Do I need an weight distributing hitch for my Colorado?

[VTLee]

I have traded in my 5th wheel, which was pulled by an F250,for a small TT. I bought a new Chevy Colorado with a payload limit of 1510 lbs. and a towing limit of 7,000 lbs. The new trailer just arrived at the dealer and I will be picking it up in two days. The trailer is a Travel Lite Idea 2.0 that is 2970 lbs. dry, 18'9" hitch to bumper, 16' box length, 7' wide and 9' high. The dealer said that I should be ok without the WD hitch but I am starting to be a little skeptical. Does anyone have experience with the new generation Colorado/Canyon towing a trailer? Any other thoughts about the need for a WD hitch would be appreciated.

[gmw_photos]

I tow a travel trailer (funfinder 189FDS) that is essentially the same size and weight with a Nissan Frontier, which is very similar in size and capability to his Colorado. My trailer has a factory claimed weight of 3040 pounds and 350 tongue. Actual weight as loaded is 4000 with 580 tongue.

I've towed it just on the ball, and also with WD. No doubt it tows better ( more stable ) and is a better setup ( front axle is now loaded back to unladen weight ) with the BlueOx swaypro installed.

According to the Nissan manual, WD is not "required" unless the trailer is over 4500 or tongue over 600. Having said that, setting up the BlueOx for 100% FALR makes this combo tow very well indeed. Well over 30K miles of towing it so far.

[drsteve]

Well this is interesting... GM installed incorrect receivers on certain Colorado/Canyon trucks with the HD towing package. 3500 lb tow rating rather than the correct 7000 lb rated receiver.

http://gm.oemdtc.com/6130/27620-incorrect-trailer-hitch-2015-2016-chevrolet-colorado-gmc-canyon

[drsteve]

BarneyS wrote:
Do you REALLY think that trailer will have more tongue weight than his receivers limits? Here is what the OP said about the trailer he is getting.
" The trailer is a Travel Lite Idea 2.0 that is 2970 lbs. dry, 18'9" hitch to bumper, 16' box length, 7' wide and 9' high."

Yes. I'm assuming the Colorado's receiver is rated for 500 lbs without WD. The Idea 2.0 is 2970 dry, but add 1000 lbs for full fresh tank and some cargo, and the tongue is going to be a shade over 500. The Idea, btw, has a GVWR of... wait for it... 7245 lbs. Could be a typo, but regardless, he's going to want WD with that trailer and truck. IMHO.

http://travellitecampers.com/travel-trailers/travel-lite-idea-i15q/

[mkirsch]

I hope the spring packs in the current Colorados are better than the previous generation. A friend of mine had a GMC Canyon and that thing would sag almost to the axle with a mere 150lbs of tongue weight!

For the record, with NOTHING in the bed, and nobody in the cab.

He had to take it to a spring shop to have the springs recurved and a leaf added. Even then it wasn't that great. The same 150lbs would still drop the rear end 2".

[BarneyS]

drsteve wrote:
Consult the owner's manual. That trailer will probably have more tongue weight than the receiver will handle without WD. The Colorado will drive and handle better with WD too.

Do you REALLY think that trailer will have more tongue weight than his receivers limits? Here is what the OP said about the trailer he is getting.
" The trailer is a Travel Lite Idea 2.0 that is 2970 lbs. dry, 18'9" hitch to bumper, 16' box length, 7' wide and 9' high."

I would suspect that his loaded tongue weight will not be much more than around 400lbs. That is well within the weight carrying ability of almost every receiver that I am aware of.

I do agree however that the Andersen hitch would make a good match for his trailer and that WD will give him some benefits already mentioned.
Barney

[drsteve]

Consult the owner's manual. That trailer will probably have more tongue weight than the receiver will handle without WD. The Colorado will drive and handle better with WD too.

[Earl_E]

Please look very close at the Andersen system. It is much easier to hook up and unhook, is very light and will do everything you want with much more ease than a big equalizer. I had used the Equal-i-zer for years and it worked great but would never go back to it unless I had a huge trailer.

[burningman]

Even if it sits OK sitting still, when you hit the wrong dip or wavy "wow" in the road, the weight distributing hitch will help keep the truck level instead of doing a porpoise.
When you're moving all sorts of dynamics are in play.

Dealer salesmen are rarely towing experts. Most don't really know much about cars at all. They do know how to sound confident and knowledgeable and sell cars.
You did the right thing asking your question here instead of buying whatever line of... uh... rose petals the dealer tells you.

[deltabravo]

Yes, for sure go with a weight distributing hitch.

I have a similar size small TT and would like a Colorado/Canyon some day, and will for sure use a WD Hitch

[jamesu]

You are downsizing from a 3/4 ton & 5th wheel to a small pickup and small TT. WDH? I would. By the time you load up water, supplies, etc. for a trip you will have plenty of weight for that truck to tow. WDH will give you a better, safer ride and tow.

[eHoefler]

bikendan wrote:
Have you even read the towing section of truck's manual?
Should state what tongue weight requires using a WDH.
My Avalanche's does.

.



So does the reciever on the truck.

[bikendan]

Have you even read the towing section of truck's manual?
Should state what tongue weight requires using a WDH.
My Avalanche's does.

[The_real_wild1]

Set it up with a regular hitch and try it. If you feel you need "more" then buy the equalizer. Chances are pretty good you will prefer the equalizer with that truck.

[4aSong]

Not familiar with the 'new generation Colorado/Canyon' but a properly setup WDH will transfer the weight equally to the tow vehicle thereby preventing the feel of the floating and wandering of the front end of the tow vehicle. The minimal cost to purchase & properly install a WDH both for safety and eliminating the white knuckling feeling when towing is money well spent.