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Chevy Avalanche - opinions from owners

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3.7K views 26 replies 16 participants last post by  vonboldt  
#1 ·
Spotted a real clean 2010 Avalanche LTZ. Thinking of trading my 04 Tahoe. I've always liked the looks of them but have never driven one. To any of you owners out there, are you really happy with it? Anything you don't like about them, like the huge blind spots in the rear corners. Would really appreciate any honest feedback.

Thanks
Wink
 
#3 ·
Anyone i ever knew that had them, loved them. I used one for a week in florida a few years back and was impressed with it.
 
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#4 ·
I've had one since 2003. I'm pretty sure I got the first yellow one in Canada. At the time it was one of the only four door short box half tons you could buy.

It's basically a suburban with the back cut out into a box. Rides and handles better than most trucks. I love the tonneau cover system. I don't use the folding midgate much anymore since the kids car seats went in.

I have 288,000 km on mine on original drivetrain. Body is still solid. Overall, it's been a good vehicle and only let me down once with a bad fuel pump, which I should have proactively changed.

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#5 ·
The one I'm looking at has more miles than I would normally consider. But it was corporate owned for the first 90% of its life. According to the Carfax they took extremely good care of it. Lots of extra maintenance done to it. Going to take it for a drive this evening.
 
#7 ·
Like said earlier they are on the same frame/chassis as the suburban. The biggest drawback other than not being able to haul much in the box is the lack of rear spring support.On the older ones you could change out the rear springs with a set from a suburban z71 as they had larger springs. I'm not sure if the later models were this way.I'm sure you've seen an avalanche or suburban sagging in the rear while hauling a decent sized trailer. You could opt for a 3/4 ton avalanche if you can find one,they are quite rare.If you haul light loads it will doo just fine,and you can add an air lift system (air bags).I've installed these for a couple of my customers and they really liked them.
 
#9 ·
I have an '11 LTZ Tahoe, which is the same as the "10 Avalanche drivetrain. The Tahoe has air shocks in the back, self adjusting. The LTZ Avalanche does as well. Very nice-until they fail$$. Mine have not, but they all do in time. The motor is a 5.3, with engine management(Drops to running on four jugs when no load on engine, trans) The motor is very good is most applications, but the trans will continually shift down when towing under average loads. The mileage, even when towing, is very good, way better than the 5.4 Ford motor trans I had prior. Make no mistake, the Avalanche is not a 1/2 ton truck. Frame, trans, etc. It is a four seat SUV with a bed. The LTZ ride is awesome. I tow my four place and bigger equipment with a 3/4 ton diesel, tow boats with Tahoe so I really cant say how well it would do pulling over three tons.
 
#10 ·
The factory air ride will not be up to the task for a heavier load,only about 200 lbs tongue weight.The air lift system would work wonders on that suv.You would still be able to retain the soft ride while not towing. BTW the air ride system on any vehicle is no good,especially after @75000 miles.I prefer standard shocks (aftermarket kyb monomax) 10x more than factory air ride.
 
#11 · (Edited by Moderator)
I have an '11 LTZ Tahoe, which is the same as the "10 Avalanche drivetrain. The Tahoe has air shocks in the back, self adjusting. The LTZ Avalanche does as well. Very nice-until they fail$$. Mine have not, but they all do in time. The motor is a 5.3, with engine management(Drops to running on four jugs when no load on engine, trans) The motor is very good is most applications, but the trans will continually shift down when towing under average loads. The mileage, even when towing, is very good, way better than the 5.4 Ford motor trans I had prior. Make no mistake, the Avalanche is not a 1/2 ton truck. Frame, trans, etc. It is a four seat SUV with a bed. The LTZ ride is awesome. I tow my four place and bigger equipment with a 3/4 ton diesel, tow boats with Tahoe so I really cant say how well it would do pulling over three tons.
The only real difference between the 1500 suburban/avalanche and silverado is the rear suspension (coil vs leaf),and a shorter wheel base.The engine, trans,and drive train are the same.The 2500 series has leaf springs in the rear,same as silverado's.
 
