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Snugtop on Cadillac EXT or body colored sail panel Avy

WhoAteMySoup

Full Member
Joined
Mar 6, 2011
Messages
349
I have recently come to the realization that I need a shell over my bed. Snugtop has been making shells for Avy's for some time now, however they are not "officially" compatible with the body colored cladding option (different 3rd brake light, and the sail panels are very slightly different), at least per my local Snugtop dealer. Personally I have a feeling the shell should fit, and that the only thing that might be different is the sail panel windows, which I don't mind modding my self.
http://www.snugtop.com/product/avalanchexuv

Does anyone on here have a snug top on a body colored cladding Avy? What was your experience like? Pictures?
 
One thing you might want to consider is any topper on painted cladding will probably create wear marks or scratches in the paint....
 
The EXT sail panel cladding is longer also
 
Vaeagleav said:
One thing you might want to consider is any topper on painted cladding will probably create wear marks or scratches in the paint....
True, but I have been abusing my Avy for around 6 years now, so most of my cladding is already scratched up. I am also not planning on taking the shell off once it's on. For one thing, I am tired of people asking me to move things.
 
MS03 2500 said:
The EXT sail panel cladding is longer also
I am a bit worried about that, but I swear that I stumbled upon a post where this one guy was swearing up and down that it fit just fine. I can't find this post now though :(
 
WhoAteMySoup said:
I am a bit worried about that, but I swear that I stumbled upon a post where this one guy was swearing up and down that it fit just fine. I can't find this post now though :(
the center brake light sits too high too I believe, the snugtop bolts in where the cladding meets the roof and in the bed grab handles
 
Does this help?  I am not sure how the EXT panels you have are different.  The top needs to lay flat on the roof and the sails.  Is there a hump or protrusion on the EXT that is not on the Standard AVY?  I would think the top (roof) bolt holes would be in the same position as the AVY?  That would be the most critical aspect.  The panels can be changed if they do have a different contour.
 

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Lol.  It is a 2007 Avalanche LTZ.  Read the above post again.  Are your sail panels shaped different then standard avy sails?
 

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Linescreamer said:
I can't put up any clear pics because of the picture size restriction on this site.  I can text you some if need be.
Lol, I thought you were trolling at first. Yeah, the top bolts are exactly the same. The EXT third brake light is larger, and protrudes a bit higher, although I am not sure if that will cause issues or not. I don't know if the sail panel are much different, at a glance they look about the same. I was just hoping that someone with an EXT or a later model Avy that had this option already did a test fit.
 
I don't remember reading about any members with EXT or 2013Av cladding adding a Snugtop and any fitment issues. I do remember threads where some members have tried to install a first generation AV Snugtop to a second Generation AV and there was some fitment issue with rear glass and tailgate trim. I believe they had to trim the Snugtop glass to get it to fit properly....You may want to do a search to find those old threads?
 
Vaeagleav said:
I don't remember reading about any members with EXT or 2013Av cladding adding a Snugtop and any fitment issues. I do remember threads where some members have tried to install a first generation AV Snugtop to a second Generation AV and there was some fitment issue with rear glass and tailgate trim. I believe they had to trim the Snugtop glass to get it to fit properly....You may want to do a search to find those old threads?
When I first started researching the snugtop I stumbled upon a long thread where I swear, one guy was posting about fitting a snugtop on EXT cladding. He said that the only issue he had is with the sail panel windows that did not fit, so he ended up making his own. I am struggling to find this thread again though :(
 
Maybe the comment in this thread was it?

http://www.chevyavalanchefanclub.com/cafcna/index.php/topic,143542.0.html
 
No that, was not it. I am positive it was in this thread, but I can't find it anymore:
http://www.chevyavalanchefanclub.com/cafcna/index.php/topic,72937.625.html
 
Another thing you need to remember especially if you don't plan on removing the Snugtop, once installed is that you will loose use and access to the side storage bins unless you do "the boat hatch" mod and cut holes into the sides of your bed walls and access the bins from inside. Then if you don't want to do that you have to install and remove as needed, that opens up a new can of worms with how to remove and store when not needed. Maybe a garage pulley system like in one of the older threads?
Or you just have to say NO to your friends if you are tired of being their moving truck.. >:D  That would be the cheapest and easiest solution to your problem.  :laugh:

I drove Suburbans for 16 years before my first AV and have had AVs for 13 years now and just my .02 if I wanted an enclosed SUV type I would just get another Suburban not a Snugtop yet if I wanted an SUV ride with versatility and had a need for a truck bed I would get another AV if they made them...
 
