How much can this truck REALLY tow?

[CO-traveler]

Hi, I got my garage organized so my wife and I can fit both cars in. My dreams of owning a great big, 3/4 ton 4x4 crew cab were dashed when I realized I was squeezing just to get out of my current midsize pickup. So, I have my sights set on a new Colorado/Canyon crew cab with the 2.8L duramax diesel to pull a smallish bunkhouse TT.

now to my question: The published literature states the truck can pull 7600#. Payload carrying capacity is around 1500 lbs. give or take depending on trim level. So, realistically to be safe, what weight of TT can I safely tow without being overloaded. I found a trailer that would fit our needs (wife and toddler son) and the dry weight is 4500 and a GVWR of 6500. It is the Dutchmen Apex 245BHS. I believe it is a 7.5' wide trailer with tandem axles. I doubt we would fill it up to the maximum of 6500 for travel so thinking more like 5500 lbs. wet and loaded.

What do you guys think of this tow combo? We live in the Rocky Mountains so the diesel with exhaust brake is appealing to be able to slow the rig down on those steep I-70 grades. I would be installing a good WD hitch with sway control of course.

[TurnThePage]

RinconVTR wrote:

CO-traveler wrote:
Hi, I got my garage organized so my wife and I can fit both cars in. My dreams of owning a great big, 3/4 ton 4x4 crew cab were dashed when I realized I was squeezing just to get out of my current midsize pickup. So, I have my sights set on a new Colorado/Canyon crew cab with the 2.8L duramax diesel to pull a smallish bunkhouse TT.

now to my question: The published literature states the truck can pull 7600#. Payload carrying capacity is around 1500 lbs. give or take depending on trim level. So, realistically to be safe, what weight of TT can I safely tow without being overloaded. I found a trailer that would fit our needs (wife and toddler son) and the dry weight is 4500 and a GVWR of 6500. It is the Dutchmen Apex 245BHS. I believe it is a 7.5' wide trailer with tandem axles. I doubt we would fill it up to the maximum of 6500 for travel so thinking more like 5500 lbs. wet and loaded.

What do you guys think of this tow combo? We live in the Rocky Mountains so the diesel with exhaust brake is appealing to be able to slow the rig down on those steep I-70 grades. I would be installing a good WD hitch with sway control of course.

I wont bother to read all 4 pages, so hopefully by now you have not been steered to a larger truck you were trying to avoid.

I believe the combo you state here would work very well together. Will it be a beast going up 6-8% grades, not exactly. But why is that so important to everyone when in the next breath they all claim how slow they tow and not to exceed 65mph. Bla Bla bla bla!

I've towed a TT weighing in at a little over 4000lbs with that mid-size SUV (Honda Pilot) so I'm confident you can much do better with a more trailer and a compact truck having 1500lb payload and decent tow rating.

Not everyone needs, wants, or can fit a big truck into their life (and garage!). People just don't get it here.

Good luck!

HEY!! I get it! And totally agree! :B

[RinconVTR]

CO-traveler wrote:
Hi, I got my garage organized so my wife and I can fit both cars in. My dreams of owning a great big, 3/4 ton 4x4 crew cab were dashed when I realized I was squeezing just to get out of my current midsize pickup. So, I have my sights set on a new Colorado/Canyon crew cab with the 2.8L duramax diesel to pull a smallish bunkhouse TT.

now to my question: The published literature states the truck can pull 7600#. Payload carrying capacity is around 1500 lbs. give or take depending on trim level. So, realistically to be safe, what weight of TT can I safely tow without being overloaded. I found a trailer that would fit our needs (wife and toddler son) and the dry weight is 4500 and a GVWR of 6500. It is the Dutchmen Apex 245BHS. I believe it is a 7.5' wide trailer with tandem axles. I doubt we would fill it up to the maximum of 6500 for travel so thinking more like 5500 lbs. wet and loaded.

What do you guys think of this tow combo? We live in the Rocky Mountains so the diesel with exhaust brake is appealing to be able to slow the rig down on those steep I-70 grades. I would be installing a good WD hitch with sway control of course.

I wont bother to read all 4 pages, so hopefully by now you have not been steered to a larger truck you were trying to avoid.

I believe the combo you state here would work very well together. Will it be a beast going up 6-8% grades, not exactly. But why is that so important to everyone when in the next breath they all claim how slow they tow and not to exceed 65mph. Bla Bla bla bla!

I've towed a TT weighing in at a little over 4000lbs with that mid-size SUV (Honda Pilot) so I'm confident you can much do better with a more trailer and a compact truck having 1500lb payload and decent tow rating.

Not everyone needs, wants, or can fit a big truck into their life (and garage!). People just don't get it here.

Good luck!

