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Design Flaws / Shortcommings

B

Bundu

GUEST
I would love to get an Avalanche, however these are some of the design flaws I have noticed, and would like to share these ideas with Avalanche owners and prospective buyers out there.

1. The truck does not come with a fold out convertible style cover/separator sheet/window. If I am transporting a couple of dirtbikes, or ATV's, there is no way to seal off the drivers compartment from the back, also there is no protection for the door, the covers etc.

2. There is no way you can add a cap to this truck. With the baggage compartments opening upwards, this is a major flaw. A door opening inwards would have been so much better.

3. I have an idea for a bed extender which may be awesome. The rear gate needs a second folding section, which folds upwards, then out of the two side panels, we could have sliding panels which sealed with the flipped up tail gate, interlocking this into a fantastic bed extender.

4. If a cap could be added, an optional removable 3rd row seat could be added, amking for an awesome camper suv/sut vehicle.

Just some ideas to make a great truck even better.

Alan
 
Alan

Welcome to the club

If you go to snugtop.com you will see that they have a topper for the AV and it looks real nice. I think a couple of members have them.

Mark
 
Bundu said:
I would love to get an Avalanche, however these are some of the design flaws I have noticed, and would like to share these ideas with Avalanche owners and prospective buyers out there.

1. The truck does not come with a fold out convertible style cover/separator sheet/window. If I am transporting a couple of dirtbikes, or ATV's, there is no way to seal off the drivers compartment from the back, also there is no protection for the door, the covers etc.

2. There is no way you can add a cap to this truck. With the baggage compartments opening upwards, this is a major flaw. A door opening inwards would have been so much better.

3. I have an idea for a bed extender which may be awesome. The rear gate needs a second folding section, which folds upwards, then out of the two side panels, we could have sliding panels which sealed with the flipped up tail gate, interlocking this into a fantastic bed extender.

4. If a cap could be added, an optional removable 3rd row seat could be added, amking for an awesome camper suv/sut vehicle.

Just some ideas to make a great truck even better.

Alan
Click to expand...

Bundu,

Welcome to the boards, quite a bold post for a first post. Anyhow...

There is a top available for the Av - made by Snugtop.
There are covers you can purchase to protect the seats when they are folded. 3rd row seating sounds like a cool idea. Personally if I wanted to add a top and have 3rd row seating, I would have bought a Tahoe. Just my .02
 
1. A bike may fit with midgate up and window in resting the bike on the tailgate with a bed extender sold by GM....

2. As others have said snugtop has a top. the side bins are not usable when the top is on though.

3. I need a drawing I am unclear what you are describing.

4. Someone a long time ago mentioned bolting in some Subaru Baja type seats in.....but I think if I wanted the third row I would have opted for a suburban....which I was gonna buy......

Welcome to the club......
 
I like the Tahoe, I like the AV even more.

When I saw the AV fitted with a tent, I was left asking "What for ?", If there was a high roof cap, that would do the trick.

I have just checked the snugtop site, and found the XUV cap for the AV, very nice, how does this work with the compartments, also, is there a high roof option ?

Also the covers, would it not make sense if this was fitted with the vehicle and built into the rear seat/fold down. Almost seems like a glaring oversight on the part of GM.

A third row removable seat, to me, would be more an outdoor/camping option, something you can remove, and utilize outdoors.

As to the tool compartments, maybe a sliding door is the answer.

Just some thoughts.
 
Bundu said:
I would love to get an Avalanche, however these are some of the design flaws I have noticed, and would like to share these ideas with Avalanche owners and prospective buyers out there.

1. The truck does not come with a fold out convertible style cover/separator sheet/window. If I am transporting a couple of dirtbikes, or ATV's, there is no way to seal off the drivers compartment from the back, also there is no protection for the door, the covers etc.

2. There is no way you can add a cap to this truck. With the baggage compartments opening upwards, this is a major flaw. A door opening inwards would have been so much better.

3. I have an idea for a bed extender which may be awesome. The rear gate needs a second folding section, which folds upwards, then out of the two side panels, we could have sliding panels which sealed with the flipped up tail gate, interlocking this into a fantastic bed extender.

4. If a cap could be added, an optional removable 3rd row seat could be added, amking for an awesome camper suv/sut vehicle.

Just some ideas to make a great truck even better.

Alan
Click to expand...
Alan, sounds like you're a prime candidate for the new Envoy XUV!
 
The built in bed extender idea:

1. drop the tail gate flat, now lift up a flap which is hinged and facing forwards - just imagine bolting a board in place which is hinged. Once it is in the up position, you would have that 2 or so foot gap on either side of the 'new' foldup tailgate.

Now if we could slide out two panels from the left and right side of the bed - think of having two boards on sliders attached to the left and right side of the bed - these would lock into the flipped up tailgate.

A simple idea, which could work great, especially, if it is built in, and not an add on.

I wonder why this has not been done before !
 
Bundu said:
The built in bed extender idea:

1. drop the tail gate flat, now lift up a flap which is hinged and facing forwards - just imagine bolting a board in place which is hinged. Once it is in the up position, you would have that 2 or so foot gap on either side of the 'new' foldup tailgate.

