Just bought a 2017 Colorado LT 2.8L diesel this summer in hopes to use with my light weight (1000 lb) slide in camper. Got the tie downs and air bags added and just did my first trip. Handled great in heavy snow and had zero problems. Wet load was 1465 and my max payload is around 1500

Someone I met mentioned that Chevy actually doesnt recommend any slide in campers be used on the Colorado's. A quick flip through my manual confirmed this and the cussing ensued. WTF!

After using the camper on my Tacoma for 10 years and Zero problems I just assumed I was fine and even improved with the torque capacity of the diesel.

Not sure what to do. Are the Chevy lawyers just covering their asses or is there a design flaw they dont want to admit to??? My drivetrain warranty is only good for another 20k so theres that.

Seems weird. Any thoughts?

This article was just written about this topic:

Why A Slide-In Bed Camper Won’t Fit Chevy Colorado, GMC Canyon

 

I have two things to offer here. First of all, Ute flat beds are an official supplier for the GM Colorado/Canyon on ship-through since day one with the first generation models and also with the second generation as soon as they hit the streets. 4 Wheel Camper has built their flat bed campers to fit our Ute Beds also. The flat bed version has almost a 6' wide floor and the door is in the side rather than the rear. check them out. You can see them on the 4 Wheel Camper site and on the Ute Bed facebook photo pages. Northstar Campers also builds a flatbed camper, but not pop up style.
One other point. The Colorado/Canyon chassis with a Ute Bed installed end up with about a 2000 lb. payload. Fact!!!.
Cheers and good luck with your new Diesel. It's a great truck.
Ute Man

 

From reading the article it sounds like there are slot de n campers that will fit, it’s just that GM can’t authorize the use in writing because they have not tested the setup.

 

GM official response...

“When we began developing the current generation Colorado‘s architecture, there was no mid-size box like ours on the market,” she explains. “So naturally, no one made a slide-in camper that was designed to fit. Because of this, we didn’t design or test the architecture for that specific accessory condition.”

Translation.. we dropped the ball and forgot to test our boxes on slide in campers and so we better cover our asses with a disclosure in our warranty.

 

Chevy covering their ass is definitely right. It's probably more about max payload concerns. Why would anyone say you can safely run something that most definitely will exceed their own weight ratings? That opens you up to liability if something does happen. Keep in mind, payload includes passengers. Your 1465# wet load means you have 35# for left for passengers and gear. Thirty five pounds. You'd probably be upwards of 1800-2000# payload with two passengers, food and gear. Heaven forbid you get an extra two or three healthy folks in there... you could be 1000+# over payload. Thats not to say some bad WILL happen, it just wasn't designed/tested to handle that much.

But, like most aftermarket things... use at your own discretion, use common sense. If you're heavy, make appropriate upgrades to handle the weight. Springs, brakes, driving behavior, etc.

Also, the midsized truck field is relatively the same in regards to payload and towing. I'm sure Toyota or Ford would be reluctant at covering relevant warranty claims in the same situation.

 

That was me driving on to the scale loaded with everything including a lot of beer.

It just seems really strange that a massive multi-billion dollar company such as GM would not have been better prepared on this and thus take a competitive hit from Toyota, Ford and others.

Small camper companies such as Four wheel and Scout say the Colorado is compatible with their slide ins. Better give em a heads up..

 

Small camper companies such as Four wheel and Scout say the Colorado is compatible with their slide ins. Better give em a heads up..

It's quite common for the RV industry to ignore the various capacities of tow vehicles other than max tow, although usually that's at the salesperson level.

 

This was a topic in another GM web site recently. This got into a big argument from the current members and new members to the site.

GM stated since there was not a camper for their bed they never developed or tested one. As of this point they have never done any testing on any of the few for it and can not recommend using one.

I elect it comes down to liability?

There are a few campers out there that may work today but GM did not develop the truck to work specific with any of them.

So if you use one and say get rear ended they are not responsible for what happens. This shifts the burden to the camper makers to be responsible for their products should something catastrophic happens.

As we can see here no one on this sight has had an issue with this as slide in campers in this segment are very rare.

Even on the other site it was asked who has one no one replied Yes.

Many items are like this today. From year some parts will fit but till they are tested companies will not recommend them.

One member posted it may have to do with crash testing and how the frame is designed to collapse in the back? Hard to say.

 

What's the payload on a Toyota? Or stated differently is this a case of a Toyota having more capacity or Toyota just not expressly stating something that a Toyota cannot do?

When I first got my 89 Ranger my dad wanted me to get some sort of a camper top--an Alaskan that would pop up. I didn't think it would be a good idea. My Colorado is a bit more capable, but I still don't see it as a good idea--but then I have the short bed.

 

Or stated differently is this a case of a Toyota having more capacity or Toyota just not expressly stating something that a Toyota cannot do?

Okay, I looked it up and per this page the 2020 Toyota's payload maxes out under 1,200 pounds, although I did see other pages giving a number under 1,500 pounds. Either way, as a practical matter that means no camper unless maybe you have only one person and no water, battery, etc.

https://www.toyota.com/tacoma/features/mpg/7594/7544/7582

Expand weights/capacities.

