Looking to purchase for a camper

2461 Views 14 Replies 9 Participants Last post by hoitzed, May 17, 2022

Millerc14

Discussion Starter · May 12, 2022

Hi, I am thinking of purchasing a newer chevy colorado z71 4x4 to tow my camper with. I just wanted to make sure before going out to buy one if it would tow it well. My current vehicle that I have isn't enough to tow it without struggling,so I'm kind of in a bind, and need a truck. I was hoping one of these would work well, and not struggle too much to pull it. The camper is a 17b , and has a dry weight of 2980lbs, and gvwr(max weight) of 3850lbs, and a hitch weight(supposedly) of 385lbs. It is 17ft camper and 21ft from end to end. I want to be able to tow the camper comfortably, without having to worry about it much. The set up I have on my current vehicle is a 2-5/16" RockerBall, sway tab ball mount, Echo Brake Controller, sway control kit, and anti-rattle. Would I need to get a different set up for the truck, or should I just buy a full size truck. Any advice would be appreciated, thank you all.

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CaryBosse

· #2 · May 12, 2022

Not sure what a 17b is, better model number or a link to info on the travel trailer would be better.

That said, any of the 2nd Gen (2015 & newer) Colorado/Canyon trucks with V6 or diesel should handle that no problem. With the V6 or diesel rated to tow in the 7K range. The payload of most of the trucks is around 1400 pounds, a tongue weight of 400 pounds should be fine, but when you say supposedly, I assume you are not sure of tongue weight. The factory number usually does not include anything from the loaded weight, including propane tanks, fresh and waste water, etc. I'd probably figure you are hauling 500 pounds.

That is a pretty small travel trailer, what truck do you have that is having issues with that load?

Biggest issue I think you will find is the mirrors are not great, you probably want to look at some aftermarket mirrors to see around the trailer.

My Silverado would probably hardly notice that trailer, but I would have been comfortable with my Canyon towing the trailer you are describing, with aftermarket mirrors.

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Millerc14

Discussion Starter · #3 · May 13, 2022

CaryBosse said:
Not sure what a 17b is, better model number or a link to info on the travel trailer would be better.

That said, any of the 2nd Gen (2015 & newer) Colorado/Canyon trucks with V6 or diesel should handle that no problem. With the V6 or diesel rated to tow in the 7K range. The payload of most of the trucks is around 1400 pounds, a tongue weight of 400 pounds should be fine, but when you say supposedly, I assume you are not sure of tongue weight. The factory number usually does not include anything from the loaded weight, including propane tanks, fresh and waste water, etc. I'd probably figure you are hauling 500 pounds.

That is a pretty small travel trailer, what truck do you have that is having issues with that load?

Biggest issue I think you will find is the mirrors are not great, you probably want to look at some aftermarket mirrors to see around the trailer.

My Silverado would probably hardly notice that trailer, but I would have been comfortable with my Canyon towing the trailer you are describing, with aftermarket mirrors.

Sorry, its a coleman 17b. I bought it and I was pulling it with a jeep cherokee trailhawk. It has a capacity of 4500lbs, so it can pull it, just not well to where I feel comfortable. Not only that the wheelbase is kind of short for a trailer that large.I imagine the tongue weight is over as well. I'm not sure if the weight they give for the hitch is for the dry weight or for max capacity, even though that 385 would be 10 percent of the max 3850. I ordered a tongue weight scale, and that's supposed to be in tomorrow. I was looking at a v6. I assume the z71s have the tow package already on them? I am going to look at several trucks tomorrow, and Saturday to try and buy one before I go camping again later this month. If this can pull it with ease then I will definitely test drive one.

CaryBosse

· #4 · May 13, 2022

The V6 or Z71 does not mean it has the tow package. Look to see if it has a 2" receiver and 7-pin connector. A Z71 with receiver effectively has the tow package as all Z71 have the G80 locking differential.

The 17b I looked at for specs was a bit heavier. In any event, I think if that Jeep could tow this trailer, the Colorado will do it much better.

ARCowboy

· #5 · May 13, 2022

Z71 has the G80 auto locker and probably has the integrated trailer brake controller (mine does). Look for the hitch and look at the dash to the left of the steering wheel for the squeeze tabs.

Colorado V6 max tow rating above 7k lbs will be good for your 3k dry trailer but I would recommend you get a good weight distribution hitch (WDH) anyway.

The diesel is the king of towing, obviously, but the V6 still does very well I've heard.

Millerc14

Discussion Starter · #6 · May 13, 2022

CaryBosse said:
The V6 or Z71 does not mean it has the tow package. Look to see if it has a 2" receiver and 7-pin connector. A Z71 with receiver effectively has the tow package as all Z71 have the G80 locking differential.

