That vent looks funny to me. Looks like it was designed to be rotated 90-degrees CW.

Also, the kind of controller I think you mean is brake.

 

I have to imagine it's included in the trailering package.

 

But why is it not on the repo code book? Why not toute as a main selling feature? Never seen a built in controller on a midsize until now. What if it was a great idea but at the last minute gm decided too keep it as a bargaining chip or reason to upgrade to full size?

 

The answer to your question depends on the trailers you will tow. Do you envision towing a trailer with electric brakes on it? Generally, I do not. I tow ATV/jet ski trailers and pop-up campers. None of them have ever had electric brakes so the TBC will do me absolutely no good in that instance.

 

Considering how light the new Colorado is around 4000+ labs. I would think it would be a rather large gamble on safety, towing something large such as a boat, Yamaha AR210 which weights almost the same and within the tailoring specs for the truck. I'd imagine a trailer with brakes would also put less stress on the truck frame when stopping.

 

I have never towed a trailer with electric brakes - doesn't the 7-pin trailer harness provide the power for that? My understanding was this truck came with the 7 pin, not a 4 pin.

I did tow the largest, double axle U-Haul. It has a hydraulic brake tied into the tongue to apply brake pressure when the tongue was compressed under braking. I was driving a fully loaded bed in my C1500, had the trailer fully loaded, and had some concerns when I took off on my 600 mile move. After a few gentle stops, the brake action was so smooth and nice, I was much more comfortable with the trailer brakes than I have been pulling heavy trailers without trailer brakes. I assume electric brakes can only apply one level of stopping pressure, but it still sounds like a good idea to me with anything over about 3000 pounds.

 

I have never towed a trailer with electric brakes - doesn't the 7-pin trailer harness provide the power for that? My understanding was this truck came with the 7 pin, not a 4 pin.

I did tow the largest, double axle U-Haul. It has a hydraulic brake tied into the tongue to apply brake pressure when the tongue was compressed under braking. I was driving a fully loaded bed in my C1500, had the trailer fully loaded, and had some concerns when I took off on my 600 mile move. After a few gentle stops, the brake action was so smooth and nice, I was much more comfortable with the trailer brakes than I have been pulling heavy trailers without trailer brakes. I assume electric brakes can only apply one level of stopping pressure, but it still sounds like a good idea to me with anything over about 3000 pounds.

Inertia brakes are great right up until you need to reverse uphill or back up in snow drifts. Then you are screwed.
Either way, private trailers don't have them.

 

The Colorado/Canyon will be available with an integrated trailer brake controller. I'm not sure what the big mystery is here...

 

The spec page specifies a 7000 lb towing cap. with the z82 tow pack. The z82 tow pack is a 7 pin plug and a platform hitch priced at $250. It does not include a controller. A hitch, controller and 7 pin plug would be quite a bargain at that price.

 

Andy, do you have inside info on the availability of a trailer brake controller? Reason I ask is that documentation on GM's FS trucks always mentions that feature as an option, whereas I can't find any reference in the twins' info published so far.

I tow a trailer with electric brakes, so I hope an integrated controller will be available, or at least the pre-wiring for an aftermarket one.

 

I'm not sure which package gets the brake controller, or if it is just a stand-alone option, but the new trucks will definitely have the option. If you're still curious, check the order guide posted online, it should have it listed.

 

Not sure if this constitutes fact or just a magazine's fluff article, but this is what Motortrend says:

As you can see here, the new midsize's appearance is much more global Colorado than it is little Silverado. But there were some changes, including a new front end and higher bedsides. And Chevrolet's capability goals, both lofty and reachable, would align it more with the Silverado. The idea is that this truck will have best-in-class hp, payload, and towing capacity. GM hasn't announced payload capacity, but it expects a 6700-lb towing capacity at launch (and higher with the diesel). It will also be the first in its segment to offer a trailer brake controller. The company's CornerStep rear bumper and 13 tiedown locations are standard, and the EZ Lift-and-Lower tailgate and spray-in bedliner are options.

Read more: 2015 Chevrolet Colorado First Look - Motor Trend

And another article

In the cab, the sad parts bin interior of the last Colorado has been replaced with one that is completely modern and logically laid out. Reminiscent of the Silverado, the center stack houses an 8-inch touchscreen display and a suite of Chevrolet technology, including OnStar, MyLink, and navigation. Even an integrated trailer brake controller will be offered. Chevy engineers spent a lot of time on NVH and worked hard to make the cabin as quiet as possible. Each outboard seating position has plenty of room, and the rear seatback folds down to increase storage.

Read more: http://www.dieselpowermag.com/features/chevy/1405_2015_chevrolet_colorado_first_look/#ixzz3BPTUr8vi


Google is your friend. I simply googled "2015 Colorado brake controller."

