Towing a pop up with 4cylinder SUV

Your new Colorado will definitely pull the camper with ease. I towed a 16 ft stock trailer on a 600 mile round trip, with nearly 3k of pork on the return trip with a Colorado V6 with 8 sp. It hauled it great.

And yes, the 2016 AWD V6 Equinox did not get good gas mileage.

Hey all, Original poster here.

In case anyone wants to know, I actually went ahead and just bought a 2018 Chevy Colorado. They were giving out great deals on them so I went ahead.

One thing I didn't realize or think about. The 2018 Colorado, v6 engine with 4wheel drive will actually get me BETTER gas mileage than my 2016 v6 AWD Equinox! , While neither are great on gas, I failed to realized how shitty mileage I was getting on my equinox.

Either way though, thanks for the information. I got a good deal on a truck, and it will far and above be able to haul my camper when needed.

I ask, has anybody driven the all-new Equinox with the 2.0 and 9sp transmission?

There is 252hp, 260 torque. It is a 9 speed transmission, so it shifts.

It gets over 30 mpg, even in AWD trim (AWD can be turned off). The tow package comes standard.

My 2001 Venture had 180hp, 205 torque, and had a tow rating of 3500lbs and 4sp transmission.

I would tow this popup across the US with an Equinox.

Adam H wrote:
If you are within those parameters and someone gets pissed behind you, so be it.

That's all well and good until they totally lose their $ h i t and go full road-rage on you. As they harass you over the next 100 miles, pulling in front and slowing down, or tailgating so close you can't even see their headlights, or worse. You never know what kind of nutcase you're going to inadvertently incite these days. Might even have a gun. Maybe you do too, but not everyone does.

That doesn't even include the ones that just plow straight into you because they "DIDN'T SEE IT" or think you're moving at the same speed as they are.

It's not your fault, but the road rager or idiot who plowed into you isn't going to see it that way. Plus it's YOUR rig that gets wrecked, YOUR trip that gets ruined, YOUR insurance rates that go up. If none of that bothers you and you just want to go out there and be a target, go for it. I will not, and I will not recommend anyone else to it.

I do not have moderating ability in this area. I also do not have issues with opposing views, and do not personally delete posts accordingly in the area I do moderate.
after rereading my initial sentence, I was trying to point out, that the tow specs the automotive engineers have speced out, the minimum speeds on freeway grades are 5-10 mph LOWER than typical state minimum speeds. State of washington is 40, so the 35mph minimum for rigs over 15-20K lbs total is too low. Under the minimum is 40. Michigan per another poster, the minimum speed on a freeway/interstate is 45 mph. so upwards of 10 mph too low. Just because you meet the minimum manufacture tow specs, does not mean you will not get a ticket! you may be illegal per local laws.

Having spec'd multiple trucks for multiple uses, along with other machinery etc, one learns, that factory ratings may be a good or bad thing to follow! How you personally need things to operate and where, you may get away with using something over manufactures ratings, then again, you may have to use something at 50% of the ratings, and still destroy the unit WELL before it should be worn out etc.

Marty

Adam,
Issue with states minimum speeds, is they are 5-10 mph LOWER, yes lower, than the tow specs that the ASAE came up with! So you may fall with in this warranty/rating number, you co you I'd still get a impeding traffic ticket! BUT officer, I within the manufactures ratings!!!!! Officer Friendlies response ; here's your ticket, have a nice day!"......
So, question is still, as BenK points out, to trust or not trust the ratings!
You can be under manufactures weight/warranty ratings, yet be unsafe, due to an improperly loaded trailer that sways side to side too much.....
It is still, always be, up to the driver to.make sure they meet legal, warranty and what.many of us would call basic safety rules. If you do not, Murphy will get you!
Do I pull, weigh over manufactures warranty ratings, YES! Am I worried about it? NO! As I go thru many steps to make sure I am legal per state and federal laws! I would suggest you all do the same. Manufactures, engineer societies like ASAE do not make laws! Only warranty ratings!

Marty

It has a 9 speed transmission, who cares if it drops out of the top gear or 2 into a headwind, my V10 Excursion has done that without a trailer attached... If he follows the advice from Dad of 4 Girls, who has some experience with these vehicles, he should be fine towing within his weights.

Regardless of what is spewed her, a person is required to drive a minimum speed on the highways in the U.S. This is different from the speed limit and there is no law that states you have to haul @ss because everyone else is. If you are within those parameters and someone gets pissed behind you, so be it.

Still waiting for the 1 ton dually suggestions for that little pop up.

@SweetLou, sorry to hear your pop up years were your stupid years. They are the best of mine.

Adam

Dadoffourgirls wrote:
As I recommended, the 2.0 4cyl turbo comes with the trailer package standard, is rated for 3500lbs towing, and has 1100lbs payload.

You would be under all the ratings for this this vehicle.

The OP stated that the extreme usage was 3-5 times a year, and no longer than 3 hours. I would agree that this usage falls within the version I identified.

I drive the exact 4 cyl he is talking about at work. I have owned a very light and small pop-up trailer before in my stupid years. This car under cruise control can't keep up with out downshifting in a small headwind or little hill. I wouldn't tow anything with it when it can't tow itself up a hill. Even the limited amount of camping or pulling he might do would hurt that vehicle. Not worth it

Driving conditions are also much different than they were 20-30-40+ years ago.

If you're not keeping up with traffic, you're in the way, and people just plain don't care anymore. They will plow straight into the back of you and claim "I DIDN'T SEE IT!" or try to pass and plow head-on into oncoming traffic, again blaming you for being a road hazard.

Then there are many advising to go ahead and ignore OEM specifications...and okay to exceed those OEM spec’s, ratings and limits...

Add that many just want to hear that kind of “sure you can exceed those ratings”...