Does anyone tow with the Chevy Avalanche?

[Fancy Nancy]

We have a 240da and presently tow with an older (1999) Chevy 2500 pickup. Just beginning to research an upgrade for a tow vehicle... looking to go with something nice enough to serve as a family car when not at the lake. Is the Avalanche a serious tow vehicle or just a toy?

 

[Groucho]

I used to tow with mine. I felt it was fine up till about 6,000#. Towing with good trailer brakes is a must. Keep in mind the Avalance is on a 1500 chassis.
Other than that...I've had 4 avalanches...Will buy them as long as they make them.

 

[Fancy Nancy]

I'd need more towing capacity than that... I had heard they also offer one with a 2500 ch***is... is that an option?

 

[everthing's irie]

I used to tow with mine. I felt it was fine up till about 6,000#. Towing with good trailer brakes is a must. Keep in mind the Avalance is on a 1500 ch***is.
Other than that...I've had 4 avalanches...Will buy them as long as they make them.

I think you can get a 2500 AV now. However my pref. would be a tundra in the 1500 hundred cl***. It has More towing capacity than the 1500 AV and I believe better quality.

I wish toyota would hurry up and start competing in the 250-350 cl*** of trucks. Until then its an F350 for me. Why is this thing editing out the last three letters of cl***?

 

[Fancy Nancy]

yes, seems the software is programmed to recognize certain combinations of letters and I a***ume it is doing what it was designed to do.

Tundra... hmmm... I bought a Toyota Sequoia anticipating it to be my next tow vehicle then skipped ahead a couple of steps on the boat buying schedule and went directly to the 240da. Now I find myself alittle limited in towing options.

 

[everthing's irie]

yes, seems the software is programmed to recognize certain combinations of letters and I a***ume it is doing what it was designed to do.

Tundra... hmmm... I bought a Toyota Sequoia anticipating it to be my next tow vehicle then skipped ahead a couple of steps on the boat buying schedule and went directly to the 240da. Now I find myself alittle limited in towing options.

The sequoia did not come with the 5.7ltr until this year. I have an 04 Sequoia but it has the 4.6ltr in it. It will only handle 6,500lbs. The tundra and new sequoia now have 5.7's with a 10,500lbs towing capacity.

 

[BonBini]

With GM when you go from a 1500 to a 2500 you get bigger everything(power train wise). Also most of the 2500 power train is used in the 3500. So in all reality the 2500 is one helofa tow vehicle. Ford uses the same type of building practices.

Not sure how the other guys do it.

When you shop: Compare power train components between 3/4 and 1 tons. Try to find something that uses the HD 1 ton components in the 3/4 ton model and you'll have a great tow vehicle.

You always want a little more tow vehicle than you need, just in case a bigger boat comes your way. ...Ron

 

[everthing's irie]

With GM when you go from a 1500 to a 2500 you get bigger everything(power train wise). Also most of the 2500 power train is used in the 3500. So in all reality the 2500 is one helofa tow vehicle. Ford uses the same type of building practices.

Not sure how the other guys do it.

When you shop: Compare power train components between 3/4 and 1 tons. Try to find something that uses the HD 1 ton components in the 3/4 ton model and you'll have a great tow vehicle.

You always want a little more tow vehicle than you need, just in case a bigger boat comes your way. ...Ron

I agree that the american vehicles are using hefty equipment problem is they fail often. I have several 250, 350 and 2500 trucks for my stone business and toyota trucks for my rehab business. I have found that under heavy use on both brands the toyotas require less repair work than the traditional
trucks. This truly irritates me because the toyotas are made here in the US just like the chevys and fords. I don't understand why the hometown auto manufacturers can't produce the same kind of quality truck that the japanese can.

I would prefer to buy american but unless I need the capacity that a 250/2500, 350/3500, I have to buy japanese because the operating costs are so much lower.

 

[Fancy Nancy]

All good input... thanks for the help guys!

 

[MaddyDean]

Top ten towing from edmunds and others.

http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/list/top10/102426/article.html

http://www.autotropolis.com/top-10-lists/top-10-towing-trucks-of-2009.html

 

[tdappleman]

I agree that the american vehicles are using hefty equipment problem is they fail often. I have several 250, 350 and 2500 trucks for my stone business and toyota trucks for my rehab business. I have found that under heavy use on both brands the toyotas require less repair work than the traditional
trucks. This truly irritates me because the toyotas are made here in the US just like the chevys and fords. I don't understand why the hometown auto manufacturers can't produce the same kind of quality truck that the japanese can.