 

Andy,

The guides don't seem to be very clear - no mention of the integrated brake controller. Closest I see to that is the tow package includes a 7-Pin connector.

I did read somewhere that they also would include trailer sway control integrated with the stability control.

 

Interesting. Well many of the pre-production models had them equipped. I guess we'll just have to wait for the 'build and price' feature online.

 

Here is a shot of a pre-production Canyon. Look at the bottom row of buttons, below the A/C controls. The button on the far left looks like a trailer icon.

2015 GMC Canyon: Detroit 2014 Photo Gallery - Autoblog

 

That button was on the Colorado at RIR this weekend too.

 

That symbol is for the tow/haul mode feature to change the shift points on the transmission with a load in bed or a trailer.

Can anyone explain what the button to the right of the hazard flasher is? I can't make out what it is supposed to be showing.

 

Can anyone explain what the button to the right of the hazard flasher is? I can't make out what it is supposed to be showing.

Looks like the button to turn on the light in the bed.

Across that row I think they are:
TOW/HAUL -- TRACTION CONTROL OFF -- HAZARD -- BED LIGHT -- PARKING ASSIST

 

I imagine this may end up being a dealer installed option and the pre-wire is already in the dash. Everything I have read indicates it will be available, not included. They'll just pull the appropriate dash trim panel, plug it in and go.

My guess is 98% of the Colorado/Canyon buyers would never tow a trailer with brakes in the first place. Most lawn and single axle utility trailers don't have them. Usually they aren't required until you get a trailer with more than about 3500# total weight rating but that varies by state.

 

My 2500lb (empty) pop-up camper doesn't have trailer brakes on it. Sometimes when towing with the s10 I wish it had them though.

 

Well if I can swing a Canyon it'll be hitched to a 24' travel trailer weighing around. 4000lbs with electric brakes so I'm a 2%er.

 

If a TBC turns out to not be a dealer option, hopefully an aftermarket supplier such as e-trailer will offer a pigtail that will easily connect a controller such as a Tekonsha Prodigy to a pre-wired receptacle somewhere inside the dash.

 

Is it possible that there could be one now since there is wiring gor it? will it work with the tractiincontr?

 

Someone noticed the user manual posted on the GMC site so I took a browse.

http://www.gmc.com/content/dam/GMC/...l/master/nscwebsite/en/home/Owners/Manuals/01_Images/2015-gmc-canyon-manual.pdf

Not seeing the brake controller anywhere. There is reference to using a brake controller but nothing to indicate it is part of any included feature or package. Probably is just a dealer installed module similar to aftermarket units out there now.

I already have a Prodigy proportional unit. May just keep using that if the plug-in will be there for it.

 

Hi,

If you look at the power distribution/fuse/breaker blocks in the OM you will see a trailer brake controller breaker\ fuse so at least I would think that it is wired for a plug and play aftermarket controller if not somehow already tied into the VCS/ABS systems to activate the trailer brakes. How it would learn or know how much trailer braking should be applied I don't know.

 

So your saying that if i want to install an aftermarkert brake controller then i would not have to run any additional wiring to the back of the vehicle? I just dont see GM going through all the trouble pre-wiring the colorado just for aftermarket brake controllers when they already have there own. I mean they could easly make a little profit with this accessory.SO they must have a plan to throw one in there eventually.

 

GM probably will offer an integrated TBC eventually, but in the meantime I suspect the 2015s are pre-wired for one, with the four connector wires bundled up under the dash, like many other vehicles. As pointed out, the required circuit breaker/fuse is already there.

Browse through the installation videos on etrailer.com. Some trucks even have a pre-wired receptacle for a plug and play installation. I bet etrailer will soon be out with a video and a pigtail to connect up an aftermarket controller.

Or, there is always the Tekonsha RF wireless controller, which doesn't require any hard wiring. It's a black box you mount on the trailer tongue. You plug the trailer's electrical connector into the box and plug the box into the vehicle's 7-pin trailer receptacle. The trailer brake gain is controlled from the cab using a wireless remote. But the system costs some $300 at Amazon.

 

Did a chat session and asked the question and they aren't much help. Looked at the OM's for the 2014 Sierra 1500 and on other 2015 GMC vehicle and they have a trailer brake controller shown on the dash panel. So I'll vote for the prewired for an aftermarket controller.

 

We recently downsized to a little Aliner camper that weighs just around 2000 and it too has electric brakes. I use and like Prodigy, but have always just been able to grab a harness off eTrailer or another site for most of my TOW Vehicles, and they have pretty much been plug and play. I hope this is going to be the case with my new Canyon SLT...