The 17b I looked at for specs was a bit heavier. In any event, I think if that Jeep could tow this trailer, the Colorado will do it much better.

The ones I was looking at online had the hitch already there. Hopefully it's the right reciever. I'll have to check when I go to look tomorrow. I think the 2022 17bs are a little lighter than the 2021s. Might be why. The jeep pulled in town fine, but getting it to 65mph on the highway was a struggle. If I ever want to go somewhere farther I have to get a different vehicle, especially if I go through hills or mountains. I was looking at the colorado, nissan frontier, ram 1500, or a nissan titan. I really didn't want to go to the bigger trucks if I didn't have to.

CaryBosse

· #7 · May 13, 2022

Colorado should do fine.

The integrated trailer brake controller was standard on diesel but pretty rare on the v6. Heck, when I upsides to the Silverado I had to travel 40 miles out of town to a rural dealer who dealt mostly with ranchers to find an integrated trailer brake controller.

Millerc14

Discussion Starter · #8 · May 13, 2022

CaryBosse said:
Colorado should do fine.

The integrated trailer brake controller was standard on diesel but pretty rare on the v6. Heck, when I upsides to the Silverado I had to travel 40 miles out of town to a rural dealer who dealt mostly with ranchers to find an integrated trailer brake controller.

I don't think the one I'm looking at tomorrow/Saturday has it integrated. They do have the tow package though. I have a Bluetooth brake controller I was using. If later on I want an integrated one can I have it installed?

Albe23

· #9 · May 13, 2022

I tow a Jayco 171BH that is about ~4000lbs dry 5000lbs fully loaded with 400-500lbs of tongue. Using only a Recurve R3 400lbs WDH it towed very well from Michigan to back home in Florida. Just don't expect to be going fast with it. 60-65mph is around the Duramax's pocket without a tune. Gas mileage is way better than the V6 but they both are low with a travel trailer. These trailers are not built to be aerodynamic at all.

You will definitely want mirrors like @CaryBosse stated. I have the Next Gen mirrors from ClearView, worked like a champ. The 'Old Style' from Boost/Clearview and Boosts' 'New Style' work great as well.

littleblazer

· #10 · May 13, 2022

I'd honestly be more worried about the aero of the trailer than weight. Truck has no issues towing at max weight with a relatively aerodynamic load. I agree with the others on adding tow mirrors. The stock mirrors are pretty useless even with nothing behind you. A 17 is probably a comfortable size behind this and is the range I was looking in when I was considering picking one up. Also, longer wheel base will obviously do a little better but that is still depending on several things...

jerry455

· #11 · May 13, 2022

I have a 2018 Gas Z71 and pull a Jayco Jayflight SLX 212QB and it weighs 4250 with a hitch weight around 450-500Lbs. It pulls the trailer very well. I have a weight distributing hitch and have no problem. I also put on the Boost tow mirrors that I painted the caps to match my truck. We have towed probably almost a thousand miles so far. The truck has plenty of power but I don't travel at more than 65 mph. I would be leery about a blue tooth connection for my brake controller. My truck has the factory controller but I have used a Tekonsha controller and my son uses one also.

CaryBosse

· #12 · May 13, 2022

The integrated trailer brake controller can NOT be added. It is factory only.

MisplacedTexan

· #13 · May 13, 2022

I'm dragging around a 19ft 4600lbs camper, and the trucks done well. Though I have the duramax. I don't know how the gasser would hold up.

I'm using a WDH with anti-sway built into it and it does fine. You just have to be realistic about what you're doing. The wind drag on the front of that big box behind you is going to start sucking at highway speeds so you're not going to be doing 75+MPH like some people like to do. But I can set the cruise on my truck 60-65 and it'll chug along just fine without any problems.

If you could find one with the factory brake controller on it already (all diesels, and I think it's an option on gassers) I would do that and drop the echo controller.

Sgt H

· #14 · May 17, 2022

As already mentioned, once up to towing speed of 60-65mph air drag is the biggest factor with a travel trailer. All else being the same adding or subtracting even 1000 lbs will have little effect on the HP required to pull the trailer down the road. Typical stickbuilt travel trailers have the aerodynamics of a brick. Air absolutely hates square corners. Given similar size and weight the difference in towing ease and HP required between a stickbuilt and something like an Airstream, Oliver or Casita with their rounded contours is dramatic. Not uncommon to see a 20-30% difference in towing mpg.

hoitzed

· #15 · May 17, 2022

I've got a v6 towing something much larger than you up into the mountain. Smaller truck will require a better setup / more time getting it right, but you shouldn't have any issues with that load out. Just plan on loading more into the trailer and less in the bed. Look at the "what are you towing" threads for an idea of what people are towing. I didn't think the mirrors were that bad, but I also added side cameras and a display just for towing / parking - was cheaper than mirrors.

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