New Brunswick AV'ers???

[NorthernAV]

Have been looking for other Avalanches in our province since purchasing mine in July... not nearly as popular as Silverados.

Is there anyone on the board located in New Brunswick?

We're in Jemseg, population 75... most New Brunswickers know where that is for some strange reason... but for those that don't it's in the middle of Fredericton, Saint John and Sussex along the Saint John/Jemseg Rivers.

Would like to hear from someone. I've been making mods and am always looking for opinions and suggestions.

 

[dichris]

NBAV

Congrats on your Purchase of the AV and welcome to the Club. I see you've already started in the right direction.... Modding...and More Modding.....etc....
Your welcome to attend the Ontario GTG's. Might be a long drive, but hey, your in the AV.... Now if you like to go NORTHEAST, head to Labrador City and tie in with Yakmar.....

See ya around....

P.S. You might want to check with some of the NJ and Maine AVers... Might be a little closer!!!

 

[NorthernAV]

Hey dichris...

I can't tell you how happy I am I bought my AV. It seemed totally nuts... and I proably am... but I weighed the options and went big... I'm a truck guy at heart. My family appreciates it too... enough room for the three of us and room for expansion. I wanted something that would haul too... my wife would like a sailboat and a travel trailer. We have a 100 acres... and having the right tool for now and the future was a priority. Winters in NB can be nasty... 4x4 is an absolute necessity.

When the AV came out in 2002 I had to have one... so I "negotiated" with the dealer for a full year waiting for the 2003's. Made one cracker of a deal... the salesman showed me their actual cost after the papers were signed... they made a grand total of $600 profit... he couldn't believe it. That included all of their kickbacks etc. from GM. They never saw it coming.... it pays to make friends with the salesman.

Funny you mention Ontario... I'm blasting through there next week for 10 days to visit family and pick up a 17 foot canoe. How I'll get the canoe on is a challenge considering the roof racks... but a bit of wood should make for a stable platform until I can get a proper rack system worked out this winter.... looking at TXAVy's rack with a some mods to it. My buddy was just up from Brampton last week and he says he sees AV's all over the place there.... very popular.

Tour includes Brampton, London, Barry's Bay, and Ottawa. Try that with a two-year-old solo. Mom is staying here.... she thinks I'm asking for it.

I've thought about joining the AVers in Maine, but with the exchange on the dollar... well... you know... and for the sake of convenience... I can picture a trip into New England as a once a year thing.... which is what I did back in my single days (greetings to my friends in Seabrook NH!!!)

Only problem I've had is finding a local source for mods. New Brunswick isn't really known for as being a shopping centre (it is a great place to play with an AV in the woods though). There is a decent speed shop in Fredericton, and there are a few good ones in Moncton... but I'm an "off the shelf" guy when it comes to auto-parts and buying them unseen from the net makes me nervous... mostly because I don't have a clue. I've never modded a vehicle in my life... oh tell a lie... I put baby moons on my 89 Silverado... but that was it.

And as far as mods go... decals on raised Avalanche, K&N filter, locking gas cap, bug basher, flaps, grocery stabilizer in the rear, plate covers, and a 12v cooler with storage in the back seat. Plans for lights, cargo rack, grill insert... you know... it never stops once it starts. WIll post some pics after my trip home.

Thanks for the welcome... peace.

NBAV

 

[sparky]

Well I don't know much about Jemseg, but I do know Albert Country, Fundy, the Potts, etc. etc. quite well. And if I try hard enough I can even rember the smell of Saint John

I'm a few thousand miles away these days. I do remember a couple of Av owners from Northern Maine. That would be a pretty easy hook up.

We started a thread on 'where to get things' for Canadian members. There might be some info for you there.
Got a connection in Moncton that puts on a couple of car shows a year but I don't think he deals much with current vechiles.

Have fun. Go to www.picturetrail.com/sparky0 if you like and look at the mods I've done and I can offer whatever advise I can.

 

[gojira-san]

Welcome NBAV!

I live in Nashua, NH (about an hour or so from Seabrook). I spend a fair amount of time in Canada (was staying in Hamilton ON this past weekend, drinking wine down in the Niagara region ) Hmm, according to Expedia maps, it is only an 8 hour drive from here to Sussex NB. Maybe we'll have to schedule something up that way!

--pete

 

[NorthernAV]

Hey Pete...

Hamilton, eh? I lived there with my wife before we were married and moved here three years ago... some amazing restaurants there.... ugh... now I'm hungry!

Schedule away... I've been looking for an excuse to bush-hog the fields and set up tent city for a weekend. Hosting an AV jamboree would certainly make the neighbourhood news. Oh... and for the off-road crew making a mud pit is no problem.

Beautiful drive from there to here too... and maybe we could sneak some lobster in from Kittery ME.... oops better not say that too loud here... the other NB'ers might be out to set me straight about where the best lobster comes from.

NBAV

 

[NorthernAV]

Nice ride there Sparky! I ckecked out your pics.... absoultely incredible! Too much inspiration for me... I have to keep telling myself... slow and easy... learn and enjoy it.

Now, who can forget the smell of the pulp/paper plant in Saint John? Somehow you get used to it... but I can still taste it if I concentrate.

Thanks for the tips on sourcing parts in Canada. I'll take a look for the threads and see what I can dig up.

