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Avalanche Vs Crew Cab Silverado

S

Sarge

Full Member
Joined
Apr 26, 2003
Messages
29
Location
Virginia
I have ordered a 2003 Avalanche, Summit White without body hardware. In doing some comparisons with Silverado, it looks like they sat a Crew Cab on the Avalanche when body hardware is not installed. The front end is the same as a Silverado, Headlights on top, turn signals on bottom. When you have the body hardware, the Turn signals are on top and the headlights are on the bottom.

Now to my question, I am coming out of a 99 Silverado, should I stay with the Avalanche I have on order, or just get a crew cab Silverado? Can the Avalanche haul as much as a pickup truck? I don't do much hauling, but I do get a load of mulch or dirt once in awhile.

Sorry for being long winded, I really like the Avalanche and what I have been reading on this forum I have made the right choice.
 
You have indeed made the right choice (even though you went w/o cladding :cautious: ) ;) And yes you can easily haul a load of mulch or dirt once in awhile. ?:D
Welcome to the club and enjoy that AV when it arrives - you have many friends here.
If you need any help here let me know! ?;) :)

P.S. Allways remember the Silverado is just a truck (a nice truck mind you) , but the AV is a lifestyle! (y)
 
I believe you should stay with the AV...
But it is your decision...
Crew Cab is longer than the AV.. thus driving around the town maybe difficult, unless you have the money for the QuadraSteer? and you only have the choice of a 6.5 ft or 8 ft box (2500)... Next year you'll have the option of a shorter box ( around 5 ft )...if you need longer, drop the tailgate...
AV is 5' 3" or 8'1"..and its covered....and lockable from the factory...
Cab area is the same...
Engine, is different... 6.0 L for crew cab, AV is 5.3 L...(both on the 1500) 8.1L on 2500 series...
Now the AV with WBH has the silverado front end..because of the front bumper...
Extended Cab is the same length as the AV but not as versatile...
Still waiting for my AV to be built... (scheduled for week of May 5th )
My MOD list is still growing ( some are Wish list, and the others will be completed this summer )
Enjoy the AV... I know I will!!!!!! :love: ;D >:D
 
Absolutely the Avalanche. I went from an extended cab Chevy and never looked back. What I really like about the Avalanche is the lockable rear storage and the four seperate doors. I also like the ability to sleep inside the back of the Avalanche.

I helped a friend move last weekend and put the midgate down so I had plenty of hauling space. The Avalanche sides are taller and there is no wheel well to deal with. I have always had plenty of room, even with the midgate up, to haul whatever I needed.

I think it will hold a yard of bark or dirt but loading is not as easy, I hear. Even if it wouldn't, for the time or two that you need to haul bulk baterials you can rent a trailor or have it delivered. The other advantages really out weigh a couple rentals.
 
dichris, where or how are you getting your build info from? I ordered mine on April 18 and was told I could expect to see it around the first of June. By the way thanks for the input, I feel like I have made the right choice.
 
The Silverado will haul more dirt, probably a yard and a half legally, probably 2 yards easily, but the Av is probably only good for half to three quarters of a yard. Mulch is much lighter, not a problem. The Av will ride much nicer, the 1500HD rides stiff. If you only haul once a month the Av should do.
 
I would never haul loose dirt or mulch in the AV. Too many cracks, hinges and such for it to get into and be difficult to get out. I am probably in the minority here though. I do haul stuff occaisionally but only if it is in bags, and/ or I can think of a way to prevent the problems mentioned above.
The AV ride is ten times better than a standard pick-up. I'd stick with the AV even though when I do want to haul I have to take some extra stups to protect my ride.
 
Go with the Av. I was in the same spot 2 years ago when I was looking for a new truck.

I use my truck for work. I have yet to say my truck is too small to haul materials. I carry anything from 8' ladders, 10' conduit, 4x8 plywood, large cable spools, and all kinds of tools. All of this with the top on and the midgate down. You would have never know I had any of this in the truck. That is the best part that I like.

At work everyone else has F-150 trucks. My Av out carries and out tows them day by day.

I have loaded 1 yard of top soil in my Av and had no problems. They had to load it with a front end loader. The only thing is the had to drop it side ways.

