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Jack3 · 05-06-2016, 01:08 PM

I have a 2015 Colorado with the V-6 and tow rating of 7000 pounds. Am I crazy to try to pull a 6500 pound travel trailer with it?

**TonyDi** · 05-06-2016, 01:52 PM

Bruce C · 05-06-2016, 04:10 PM

Good luck and have a great season.

MSHappyCampers · 05-06-2016, 04:15 PM

Hi Jack! Welcome to IRV2! We're sure glad you joined the gang!

Sorry I can't help with your towing question!

Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!

archer75 · 05-06-2016, 05:10 PM

you'll have to look at the numbers but once loaded my guess is you'll be very overloaded on tongue weight and payload.

Ranster · 05-06-2016, 05:24 PM

I wouldn't say you were crazy, but I believe you are not thinking straight. Once loaded, you would be well over the limit for that truck. You would most likely burn out the transmission going up any type of significant grade. I would think you could tow if going level with a weight distribution system, but would not suggest it. My Tundra is rated at 7200 lbs. and I tow a hybrid with a 3995 "dry" weight. With the trailer loaded and truck bed loaded, I'm usually in low 2 going up most decent grades. That's with a 4.8L V-8 vs. your V-6.

coldfusion · 05-06-2016, 05:32 PM

I tow a 6000lb loaded trailer with a Ram 1500 with 5.7...your truck won't tow that weight

timetogo · 05-06-2016, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack3

I have a 2015 Colorado with the V-6 and tow rating of 7000 pounds. Am I crazy to try to pull a 6500 pound travel trailer with it?

Depends on your skill level. Some can't pull that much trailer safely with a 1-ton. Good luck and have fun.

Jack3 · 05-07-2016, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack3

I have a 2015 Colorado with the V-6 and tow rating of 7000 pounds. Am I crazy to try to pull a 6500 pound travel trailer with it?

I have new information, Just got back from weighing my truck with a full tank, myself and my wife. It came in at 4660 well below it's gvwr of 5700. The trailer will have a gvw of 6000 again well below the tow rating of 7000. With hitch weight of 680 which puts the truck gvw at 5340 and the trailer at 5320. well under combined gvwr and truck and trailer gvwr. Thank you for your comments

archer75 · 05-07-2016, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack3

I have new information, Just got back from weighing my truck with a full tank, myself and my wife. It came in at 4660 well below it's gvwr of 5700. The trailer will have a gvw of 6000 again well below the tow rating of 7000. With hitch weight of 680 which puts the truck gvw at 5340 and the trailer at 5320. well under combined gvwr and truck and trailer gvwr. Thank you for your comments

With gear it will be well over. I didn't like towing that much weight with a half ton truck.
You didn't say what the tongue weight rating and payload rating of the truck were? You have to be within those limits as well.
Just because something can, technically, do a thing doesn't necessarily mean it's a good idea.

Ranster · 05-07-2016, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack3

I have new information, Just got back from weighing my truck with a full tank, myself and my wife. It came in at 4660 well below it's gvwr of 5700. The trailer will have a gvw of 6000 again well below the tow rating of 7000. With hitch weight of 680 which puts the truck gvw at 5340 and the trailer at 5320. well under combined gvwr and truck and trailer gvwr. Thank you for your comments

I surely hope I'm wrong, but I predict handling, transmission and potential engine problems arising.

Please report back after you take your initial trip(s). I would be very interested in knowing how things work out (especially if you have to pull any major grades). Take care and good luck.

Arch Hoagland · 05-07-2016, 11:09 AM

The real problem comes in when you have to do a panic stop.

I'm sure you can pull it but getting stopped is an issue.

I've pulled trailers years ago with a Toyota pickup that had the 4 cylinder engine and handling was always a bit of a problem.

1bigmess · 05-07-2016, 11:30 AM

You will have more stuff in your truck in camping trim than you, your wife, and a full tank of gas. You aren't really thinking this through very well, in my opinion. You're getting closer, but not close enough.

I went here:
Chevrolet Pressroom - United States - Colorado

I could find no info about the Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) of your truck. The GCWR is the total weight your truck and any trailer can weigh together. Without this, you cannot know what your truck can carry for a trailer above and beyond the weight you already know for your vehicle with the usual load of passengers and fuel.

I looked for ten minutes on the internet and couldn't find this info. I hope you can.

SmokeyWren · 05-07-2016, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1bigmess

I could find no info about the Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) of your truck.

Tow rating for the 2016 V6 gasser is 7,000 pounds. But tow rating is with a stripped truck with no options and nothing in the truck but a skinny driver. So neither tow rating nor GCWR will tell you the max weight of trailer you can tow without being overloaded.

Payload capacity is the limiting spec on almost all half-ton and smaller pickups. GVWR minus the weight of the truck gives you payload capacity.

But the raw payload capacity number is not much help either. You need the actual payload capacity available for hitch weight, and to get that you have to weigh the wet and loaded truck ready for towing, full of gas, and with all people, pets and baggage on board, including the hitch and any tools and other stuff in the truck. Campfire wood?

If you have to guess at towing capacity, then subtract about 1,000 pounds from the tow rating, then load the tow vehicle very lightly, with minimum tools and no campfire wood. My lightweight topper puts me over the payload capacity of my F-150 with my small TT that grosses only 4,870 pounds when wet and loaded on the road.