Looking for new tow vehicle

[boubay88]

I'm currently looking for a new tow vehicle. I have a 2010 HTT Export-17ft. Weighs in around 2900lbs. I looked at a Chevy Colorado Crew Cab for the passenger room, and as a second family vehicle, I will need it. The truck is rated for 5,000lbs, so I know it will pull. My question is; its a short bed/wheel base truck, should I be concerned about this? The HTT is also equipped with brakes and I have a brake controller.

[mike837go]

Originally Posted by boubay88

I'm currently looking for a new tow vehicle. I have a 2010 HTT Export-17ft. Weighs in around 2900lbs. I looked at a Chevy Colorado Crew Cab for the passenger room, and as a second family vehicle, I will need it. The truck is rated for 5,000lbs, so I know it will pull. My question is; its a short bed/wheel base truck, should I be concerned about this? The HTT is also equipped with brakes and I have a brake controller.

Brakes are pretty much a given, nowadays. Good Call. 3,000# trailer and 5,000 capacity tow...Still within decent safety margin.

WDH? It'll help when you go past 1/2 capacity of the tow.

Now for details:
Generally, the longer the tow, the easier it is on the highway. Balance that against maneuverability when you are backing the trailer into a campsite.

What about total cargo? You didn't mention payload capacity. The trailer's tongue weight, plus the driver and passengers, plus all of their stuff has to be under the max payload of the tow. Check that before plunking down the bux.

Looks like a decent choice. But do you really want to be seen in public driving a Chevy?

[WrenZ71]

I don't know if you are looking at a 2004-2012 colorado or a 2015+.If your looking at a 04-12 body style I wouldn't recommend the 2.8 4 cylinder,2.9 4 cylinder,3.5 5 cylinder or 3.7 5 cylinder.Those motors are underpowered to say the least.09-12 they offered a 5.3 v8 I would go that route.I owned 07 3.7 5 cylinder,it was under powered,would run hot(3/4 mark on the gauge)but never over heat pulling a steep grades and around town,not even pulling a trailer.It would struggle on flat ground pulling a 1500 pound flat utility trailer.Also none of the 09-12 body style are wired for a brake controller,you will need a universal kit to install it.

If you are looking at the 15+,Im not a fan of the 3.6l v6,I've seen far to many timing cover leaks(big deal on that motor)in other applications that use the same motor.

And no there was nothing wrong with my colorado,I'm a master ASE technician and a master gm technician,I've worked for 2 gm dealers.I left that seen 6 months ago for green opportunities.Gm does have a bulletin on the running at 3/4 mark and considers it normal.

[Subaru297]

The Canyon/Colorado have a crew cab configuration with a 7000lbs tow rating. I seem to recall 1400lbs payload as well (1/2 ton territory)

Toyota Tacoma 6500

Nissan Frontier 6300

All need to add the factory trailer tow package for those ratings though.

I wouldn't worry about the wheelbase issue of a compact pickup until getting into a trailer around mid 20' length. Your trailer should tow just fine.

Most importantly keep an eye on the payload capacity of any vehicle you look at. Not the brochure payload either. Look at the door sticker next to the recommended tire pressures. All of those should have 1000lbs + payload the higher the better!

[Subaru297]

Some one correct me if I am wrong but I think the 1400lbs of payload I saw was of a out of North America vehicle. I think we have a 6000lbs GVWR cap on midsize pickup trucks. So the payload won't be that high.

The Chevy Colorado do list the axle ratings though at 3200lbs front and 3500lbs rear. So a fictitious rating of around 6700lbs...... They do follow the new tow ratings though! That is good.

[cekkk]

Originally Posted by mike837go

But do you really want to be seen in public driving a Chevy?

Coming from a rice burner - HORRORS!