I would prefer to buy american but unless I need the capacity that a 250/2500, 350/3500, I have to buy japanese because the operating costs are so much lower.

Are you comparing the light duty Toyota to the HD US trucks? Not a valid comparison if so. What kind of problems are you seeing and how are the trucks being used? It really depends on which truck/engine/trans combo you are looking at as well. Chevy and Ford both have had some diesel engine issues (early Duramax and the Powerstroke 6.0) but the transmissions and remainder of the drivetrains have been fairly stout and reliable. I see a lot of different trucks coming into the shop and I'll tell you I'm not impressed with the later model Toyota's. They seem to rust early, use more oil during the oil change interval and the customers are complaining about dealer and warranty issues. Just because it's Japanese wont mean it's better.

 

[black magic]

I'd need more towing capacity than that... I had heard they also offer one with a 2500 ch***is... is that an option?

They only offered the 2500 on 2002-2006 models. However, you can option for the 6.0L on 2007(I think)-2009, but they don't state if that increases your towing. I am assumming that because it is just an engine upgrade and not suspension that it won't.

Side note: I've own 2 Avalanches ('02 & '05) and they both towed much better than my current '08 Dodge Ram 1500 Quad. Needless to say, the next truck purchase will be another Avalanche.

 

[Banagy]

I have towed with a Chevy suburban. Sorry to say I departed with it when it had 211,000 miles on it. The guy I sold it , had it for two more years. Oh yes at 180,000 I had a rebuild trans put it. Regular oil changes and tender love and care. I now have a GMC Arcaida: just love it. Great guality.

 

[zboaterctf]

We have a 240da and presently tow with an older (1999) Chevy 2500 pickup. Just beginning to research an upgrade for a tow vehicle... looking to go with something nice enough to serve as a family car when not at the lake. Is the Avalanche a serious tow vehicle or just a toy?

Not sure about the Avalanche - but below is my background on Suburbans (for what it is worth) ...

I had a 2008 4WD Suburban LTZ with 5.3L 3.73 rear end (awesome car) - traded for 2009 Suburban LT2 2500 6.0L 4WD 3.73 rear end (pulling machine) - needed more guts for towing the 290.

Key differences I saw:
Autoride : awesome on LTZ - not availble on 2500 (2500 has bumpier ride due to leaf vs. coil rear end
Steering : little better on LTZ due to rack & pinion (vs torsion on 2500)
engine : LTZ flex/fuel (who cares worse mileage) & cylinder deactivation

2500: bigger engine (more HP more torque), bigger brakes, more springs, bigger tires (pressure), more towing capacity, more trans coolers, sits higher, bigger gas tank, can get bigger mirrors (do not recommend unless needed - no power fold) etc.

1500 LTZ vs 2500 LT cosmetics : some chrome, some fake wood, wheels

2500 LT2 vs. 1500 LTZ has many of same creature comforts (small differences - no air conditioned seats, no heater ww wiper fluid, etc. in 2500)

Drove a 2007 Suburban 2500 LT with the 4.1 rear end - great for towing - gas mileage terrible - so went with the '09 to get 6 speed trans, and 3.73 rear end for better gas mileage when not towing. Average 15 MPG no load (2K RPM / 75 MPH) - 9-10 MPG with 9K lbs towing.

2008 Suburban LTZ with the 5.3L and 3.73 rear end 4X4 and tow package (trans-cooler, towed approx 5K-6K lbs back and forth from OH to FL with no issues. Used the trailer mode. If I tried to stay on the gas to keep at 70-75 MPH, RPM ran in in 3200-3500 RPM range (3rd gear) and gas milage was terrible (<8 mpg). transmission temp never was an issue.

2009 2500 LT 4X4 (6L, 6 speed, and 3.73 rear end, and trans-cooler, etc.) tow approx 9K - 10K lbs back and forth from OH to FL with no issues. Used trailer mode. Run in the 75mph range at approx 2200 RPM range and averaged just shy of 10 MPG.

2007 2500 with 4.1 rear end - gas milage was terrible all the time, and RPM towing was back over 3000 RPM (approx 3200).

Very happy with my '09 2500 towing ability ... If you don't need to tow over 5/6K lbs go for the 1500 LTZ (drives much nicer).

My 2 cents - Good luck ...

 

[Nehalennia]

I have an '04 Chev 6L 2500 Silverado. I bought it right after I sold my 230OV which I towed with a '05 Suburban 1500 LT. I wouldn't tow this boat with the Burb. I'd really like a 2500 Burb though.