help me brainstorm what to get for my next vehicle

interesting, I hadn't read that about the ridgeline.

Are the Avalanches total crap, or are they just like a tahoe/silverado with a plastic bed?
 
Gravy said:
Oh ya. something about open center diff right?
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One of the offroad mags slammed it hard, lemme see if I can find it.

eta - here it is, not an offroad mag. Their conclusion was "Works Fine If You Don't Go Off-Road". Coming from Edmunds, that's pretty damning. Steve says he doesn't rock crawl anymore, but I'm sure the places he'll take this next truck are still burlier (by an order of magnitude ) than Edmunds' "offroad" test track. :D
 
I always take edmunds' opinion with a grain of salt, but that doesn't mean they're wrong. Thanks for bringing that up.

You're right about me still getting into remote areas. One of my biggest dillemmas right now is trying to know what types of trails I'll be running. Part of me is tempted to get a honda crv, save $$$ on gas, and see how long I can go without needing 4-lo. The resale will be good, and if it turns out to be not enough vehicle, I could turn around and get my money back.

But then the other side of my brain kicks in and knows that I'll be out exploring back roads in the snow, mud, and washboards. A true 4x4 with a 4-low and some sort of traction control would be super helpful (like a Montero, gx470, etc).
 
@ Greg, you've had a v8 runner and now you have a 100 series. Anything you didn't like about the runner? I've owned a 100 series, and I loved the vehicle except for the cost of parts.
 
I think I would make good use of the features of an avalanche, especially if it were the model that allows you to keep the rear window and still have the pass-through to the bed. I wonder what year that beame available.
 
Kevin B. said:
One of the offroad mags slammed it hard, lemme see if I can find it.

eta - here it is, not an offroad mag. Their conclusion was "Works Fine If You Don't Go Off-Road". Coming from Edmunds, that's pretty damning. Steve says he doesn't rock crawl anymore, but I'm sure the places he'll take this next truck are still burlier (by an order of magnitude ) than Edmunds' "offroad" test track. :D
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It did defeat and H3 and FJC to win the stock mini class of the baja 1000 in 2008 so there's that. Not defending the Ridgeline and don't know if it's the right fit for your intended purpose (whatever that may be) but it's a fun fact regardless. My neighbor had a couple of them and loved them. I like that the tailgate opens down and out and the storage space in the floor of the bed is legit. That's all I have
 
While researching avalanches, I found this on the 2nd gen (2007+)

A special Z71 package was offered for the second generation Avalanche. This off road package consisted of a suspension tuned for rough terrain, an exclusive automatic locking rear differential, aluminum under body skid plates (visible from the front of the truck), wheel flares, badges, wheels and tires.

Pretty cool that they came with a locking diff.
 
I never even thought the honda would enter the baja 1000 let alone win it. Thanks for the info Nate.

[video=youtube;gayLRAJt8z0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gayLRAJt8z0[/video]


From Grassroots Motorsports page:

The Honda Ridgeline unibody pickup has been racing in the Baja 1000 since 2005. Most of the truck remains stock except for the front and rear suspensions. Custom King springs and shocks are attached to fit the stock MacPherson strut front suspension and multilink, independent rear end. The 3.5-liter V-6 and five-speed automatic transmission have been tweaked by Honda Racing. The driveline uses the Ridgeline's standard Variable Torque Management 4-wheel-drive system.​
 
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They won again in 2010 apparently. Pretty funny stuff. I've always joked that I'd love to have one once they're like $1k, take it to Moab and beat it to death.
 
If the ridgeline had a 2-speed tcase and some sort of traction control, I think it would be a good fit for me (though slightly large)
 
If I could custom build my ideal rig for now, it would be somethine like a Chevy Colorado sized truck with a 5.3L v8, and the bed features/pass through of an Avalanche with the trunk of a ridgeline. IFS and IRS and a good traction control system with 4-low.
 
sixstringsteve said:
Pretty cool that they came with a locking diff.
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Don't quote me but I think that locking diff was the infamous G80 (google 'G80 gov bomb') limited slip in a 10 bolt axle. I don't want to sound negative and I'm sorry in advance if I ruffle any feathers :sick: There are two things I hate in full size vehicles:

4L60E transmissions. I've been stranded on the freeway three times in three different full-size vehicles with fried 4L60E's.

10 bolt rear axles. They explode when lockers/limited slips are added. I've been stranded twice because of this once was in a parking lot :rolleyes:

Those are the only times I've been stranded due to a mechanical failure. Maybe it's my bad luck.. There's plenty of people that like that vintage of GM's. After my last one I swore I'd never own another vehicle with idler/pitman arms.

If it were me and I had to have a IFS GM I would shoot for a heavy 3/4 or 1Ton. The Z71 package is meaningless to me, the heavier trucks have MUCH beefier drivetrain components, most have the same offroad package skid plates (which really aren't that great anyway) and changing to 265's isn't an upgrade imo.
 
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