Elanachan
Full Member
Hello there, honestly not sure which subforum I should be putting this in, but figured sorting by year model might cover the widest topic range for what I'm trying to do. That being said, welcome to what is going to be my thread here regarding all projects, upgrades, etc, for my new avy. Bellow in this post I am using the titles of the various subforums to compartmentalize the various aspects of what I'm doing with my avy, if a thread in one of those sections is relevant to something I'm doing with this, I will try to provide links to the topics.
Maintenance & Care
2/16/2022 - As of when I made my purchase yesterday, the odometer clocked in at roughly 155k miles.
One of the first things I do with my avy, quite possibly the first thing I take care of after getting new tires, will be to solve the problem of the paint peeling off of the hood and front bumper. In the case of the hood, I'm likely to simply get it repainted, while the bumper, I have a long-term intention of swapping it out for something from Iron Bull, or something similar.
Problems
[Space reserved for future use]
Accessories & Modifications
The first thing I will note here is that my Avy came with a snugtop shell, and lacks the factory tonneau cover. When I was initially shopping around, I had no intention of installing a hard campershell if I purchased one that didn't have it, but sense mine does, it seems to me I should make the most of it. I am not ruling out the option of eventually removing it, but I want to try and take advantage of the fact it came with one, while also weighing the pros and cons of having it on.
As mentioned above, my Avy did not come with the factory bed cover. While it is not on the top of my list of things to get for it, I do intend on getting a replacement, as I like what I've read from others about the idea of having split-level storage options with the camper shell equipped as well.
I have not made up my mind on whether or not I should pursue the modifications, but a couple of things I am considering adding to the bed are the boat hatch doors for the saddle bags, and added electrical needed to install a 120v outlet in the bed. In addition to possibly doing something like a minifridge for offroading/camping trips, having this outlet available would be an enormous help for being able to run power tools off of it when working on projects at my parent's property which currently has no infrastructure.
Performance Modifications
This section will likely be filled mostly by desirable suggestions made by members here, and mechanics I work with when installing modifications in other areas.
Offroad & 4x4 Driving
Bellow is my initial thought when it comes to this section, I am also likely to share my experience in subsiquent post with the various trips I take away from pavement.
The very first upgrade I will be doing is to give it some proper offroad tires, and after a brief search last night I'm happy to discover that I can fit BFG K02s without having to search for new wheel rims.
I will admit that when I purchased the vehicle, I didn't realize that the Z in LTZ did not denote the offroad package. This could be a mixed blessing, as a number of off-roading upgrades I am considering would've superseded most of the improvements imparted by the Z71 package.
As far as body armor, in addition to the bumper mentioned above, I will be wanting to install some heavy-duty skid plates and rock rails. One thing I will be looking for with bumper options would be to have something that would potentially allow for mounting a snowplow, this is not a mandatory thing, but with versatility being the overarching theme of this build, it is still desirable to have this option.
Between the kinds of offroading trails I want to do with this, in addition to the possibility of plowing roads for people in the winter, I have come to the conclusion that installing a mechanically-actuated Ox Locker is probably my best option for a rear differential lock. For this I will be eagerly looking for suggestions on where to mount the shifting lever.
In some ways (mostly purchase price), the Avalanche I ended up with is acting as a more economical alternative to my original goal, which was to get my hands on a Jeep Gladiator. With these modifications in particular, I am taking what I learned when planning things out for that, and applying some of them to my Avy build. To give my avi some overall stronger tires, and to improve the breakover angle, I am strongly considering an eventual suspension lift and putting oversized offroad tires on it. My initial thought is to give it enough clearance to accept 35s without rubbing, but I may be willing to go with something a little smaller. The main limitation here on just how much I'm willing to lift the vehicle is ease of entry for those in my family who would potentially need assistance getting into the vehicle. Depending on how things are looking, I might consider doing a combination suspension and body lift to help keep the center of gravity relatively low.
On the topic of rock sliders, I know from my search around the forum as a whole that these more often than not end up becoming a custom fabrication for us. In my case, to help with ease of entry, whatever I end up with will not only protect the vehicle, but replace the factory running boards as functional side steps.
Towing & Hauling
Right in line with the jane of all trades nature of my avy, I will occasionally be using it as a tow vehicle. As of now, it is the only vehicle within the household that is able to pull both our little 3600lb GVWR cargo trailer, as well as my grandparent's ski boat. The possibility of eventually towing a travel trailer is also being considered.
