway sucked. That big block sure towed nice though!

[Wingnut]

my envoy XUV was a great truck. much more useful than an avalanche. GM should've used that concept in a tahoe configuration.

 

 

with power midgate window, power rear window and power retractable roof it did way more than an avalanche. you could easily power down the midgate glass and rear glass with the touch of a finger to haul long items over the midgate, still have the midgate down and cab secure by closing the roof and back window, etc.. hauled 4'x5'x6' shower unit, 13'x15' carpet, etc. load floor was 8'6" with both gates down, was awesome.

 

at 208" long it's only 11" shorter than a suburban, a suburban with this setup would've been great.

 

I'm trying to figure out how that's more useful than an Avalanche? Both gates down on an Avalanche will net you a load floor over over 10' x 4'. You can drop 4x8 sheets of sheetrock in there, close the tailgate, and drive all over town in the rain without worrying about it.

 

Not bagging on the XUV, I loved those things. But you'd have to do better than what you described to convince me that an Envoy will haul more crap than an Avalanche

 

OP, one of the big reasons I went with an Avalanche this time around is because they're being discontinued after next year (2012 MY). I've had GM pickup after GM pickup after GM pickup, with and El Camino here and a K1500 Blazer there for good measure. I've always liked the Avy, and since it's going away, I wanted to add one to my list of vehicles I've owned.

 

And I've not been disappointed with it yet. It drives GREAT. I've hauled a couple of decent sized loads so far, and it's no hassle at all. The bed is bigger than people give it credit for, even with the midgate up. There's also the impressive little touches that still get me. The saddle bags are just plain awesome. They'll hold TONS of stuff. The midgate itself is a marvel. I'm still shocked that GM ever produced these trucks.

 

/drives around on nice days with the back completely open and midgate down...Because he can

 

 

 

quite simply, you're limited in height on a stock avalanche for "weatherproof" hauling, the XUV turned into an SUV, that's my point, yes the avalanche is bigger. also the power featurs of the XUV were much easier to deal with than the manual adjustments made by the avalanche conversion, also the storage of the XUV roof compared tot he panels on the avalanche. the XUV roof moves up and over the body, where do the avalanche panels go? at thetouch of a button and it's done on the XUV, etc., etc.

 

 

Gotcha. I guess I just don't really think about weatherproof hauling, as I've always had a pickup and it has never been an option

 

I've had two Avalanches - a 2002 3/4 ton and a 2010. I never had problems with leaks at all but the midgate in both rattled continuously and there is a lot of road noise from the back. The new ones ride better than a Tahoe because of the wheelbase and feel carlike compared to a pick-up. In the end I just like having a pick-up.

 

Wouldn't a half ton Avy ride awfully similar to a half ton CCSB truck?

 

 

Not at all. Shorter wheelbase (doesn't pogo on those pesky sections of concrete highway), and a bit heavier. Plus, coil springs like sabre said.

 

It rides better than any pickup I've ever owned by a large margin. It's really, REALLY nice.

 

BUT...I do like the truck ride, and while I miss it a bit, I won't be selling the Avy any time soon

 

 

do you still have the "Frederado"?

 

what ever the **** that is

 

 

It's a Silverado named Fred. And yup. Still have it. Drove it to work last week

[EKinMN]

I owned a 2003 Avalanche. Now I own a 2010 Sierra, so i feel pretty able to comment.

 

RIDE -- Goes to Avy; very smooth and car like.

TOWING -- Both were fine, but I only tow 4,000 lbs.

 

My 2 biggest complaints on the Avy --

1. Visibility. Impossible to see out that little back window when trying to hook up a trailer. Backing out of the driveway into a street where a bunch of kids may be playing is terrifying, too. Can't see ANYTHING.

2. Cleaning/detailing. So many little things to do on the Avy with the rear panels, mid gate, etc. Just a pain.

 

I put a soft toneau on the 2010 Sierra All-Terrain, and will never, ever consider an Avalanche again. I love my SIERRA!