Yeah, the auto shows in and around Moncton are mainly for classics. There was a show in Sussex just this past weekend and I missed it again this year! I have to get my poop together for next year... I'm looking for a 1940's chevy pick-up to restore and the shows in NB are definitely the place to be. I'd say that on a per-capita basis the Maritimes has got to have the highest concentration of classic car enthusiasts on the planet.... must have something to to with the loooooooooong winters here.

There was something about the description of your AV that caught my eye but I couldn't find the pic. Give me a bit of time here and I'll take another look for it and send the question.... nevermind I remember... the "Cargopro"... have a pic that I missed? Just a little curious.

And thanks to you and everyone here for the warm welcome...

NBAV

 

[NBAvalanche]

Hello,
Just moved to Moncton and just bought a 03 LPM Z-71. Loving both of them. Serious upgrade from a 97 Golf, our other vehicle is a caravan, i am seriously loving finally having my big truck. I agree i dont see many around, there is a red WBH in the neighbourhood but i have only seen one or two others. My Av is certainly unusual enough around here that is causes quite a few heads to turn. I echo your comments about the winters around here - for a change I am very much looking forward to winter - Bring on the snow!!

 

[sparky]

NBAV, If you look at the picture of the tow hook preinstall they are sitting in front of the cargopro. And I think there may be a couple where it was sort of caught in the picture, but if you want some specific shots, no problem. Let me know an e-mail address or if you want me to post a couple on picture trail for a few days.

NBAvalanche, glad there is now 2
Born in Moncton, most family is in the surrounding area.
Lived on Edgett(?) Ave for a number of years as a youngster. The good folks at Colpitts are relatives.
Family has a cottage in Shediac, dad likely there now.
I have a bit of a connection with a Chev dealer in Halifax but nothing in Moncton.

Have fun with your new toy. And yes it is sick, but you will look forward to your first snow

 

[NorthernAV]

Hey NBAvalanche!

Yeah! I'm not alone! Started your mods yet? We'll have to get together when I get back from Ontario and kick around some ideas. I'd like to start up a chapter here... and now there is two of us... I think that could be considered something.

Congrats on your purchase... you won't be disappointed.

As for that snow... well... you can keep it there in Moncton this winter... I had enough last year here in Jemseg to last three years. Seriously... I had to get my neighbour in with his backhoe to clear the driveway regularly. The piles of snow were minimum 10 feet by the end of the season. Pic below is from February 7th, 2002.

Peace...

NBAV

 

[NorthernAV]

And this one from February 26. We went through more wood last year than the two previous years combined.... we ran out too. This year... six cords are planned... and 1.5 cords for back-up.

Where were you before Moncton?

NBAV

 

[NBAvalanche]

I guess there is a limit to the snow - enough to have fun with but not too much!! I came here from Hfx most recently, before that bounced around a bit with school stuff but grew up Annapolis Valley.
We were at a resort near Pugwash this weekend - very much a BMW/lexus/infiniti etc type of place - i actually said to my wife on the way in that it didn't look much like a truck place - got up the next AM with a white WBH Z-71 parked right beside me!! Didn't get to meet them, that was the only time i saw it, had NS plates. Also found out that the old guy across the street from us has a 2002 Z-71 that he keeps in the garage - i had never seen it until he came over to tell me about it afted he saw mine in the driveway. He's got to be in his 70's, has a caddy and an avy!

 

[willmood]

NBAV: Here some AVers to look up on your Ont swing.
Windlove is in London
Dragonslayer is in Guelph
Pydpiper is in or around Brantford
AV42medics are in Goderich
NatsCanAv is in Oshawa
Dichris is too
Bryker is in Ottawa
willmood, thats me , is in Huntsville(near Algonquin)
There are a lot more but PM any of them if you want to have a mini GTG
willmood
Bill

 

[NorthernAV]

We made it home. No GTG on the road (my apologies dichris)... but I'm sure you heard about the big accident on the 401 near Kingston that had the westbound lanes closed for several hours... we were not involved thankfully, but it sure did back up traffic for a few miles and caused us a two hour delay.... really screwed my plans for getting to London on time.

So 4000 km there and back and the Av is my favourite touring vehicle of all time. After spending 13 hours on the road the first day with my two year old daughter it felt as if I had been driving for only three hours. In my past life a 13 hour day of driving was normal... but I'd be drained... this time was the exception. Truly an incredible vehicle.

I should note also that on the return trip I had a 15 foot canoe (thought it was a 17 footer but my mom-in-law can't measure) and the setup I had allowed a comfortable cruising speed of 120-130 with almost no noise. I built a "rack" out of 2x4's that sat on the cargo bed... straped the canoe with 4 ratchet straps and it didn't budge and inch.

Average mileage was 14.4 L/100km... not too impressive but I could have done better if it were not for the 401 closing and my lead foot trying to make up for lost time (yeah I know you're not supposed to do that )

willmood.... I was in Huntsville briefly for lunch on my way to Aylen Lake... I saw a couple Av's... one was black the other was white. Next time my friend... my daughter was getting cranky.

The next tour is set for next Spring 2004. I'll be towing a travel trailer by then... no more hotels. Will have to organize the trip around an Ontario meet.

NBavalanche - Before the snow flies we should get together. Have you found a decent source in Moncton for mods?

NBAV