2013 Chevy Avalanche vs 2006 V8 4runner
 

I currently own a 2006 Limited V8 4Runner with about 185k miles on it. Overall, its very clean but has a decent amount of underbody rust. I've had almost no issues with it and love almost everything about it. However, I commonly find myself wishing I had an outside bed for oversized items like a dirt bike, furniture, or just long items like an 10' 2x4.

I have been looking at trucks but with today's market they can be quite expensive and don't have nearly the same creature comfort features you can find in an SUV from the same manufacturer. Then there is the Chevy Avalanche. Built on the Suburban platform, most of the drivetrain is identical and retains many of the features I'm looking for on the interior.

I don't find myself needing a truck all that often but without room to store a trailer it has been quite annoying when you have a vehicle that is big enough and strong enough to do it but it just doesn't have the form factor needed.

Overall the Avalanche is not much larger than the 4runner, gets roughly the same MPG, and almost the same drivetrain performance (I do like the 4runner's AWD but not being able to put it in 2wd seems like a missed feature).

The Avalanche I'm looking at has 180k and is listed for 18k. In today's market I think I could easily get 15k for my 4Runner. I'm trying to talk myself out of it but I need some help.

:pound:

:rofl:

:whipping2

Seriously.

Dirt bike? Get a hitch mount thing. Like bicycle hitch mount things but heavier duty for motorcycles. Check the tongue weight on your 4th gen, but I know my 5th gen can do it.

Furniture? How often are you going to do that? Rent a U-Haul once every however many years.

Lumber? Is an Avalanche going to get you that much more of a bed? Also, how often are you going to do it? Rent a Home Depot truck.

An 8 year old GMC, really?!

Wait, I just went looking at prices for used ones these days. It was weird in my mind. Then I looked at the MSRP of these things back in 2013. Really? These things were luxury pickups back then? These things look so stupid! Whenever I'd see one driving around, I'd think they were the cheapest trucks I've ever seen. Positively Aztekian in silliness. They look more like the older Honda Ridgeline than the older Honda Ridgeline! I just thought these things were cheap crap for a decade! Holy crap!

And I actually like the Honda Ridgeline to an extent, especially the newest model :lmao:

If you need to haul lumber just drop the back seats and roll down the windows.
I do this on at least a monthly basis.

Do what someone else said about the motorcycle rack.

You will regret the hell out of buying a GM w/180k and giving up a 4runner for it.

For all other needs, maybe find some friends that will allow you to store a trailer at their place if they get use of it? or split the costs?

If you pay 18k for an avalanche you need to cut way back on the crystal meth, how many rolls of copper wire would you have to steal to pay for that?

Cylinder deactivation is not worth the risk for the Avalanches past 2007.

I'm going to say "no way" to a GM product like the Chevy Avalanche, but to be open-minded, I suggest you approach like a prospective buyer and ask for a test drive. I think you will prefer the ride of your 4R! But who knows...

I hafta agree with this... Reliability and quality wise there is no comparison with the 4runner. If you need a pickup that bad you shouldn't be thinking about the avalanche, you need a real pickup. If cost is a concern, go for a late 1st gen Tundra.

Please don't compare an avalanche to a 4runner again.

I saw one of these on the road today and thought about this topic and how much the Avalanche looks like a Play-Skool toy.