Expert Towing Advice
I have a 2020 Chevy Colorado LT, Short Bed. It is 4 WD and it has the Towing Package (brakes, etc). It has a towing capacity of 7000 pounds. We currently are looking at upgrading our camper to a ...
Forum Discussion
mr_andyj wrote:
I will wear glove in the winter if I am out for a long period, but just for going outside for a few mins, or in a situation I can put hands in pockets I will not bother with gloves.
Every single thread about towing there will be several people who insist that you need a one-ton truck to pull a jet ski because that is safer. Your truck will be rated for what it can tow, those are your guidelines.
If you really want to do it right and are pulling a big trailer then get a class-8 truck with one rear axle. The motor will last one million miles and your mpg will be around 15. You will never have towing issues, the truck will never be under strain, and unlikely you will have break-downs like you would in a passenger vehicle that is near its limits all the time. Those little class-8s that pull the Coca-Cola trailers are about as small as they come and would be way more than any one-ton.
But, you are making a compromise, so based on what you plan to do that will be how much truck you decide you need.
Boy, I like your input. Of course it is steeped in common sense and lacks testosterone laden claims. I would like to second your comments earlier about having good and well adjusted trailer brakes. The theory is the truck brakes will stop the truck, the trailer brakes will stop the trailer. And, you know, this works well when they are properly set up, maintained and adjusted regularly. The controller is a really big part of the picture and if the built in one in your truck is good, then you are good to go. I tow a 25 ft trailer with a Tundra. Horrors! How I have survived since 2009 must be some kind of miracle. Upgraded to a 2017 a few years ago to get, among other things, a built in brake controller. It was, a piece of S*#@. They put in a timed controller and not a proportional controller. I took it out and installed my old Prodigy. I guess the point here is, if you have a built in controller you probably will be good to go. I did and I wasn't. I can't believe any other manufacture would do what Toyota did back in '17. Glad to hear that you are making decisions with safety and comfort in mind. Your first choice of trailer would have ended up with quite the challenge. I think you are moving in the right direction now . Best wishes.
