I'm with Sid, move your search a few states East and you'll find a ton of trucks. Just like I rarely find Porsches in KS.

The burning question though - why would you buy a crew cab if you don't need a crew cab? Crew cabs are easily 50% more than the same truck in an extended cab, and quite frankly you can haul adults in most 1/2 ton extended cab trucks. The newer ones even have rear hinged doors for easier entry and exit. I had a 2000 Chevy Silverado extended cab that I frequently carried adults in the back of. You can also get a real bed on an extended cab to actually haul stuff. You didn't mention desired features and price range, but around here you can get a perfectly decent extended cab 2wd PU for $5k. The more you spend the more you get.

:)Makes me think of the line from "Sid and Nancy"

How many tribal armband tattoos does he have? :D

Matt, please read post #8.

I'll come back later. My load times have become unbearable. When this happens, I go over to the Garage Journal which never fails to be quick. Never.

I have to agree with this.

I traded in my 2008 Silverado Crew Cab 6.0 Max truck on a 2013 Avalanche four months ago. I love the Avalanche. Much more comfortable than the Silverado, more features and better looking. The back seat does not fold up like the PU so you lose come storage there, plus the bed is a little smaller. It's nice to have the bed rail lockable storage and the lockable bed with hard cover. Over all I could not be happier. The only draw back is the lack of power....If they still made the 2500 Avalanche it would be a beast.

I don't see anything wrong with the Avalanche if it works for you..

However you will have to figure into the price the upgrade to 22 inch dubs and dual 15" subs with 50K watt amp

;)

If a Chevy makes your sticker peck out....then go for it!

No, no, it's the other way 'round. I get a $12K truck with 5K worth of wheels and tires which I dump for 2500. I hit the tire store for some 'take offs' that run me half of the price of the tires alone. Often times these are brand new tires.

Then I sell the subs and enclosure along with the amp if it got left. On repos, it's all there. Looked at some repos yesterday. Gotta have an insider for the auction, though.

I don't really have much to offer here, other than that I have a customer with an earlier 2500 Avalanche, that came with the 8.1. I never knew they existed until I saw his.

Ummmm, ok. So why do you need an Avalanche?

LOL, now you need to read post #3. Price is all that is in consideration here. Again, trucks are scarce. They sell in hours if priced right. I'm not buying a new truck even if Chevy is giving $9000 off this weekend.

Again... Trucks are only scarce out there.... Here they multiply like rabbits....

True but then you have the cost and hassle of bringing in a non CA smogged vehicle.

i say find a good Bronco

I would say look where the trucks are, but that would make them *sniff* "farm trucks" (sneeeer).

I'm not real keen on the original Avalanche body style. The newer one I like as it looks like the new Tahoe body with a bed. The original is a little odd looking in my opinion. I had an employee that had the original body style that I drove on several occasions. I must say it rode nice and had good power. My issue would be gas mileage. But if you were buying a truck any way I am sure mileage is similar so that would be a non issue.

I assume you are looking at this as a work vehicle? If I am correct the bed size and height may be a bit of an issue. I don't think it is a full size bed in width or length and a bit higher off the ground than a pick up. So chances are you are not hauling sheets of plywood or any lumber over 8 foot in it. However that could be over come with a utility trailer.

I used to think they were just another GM abomination but my SIL (now on his 2nd Avalanche) has me convinced (as he is) that you can't beat one for a second family vehicle:

Bed isn't that big but you can haul stuff no SUV can touch (i.e. a 500# / 5 ft tall smoker for one example among many)

It rides much better than my F150 ever thought about.

When they go on vacation, etc. the 11 and 6 year olds go in the back seat. All the luggage, beach stuff, and everything else goes in the bed. No worries about it getting wet or blowing out and no one knows if anything is back there or not. You can go in and eat and not worry about somebody stealing your stuff out of the bed.

He has an extension for the receiver hitch that one end of his canoe rests on and can easily haul the canoe and all the gear other gear for a camping trip in it.

For his purposes, much better than any standard pickup or SUV.

YMMV

The nice thing about an Avalanche is that it is so homely, no one will steal it. Man card... Revoked! :p

Seriously though, I run a fleet of pickup trucks and buy most used in VG condition. You can get a lot of V8 truck for $10K in Calif. If you are thinking $3K, maybe Avalanche is the only reasonable choice. I currently drive a 2005 Silverado with 150K on it and the truck runs and drives great. We get em dirty, spill stuff, get dents in the bed and rails and I don't lose sleep over a shiny new $30K truck being abused by my crew.

Most everything I'm looking at is 50 state.

If I was more of a Ford guy, I could get behind a '96 Eddie Bauer or XLT.

However, I think the whole pick up genre really started to be more comfortable while still maintaining the ability of a truck beginning in 2000. Ford may have crossed that threshold in the late 90's.