From a Facebook post."A friend of mines Chevy Colorado with 10k miles was towing a 2100# camp trailer on a dirt road and hit a bump. This is the result. GM sent out an “investigator” 6 weeks later and has denied any warranty claims. They state the “the truck has 1” taller tires as the first reason. The second reason is the trailer is 2100 pounds, in the owners manual it states that trailers over 2k pound should have brakes. (Towing capacity listed as 5k) Since hit trailer is 100 pounds overweight and doesn’t have brakes that’s what the frame bent. No other damage to truck. GM’s investigator took trailer to a certified CAT scale. Trailer is 2100lbs. Tongue weight is 347lbs. Think twice about that Colorado purchase if you actually use your truck as a truck." Click link to see pictures.Facebook post Edit:After doing a quick Google search of "Colorado bent frame", it appears that this guy is not alone with several people pasting about bent or cracked frames in the Colorado/Canyon forums at roughly the same spot.

I notice some fuel containers strapped to the trailer.. That can add a lot of weight. Were they full when this happened? When it was weighed?I also see that the truck has a shell... More weight, and what was in the bed under that shell?I doubt it was empty. Too much load for that truck.

"Hit a bump" translation: jumped the truck. Or worse.Very little on Facebook is accurate.

Although I completely disagree with adjuster's reasoning for disapproving the claim, I do not believe that this problem is a GM issue. For that type of damage, I'd think your friend was hot dogging it along that dirt road and when he hit that "bump" the damage resulted. Way too fast for that dirt road. I owned a Colorado that had a cap on it. We pulled it to Alaska at least 4 times with overload springs and way over it's posted GVW without ever having a problem. Sorry, but if you must run outside a vehicle's limits, you need to make appropriate adjustments to your driving habits. I don't think this individual did that.

After doing a quick Google search of "Colorado bent frame", it appears that this guy is not alone with several people pasting about bent or cracked frames in the Colorado/Canyon forums at roughly the same spot.

Not enough information, in my view, to make an informed decision.

GM Colorado bent frame towing 2,100 lbs | Good Sam Community

ROBERTSUNRUS
Explorer
Jun 27, 2019
Ivylog wrote:
ROBERTSUNRUS wrote:
:) Hi, my guess is that the driver hit a very hard bump causing the entire trailer to leave the ground; This put 2,100 lbs. directly on the hitch / receiver.

Please, do not reproduce.

:) Hi, why would you make a comment like that? I gave my opinion. You don't like it? You're a very rude person and you should be removed from this forum.
danrclem
Explorer
Jun 27, 2019
I can't prove that he was jumping any more than somebody else can prove that he was jumping. There is no way that GM can prove it either. If they're going to deny his claim for being 100 lbs. over without brakes I see a problem with the manufacturer. I wouldn't buy one of their products. They should have been allowed to fail.
RobertRyan
Explorer
Jun 26, 2019
colliehauler wrote:
philh wrote:
Apparently not built Ford Tough
I remember Ford having a bending frame issue mid eighties as well.

A lot including Ford would have similar issues. Hit a bump when loaded and you can crack a frame
RobertRyan
Explorer
Jun 26, 2019
3TV wrote:
I owned a ZR2, and they are nice trucks. I sold it because there wasn't enough "truck" in it. I exceeded the 5000 lb towing capacity many times, and never had any problems with it, but sold it for something with a higher rated capacity. I'm in a Power Wagon now, and although it isn't rated as high as a typical 3/4 ton truck, it has double the towing capacity of the ZR2, which is enough for me.

It looks to me like that frame bent on the ZR2 right over the bump stop. That was the same problem Ford was having on their Raptors. Hit a bump too hard and it slams the bump stop so hard that it bends the frame.

I agree with what others have said, this had nothing to do with the trailer he was towing, and everything to do with how hard he hit that bump, and how big the "bump" was.

It can cause the Pickup to crack the frame
RobertRyan
Explorer
Jun 26, 2019
pigman1 wrote:
Although I completely disagree with adjuster's reasoning for disapproving the claim, I do not believe that this problem is a GM issue. For that type of damage, I'd think your friend was hot dogging it along that dirt road and when he hit that "bump" the damage resulted. Way too fast for that dirt road. I owned a Colorado that had a cap on it. We pulled it to Alaska at least 4 times with overload springs and way over it's posted GVW without ever having a problem. Sorry, but if you must run outside a vehicle's limits, you need to make appropriate adjustments to your driving habits. I don't think this individual did that.

Any Pickup that is overloaded and hits a bump can crack a frame
Grit_dog
Navigator
Jun 24, 2019
Yeah he probably played Luke Duke with his new off road pickup.
They used to hold up to that kind of “hold my beer “ fun, but the last pickup I got more than jus the front wheels off the ground was a 1990 Z71. That thing saw a lot of air time!
3TV
Explorer
Jun 24, 2019
I owned a ZR2, and they are nice trucks. I sold it because there wasn't enough "truck" in it. I exceeded the 5000 lb towing capacity many times, and never had any problems with it, but sold it for something with a higher rated capacity. I'm in a Power Wagon now, and although it isn't rated as high as a typical 3/4 ton truck, it has double the towing capacity of the ZR2, which is enough for me.

It looks to me like that frame bent on the ZR2 right over the bump stop. That was the same problem Ford was having on their Raptors. Hit a bump too hard and it slams the bump stop so hard that it bends the frame.

I agree with what others have said, this had nothing to do with the trailer he was towing, and everything to do with how hard he hit that bump, and how big the "bump" was.
1320Fastback
Explorer
Jun 24, 2019
Double post
1320Fastback
Explorer
Jun 24, 2019
GM Execs: We need to make our trucks lighter for better economy. We don't care if there is a inherent design flaw we will just send the lawyers.

GM Frame Shop: Hold my beer.
colliehauler
Explorer III
Jun 24, 2019
Charlie D. wrote:
rexlion wrote:
What can you expect from a company that does not know how to make paint adhere. All the time I see their trucks with hardly any paint left on the hoods. It does not inspire confidence.

I will have to pay closer attention. Haven't seen any of those hoods of which you speak.

Speak to a reputable paint and body shop and ask then how they like the extra work and difficulty of repairing aluminum. Buddy called me last week and said someone shot a hole in the rear side panel of his Ford truck. Had to replace the entire side panel and is now at his 3rd body shop trying to get a few small areas fixed where the paint will not adhere.

Back to the subject. Several years ago someone posted about his Nissan truck bending like that between the bed and cab. Lot's of people jumped on him for being a liar. Attitudes changed when he provided pictures of the damage as he took the truck apart to repair it.

I'm not going to look it up but is it possible that there are similar issues with other makes?
GM has a lot of white trucks and vans with white paint adhesion issues.

Back in the 90's they had issues as well when they went to a water based paint. I had two of them a 454 SS and a Blazer.