Audio/Video & Electronics
I will also be looking into options for adding some kind of bluetooth interface for use with cell phones, as I have no intention of signing up for the OnStar service. I'm also considering the addition of a CB radio for rural offroad use where there is no cell coverage.
Maintenance & Care
2/16/2022 - As of when I made my purchase yesterday, the odometer clocked in at roughly 155k miles.
One of the first things I do with my avy, quite possibly the first thing I take care of after getting new tires, will be to solve the problem of the paint peeling off of the hood and front bumper. In the case of the hood, I'm likely to simply get it repainted, while the bumper, I have a long-term intention of swapping it out for something from Iron Bull, or something similar.
Problems
[Space reserved for future use]
Accessories & Modifications
The first thing I will note here is that my Avy came with a snugtop shell, and lacks the factory tonneau cover. When I was initially shopping around, I had no intention of installing a hard campershell if I purchased one that didn't have it, but sense mine does, it seems to me I should make the most of it. I am not ruling out the option of eventually removing it, but I want to try and take advantage of the fact it came with one, while also weighing the pros and cons of having it on.
As mentioned above, my Avy did not come with the factory bed cover. While it is not on the top of my list of things to get for it, I do intend on getting a replacement, as I like what I've read from others about the idea of having split-level storage options with the camper shell equipped as well.
I have not made up my mind on whether or not I should pursue the modifications, but a couple of things I am considering adding to the bed are the boat hatch doors for the saddle bags, and added electrical needed to install a 120v outlet in the bed. In addition to possibly doing something like a minifridge for offroading/camping trips, having this outlet available would be an enormous help for being able to run power tools off of it when working on projects at my parent's property which currently has no infrastructure.
Performance Modifications
This section will likely be filled mostly by desirable suggestions made by members here, and mechanics I work with when installing modifications in other areas.
Offroad & 4x4 Driving
Bellow is my initial thought when it comes to this section, I am also likely to share my experience in subsiquent post with the various trips I take away from pavement.
The very first upgrade I will be doing is to give it some proper offroad tires, and after a brief search last night I'm happy to discover that I can fit BFG K02s without having to search for new wheel rims.
I will admit that when I purchased the vehicle, I didn't realize that the Z in LTZ did not denote the offroad package. This could be a mixed blessing, as a number of off-roading upgrades I am considering would've superseded most of the improvements imparted by the Z71 package.
As far as body armor, in addition to the bumper mentioned above, I will be wanting to install some heavy-duty skid plates and rock rails. One thing I will be looking for with bumper options would be to have something that would potentially allow for mounting a snowplow, this is not a mandatory thing, but with versatility being the overarching theme of this build, it is still desirable to have this option.
Between the kinds of offroading trails I want to do with this, in addition to the possibility of plowing roads for people in the winter, I have come to the conclusion that installing a mechanically-actuated Ox Locker is probably my best option for a rear differential lock. For this I will be eagerly looking for suggestions on where to mount the shifting lever.
In some ways (mostly purchase price), the Avalanche I ended up with is acting as a more economical alternative to my original goal, which was to get my hands on a Jeep Gladiator. With these modifications in particular, I am taking what I learned when planning things out for that, and applying some of them to my Avy build. To give my avi some overall stronger tires, and to improve the breakover angle, I am strongly considering an eventual suspension lift and putting oversized offroad tires on it. My initial thought is to give it enough clearance to accept 35s without rubbing, but I may be willing to go with something a little smaller. The main limitation here on just how much I'm willing to lift the vehicle is ease of entry for those in my family who would potentially need assistance getting into the vehicle. Depending on how things are looking, I might consider doing a combination suspension and body lift to help keep the center of gravity relatively low.
On the topic of rock sliders, I know from my search around the forum as a whole that these more often than not end up becoming a custom fabrication for us. In my case, to help with ease of entry, whatever I end up with will not only protect the vehicle, but replace the factory running boards as functional side steps.
Towing & Hauling
Right in line with the jane of all trades nature of my avy, I will occasionally be using it as a tow vehicle. As of now, it is the only vehicle within the household that is able to pull both our little 3600lb GVWR cargo trailer, as well as my grandparent's ski boat. The possibility of eventually towing a travel trailer is also being considered.
Audio/Video & Electronics
I will also be looking into options for adding some kind of bluetooth interface for use with cell phones, as I have no intention of signing up for the OnStar service. I'm also considering the addition of a CB radio for rural offroad use where there is no cell coverage.
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