GMC Canyon & 30' Airstream

Lessmore wrote:

N-Trouble wrote:
While the Canyon may handle the trailer under "ideal" conditions put it into an emergency braking/ lane changing situation and it's going to fail horribly. It's simple physics. Ever hear the phrase "tail waggin the dog".

You know that for sure...." it's going to fail horribly "...even though GM rates this truck...when equipped for towing at it's maximum rating, to tow and handle a trailer of the size/weight in the video.

I'm different. I tend to go with the GM (or Ford or Dodge) university trained, engineers who have a pretty good handle on simple physics and are able to design, test and determine what a vehicle's capabilities will be.

You mean the same "university trained" GM engineers that developed the infamous ignition switch that has cost how many lives? I hate to break it to you but auto engineers are not NASA rocket scientists. Most of these guys have answer to bean counters at the end of the day.

I to am "university trained" as you would put it, with an engineering degree from one of the top engineering universities on the West coast. Despite that, I tend to look at certain things with a little common sense and experience. Not everything is about crunching numbers and that is especially true of "emergency situations" which do not always fit into nice neat equations that can easily be solved. Sometimes common sense and simple physics prevail.

Seems like the truck did fine. 3k rpm is nothing for a gas engine. My '84 Isuzu diesel used to run more than that towing small trailers in the interstate. Just the same, I would rather have a 3/4 ton to tow that 30' Airstream. Better yet an F350 dually 6.2L with a hitch rated to tow it without WD and sway control.

Thanks for the post OP.

A few observations

*this is a test to tow max capability... absolutely NOTHING wrong with what they did.

*This is NOT a small truck... not even close... This has MORE HP than many "big" trucks in the past...coupled with a fantastic transmission this is a GREAT truck.

*Payload is better than a LOT of "actual" Half Ton trucks. Here is a payload sticker off of a V6 (300 hp) Z71 Colorado Crew Cab...It was loaded with Leather, Nav, and all that fun stuff.



*The receiver is capable...900 lb tongue weight and 7500 lbs trailer weight... First time I have seen an OEM receiver with the tongue weight greater than the trailer weight. Good Job GM... almost like they plan on some wiggle room with greater than 10% tongue weight.



*Brakes- How about 4 piston calipers on one inch thick 12.2 inch diameter rotors? Hardly tiny!

*Weight- GVWR is 6,000 lbs for the crew cab V6 4x4.. curb weight is 4,380 lbs on the crew cab. Numbers very similar to some half tons from not very long ago.

As far a capability towing a trailer GM is VERY specific about this. But with 7,000 lbs towing and 1500 ish lbs of payload this truck CAN and WILL tow Travel trailers. Set up properly (as any vehicle) this is not a problem. Hardly a FAILURE...

Remember, This truck is getting a Diesel with 181 HP and 369 lb ft of tq. Not going to be a barn stormer by any means but will be capable of towing at lower RPM's for the RPM adverse.

Just like anything else, when you use the tool within its capability there is no reason to expect it not to perform well.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

My biggest problem with a test like this is someone less informed (Not on here) seeing this goes and puts a 30' trailer behind it thinking all is well.
All of the manufactures are bad about posting the best possible numbers using a stripped TV. This sucks the less informed into buying something not up to the task of doing it well, not just acceptable... whatever that means.

But do you folks know what option level the OEM engineers used for the
certification tests? Do you know what the trailer was they used for those
certification tests?

It is the 'curb'...AKA stripper model with only the tow option and one 150lb driver

Just take the published GCWR and subtract the published MTWR and it will be
the 'curb' (stripper) weight...not what it most likely weighs in the real world
with all of those options, a driver weighing more than 150lbs, the other passengers,
pets, cargo in/on the TV, etc

Wish I could find that picture someone posted of the test 'trailers' they used
to determine their ratings.

Kinda sorta a stacked deck, but think about it...that is the only way they can
do it both for marketing (it is 'us' who drive that with the flock going for
the 'King of the Hill' marketing verbiage) and the option matrix would have
many, many, many different MTWR's dependent on which option matrix
'that' vehicle is

This is why always suggest anyone asking to go out and weigh their TV
fully loaded ready to go RV'ing. Most do not and the ones who have
have reports theirs weighs more than curb. There are less than a handful
who I've come across who own a 'curb' weight TV. Uncle Bill (who taught
me much in this regard, among much more), Marty our admin and a couple
forum members.

My Sub's listed curb is 5,400 and sometimes see it at 5,800 to 6,000.

It weighs in with me (180), toolbox (+200), misc (+50) at just under
7,200...vs...it's 8,600 GVWR. GCWR is 16,000. MTWR is 10,000
(suspiciously close to the listed curb), but if I add my 7,200 actual
weight to the MTWR of 10,000 it is 17,200. More if all the seat belts
are filled and cargo...which is close to it's 8,600...which will then
have little room for the hitch/tongue weight

My 'true' MTWR is 16,000 - 7,200 = 8,800...not the published 10,000
Even less if all the seat belts were filled & cargo.

Ditto for the TV in this article, and yes my assumption that they did
NOT use a curb weight version for this article

So, which TV did they use for this test?

The 'curb'/'stripper' or a fully loaded one?

Bottom line is that the OEM engineers, lawyers, etc CYA'd themselves
in this with the fine print...which states 'base' or some such vehicle
(it is the 'curb', or 'stripper), one 150lb driver, etc...so taking
the published MTWR without taking into account the fine print is
out of context...the MTWR is NOT an absolute rating

N-Trouble wrote:
While the Canyon may handle the trailer under "ideal" conditions put it into an emergency braking/ lane changing situation and it's going to fail horribly. It's simple physics. Ever hear the phrase "tail waggin the dog".

You know that for sure...." it's going to fail horribly "...even though GM rates this truck...when equipped for towing at it's maximum rating, to tow and handle a trailer of the size/weight in the video.

I'm different. I tend to go with the GM (or Ford or Dodge) university trained, engineers who have a pretty good handle on simple physics and are able to design, test and determine what a vehicle's capabilities will be.

While the Canyon may handle the trailer under "ideal" conditions put it into an emergency braking/ lane changing situation and it's going to fail horribly. It's simple physics. Ever hear the phrase "tail waggin the dog".

I thought it was a decent test, although I would have liked to see axle weights. It appears that more than just power was addressed, with comments that ride, handling and braking were acceptable. Besides, there's that guy up in Canada that can set up a Kia Soul to tow a 30' Airstream, right? ;)

dodge guy wrote:
They were testing its towing ability at max load! That's what I got out of it. Nowhere did I get the assumption they were loading it to go camping. Just as a test.

I agree. They found a trailer that was close to the max towing weight of the Canyon without having to add additional weight to it. If you look at TFLs video with the Canyon towing up to Eisenhower Tunnel and back down they had no issues with braking or controlling the trailer.

I don't see anything wrong with the engine turning 3000k RPM while towing, thats where it makes it's power.

All things engineered....are not for the good days where a half ton can tow the Space Shuttle...but...for the worst day out there when Mr Murphy crosses your path...AKA...the ability to manhandle it

And it is NOT about go power, but stopping, maneuvering, slowing, stopping, etc...that ability to manhandle it

I'd not do it...

Plus, again, the MTWR is with a curb, or stripper model