[1stgenfarmboy]

Yes a jake brake does help stoping, I have towed very heavy large loads my entire life on my 4th generation farm, towing a load with a TV that is at the upper max of it's limits is not fun, sure you can probably do it, safe ? fun ?



don't you want it to be relaxing when you go camping ?, I don't know if you can leave a truck sitting outside of the garage where you live, but if you can I would buy a used 3/4 ton in your price range and leave it out and be happy towing your new TT that you want.


For me I would rather have a TT I wan't and an older truck that can eat it for lunch when towing, than get a smaller TT that will work but not really what you want and a smaller truck that can fit in the garage and tow the TT ok but struggle at times.

[CO-traveler]

Isn't the stopability greatly increased/helped with the diesel exhaust brake? I've never owned a diesel so not sure how effective it really is coming off some of these high mountain passes.

[1stgenfarmboy]

When personaly attacking a person do it in a pm.

don't mess up the OP's thread.

[transamz9]

1stgenfarmboy wrote:
In my eyes it's the stopability it has rather than the ability to tow, the weight of the truck vs the weight on the TT.

My trailer is over 2X more weight than my tv. I think you need some glasses if that's the way you look at it through your eyes. What you are saying it the same as saying you would only pull a 20,000# fifth wheel with a class 8 truck.

[CO-traveler]

valhalla360 wrote:
They back a little nicer and a blowout isn't as critical but not a make or break difference.

I forgot about the blown tire scenario with tandems vs single. I was behind a tandem axle cargo trailer a few months ago and one of the tires fell off and was rolling along side the trailer before bouncing off into the bushes alongside the road. The driver didn't even know it happened and just kept going. Bet it would have been an entirely different outcome with a single axle trailer. Something to think about with the family on board.

[valhalla360]

95% of the advantage of tandem axle is more load carrying ability.

They back a little nicer and a blowout isn't as critical but not a make or break difference.

[Dadoffourgirls]

I used a 2017 V6 gas with 8 speed transmission Canyon Crew Long Box to pull a 16ft livestock trailer that contained 4 sows. In the truck was four people. I drove this 300 miles from Mackinaw Michigan to Southeast Michigan.

Due to commitments, I ran the truck at the posted speed, which was 75 mph for the majority of the trip. The truck was amazing. Yes, it ran at 3200 rpm, but it worked great. It actually surprised my friend when the trailer was hitched and the truck did not even drop.

I was hoping to use a diesel Colorado, but it was not available. I need to go get a few more sows next week, and hope to use a diesel Colorado then to compare.

I was happily surprised with the fuel economy of the V6 truck when not towing. It was better than posted on the sticker.

[RSD559]

Tandem axles can handle weight better and ride smoother, from my experience. Our last trailer was a single axle, and I missed the 2nd axle and set of wheels.

[CO-traveler]

Thanks for all the thoughts, comments, and recommendations. From what I'm reading, the load is doable if I police my weight regularly at the scales. I have a big truck stop near me (Ward and I-70) that has CAT scales so that won't be an issue. We really don't pack heavy when going camping so if, like you say, I am going to max out my trailer GVWR at 6500, then there won't be much left to put in the bed of the truck anyway.

Regarding tandem axle trailers: I there a definite benefit of tandem axles versus single? Better towing, maneuvering, etc.? I looked at the step-down models in this size bunkhouse class and they all seem to go to single axle with a queen bed shoved in the corner. Not my ideal setup.

[Grit_dog]

Like everyone that has responded, I've never towed or even driven a new Colorado, but I believe from a chassis and brakes standpoint with the proper trailer hookups/brakes you can tug a 3ton or bit better trailer safely. Not ideal, but safely.
That said I've towed most sizes / shapes of trailers with most types of pickups including little trucks.

Given where you live though I firmly believe you'll be wringing the socks out of that little engine with the 4 ways on up most big grades.
My Preference, full size truck in the mountains.

[noteven]

You could contact General Motors and ask for the truck's gradeability chart pulling the weight and frontal area you propose.

[valhalla360]

Engine should be fine. The turbo will actually make it better than most gas V8's in the mountains. You lose something like 4% of power for every 1000ft of altitude, so a 250hp V8 at 7,000ft is only going to have around 180hp. With a turbo, there will be negligible loss of power. No you won't be passing people going up steep grades but should be fine.

Payload is where you will be marginal.
- 800lb tounge weight (12% of 6500: Not buying you will stay light)
- 100lb hitch
- 150lb wife

That puts you at 1050lbs loaded. That doesn't leave much space for stuff in the truck.

Probably OK if you are careful with loading but you can't put half a cord of firewood in the back.

[Walaby]

You're pretty close. Tongue weight probably somewhere around 910 if you load the trailer to 6500. Assuming you will is safer than assuming you won't.

add 100lbs for the hitch assembly

add 275 for you and the wife.

You're at about 1285. Leaves you a little over 100 lbs left.

I doubt it will be fun in the mountains of Colorado. That Big Mac you get to go might put you over the top.

Mike