Towing with a 2017 Chevy Colorado 3.6L
I recently completed a 1500 mile trip with my 2017 Chevy Colorado and 15ft TT. Just wanted to share my experiences with other weight weenies.
For disclaimer.....I have the 3.6L with tow package and prodigy p3 brake controller. 7000 lb tow capacity and I have 1550lbs for cargo capacity.
Added about 5 gallons of fresh water, ice chest (in front of axel) and headed out. Pulled fine but a little more RPM then I was used to on the previous 5.7L Toyota Tundra but not an issues. Heading into the evening, I didn't like how trailer felt a little sloshy. Not dog wagging the tail but just didn't feel stable. I figured smaller truck width and weight etc. Also started thinking I should of got a WD. Nothing scary just not like my Tundra (yea I know it's a small truck).
Next morning feeling a bit uneasy I decided to check air in trailer and truck again. Trailer had about 8psi under max and truck about 2psi under in rear. Added air to max on trailer and added additional air to rear tires of truck. Truck says 35psi but rated at over 50psi for max load on tire. Aired truck to about 42 psi to stiffen sidewalls. Took off and no more sloshy feeling, truck was more stable. I had checked air right before leaving but realized trailer had been sitting in sun with 100+ temps for several days and checked tires later around 5pm. Next morning was about 35 degrees cooler. Will learn from that one.
Rest of trip no issues. I cruise pulling at about 61 or 62mph and let everyone fly past me include semis. I had three large passes in southern Colorado including 11,500 going over Slumgullion Pass on Hwy 149.
Trucked pulled my little TT and 5 of us like a champ. Down hill no issues increased trailer braking power via controller a bit more in mountains vs flats. Switched to manual shifting in mountains but pulled up with power.
I wasn't winning any races but with a family of 5 I never will because we seem stop ever hours for bathroom brakes.
All in all good trip but will get a WD hitch. Back comes down about 2 inches with tongue weight but since Colorado sits high in back it is nearly even with trailer hitched.
Trailer was a 2,946lbs with 411 on tongue. After passengers and cargo still left me with about 650lbs of cargo capacity on truck at our heaviest.
So I'm a self declared weight weenie. Hardly anything goes with us on a trip. There is always a Walmart on the way if something is forgotten.
Thanks for hearing me out.
For disclaimer.....I have the 3.6L with tow package and prodigy p3 brake controller. 7000 lb tow capacity and I have 1550lbs for cargo capacity.
Added about 5 gallons of fresh water, ice chest (in front of axel) and headed out. Pulled fine but a little more RPM then I was used to on the previous 5.7L Toyota Tundra but not an issues. Heading into the evening, I didn't like how trailer felt a little sloshy. Not dog wagging the tail but just didn't feel stable. I figured smaller truck width and weight etc. Also started thinking I should of got a WD. Nothing scary just not like my Tundra (yea I know it's a small truck).
Next morning feeling a bit uneasy I decided to check air in trailer and truck again. Trailer had about 8psi under max and truck about 2psi under in rear. Added air to max on trailer and added additional air to rear tires of truck. Truck says 35psi but rated at over 50psi for max load on tire. Aired truck to about 42 psi to stiffen sidewalls. Took off and no more sloshy feeling, truck was more stable. I had checked air right before leaving but realized trailer had been sitting in sun with 100+ temps for several days and checked tires later around 5pm. Next morning was about 35 degrees cooler. Will learn from that one.
Rest of trip no issues. I cruise pulling at about 61 or 62mph and let everyone fly past me include semis. I had three large passes in southern Colorado including 11,500 going over Slumgullion Pass on Hwy 149.
Trucked pulled my little TT and 5 of us like a champ. Down hill no issues increased trailer braking power via controller a bit more in mountains vs flats. Switched to manual shifting in mountains but pulled up with power.
I wasn't winning any races but with a family of 5 I never will because we seem stop ever hours for bathroom brakes.
All in all good trip but will get a WD hitch. Back comes down about 2 inches with tongue weight but since Colorado sits high in back it is nearly even with trailer hitched.
Trailer was a 2,946lbs with 411 on tongue. After passengers and cargo still left me with about 650lbs of cargo capacity on truck at our heaviest.
So I'm a self declared weight weenie. Hardly anything goes with us on a trip. There is always a Walmart on the way if something is forgotten.
Thanks for hearing me out.
