Forum Discussion

traildog's avatar
traildog
Explorer
Mar 10, 2021

Who is towing with a Chevy Colorado?

I have a friend considering a TT and wants to know about towing with his Chevy Colorado.

His truck has the tow package with the bigger engine (not diesel).

Thanks,

TD
  • You are generally pretty safe if the GVWR of the trailer you are considering is no more than the factory tow rating of the truck you want to use.

    So if the tow rating on the Colorado is 5000lbs look for a trailer with a GVWR of 5000lbs or less.

    My logic behind this is, even though you really can't reach the truck's tow rating going by the numbers, the trailer will weigh something less than its GVWR loaded and ready to camp. Everything meets in the middle in a cloud of blissful ignorance where you and your family heads off to the campground on a Friday afternoon, have a wonderful weekend, and head back Sunday morning with nary a care in the world. It works for the hundreds of thousands of trailer owners that don't use this forum, so it should work for you.
  • From 2016 to 2019 my GMC Canyon (see my sig below) was able to pull my 7K TT up a long 7% grade at 70+ MPH in cruse control. In 2019/2020 GMC remapped the computer so now I pull the 7K TT up a 7% grade at only 60 MPH with cruse control failure. (I need a better fuel map). Most loaded semi's will be doing only 35 MPH on a 7% grade. I still can do 8% grade at 40 MPH (loaded commercial trucks are normally detoured around roads having an 8% grade). The posted speed limit on 8% roads is usually about 35 MPH or less.

    Yes, I still recommend a GMC Canyon/Chey Colorado WITH TOW/HAUL enabled for pulling 7K TT on mountain roads. It does a great job (70-80 MPH) pulling on flat roads and has enough weight and wheel base to handle cross winds with a WDH.
  • I have been towing a small 18ft tt with a 2016 Colorado. No problem on trips up and down the east coast. Haven't tried western mountains but Vermont and Blue Ridge were fine.
  • Traveling Robert has many miles on his Colorado. He’s on YouTube.