New Truck in the Rose Fleet

"JR1" (type35bugatti) 10/14/2014 at 09:45 • Filed to: Chevy Avalanche

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Say hello to over 5000 pounds of American excess, power, and towing capability. Our 2004 Chevy Avalanche has 85000 miles and has a 5.3 liter V8 American motor. God bless the USA.

Such Amercaness brings a tear of joy to my eye. Honestly thought Oppo this puppy is loaded and I had no idea the rear folds down to make the 5 1/2ft bed 8ft. I am super pumped we bought this truck because I love trucks and I always liked the odd ball nature of the Avalanche. Anyone have one or feel strongly that they suck speak up now is the time or forever hold your peace.

PS the bottom picture more accurately represents our new truck with the plastic trim on it. Kinda ugly but I can live with it.

ly2v8-Brian > JR1 10/14/2014 at 09:47

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Awesome!

JBurd67 > JR1 10/14/2014 at 09:50

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Congrats! Honestly, it's not the truck for me, but those are great drivetrains. And only 85k? Drive it till it dies! That'll last you forever.

Love this pic, btw.

TillTheWheelsFallOff: Brocoma > JR1 10/14/2014 at 09:51

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Angry face best face. Congrats on the new truck!

As a kid, these looked like hotwheels cars to me, especially with the plastic body panels. The 2500 with the 8.1 tickles my fancy.

Nibby > JR1 10/14/2014 at 09:54

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Congrats!

JR1 > TillTheWheelsFallOff: Brocoma 10/14/2014 at 09:55

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I am not sure where they got the idea for plastic body panels. I mean on the bright side they won't rust!

JR1 > JBurd67 10/14/2014 at 09:56

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I mean it is based on a LS engine if I am correct. I shoot it with a pistol and the sucker would still work

JR1 > Nibby 10/14/2014 at 09:56

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Thank you!

CalzoneGolem > JR1 10/14/2014 at 09:57

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The plastic panels are great because you can smash them on snowbanks and replace them without painting.

TDogg > JR1 10/14/2014 at 10:08

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More plastic means less rust, so win. Congrats on the new ride!

Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready > JR1 10/14/2014 at 10:08

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Not Murican enough. Needs the 8.1.

thebigbossyboss > JR1 10/14/2014 at 10:09

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I have a friend who used to have an Avalanche. Got rid of it once the engine seized. He had the 5.3L. Not sure what year.

thebigbossyboss > JBurd67 10/14/2014 at 10:09

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My friends Avalanche had it's 5.3L engine seize.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > JR1 10/14/2014 at 10:10

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Nice! I at one point looked at one of these with the 8+ liter motor and it had been converted to run on CNG. The 5.3 is probably a much more efficient choice, haha.

JBurd67 > thebigbossyboss 10/14/2014 at 10:11

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Interesting. I've never seen much for problems with those at all. Several that I know of have well over 200k.

TillTheWheelsFallOff: Brocoma > JR1 10/14/2014 at 10:16

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If you bash one up real good, I bet it's nice just to buy a new panel, rather than the bedside and paint. Those panels might make this one of the best winter vehicles as well!

thebigbossyboss > JBurd67 10/14/2014 at 10:17

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I don't really know what to say. I know he had the 5.3L. I know it seized. I think he kept up-ish with maintenance. He's not as religious about it as me, but I mean I doubt he'd let it run dry. Maybe he did. I only ever rode in the truck once.

I am pretty sure it didn't seized because it was dry though, I seem to remember him describing some part had stopped working (oil pump maybe?). But anyways. It is what it is. He has a BMW 3 now.

JBurd67 > thebigbossyboss 10/14/2014 at 10:21

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That's not a bad choice either! I'd take that instead of a seized 5.3L.

What vehicle was the engine in?

thebigbossyboss > JBurd67 10/14/2014 at 10:22

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It was an Avalanche. Not sure what exact year but I think it was in the 06-08 range, I don't think it was newer than that.

JR1 > CalzoneGolem 10/14/2014 at 10:24

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It might be ugly but the upsides to the plastic are really quite nice!