Still drum brakes in 2021. I can see why GM doesn't add adaptive cruise control, because that would require a lot of other changes. But what's involved with changing out to disc brakes--doesn't seem like it would take a generational change to do that.

 

I decided to check out what the 2020 Silverado owners' manual says about campers, and it has an indication that not all Silverados can carry a camper. Here's the language:

A vehicle-specific Truck-Camper Loading Information label is attached to the inside of the vehicle's glove box. This label indicates if a slide-in camper can be carried, how much of a load the vehicle can carry, and how to correctly spread out the load.

I wonder what those weight limits tend to run.

 

I decided to check out what the 2020 Silverado owners' manual says about campers, and it has an indication that not all Silverados can carry a camper. Here's the language:



I wonder what those weight limits tend to run.

My new Silverado has the "don't carry a slide-in camper" label in the glove box. 1500 CCSB Z71 4WD with a 3.0 diesel. The bed is 5'10".

 

I figured out how to get a higher capacity in a Tacoma. I selected a 4x2 powertrain and it changed from 1155 pounds to 1395 pounds. Unfortunately for me, a 4x2 can't make it up my driveway in the winter so that's out. If you pick the "Access cab" instead of the extended cab you get some more capacity as well. Going all in on a 4x2 access cab with a 4-cylinder got me a Tacoma build with over 1600 pound capacity (but only 3500 pound tow rating).

It is nice that the Toyota website will give actual capacities as you spec it. The Chevy build tool doesn't do that, so you don't know what the door sticker is going to say until you get the truck.

 

I figured out how to get a higher capacity in a Tacoma. I selected a 4x2 powertrain and it changed from 1155 pounds to 1395 pounds.

My link above was all 4x4 because that's what popped up and I didn't really think about it. But that would explain the higher numbers I was seeing referenced elsewhere.

 

A friend of mine had a slide in camper on his full size Silverado (more than 10 years ago so not current gen) He drove down sea of Cortez side of Baja to a beach house and the road is pretty rough and washboard. At any rate, on the third trip down there most of the spot welds holding the wheel wells and other bed parts failed. Chevrolet at first denied warranty claim and said it was not designed for a slide in camper, but when he produced a GM ad showing a camper on his same model, they agreed to pay for repairs. Later the door hinge welds also failed so at that point sorry to say he sold the truck and bought a Ford truck.

I am sure the type of road you plan on traveling with the camper should be a big factor. Imagine air bags would be great upgrade too. I really like having the ability to level it out under load and take some of the load off the leaf springs.

Don't make this mistake? Chevy Colorado slide-in camper issue explained - Pickup Truck +SUV Talk

Before you consider adding a Chevy Colorado slide-in camper, read this first. Buyer beware on adding it to your pickup.

pickuptrucktalk.com

 

Ive been carrying my camper (All Terrain, Bobcat model. 1000# dry, about 12-1300 loaded and wet) since 12/17. I have put tens of thousands of miles on road and a boatload of off road miles on with the camper in place. Never an issue. Ive wheeled it some places that were pretty rough, never an issue. Ive also popped two airbags and had to drive without them while waiting for replacements. Never missed a beat even with missing airbag. Popped due to bolt failure bobth times, firestone made good both times.

Got the camper at 50k miles, now at 128k miles and i use it a lot. Sometimes its on for a few weeks at a time.
They dont warranty it, and like said before, they simply didnt test for it.
That said, nobody has made a pop up camper to fit the 5’ because there is an obstacle to mounting points at the front in the 5’.
So long as you get airbags for the rear and E rated tires, you are good to go. I use the balls off mine and couldnt recommend more. One coworker has the same rigup on their 16 diesel, and a good friend has one on his 20 colordo diesel after his 16 canyon. He wrecked the canyon not related to the camper.

if youre familiar with any places like George Creek, or Mt Humphreys in the Sierra, ive made it up there multiple times with no issues. Humphreys is pretty rough.

service your transmission, service your transmission, and service your transmission. Every 40-50k if youre carrying it.

expeditionportal.com for more research, theres a mid size truck forum there

 

Just finishing an interior remodel, testing out new counter and drawer i built. Drawer has since been adjusted for gap and finished. Bought it as a shell model, stripped down model, only had them add a battery and heater and vent fan when they built it.

 

And for the record, no extraneous overlandy fashion bling items mounted all over it. You dont need that ****. I carry a shovel, towstrap, and a good jack. Most of that crap is just fashion for boys.
look at the rigs people are putting on, racks with big drawer slide outs, tent things, jugs all over the place, not only does the cost start to catch up up with a camper, but so does the weight. And its still a tent. Without a heater.

there are also other options depending on your style of use. Hellwig makes helper springs and a rear swaybar. And theres prob a local spring shop that can custom your leaves in the back to your application as well. Buddy with the 2020 did that and uses airbags for the load leveling. Loves it. I might in the future.

you will eat up rear brakes slightly faster too. I recommend ebc yellows all around for the camper weight and for the extra unsprung weight on the e rated tires. I also installed bilstien 5100’s for the same reason.