If I knew everything I know now back when I was buying my Avalanche I probably would have went for a non-LTZ (stupid autoride makes things more complicated) Suburban with a 6.0L engine. But I bought what I bought, and it is the first vehicle I ever owned that I did not want to get rid of after 5 years. It's my baby now.
Anyway, I had a budget for a snugtop or a proper lift kit. It sounds like I would have to change my cladding to do the snugtop, so a lift kit it is. Just purchased a 6" Fabtech kit, should be here on the 21st.
 
LOL if I knew what I have learned I would have bought a 2002 2500.

Live and learn you have to pay for all the toys in repairs for a LTZ
 
My snuggie thread has some good info, not sure if there is something that can help you:

http://www.chevyavalanchefanclub.com/cafcna/index.php/topic,141323.0.html


Or this forum thread:
http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/cadillac-escalade-ext-esv-forum-2007/272846-no-snugtop-camper-escalade-ext.html


Google search:
https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#safe=active&q=snugtop+on+cadillac+ext
 
blu_fuz said:
My snuggie thread has some good info, not sure if there is something that can help you:

http://www.chevyavalanchefanclub.com/cafcna/index.php/topic,141323.0.html


Or this forum thread:
http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/cadillac-escalade-ext-esv-forum-2007/272846-no-snugtop-camper-escalade-ext.html


Google search:
https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#safe=active&q=snugtop+on+cadillac+ext

Thanks. I ran into most of these threads before, except yours. At this point I am convinced that the only way to get the snug top is to switch over to standard Avalanche cladding (painted or not).

P.S. My favorite search method on pretty much any forum involves the use of google. If your search term starts with "site:www.example.com" you can just search pages from that website. As an example: "site:http://www.chevyavalanchefanclub.com snugtop+ext"
 
Good to see someone else knows how to do a Boolean search
 
WhoAteMySoup said:
Thanks. I ran into most of these threads before, except yours. At this point I am convinced that the only way to get the snug top is to switch over to standard Avalanche cladding (painted or not).

If the third brake light from that EXT fits on the standard Avy, the snugtop will fit on the EXT.  I have yet to see an EXT that has a different profile then the AVY. The snugtop lays forward of the actual brake light and bumps up prior to where it looks like the brake light is located. There is a few inches of clearance between my brake light and the underside of the snugtop. Hey, I could be wrong but I doubt it.
 
Linescreamer said:
If the third brake light from that EXT fits on the standard Avy, the snugtop will fit on the EXT.  I have yet to see an EXT that has a different profile then the AVY. The snugtop lays forward of the actual brake light and bumps up prior to where it looks like the brake light is located. There is a few inches of clearance between my brake light and the underside of the snugtop. Hey, I could be wrong but I doubt it.
Good to know. I will see if I can do a test fit some time in the future. For now though, I have abandoned the snugtop idea.
 
Linescreamer said:
If the third brake light from that EXT fits on the standard Avy, the snugtop will fit on the EXT.  I have yet to see an EXT that has a different profile then the AVY. The snugtop lays forward of the actual brake light and bumps up prior to where it looks like the brake light is located. There is a few inches of clearance between my brake light and the underside of the snugtop. Hey, I could be wrong but I doubt it.
if you look up a 3rd brake light swap, you do need to change the sail panels as elk as the center section. The only thing that might save you is that the difference that makes you need to change it is on the inside edges.
 
I am trying to make my own cap so it will look like a Suburban more.  I have the 2000-2006 back panel glass just need to make the cap frame.  This requires removing the cladding sails, panel doors and brake light arch.  I think the gray cladding makes the snugtop cap painted look off.  I have a image I did at bottom of this page of how it would look as the Suburban.  http://www.chevyavalanchefanclub.com/cafcna/index.php/topic,150514.0.html

Can that snugtop place make the cap the way I want it?  Really I would like the shell and I can add the Suburban panel glass onto it.
 
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