JR1 > TDogg 10/14/2014 at 10:25

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Thank you!

Vicente Esteve > JR1 10/14/2014 at 10:25

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Thats awesome, I love the Avalanche! The Z71s are seriously cool trucks.

JR1 > thebigbossyboss 10/14/2014 at 10:26

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That seems odd I always thought the 5.3 was super reliable

CalzoneGolem > JR1 10/14/2014 at 10:26

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My next vehicle will be a truck and it might just be one of these.

JR1 > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs 10/14/2014 at 10:26

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14 city 18 highway! Not very efficient but that is a truck for you!

Mattbob > JR1 10/14/2014 at 10:27

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are you sure it's not mexican? Was it built in Silao?

JBurd67 > thebigbossyboss 10/14/2014 at 10:27

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Oh duh. You mentioned that. My bad. Sorry to hear that though. It's always tragic when that happens. There's always gotta be a few lemons though...

JR1 > TillTheWheelsFallOff: Brocoma 10/14/2014 at 10:27

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It doesn't have any rust we are hoping to keep it that way

JR1 > Vicente Esteve 10/14/2014 at 10:28

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I wish we got the Z71 but I just like the uniqueness of the platform very cool and out of the box design

JR1 > CalzoneGolem 10/14/2014 at 10:29

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I will let you know what we think about it whenever the time comes you want to buy one. From the reviews I have seen everyone seems to love the Avalanche

JR1 > Mattbob 10/14/2014 at 10:29

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I have no idea honestly I just assumed

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > JR1 10/14/2014 at 10:29

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Haha yep! Which transmission came in yours?

JR1 > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs 10/14/2014 at 10:32

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Not sure it is one of the 4 speeds. Dad bought it and we pick it up Thursday I should know by then

thebigbossyboss > JBurd67 10/14/2014 at 10:32

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Yeah no doubt it was lemony, or maintenance was forsaken. Oh well.

Mattbob > JR1 10/14/2014 at 10:33

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ehh, either way, it looks like a handy truck to have.

thebigbossyboss > JR1 10/14/2014 at 10:33

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Apparently it (usually) is. This one was not. Don't know what else to say maybe. Check your dipstick once in a while I guess.

CalzoneGolem > JR1 10/14/2014 at 10:34

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I've been in one a few times it's nice an comfy inside. I've never experienced one with the back open.

Vicente Esteve > JR1 10/14/2014 at 10:35

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I know, also it was the first truck to have the "Ram Box".

dinobot666 > JR1 10/14/2014 at 10:35

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Be advised that replacement panels for the bed cover are about a grand a piece, so don't lose them or crack one of them.

In general, the Avalanche was a pretty low volume vehicle, so replacement body parts are pretty difficult to come by, and are quite expensive. I love the pass through on these rigs though.

Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 > JR1 10/14/2014 at 10:41

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Great truck, my friends dad has one that has about 280k and still chuggin'

I just can't believe automakers thought they could sell cars without painting them. Well, they did, but I think it's just sad. The Element got it the worst.

JR1 > thebigbossyboss 10/14/2014 at 10:57

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Thanks for the tip!

JR1 > CalzoneGolem 10/14/2014 at 10:57

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I am interested to see how that experience goes I am curious

JR1 > dinobot666 10/14/2014 at 10:59

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A grand a piece? Thanks for the tip I don't plan on cracking one though. I also hope we don't have to replace body parts on it but I guess only time will tell.

JR1 > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 10/14/2014 at 10:59

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On the bright side the plastic does mean no rust

dinobot666 > JR1 10/14/2014 at 11:08

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Yeah, seriously, they're a thousand dollars per individual section.

EDIT: list is $962.00 for the first section alone! Then it's $947.00 and $962.00 for the third section.

JR1 > dinobot666 10/14/2014 at 11:24

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Damn! Must not break the panel

1337HPMustang > JR1 10/14/2014 at 17:42

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Tohru > JR1 10/14/2014 at 17:55

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The metal behind the plastic panels rusts. By the time you know about it, the panel has come off and there's no metal to reattach it too.

JR1 > Tohru 10/14/2014 at 18:24

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Ignorance is bliss