 

Yup. Doesnt mean they wont handle the camper, just that they wont cover warranty if they know youre carrying the camper.

 

No, it means you shouldn't install a camper.

 

Better and more pics here: shes gained a tad of weight since then but not much

Popping my top, all out in the boonies

Thought id share some whoring of my rig. Been using the heck out of my camper since i got it in 12/17. Packed up and wet its 1000# ish plus the lady. It can still wheel pretty well with the camper on. Ive gotten some places....and i can still go thru the drive thru

www.coloradofans.com

 

Thats like, your opinion, man. 75k of use and experience like many others says its quite good at hauling camper. YRMV

it stayed on nonstop for 40k miles

 

Staying on is not the test. But whatever, you're free to ignore all the other limits too. Hopefully you have good insurance.

 

I don’t carry a camper and never would with this truck so I really don’t have a dog in this fight. But as a refresher, a ton is 2,000 pounds, meaning a half-ton truck would have a 1,000 pound payload, three-quarter tons are rated to 1,500 pounds, and one-ton trucks can carry 2,000 pounds of payload. As others have stated, this does not include other cargo, fuel, passengers, dogs, and other assorted crap people are bolting onto the exterior of their “adventure rigs” nowadays. So that said, really anything above a basic shell is exceeding the capacity of our trucks, or any half ton truck for that matter......

 

Hand foot maneuver ..

Thanks for sharing and looks like you guys get after it “Four Wheel style” My camper is of similar weight as the smaller four wheel at about 1000 lbs dry. Its a 2003 six-pac and i mainly use it to hit ski resorts in the great pnw. Pretty basic highway driving mainly After initially freaking out and regretting the my decision to go away from Tacos for the last 15 years im just gonna continue to use it wisely. Dont overload it. Keep the airbags at a good pressure and let it roll.

 

Nice. Yeah these trucks camper all day long. They handle it well, i barely notice mine driving. Capris are pretty light.

First time ive seen a fixed head on a colo. i bet you feel the wind resistance. If you can, take your legs off when you use it, the weight and location of the legs makes a big difference in road manners. Physics wise the legs put a good amount of weight in the worst possible spot. I notice big time, plus you can see with your mirrors and less wind noise.

 

Just be careful- the guy I got my canopy from bent the frame on a ZR2 over lander setup. He was overweight from all the crap he bolted to it including the tent and awning etc. his insurance somehow covered it because he was on a logging road and not off-road. He bought a Tacoma and was telling me he was 100# from overload because he took everything off the zr2 after they fixed it and bolted it onto the new truck. ¯\(ツ)/¯

 

Doesn’t seem like he learned his lesson.

 

Yeah, if you just bolt all that truck jewelry to another truck, what the heck?
i think ive more than Gotten familiar with my rig, always careful, never bolting **** all on the outside. No bumper jacks, rotopax, racks, giant shower tube things.
i will be installing a fiamma awning soon, but those are not overly heavy, pretty light actually. Only other weight is gear And My lady and i.

 

And of course a gallon of gas weighs 6.3lbs. So a full tank (21 gallons) would be 132.3 lbs
And of course a gallon of gas weighs 7lbs. So a full tank (21 gallons) would be 147 lbs

I would assume for a camping trip you would have a full tank of fuel. That comes off max payload.

 

I guess it should have all fallen to bits 75k ago. I dont know. It works and works well. 130k on my truck and no issues. 75k with camper on total.

 

That not it... But if they say the Payload Max is 1551 (3.6 for example). No lawyer would let them say a slide in camper would work. It simple math. 1551 - 1045 (Four Wheel Pop-Up Camper) - 132.3 (Full tank of gas) = 373.7lbs for people and gear.
So if I was to go camping... I am 275. That leaves less then a hundred for gear. If my boxer was still alive she was 70 lbs. And my youngest step daughter when I was married was 125. So overweight (besides me) and no gear.
Yes, it most likely would work out. But from a legal stand point they have to say it is not recommended.
I believe you have had no issues. But the math says you have exceeded the max payload.
It is not a personal attack. I did not know the weight or any of this until this thread. It has been a real eye opener.

 

Oh yeah, i get all the math, and i knew how close to limit id be. I watched others and did research beforehand, and also anecdotally if a tacoma can haul a camper then a colo certainly can. Ive certainly put it to the test. Lots and lots of campers and rigs in my circles. Also, numbers theyre willing to get behind and rate and warranty arent always what theyre actually capable of, just what theyre willing to back.

 

So a breakdown of my weight as best i can figure it

680 to start, camper with battery, heater, propane tank, vent fan, solar wiring, bed
200# added in plywood, foam, upholstery
60-70 cooking gear incl stove and propane can
20# bedding, down comforter rules
25# clothes bags for 2
20# cooler dry
Add food, climbing gear, 7 gal water, odds n ends, driver and passenger.
Ive had surprise potholes, unseen rocks, misjudged moves, evasives, panic stops, you name it. All loaded up. Worst thats ever happened was slicing a tire off road on some limestone and breaking bolts on airbags which let them get popped. Just drove it fully laden from reno to idaho and wyoming, out in the boonies and up high. I dont think the truck knows its out of its league.