Offroad fun in Langenaltheim with a front drive Avalanche!!!!

[Schelbi]

Hi guys,

I've been in Langenaltheim again yesterday. Not like last time with my Toyo ATs but with Maxxis MTs.

I was really great with these tires. A lot of guys told me they can not believe what a Avalanche can do.

But this time we had a lot of problems.
 
A Jeep Wrangler of our group was stuck in mud more than 1 m deep.  Now his engine is dead and his wheels are blocked. 
A Cherokee had smocking front brakes on the way back home.
And I killed my rear end. I drove back home with a front driven Avalanche

Today my dealer is looking after the rear diff of my Avalanche while I took his Dodge Dakota.

Here are some pics:

[Schelbi]

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[chevyfan-germany]

  schelbi  but how you got the truck home....you took out the drive shaft 

[Schelbi]

No. I just drove home very carefully. There was definitely no connection between the drive shaft and the wheels.

I've been at the shop 5 minutes ago and now I know the reason. The 2 smaller bevel gears are broken in 100 parts. They did not only loose some teeths but they are completely broken and only a few parts are left at the bottom of the diff housing.

My mechanic told me that on most trucks there are 4 of this bevel gears but with the G80 locker there is only enough space for two of them. And these 2 are too weak for a heavy truck like the Avalanche  with a strong engine in 4low mode offroad.

Now I can replace the diff with G80 or without it or put a better manual locker with 4 bevel gears 

[Schelbi]

While I'm waiting for my truck here some more pics:

[Schelbi]

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[ygmn]

Look like all had fun..

as for rear end check out performance section for some stronger upgrades members have done.... might be better to go stronger to lessen breakage chances

[chevyfan-germany]

While I'm waiting for my truck here some more pics:

I see you had a yellow two there also  how did it perform  all I do here in Lithuania with  mine is drivig mud roads to my House 

[Schelbi]

I will definitely upgrade the rear end.

I will not use the G80 anymore. A few friends of mine produce their own 100% locker. It's called offrotec locker designed by their  former boss Frieder Schwarz.  Offrotec is not making the lockers for the Avalanche yet but they will use mine as a master to adapt their system to the GM axle. When my locker is ready they can easily produce more for the AV.

This will take a few days and its not cheap but its a very good and reliable system.

In Germany you see a lot of Jeeps with the Offrotec locker or how it was called "Schwarz Sperre".

[Schelbi]

I see you had a yellow two there also  Thumbs up! how did it perform  Tongue all I do here in Lithuania with  mine is drivig mud roads to my House  Drive!

Sorry, but I have to disappoint you. The H2 driver tried to drive up the long hill 3 times. He didn't even make to the middle of the hill. The 3rd try his drive shafts broke and he left the area on the back of a wrecking truck.
No chance against the old Cherokees or Wranglers. Even a small stock Suzuki Vitara with road tires and my Avalanche have been much better.

[Schelbi]

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[Schelbi]

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[Schelbi]

BTW here are 2 pics of a crazy self made truck of a German Jeep dealer.

[Schelbi]

I'll try to convert my avi videos into flv format and to put them on my homepage. The avi videos are 2.11 gigabyte. definitely too much for the web.

[Loggie]

Dude that looked awesome 

[Schelbi]

Wait until you see the video My AV was the most dirty truck of the weekend

On the other hand my rear differential and the underside of my AV is no longer awesome

But it was worth it

[Loggie]

Wait until you see the video My AV was the most dirty truck of the weekend

On the other hand my rear differential and the underside of my AV is no longer awesome

But it was worth it

Dude Sorry about the rear diff but I’m sure it was worth it…can’t wait to see the video

[chevyfan-germany]

Sorry, but I have to disappoint you. The H2 driver tried to drive up the long hill 3 times. He didn't even make to the middle of the hill. The 3rd try his drive shafts broke and he left the area on the back of a wrecking truck.
No chance against the old Cherokees or Wranglers. Even a small stock Suzuki Vitara with road tires and my Avalanche have been much better.

why would I disappointed     95% the drivers don't know how to offroad ....I was asked here to go offroad ,but I'm part of the 95% so I cut out on it  
hey ....great pix you shot there      ...I enjoy looking at them from the pavement side......

[Schelbi]

...I enjoy looking at them from the pavement side...... Grin

Thats definitely cheaper

The new rear end locker is appointed.
At sunday I will bring my old diff basket to Czechia. There is the company that will produce my new one and they need the old one for the measurements.
The stock one has 2 spider gears while the new has 3 of them. And every single gear is stronger than than stock.

It is actuated by vacuum so I don't need a air system like the ARB.

Here is a pic of a Offrotec locker for a Jeep:

I'll keep you updated.

[Schelbi]

A drawing of the new locker and a pic of the remains of my G80 locker:

[ygmn]

those big chunks are your problem.... hehehe

[Loggie]

  dang dude! 

[Schelbi]

I know it took a long time but finally I finished the video of the day in Langenaltheim.

Just click on "my videos":

http://www.myspace.com/Schelbi

I hope you like it

[02 Z71]

I know it took a long time but finally I finished the video of the day in Langenaltheim.

Just click on the little camera symbol:

http://www.xlv750.de/Fotoalbum/2008/Offroad_Langenaltheim_2/offroad_langenaltheim_2.html

I hope you like it

Looks like you had fun. Great pics and great video. Sorry about your rear end.

Nice to have a devoted place for 4x4ing with porta potties 

[chevyfan-germany]

I know it took a long time but finally I finished the video of the day in Langenaltheim.

Just click on the little camera symbol:

http://www.xlv750.de/Fotoalbum/2008/Offroad_Langenaltheim_2/offroad_langenaltheim_2.html

I hope you like it

nice man....can tell by the strange sound I heard you need a Lift 

[Schelbi]

Thumbs up! Cool! nice man....can tell by the strange sound I heard you need a Lift  Grin

Yes, I need it definitely!

Last week I got 2'' coil spacers for the rear suspension. Together with the manual locker this should improve the offroad perfomance for the next trip.

Maybe the next time will be near Budweis in Czechia in 2 weeks. But I'm not sure if I will attend this trip.

[gn85]

Cool video.  Actually made me homesick for Germany.  But now I know what it's like to drive an Av on German roads.  That's pretty scary.

[K-9 kennellanche]

great pictures!  can you tell me what is the difference in the avalanche rear bumper..??
looks different

[Schelbi]

Thanks.

About the rear bumper:

if you are talking about this picture the difference is the missing left rear cladding as well as both plastic plates. I lost these pieces when I killed a little tree

But when I took the pics the plastic pieces have been in the bed. I just needed some new plastic clips to attach the cladding again. These clips are only a few $ for a 15 piece package.

The other difference is the round light you can see in the bumper. It's a backup light and a reflector ring around it. I needed the stock backup lights for amber turn signals. The red turn signals are not allowed in Germany.

That's all.

Schelbi.