Towing with a 2017 Chevy Colorado 3.6L

[QFamCA]

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.

[Rover_Bill]

QFamCA wrote:

Are you running the Diesel in your Canyon or the 3.6. What kind of MPG do you roughly see. Obviously you are heavier then me and travel a bit faster but just curious.

Gas 3.6L V6. My MPG varies alot between 8 mpg to 12+ mpg when towing and over 20 mpg when sightseeing without the TT. On the flat New York Thruway with a cross and tail wind, I got over 11 MPG towing. In the New Hampshire/Vermont mountains only 9 mpg. I really got hit hard last week on I-90 crossing Minnesota and South Dakota west bound. The increasing elevation and a strong west head wind dropped the MPG down to only 8 mpg.:E Maybe I'll make up for it when I head back home east bound.

[dave17352]

13.8 isn't bad at all!!!

[QFamCA]

Rover_Bill wrote:


A sway control hitch will eliminate the sloshyness. There is nothing wrong with your smaller truck as long as you take the time and effort to set it up right for your TT. I have a near perfect weight distribution on my Canyon and my 7,000# TT with my WD and it is very stable on the interstates. I normally drive between 65-70 mph (I have a lead foot). Last year, I took it on a 3 month/4K mile trip through New England with no issues.

The 3.6L V6 gets it's power from high RPM so don't worry about it. The engine/transmission is designed for it. Just remember to always use towhaul mode when hauling and use cruise control on the interstates. Enjoy the ride!

Thanks Rover for your input. Tow/haul definitely makes a difference as a couple of times I pulled away from the gas station and headed down the highway thinking I had a strong head wind. Looked down and realized I forgot to turn it back on.

Are you running the Diesel in your Canyon or the 3.6. What kind of MPG do you roughly see. Obviously you are heavier then me and travel a bit faster but just curious.

[Rover_Bill]

QFamCA wrote:
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).

A sway control hitch will eliminate the sloshyness. There is nothing wrong with your smaller truck as long as you take the time and effort to set it up right for your TT. I have a near perfect weight distribution on my Canyon and my 7,000# TT with my WD and it is very stable on the interstates. I normally drive between 65-70 mph (I have a lead foot). Last year, I took it on a 3 month/4K mile trip through New England with no issues.

The 3.6L V6 gets it's power from high RPM so don't worry about it. The engine/transmission is designed for it. Just remember to always use towhaul mode when hauling and use cruise control on the interstates. Enjoy the ride!

[QFamCA]

I averaged 13.8mpg. That was from north Texas to Southern Colorado and Northern New Mexico. So mix of mountains and flats.

[dave17352]

what was you mpg?

[Lwiddis]

Good report but as a weight weenie you are in the minority.

[Lessmore]

Sounds like you diagnosed 'sloshiness' issue correctly....it was the tires and adding air pressure took care of that. I recall years ago I had truck tires on my tow vehicle, but they were P series. I did the same, added tire pressure, within the specs and it was the solution. Thx for the detailed trip assessment.