Avalanche Sail Accessories

[Behemoth]

I've been doing some thinking (which is always dangerous). What about those faux window openings in the Avalache's Sail panels. I was thinking of taking the grey panels off to see what is under there. I had an idea based on the snugtop filling those in of making a flag-like thing or other fabric and velcroing it into the opening.

I wondered if anyone else has thought about doing this. I would make some sort of panel, either a solid color or maybe something with a logo on it out of nylon, remove the panel, put the fabric in via velcro and replace the panel. Then I'd have a semi-permiable panel there. Anyone see flaws with the idea?

It might even be possible for someone to make a lexan sheet to fit in there too. I don't have the materials for that though.

Any suggestions out there?

 

[jackalanche]

I don't know about the sail cladding itself but I can tell you from experience (last night, in fact) that the plastic cladding that runs over the the top brake light between the two sails is NOT a simple "remove the seven screws and off it comes" job - they used the industrial strength double-sided tape on the top ridge and possibly the bottom as well. I now wonder if the same sticky tape is present behind the sails.

If you are curious, I was messing around with the cladding in this brake light area because I was investigating a location for rear facing lights (low profile, just under the rear roof ledge on either side, wired off of my reverse lights with a manual override switch). I decided to pull the interior molding off instead the check out how secure the location is, tomorrow night's project. . .

 

[timcosco]

If you are curious, I was messing around with the cladding in this brake light area because I was investigating a location for rear facing lights...

For loading your bike at night? Please keep us posted on what you find out... I need to do this mod too.

 

[spork_av]

I was thinking about some rear facing lights as well. Tie them into the cargo lamp button. I was also thinking of installing a button in one of the side compartments for the cargo lights as well.

As far as what is under the plastic sail panel, is a structual beam.

 

[jackalanche]

on the rear facing lights issue, Jason P has a nice wiring diagram for the course I plan to follow, that is, they come on in reverse or when I hit a switch - you could also use the same wiring concept for having them come on with your cargo lights or with a switch, it's a two solenoid trick:

http://users2.ev1.net/~jpendlum/Web Pages/REAR FOG LIGHT%

or just one solenoid for having them come on with the cargo lights or just with the reverse lights. For that sort of application, the light kit I have has everything you need.

as for keeping my pals posted, I have the lights already (KC units) so you know the mod is gonna happen soon, having an uninstalled mod laying around makes me itchy just need to locate it properly, and under the rear bumper is not an option on any of my trucks (they would last about a week before I would invaribly back into a hill or scrape the tail four wheelin', and rip them right off).

 

[jackalanche]

tim - just put the rear facing lights on, just under the rear ledge of the roof - the cladding is attached by double faced sticky tape on the top - roof side (so don't mess with that), but underside you just take out the screw on either side and then pull up while gripping the edges that burrow into the rubber on top of the window - the retaining clips slide out and free up the piece somewhat. Well, you will see that just like other areas of the Av there is no metal directly beneath the cladding - I drilled the holes to mount the light brackets about 1/2" up from the bottom edge (after reattaching the cladding first - look at the area underneath in question while you have the cladding detached to see the small, flat "target area" of metal in question), in line with where the interior center trim piece ends and mates with the two sides (you pull the center interiror piece off first to do this job, and remove the window retaining clamp units, fairly easily - gives you access into the area). but you need to solve for the fact that the cladding is 3/4" away from the metal where you need to bolt down the light brackets - I cut some pieces of 3/4" plywood as backer on either side- worked out great. I'll post pictures soon for you.

 

[timcosco]

...I'll post pictures soon for you.

Cool. Thanks much. There's a 4x4 shop across the alley from where I work. Maybe I'll pick up some lights and plunk 'em in this weekend when I add my power inverter.

 

[jackalanche]

you're handy so I may not need to say so, but this ain't the easiest mod I ever did - requires some creative thinking.

some other tips - definitely remove the rear glass retaining clamp units as I suggested, after you have the center trim piece off (that can be pulled off, it has metal clips) the retaining clamp units are removed by unscrewing the two bolts on the bottom, then the clamp unit tilts out from the top end only, a slight pry with a flat head screw driver will do it. As for keeping the light brackets from spinning (a problem since my KC brackets attach with a single bolt), I found it wise to drill a little keeper screw an inch off of the main bolt to ensure the bracket and light dont want to spin, since you can only get it so tight against the cladding - now you may be dealing with a two hole bracket like Pia uses, this would eliminate this problem but finding the best area for drilling the two side by side holes would be hard.

 

[Boar-Ral]

Beneath the sail panels on the back of the Avalanche you will find steel. (According to GM, it is for structural integrity, since the back of the Suburban essentially removed for the Avalanche.) I inspected that area as well, because I need to mount my GPS antenna on the roof and have been looking for a place to bring in the wiring. At the moment, the most likely way to bring it in will be along the front door trim and into the engine compartment, then through the firewall. It is not the most elegant solution, but it is the best I can come up with on my own.

 

[jackalanche]

wiring for the cargo lamps comes in through the sail panel area and then into the truck through the metal around the sides of the frame around the window

4/19 I should update that last comment - the wiring for what I assume is the cargo lights comes up through the sails (behind the cladding and then into the truck through a larg rubber grommet in the metal above the rear window, this point is located on the right hand side of the top of the frame when looking at the truck from the rear - I routed my rear lights wire through there too.