Colorado/Canyon diesel

[johnandjennc]

Anyone towing a TT with this vehicle? Interested in it for capability and practical size as daily driver and like the potential it has for a future TT. Would love to know what TTs it is capable of towing in real life .

[SmokeyWren]

GCWR is 12.000 pounds with the V6 engine, so GM says it can tow up to 7,000 pounds when the truck is loaded not heavier than 5000 pounds before you tie onto the trailer. But GM pulled that 5,000 pounds out of a hat, so the practical tow limit with a normal load of passengers and gear in the truck is around 5,000 to 6,000 gross trailer weight.

IOW, only a very small ultra-light travel trailer if you don't want to overload your tow vehicle.

[tuffr2]

I just looked at the gasoline version yesterday. This little truck would make a great tow vehicle for a bass boat, A-Liner camper, T@B camper, most pop-up campers in the real world.

If you put a 5,000 lb trailer behind this truck you will be looking at a full size truck in just a few weeks. Unless you are only towing on back roads and shorter distances.

I would wait for the 2017 Honda Ridgeline which would make the best daily driver or look at the 2.7 litre Eco-Boost F-150.

[Cumminsfan]

Trailer Life magazine tested a Colorado diesel with a Lance 2155 TT. 5047lbs loaded. They got around 16+mpg towing. Said it did well as far a keeping the speeds up.
Hated the seats and also the drivers seat and steering wheel are not centered. That was one of their complaints.

[SmokeyWren]

Originally Posted by tuffr2

I would wait for the 2017 Honda Ridgeline which would make the best daily driver...

A Ridgeline is not in the same class as a Colorado. Yeah, it's probably a better commuter car, but not nearly as good as a tow vehicle. The Ridgeline is based on the front wheel drive Odyssey minivan chassis. The Colorado is a slightly-smaller version of a rear-wheel-drive half-ton pickup, such as the Taco or Nissan Frontier or the discontinued (in the USA) Ford Ranger (RIP).

[archer75]

A diesel colorado is really expensive. You can get bigger trucks for that price. I got a helluva deal on my Ram 2500 diesel. Same price as what a lot of half tons were going for. And I use it as my daily driver. No regrets.

[tuffr2]

I will elaborate on my V6 gas Canyon test drive. The truck is probably much better than the old in-line 5 cyl with the flimsy frame but I would not buy one. The seats were not comfortable and the power did not seem like it was close to what was advertised.

Sure the Ridgeline will not be advertised to tow 7,000lbs but nither should the Canyon/Colorado. The Ridgeline will tow the bass boat, T@B, A-Liner type, pop-up trailer just fine. Plus be the very best daily driver.

I had a 2006 Ridgeline. It towed my 2,500lb. boat and trailer really well. However it did not tow the 5,000lb camper comfortably. The Ridgeline did fit in the garage and was a very good comfortable daily driver.

Again for a 5,000+ lb. camper that is in IMHO in full size truck category. The full size trucks are all very nice.

[Fast0ne]

Not sure about a flimsy frame on the older Colorado.

I tow with mine with the inline 3.5 with no issues what so ever.

As far as the new diesel one max tow rating is 7700 pounds.

Lots of guys on Colorado fans site that are towing with the gas version that are very happy with the performance.

For myself my next purchase will be a full size truck.

[johnandjennc]

Thanks all for the feedback. After doing some pricing analysis I do see that there are a lot of full size options that are more widely available and around the same price. The appeal to me is really the smaller size and better fuel economy as a daily driver. Easier to fit in garage, etc. No immediate purchase plans so plenty of time for looking around and weighing options.

[wingnut60]

You might take a close look at your yearly mileage and what 1./2/3/4 mpg increase would do to overall cost of use--I think you will be surprised how much you have to improve mpg to pick a new one on mpg alone. And should you want to upsize the trailer...
As to fitting in the garage, can't argue that point...
Joe

[johnandjennc]

I hear ya. MPG not a primary reason, just one of the factors.

I would still love to hear from any current owners of the canyon or colorado diesel if they are out there and hear what you are towing with it and what feedback you have.

[archer75]

I would also consider the Ram 1500 ecodiesel. You get 28mpg. Max tow rating is similar but the larger truck would handle the load better.

[Cumminsfan]

Problem with the 1500 ED is the really low payload. The GM twins actually have a higher payload rating. 600lbs for a hitch, and you only have 400lbs left for passengers and gear in a 1500 ED. IIRC the


Like I mentioned read the Trailer life article where they towed a Lance 2155 TT that weighed 5047lbs. It had a 783lb tongue weight. They loved it for towing.
You couldn't tow that with the Ram 1500 ED. with only on average 1000lbs or payload the 1500 would only have 227lbs left for passengers and gear. That's not to mention that the Lance wasn't fully loaded. Just loaded enough for testing purposes. Throw another 100-200lbs in the front storage areas and you'd be maxed out on the Ram 1500 ED for GVW.

[archer75]

I couldn't find the tongue weight rating for the ram. I know most people like to go by payload but not all trucks go by that. My previous truck and different ratings for tongue weight and payload and they were nearly 1000lbs different.