Best light weight pickup toad

[J&SW]

Hello all,

DW and I just bought a 04 Itasca Sunrise, Workhorse W22 chassis. Both of us are recently retired educators and looking forward to traveling our wonderful USA and Canada. I am sure I will have loads of questions for you all as we progress and get to know Tassie better. One big question - we have a 750 Honda Shadow we want to take with us, and have been looking at all kinds of options to carry it and also have a toad. Thought of a hoist, trailer, Tandem dolly, or pickup and bike in the bed. Given our finances (those power hoists can put you back a ton, and from what I've heard, give Tassie a case of too light front feet), and Tassie's limit of about 5000 towing, and 500 tongue weight we are leaning to the pickup. Other options and ideas are welcome, but if we go with the pickup do you all have any ideas of the best lightweight pickup for the job? Couple more requirements - 4x4 necessary as we are fisherfolks, and crew cab because we want 4 comfortable seats. From my bit of research it seems the Colorado/Canyon is the lightest (but maybe not the best), with an older Tacoma next. Am I in the ball park?

[smlranger]

Would think any of the 4X4 small PU's with a manual tranny would work. I've been partial to Fords so the Ranger or Explorer Sport Trac would get my look. Also, some of the Ford 4X4's with auto transmissions can be 4 down towed with a dealer-installed neutral tow kit.

Your real issue with be staying within the 5,000 pound tow limit of your coach. Would think most of the small 4WD PU's would weigh around 4,000 and I'm guessing your Shadow is 500-600 lbs.

Welcome to IRV2. This is surely the best RV site on the web.

[Cousin Ed]

We tow an '05 Colorado 4 x 4 Crew. It weighs 4200 with its normal stuff and full fuel. It might not be the "BEST" but it's got 73K on the odometer and has been towed another 65K. It's been trouble free, has a decent ride and gets pretty good mileage. We like it.

[Gary CA]

I'm with cousin ED. Our Colorado 4X4 has been a good truck. I would look close at a Tacoma stick shift next time, lighter truck and probably better mileage than the 20mpg I am getting.

[RTZ6885]

09 Canyon V8 Crew Cab here. Very easy setup.