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Quick Change Artist  (33-6)  By Craig Ritchie

The Chevy Avalanche combines pickup utility with SUV luxury to create a solid, capable tow vehicle that can haul up to 12,000 pounds Chevrolet's Avalanche SUV has become popular with motorists who enjoy the comforts and seating capacity of an SUV, but occasionally need the cargo bed space and towing capability of a full-size pickup. Chevy's full-size, four-door sport-utility vehicle/pickup comes in both two- and four-wheel-drive versions, and a choice of half-ton or three-quarter-ton models. Properly equipped, the Chevy Avalanche can tow up to 12,000 pounds, making it an exciting choice for RVers in search of a new tow vehicle. The key to the Avalanche's unique flexibility lies in its industry-first Midgate. Imagine a four door, short-box pickup with a tailgate on each end of the box and you get the basic idea. Fold down the back seat – along with the forward-mounted tailgate, or Midgate as Chevy calls it – in order to convert your short-box pickup to a long-box version that can accommodate full-sized sheets of plywood or drywall. That's exactly how the Avalanche works. Fold down the midgate and the back seat to stretch it's five foot, three inch short-box to a full-size eight foot, one inch bed in seconds. You just can't do that with a regular pickup or a standard SUV. With the Midgate and rear seats in the up position, the Avalanche seats up to six adults comfortably while still providing ample secure storage in its cavernous rear box. Talk about having your cake and eating it too. Two additional compartments located along the top of the cargo box near the tailgate provide additional lockable storage space. They're great for smaller items you need to access quickly, such as connectors for the trailer wire harness. What's really cool is that both compartments have integral drains, so in a pinch you can fill them with ice and use them as coolers. Each side easily holds a dozen or so cans of pop. The main cargo bed is protected by a rubber floor mat and a three-piece hard tonneau cover with interlocking panels. The Avalanche's standard engine is GM's 295 horsepower Vortec 5300 5.3L V-8. If you need more grunt than that, you can opt for the 320 horsepower Vortec 8100 8.1L V-8 engine available on 2500 series models. Both engines come with a four speed electronic shift transmission and 3.73 axle ratio (a 4.10 axle is optional). Independent front suspension with torsion bars, and either multi-link rear suspension with coil springs (1500 models) or two-stage multi-leaf springs (2500 models) provide a solid ride and an excellent feel of the road, whether traveling fully loaded or empty. Built in Silao, Mexico, the Avalanche features a full range of class-leading safety features, including standard four-wheel disc anti-lock brakes with dual-piston calipers. P265/70R16 all-season, steel-belted radials come standard on the 1500 series vehicles, while the three-quarter-ton versions ride on LT245/75R16 steel-belted rubber. Both come with standard 16 inch aluminum rims, with 17 inch rims optional on the 1500. A three-section frame with hydroformed front and rear rails provides precise dimensional control, as well as excellent strength and stiffness for off-roading or towing applications. Towing capacity ranges from 7,900 to 12,000 pounds, so this is a vehicle capable of pulling a variety of RVs, including some of the largest travel trailers available. For 2004, the Avalanche's sure-footed Autotrac four-wheel-drive system gets improved fuel economy when operating in two-wheel-drive, as well as improved driver feel during parking-lot and other low-speed maneuvers. Two-wheel-drive Avalanches with the premium on-road suspension package are available with the StabiliTrak vehicle stability enhancement system that improves handling on slick surfaces or during emergency maneuvers. StabiliTrak helps the driver maintain control of the vehicle during avoidance maneuvers, such as emergency lane changes. If the system determines that the vehicle is not responding appropriately to the driver's steering, StabiliTrak precisely reduces engine torque and applies precise amounts of pressure to the individual front brakes to slow the vehicle and help bring it back to its intended path. Safety is enhanced with Avalanche's front-seat passenger-sensing system and dual-level air bags. Dual-stage air bags are designed to detect vehicle deceleration and provide an appropriate amount of air-bag inflation. Dual-stage air bags are designed to help reduce the occurrence of inflation-induced injuries by deploying the air bag less forcefully in lower speed crashes. The passenger-sensing air-bag system automatically deactivates the passenger-side front air bag under certain conditions to help protect smaller occupants. Side-impact air bags are available optionally on all models. Hydroboost brakes – now standard equipment on 1500 models – provide added safety with more reserve power assist for braking under specific conditions. The system will continue to provide sufficient power assist to stop the vehicle if the engine stalls or is turned off. Hydroboost uses power steering fluid pressure to decrease brake pedal effort. Avalanche for 2004 also provides safety for its younger passengers as it meets compliance with 2005 federal seat standards for child-restraint anchorages. The LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) child-seat attachment system is provided in the center and right positions of the second-row split/folding bench seat (AT5). Only a top tether connection is available in the left position of the second-row bench seat. Impressive entertainment systems, including rear-seat systems with a DVD player and flip-down screen, add to Avalanche's creature comforts. For a factory system, the stereo in the Avalanche is simply incredible. From Mozart to Megadeth, it all sounds good. Available rear-seat audio controls and a custom-designed Bose audio system with a high-powered, six-channel amplifier, six speakers and a sub-woofer are popular options. XM Satellite Radio – presently available in the United States and soon to be available in Canada – provides 100 coast-to-coast, digital-quality channels of original music, news, sports and talk. Consumers can subscribe to the basic service for about $10 a month. In addition, GM customers with GMAC financing can choose to include the XM subscription in their monthly truck payments. Slip behind the Avalanche's wheel and you can't help but feel that you're in command. All the controls are easily reachable and the dash gauges are clearly visible no matter how you tilt the wheel. Our test unit had plush leather power seats with heat and lumbar controls. You can adjust the brake and accelerator pedals rearward in unison by nearly three inches for better positioning and comfort; they are also available with a memory feature. An available eight-button steering wheel control allows drivers to personalize several functions or control the stereo. Redundant steering-wheel controls also provide easy access to the optional OnStar system. Overhead, a centrally-located button in a compact console opens the power sunroof. The power mirrors are large, providing exceptional visibility whether towing or not. Chevy's attention to detail even extends all the way down to the cup holders, which are so well positioned you can grab your beverage without reaching, regardless of where you position the seat. The Chevrolet Avalanche neatly blends the refinement and luxury of a high-end SUV with the brawn and simple utility of a pickup. With room for six passengers and a pile of luggage, plus abundant towing muscle, it's little surprise this vehicle has grown so popular with seasoned RVers. (Page Top)