Now if we could slide out two panels from the left and right side of the bed - think of having two boards on sliders attached to the left and right side of the bed - these would lock into the flipped up tailgate.

A simple idea, which could work great, especially, if it is built in, and not an add on.

I wonder why this has not been done before !
Click to expand...

I understand now......I gues one could be made and sold by them aftermarket companies.....

I do not have a need for a bed extender yet but I can see where others do....

Keep thinking like that and I am sure you will have others doing the MOD thing to their AVY >:D
 
Believe it or not, my brother designed something like this 20 years ago - just doodling around. We have spent countless hours debating the pros and cons of the AV. Our general consensus is - We like it.

Just had a look at the Envoy XUV, and I find it hard to believe that this truck will be able to match or beat the AV in versatility.

Oh yeah, one last question, would the 2500 be able to pull a fifth wheel, what mods are needed ?!
 
The avy cannot do a fifth wheel per the manual....

think it has to do with the sail and the high sides.....Check the owners manual on the resource page....it is in there.
 
The Av is unable to pull a fifth wheel, 1500 or 2500. The XUV would not be a good fit, they do not have a third row of seats.
 
Heck, no fifth wheel, now that is a major design flaw - anyway to get around it, redesign the mounting mechanism etc ?
 
Bundu said:
1. The truck does not come with a fold out convertible style cover/separator sheet/window. If I am transporting a couple of dirtbikes, or ATV's, there is no way to seal off the drivers compartment from the back, also there is no protection for the door, the covers etc.
Click to expand...
Unless your bikes are quite small, you'll soon find out (as I did) that they won't fit with the midgate down and the tailgate up. I bought a bed extender and leave the midgate up (thus providing a weathertight cab) during transport.

2. There is no way you can add a cap to this truck. With the baggage compartments opening upwards, this is a major flaw. A door opening inwards would have been so much better.
Click to expand...
Not a major flaw IMO when you consider GM offers a Suburban which gives you the cap you want. Also, inboard opening side compartment doors would require that you climb up onto the rear deck to get into them.

3. I have an idea for a bed extender which may be awesome. The rear gate needs a second folding section, which folds upwards, then out of the two side panels, we could have sliding panels which sealed with the flipped up tail gate, interlocking this into a fantastic bed extender.
Click to expand...
Great idea, but I assume the cost and additional weight it would add to an already heavy (to some) tailgate makes it prohibitive. Also, the support hardware that slides out from the sides of the bed would intrude into the side compartments.

4. If a cap could be added, an optional removable 3rd row seat could be added, amking for an awesome camper suv/sut vehicle.
Click to expand...
A third seat? Are you sure you don't really want a Suburban? ;)
 
Bundu said:
Heck, no fifth wheel, now that is a major design flaw - anyway to get around it, redesign the mounting mechanism etc ?
Click to expand...

It is not a flaw but a choice the designers and engineers made.....

again I have no need for a fifth wheel but I can see where some members may......


 
I want it all ;) anything wrong with that ;D

After all, we are talking SUT, XUT here :cool:
 
Bundu welcome to the club. I think u might be happier with a full size truck. The AV was not designed for everyone...ie 5 wheel pulling. I myself would not have gotten a AV if I thought I would ever need it to haul a 5wheel. I do whis there was some sort of zippered compartment u could seal the back from the front with the mid gate down!
 
JRyther said:
Why would you want to pull a fifth wheel with this. ?That is what a Dually if for. ?I like the fact that this vehicle can do a lot of things but lets be reasonable. ?It cannot be designed to do everything. ?I don't think there is a vehicle out there on the market that can do as much as the AV can as far as the functionality goes.

Jon
Click to expand...

Jon, given more thought and planning, the AV could do much much more - no !?

Which is not a bad thing ... yes ;)
 
Leather said:
I do wish there was some sort of zippered compartment u could seal the back from the front with the mid gate down!
Click to expand...

GM, are ya listening, I ain't the only one out here making this wish !!!

Where is Jean-Luc when you need him Make it so !
 
Bundu said:
Heck, no fifth wheel, now that is a major design flaw - anyway to get around it, redesign the mounting mechanism etc ?
Click to expand...
OK, OK... I take back my "You want a Suburban" comment. You want an F-250 SuperCrew Short Bed with removable 3rd row jumpseats. ;D

Good thread Bundu and welcome to the forum.
 
Tim, that's it - I was thinking F250 supercrew ala AV - what a marriage.

I like to dirtbike a lot, and a camping dirtbiking weekend is a heck o lot o fun.

Having a fifth wheel toy box trailer to haul the bikes and sleep in is the ultimate - now add to that a midgate 2500 fifth wheel hauling SUT and you have a winning combination.

I want one truck, not a garage filled with SUV's, trucks and more trucks !!! :eek:
 
welcome Bundu...I have a problem the term "design flaw" when describing personal fit. If my waist is a 36 and I'm trying to fit into a 32, it's not a design flaw...if you know what I mean :D.

Truckman :B:
 
I don't know bud, design flaw = no fifth wheel, side compartments don't work with a cap - seems like an oversight to me.
 
Welcome And good news Chevy just came out with a new truck I think you will love it comes with a cap and a third seat It's called a Suburban >:D
 
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