The Av is a great work truck, plus you can always carry your kids and family when you are not working.
 
Welcome... my two cents says stay with the AV. Don't be surpised that the AV is not as much of a "hauler" for dirt and grime, tho'. The advantage of the midgate means that you have to take precautions for hauling anything that may compromise that seal.

The deciding factor for me of Av over crew cab is this website. I don't know of any other truck that has this kind of dedicated support system. No truck is perfect, but the Av sure does come close for my needs :)

-DavidC166
 
I know I won't be hauling mulch or dirt with my Av, I can always get a trailer to do the dirty work! I know I have made the right choice thanks to everyone here and this awesome forum! ;D
 
I don't think the Av is for work, I think it is for fun and maybe the occasional home project. I'm in commercial construction and I can't imagine and field personnel choosing the Av for hard work. It's capable, just no practical for that and would be destroyed.

Regarding the original post, I drove both and the difference in ride was completely obvious. Coils vs. leafs in the back makes a difference IMO.

If I ever needed to haul anything loose/dirty, I'd probably go the trailer route. Bagged mulch and maybe light building materials will likely be the only stuff in my bed. Most other times it will be strollers, pack-n-plays, toys, etc. :)
 
My garage was the deciding factor for me. ?Silverado HD would not fit.

Glad it wouldn't now ;)
 
In addition to all the things mentioned above, another deciding factor was the Side Airbags. I don't believe you can get the side airbags in the silverado and with my growing family, this made a deciding factor for me.
-Dave
 
half-breed said:
If you haul dirt or loose mulch place a tarp in first, when you are done pull it out and the Av is clean.
Click to expand...
And after setting down the tarp. place a sheet of old plywood ON TOP of the tarp, then load up the truck. When it comes time to unload, this will let you shovel out the load without the shovel catching on and tearing the tarp.

-- SS
 
The 1500HD crew cab had a payload I think of 3000 lbs (a yard and a half of black dirt) and the Av 1350 which is about a half to 3/4 yard. The 1500HD rides like a truck, the Av like a Yukon.
 
If GM had a Supercrew-type CC I probably would have bought one. The 1500HD was out because it's tooooo loooong. I didn't even like my X-cab's long wheelbase. And as previously mentioned there's the ride. No pickup comes close. BTW, there's a supposed Canadian GM Employee on another Site stating that GM is about ready to tool up for a Short, Short Bed CC. Supposedly a light-duty 1/2 ton with bed length in the area of 5'10''. That's the only place I've heard of it though.
 
My vote is for the AV. I am a former Silverado owner (extended cab). My wife and I have three kids (14, 11, 6), and we recently went on a road trip for springbreak to Utah from Oregon to visit friends with our 03 AV and my wife and I still have our sanity. We were so impressed with the ride of the AV, it maneuvers great, there was enough room in back for the kids, and what we took down and what extra came back was all in the back under the covers. I like how I can lock the bed with the covers on and it is weatherproof.
It is so much of a step up from our truck. If my wife wants to get barkdust or dirt she can just take the covers off the bed, instead of me and some buddies taking the canopy off. My wife and I are not fans of the body hardware, but what won us over was the Interior styling and the room in back. We love our AV, so buy the AV.
 
I almost bought the crew cab but after comparing the two, the AV was the way to go.

PRO:
Shorter turning radius
Fits in the garage
Larger gas tank
Rides much better
Has lockable storage (try shopping with four people in a crew cab)

The cost was about about the same (6.0 vs 8.1) if you add in a bed linner and bed cover. The AV is actually less expensive if you are comparing an 8.1 Allison vs the AV 8.1.

 
Sarge,

I came out of a 00' Silverado 1/2 ton into my 03' Av 3/4 ton. The ride & seat comfort is sooooo much better in the Av that you won't consider going back to a pickup. I have not missed my Silverado one bit.
 
Side Airbags are not standard on 03... need to order OnStar to get them.... No OnStar for this guy!!
Click to expand...

Hey - I learn something new everyday. This was one of my reasons of purchasing an Avalanche. I don't even think you can get the side airbags in a Silverado - but I have been wrong before.
-Dave
 
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