#12 ·
My father has one, I drive it every now and then. It's a 2010 with 170k kms on it now and it's a beauty. It's a 2LT model, amazing ride. It will do everything a crew cab model will but with a nicer ride. It's also the only vehicle you'll go pick up gyproc with in the rain lol. When it was new I took it on a 2500km road trip and averages low 9.0L / 100kms fuel economy, that was also cruise set to 100km/h trying to be fuel smart. He's thinking of selling now as he wants something new. Overall it's been a good vehicle, I think he had a wheel bearing go but was covered under warranty, and a couple back up sensors go back. I wouldn't hesitate to buy one at all if it was clean and maintained.
 
#15 ·
I have an '08 LTZ hauling a 33' Triton Trailer hauling 3 race sleds and a RZR with tracks.

Rebuilt the air shocks & pump around 150,000, added air bag for extra hauling & brake controller.

Truck has K&N cold air intake system and an Edge Programmer.

Was happy with the vehicle until had a misfire issue last year and ended up being a design flaw with the engine management system. Instead of recalling the vehicles GM put out a service bulletin for the misfire, issue is the lifter will collapse and cause a dead cylinder.

Ended up costing me over $3500 as I was well over the 100,000 miles and GM won't do anything to help outside of that warranty period even though they know it's an issue. Vehicle also is higher on the oil consumption side of life, another issue from the engine management system...

Would I buy another one?? Not for the price they go for now!
 
#16 · (Edited by Moderator)
I have several customers who have them,and they all seem to like the Avalanche. It's a light duty truck at best,more suv like then truck.Can't haul dirt or gravel unless you want some inside your cab.It has the power train to pull a decent sized trailer that has little tongue weight.It has adequate braking(brake pad/rotor size) as well.The biggest drawback (imho) is too soft rear suspension, and tiny box (if you can call it that).I had a z71 suburban and liked the handling, but my sierra 2500hd does everything better.
 
#17 ·
I am an almost-owner. I looked at a handful of them before buying my crew cab half-ton. I really liked their ride. My crew cab was cheaper (used) and ultimately I liked the more useful box.

I also looked at a few GMC Envoy XUV's (the ones with the retractable roof). They just weren't pickup enough for me.
 
#18 ·
Loved my 2005. Would have bought another if they still made them. Got a Tahoe instead. I missed the trail bed a lot and was never thrilled with power train in the Tahoe but it was ok. Pricing is crazy on them now because there is a crowd out that's wants them but not enough for Chevy to justify production. Got a 2016 F150 now, interior comfort is equal, power is much better, ride is much worse, turning radius is much worse, has the pick up bed that I need.
 
#19 ·
Brother has one, not sure the year, but it has a lot of miles on it and he pulls boats, snowmachine trailers. Doesn't seem to have much of a problem. I pulled my boat out with his truck and it did just fine, but I was on mostly flat roads. My truck was at the body shop that weekend.
 
#20 ·
Thanks for all the help guys. Gonna make them an offer tomorrow. It's got a lot of miles on it for a 2010 bit it seems to have been very well maintained. Interior looks new. Car fax is clean and shows good maintenance history. If the deal goes through I will post pics.
 
#23 ·
My customers with the high mileage avalanches are 03-07.You are correct about the afm,I am not a fan of this system. I have a few customers complain about oil consumption on some gm's with afm,most of them 5.3L.I have heard similar complaints from the 3.9L.Oil is cheap,if one of my vehicles started using @1qt every 2000 miles or so I wouldn't be too concerned.Especially if it had over 100k.
 
#25 ·
I'm driving a 2013 LTZ - it's a great truck!

I heard about issues with the air compressor mounted behind the rear tire. I moved it into one of the side compartments and added a pressure gauge. I'm hauling a 4 place enclosed trailer, so the rear would sag a little. I just remounted the rear sensors so the compressor levels the truck off. It pumps up to 200 psi and holds it there.

Nice truck!
 
#26 · (Edited by Moderator)
I missed out on it. Tried too long for the perfect deal. Monday while I was working, I saw somebody taking it for a test drive. Sure enough, about an hour later, the salesman called and said it was sold. No hurry, I'll find another one someday.

One of my best friend owns a used car lot in Monroe Michigan, he's going to be on the lookout for one for me. I'm in no hurry this month or next year makes no difference to me.