Towing with a midsize Chevy
Looking to find some help im posting this about a trip im planning for next year. Here’s what I currently have: 2017 Chevrolet Colorado 3.6 V6 8 speed GVWR 6000 LBS PAYLOAD 1498 LBS GCVWR 12,000 LBS TOWING CAPACITY 7000 LBS 2013 Coleman 15BHS GVWR 3800 LBS MAX PAYLOAD 917 LBS TONGUE WEIGHT 346 LBS Trip: 9000 Miles with Weight Distribution hitch, Anti Sway and Brake Control. On paper I’m totally within limits, but my idea is to start from Mazatlán, México up to Texas, then to the starting point of Route 66, make the route to finish in Santa Monica, then going upstate to Oregon and then all the way down to Cabo, Mexico. Our purpose is to take around two months for this and visit around 10 national parks, we’re traveling just my wife and I. Im assuming our TT is fully loaded (3800lbs) and couple things in truck bed. I used to drive a F150 Ecoboost then bought the Chevy and I feel it like a very small truck. Id like to hear advises from other travelers, your MPG when towing similar weights and maybe stories from campers that pull with midsize pickup trucks to have peace of mind or consider if I definitely should replace my pickup for a full size. Right now I really love my Colorado, feels comfortable, I don’t struggle with size, I’m ok with fuel economy. Truck has around 45k miles with no issues, just I’ve never towed with it before and I’d really appreciate all of your recommendations. Thank you for your time
Fifth Wheel Hitch Types (air/flexible/...)
Looking to tow a very heavy 5th wheel trailer (with an F-550 or such). I've seen 5th wheel hitches that mount flat, hitches that articulate, hitches that have air bags, etc..) I can imagine that a flat hitch on the truck can flex the heck out of the trailer - so it seems like I want one with air or at least some articulation points in it, but it's difficult to find in 25k lbs or more. How important are these features, particularly considering that I need to drive over some dirt roads (that's the reason the trailer is so heavy - I got a custom trailer with a massive frame so I don't have to worry about things like frame flex).
RV-Vehicle-Trailer tows (nCDL time?)
For those of you who double tow (RV towing a vehicle with a trailer attached to the towed vehicle) be aware that several states are jumping on non-commercial drivers license double-triple endorsements (like a CDL but not valid for commercial driving) bandwagon. CA (surprise, surprise, surprise) seems to be leading the pack with nCDL's for double/triple and over 26,000lb class RV's. Reports from NY are that they are enforcing a double triple endorsement requirement, even for out of state drivers. But this seems to be somewhat inconsistent between counties, and even NYSP patrol zones. I called a DMV in Lewis County as I am planning a trip to Fort Drum and have a Jeep JK and sub-2000lb MC trailer double tow setup. I'm under 26,000 but have a CDL-A without double/triple endorsement. The lady was not sure of the rules and said someone would get back to me, two weeks ltaer I'm still waiting...
Highland Ridge Open Range RV 275RLS
We looked at this 2025 RV yesterday, but the only reviews we could find refer to 2022-2023 RVs. Almost every review grades 2 out of 5 stars for quality and manufacture's warranty. We can’t find any reviews on 2024-2025 models. Is it wishful thinking that these older models were constructed during COVID when everyone was buying an RV and the manufacturers couldn’t keep up, or are the newer models still junk?
California F350 owners DMV CVRA
Hear me out, I’ve called dmv several times and every answer is different. I’ve spoken with owners of trucks that I’m considering purchasing and some don’t know about cvra fees and some say it doesn’t apply. However it’s definitely a thing, right? Hence the dmv form 4008 https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/uploads/2024/10/REG-4008-R5-2015-ASB-WWW.pdf I do not intend or foresee myself using the truck for commercial purposes nor am I for hire. I do intend to use it for daily driving, the summer recreational boat haul, perhaps a 5th wheel in the future, Home Depot errands, etc. Does cvra apply to me? Help me out, share your experience with this please, if anyChevy/GMC bed height
Anybody out there have a 20/21 Chevy or GMC 2500 double cab standard bed 4wheel drive. If so what is the height of the bed rails from the ground. I don't want to order a new truck if it is too tall for my 5th wheel. Nobody at the dealership can tell me and they don't have one in stock.Towing Capability Question
It appears that a Chevy 1500 5.3 has a higher towing capability than a Chevy 2500 6.0. Chevy site says a 1500 CC std box 5.3 3.73 4X4 will tow 11700 lbs. 2500HD CC std box 6.0 3.73 4X4 will tow 9400 lbs. Am I reading the data wrong? Is there any engineering explanation for these towing specs that seem to defy logic? Or is this just one of the marketing strategies for the 150 / 1500 market. I thought the society of auto engineers had come up with a method for establishing standards for tow ratings for light trucks. It looks like the sales side of the company is not listening to the engineering side of the company. Or maybe I'm missing something that I should be able to clearly see.
