GMC/Chevy Baby diesel, What can you tow with it?

[NinerBikes]

Has anyone gone out yet and bought one of these 2.8 L inline 4 baby Duramax VM Motori made in Thailand diesels yet and pulled some travel trailer yet behind one of them?

I know the 4 banger is down at 181HP and 369ftlbs of torque from the 240HP and 406 ftlbs of my 2013 Touareg TDI Sport. Also down from the RAM Ecodiesel 3.0 V6 too.

In 4wd, should pull 7000 #'s, albeit I bet pretty slow.


Rumor also has it that the 6 speed transmission for 2016 model is going bye bye for an 8 speed gear box in 2018.

How does it tow with a lot of frontal area wind resistance?

[6_6_Oilburner]

ksss wrote:
I agree that offering the diesel engine in a more lightly equipped versions would certainly result in more sales. I think having a manual as an option would help as well. There have been ZR2 versions seen running around in Camo, I think you will see them release this off road version next. Eventually when they have sucked the big money out of those interested in a mid-size pickup they will offer the Little D-Max in more lightly equipped pickups. It might take a while since they are still one of the best selling pickups on the market, but as they cool off, I think they will become a better value.

I got flamed on a diesel performance oriented forum because guys where balking at the size and price. I already have 2 3/4 ton diesel pickups, to me the Colorado is a "car" that is less useless than a car. For a guy like myself who is always throwing stuff in the back of his truck, a car is not even an option. I might entertain the Eco diesel just on price point, but for my needs I'd really want the smaller truck I think.

As far as making it cheaper, I think GM knew pretty well what they were doing when they rolled it out in high option form. Maybe we'll see the little diesel sheds some options, but I kind of doubt it. People are buying loaded trucks in this day an age.

[ChooChooMan74]

I have the near identical motor in my Jeep Liberty. It does well for its size. I would love to get my hands on the Colorado.

[NinerBikes]

I guess it's waiting time, then, for the initial pent up demand to be met and bought up by those with fat wallets. It's my understanding that there might be a Denali version in 2017 with an eight speed gearbox, versus the current 6 speed, that offers a rumored 5% increase in MPGs, or about 1.5 more MPGS, since 4x4's are rated at 29 and 2wd are rated at 31, currently, with the 6 speed.

The other rumor is that the 2018 models, all of them, will have the 8 speed gearbox as standard.

[ksss]

I agree that offering the diesel engine in a more lightly equipped versions would certainly result in more sales. I think having a manual as an option would help as well. There have been ZR2 versions seen running around in Camo, I think you will see them release this off road version next. Eventually when they have sucked the big money out of those interested in a mid-size pickup they will offer the Little D-Max in more lightly equipped pickups. It might take a while since they are still one of the best selling pickups on the market, but as they cool off, I think they will become a better value.

[rjstractor]

NinerBikes wrote:
What would you consider a good value then $$$$$ wise for a basic Canyon SLT Long Bed, close to stripped as possible? How much off of MSRP? I see Bighorn Ecodiesels all the time on Cars.com for 8 to $10k off of MSRP.

One of the problems I have with the Canyon/Colorado is that you can't get a "stripped" diesel version, and they are in such short supply you can't touch one for under $40K. If they had a Work Truck model and you could get it for $30K I think that would be a good value. I've seen Ram Ecodiesels in the Tradesman trim but decently equipped (Bluetooth, tow package, chrome package, aluminum wheels, etc) for under $35K, and the Bighorn model you mentioned for about $40K. It's hard to imagine paying $40K for a midsize when I can get a roughly equally equipped full size truck with more power and tow capacity for the same price. If only the Ram 1500 had a little more payload!

[NinerBikes]

rjstractor wrote:
It's actually an I4, not a V4. I imagine it tows fine up to its rating. I really like the truck but I don't think it's a good value at this point. The Ram Ecodiesel is a bigger, more powerful truck, gets around the same mileage, but the kicker is actually cheaper to buy. MSRP is a little lower compared to the Ram but you can't get the diesel in a lower trim. There are not many on dealer lots so there isn't much dealing on price. I hope supply increases so one can be had for under $40K.

What would you consider a good value then $$$$$ wise for a basic Canyon SLT Long Bed, close to stripped as possible? How much off of MSRP? I see Bighorn Ecodiesels all the time on Cars.com for 8 to $10k off of MSRP.

[NinerBikes]

It sure feels either heavy or down on power, running it empty, compared to my Touareg TDI AWD Sport model, and that's with a 3.0 L V6 with 406 ft lbs of torque and 240 HP.

[rjstractor]

brulaz wrote:
Not sure how important that is for trucks with these low GCWRs, but even with my 8500# trailer I was wishing for one with my EcoBoost. And I understand the diesels in general need an EB more than a NA engine so think I would prefer the I4 Colorado.

Interesting thought, comparing the Colorado directly to the Ram 1500 I would think the bigger truck with bigger brakes would make up for lack of an exhaust brake. I'm not really sure why the Ecodiesel doesn't have one. With the aftermarket GDE tune, a "turbo brake" program is available, and when in tow/haul mode it works similarly to an exhaust brake.

[brulaz]

rjstractor wrote:
It's actually an I4, not a V4. I imagine it tows fine up to its rating. I really like the truck but I don't think it's a good value at this point. The Ram Ecodiesel is a bigger, more powerful truck, gets around the same mileage, but the kicker is actually cheaper to buy. MSRP is a little lower compared to the Ram but you can't get the diesel in a lower trim. There are not many on dealer lots so there isn't much dealing on price. I hope supply increases so one can be had for under $40K.

I understand the EcoD lacks an Exhaust Brake, but that little I4 actually has one.

Not sure how important that is for trucks with these low GCWRs, but even with my 8500# trailer I was wishing for one with my EcoBoost. And I understand the diesels in general need an EB more than a NA engine so think I would prefer the I4 Colorado.

[goducks10]

Trailer Life mag did a test review with a Colorado and a Lance 2155. They got 16.3 towing. The Lance tested weighed 5047lbs. It's 25'8"L, 8'W and 10'1"H.
Only major complaint was the seat material and seat to steering wheel position.
They said they had no problem running 55mph+ up hills.

[rjstractor]

It's actually an I4, not a V4. I imagine it tows fine up to its rating. I really like the truck but I don't think it's a good value at this point. The Ram Ecodiesel is a bigger, more powerful truck, gets around the same mileage, but the kicker is actually cheaper to buy. MSRP is a little lower compared to the Ram but you can't get the diesel in a lower trim. There are not many on dealer lots so there isn't much dealing on price. I hope supply increases so one can be had for under $40K.

[45Ricochet]

What ever it tows it had better be skinny cause the mirrors suck IMO :B

[Tachdriver]

Turbo?

[NinerBikes]

My 2013 Touareg TDI at 5000# with a 4300# wet 21 foot Palomino Gazelle TT feels heavily taxed on I-15 going up grades from San Bernadino to Yellowstone . One big pull from Mesquite NV to Cedar City, UT also, a slow one.