Chevy Colorado for long trips

[Cliff Hotchkiss]

Originally Posted by rbryan

A brick with wheels. Try driving an F450 dually about 1000 miles. Did that once, never again.

Sums it up.

[vintageracer]

For your reading enjoyment or confusion!

Colorado diesel narrowly beats Tacoma in head to head comparison - Expedition Portal

[steve dunham]

That certainly is a slap in the face for the Colorado but I guess a little praise is better than none!!

[ZachO]

Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz

look at the sticker on the door frame.

mine says payload 1205 lbs INCLUDING OCCUPANTS. thats a 2008 Tacoma 4x4 Access Cab TRD Off Road.

My door doesn't have that second tire and loading info sticker, so I guess I just need to base things off the cargo weight rating.

[John in Santa Cruz]

Originally Posted by ZachO

My door doesn't have that second tire and loading info sticker, so I guess I just need to base things off the cargo weight rating.

empty the truck out (or leave in the always-carry-stuff), fill the gas tank, and find a truck scale somewhere, most will weigh a private vehicle for a song if they aren't busy. find out your curb weight, and subtract that from the GVWR on the data plate to get *ACTUAL* usable payload.

[thrifty bill]

Originally Posted by ZachO

This got me thinking and made me re-check my Tacoma. My manual doesn't list "payload", but it lists "cargo weight rating". It shows I have a 1,100lb cargo weight rating, "with 3 occupants".

If payload and cargo weight rating are the same, I should be safe. I have a topper, which is likely around 200lbs. I rarely have anyone but me in the vehicle, so I'll be on the safe side and just say 2 people cancel out the weight of the topper and I still have 1,100lbs payload. I probably carry 100lbs in tools, plus a 40lb dog, around 100lbs of gas, just to be on the safe side say 100lbs of whatever other gear. I haven't measured my tongue weight but 17.5' Bigfoot trailers (mine is a 17') seem to weigh in no higher than 380lbs, and that's for newer, heavier models. I'm guessing I'm closer to 300 but let's just say 380.

So...1,100-100-40-100-100-380=380lb to spare. Would we say that's a safe margin? Considering an occasional additional occupant, and a canoe.

Am I missing possible other "options" that would weigh more on my truck? I can't think of any that would add more than a couple pounds.

Manual will most likely not list payload for your truck, but instead the payload if your truck had zero options. The payload of any truck is unique to the options on it. Instead, there is usually a sticker on the door jam (as pictured above). You also have to be careful of individual axle weight limits. Its pretty tricky, and car sales people would rather ignore it IMHO.

The sticker on the door jam WILL include all factory options on your truck. It will not include any dealer installed options (undercoating for example), nor anything installed by the owner. Owner installed on my truck: side steps (both sides), camper top, spray in bed liner, towing mirrors, brake controller (light weight), receiver hitch and ball. I start with 1450 pounds on the door jam, and go down from there. It goes quickly.

I have a Lariat level truck, with loads of options (bought it used). A more basic model of my truck would have had a lot more payload rating. Its pay me now, pay me later. Want a bunch of options? The weight comes out of your payload. There is no free lunch. While we love our optioned up truck, it limits us in towing capacity. Small trailer is fine. Big one would not be fine.

[george w]

I have a 2016 colorado crew cab long bed. Towed my 98 burro 17w from Houston, tx to southern cal and back no problem. Generator and camp gear in bed. I am 6’1” and was quite comfortable while getting 15 mpg overall for the trip at 60-65 mph

[AndyF]

Thanks for all of the comments.

I ordered a crew cab Colorado over the weekend and should pick it up this week. Now on to the task of finding a good trailer.

[tua]

Originally Posted by AndyF

Thanks for all of the comments.

I ordered a crew cab Colorado over the weekend and should pick it up this week. Now on to the task of finding a good trailer.

Congrats! You will enjoy it!

[ststefan]

Congrats! There is a forum for the Colorado as well.
www. 355nation.net

[george w]

You will like it. I have 30k on mine and no issues so far. tows my burro so much better than my old 08 colorado, 7000 vs 3500 tow rating with tow package

[Matt Whittlesey]

Originally Posted by AndyF

Hi,

Anyone using a Chevy Colorado as a tow vehicle for cross country travel? I'm 6'1" and my partner is 5'2". We would like a tow vehicle that will handle a trailer which might end up being a 21' Escape as well as being able to carry 2 canoes/kayaks, bicycles and the other miscellany that we'll end up with on a longer trip and be comfortable for that trip.

The Colorados I've been looking at are 4WD extended cab long bed models with the 3.6L engine and the tow package.

I’m towing an Escape 5.0 single axle 5th at 3,500 lbs. with a 2016 Colorado LT wiith factory tow package, Airlift supports, and limited-slip differential. The 300 hp 6-cyl with 6-speed auto is just adequate power. Averages 16 mpg. Very comfortable and quite. Prefer driving no more than 400 miles a day.
I also tow utility trailer with 3,500 lbs loaded by std ball hitch. Would never consider anything heavier with ball hitch.
Any travel trailer heavier would warrant more hp. I’ve heard rumors about the latest F-150 with turbo boost of 400 hp and 20 mpg.

[michaelcly]

I pulled a 13' Scamp with a 2006 calorado 2.8 automatic. It is impossible in 4th gear. It will constantly hunt gears. Pulling it in 3rd, with lockup was ok. At 65mph the rpm was 3,100. But that killed the mileage.

[John in Santa Cruz]

Originally Posted by michaelcly

I pulled a 13' Scamp with a 2006 calorado 2.8 automatic. It is impossible in 4th gear. It will constantly hunt gears. Pulling it in 3rd, with lockup was ok. At 65mph the rpm was 3,100. But that killed the mileage.

for contrast, my 4.0L V6 Tacoma 4x4 pulled a 4000 lb Escape the 2000 miles back from Dallas via Reno somewhere between 9.6 MPG and 13 MPG depending on road conditions and speed. I stayed in 5th most of the time (its a 6-speed manual) but on steeper grades, I would have to use 4th to maintain 60-65, and on the steepest grades, I used 3rd to go 55-60. headwinds going 75ish across texas got the worst mileage, Reno to the coast at 55-60 got the best mileage.

[rick in arvada]

I’m currently on my second long trip (Quartzsite) since picking up my 17-B at the factory last October. My 2016 extended cab with the tow package (w/o 4W drive) is handling the job very well. It’s comfortable for me (I’m 5’9”). Not sure how comfortable it would be for your larger frame.
Rick