Towing 3500# with a Colorado?

[DianneB]

I have a 21 foot Sylvan I/O (approximate weight 2500 pounds) on an EZ-Loader trailer (about 950 pounds). My Colorado is rated at 4,000 pounds but I am a little nervous about how "generous" Chevy's rating is and if it would have enough traction for a boat ramp. (Hills are no problem here on the prairies.)

I did a search and only found a few mentions of the Colorado 5 cylinder.

Is anybody towing with a Colorado near its maximum rating?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Towing 3500# with a Colorado?

2 wheel drive, 4 wheel drive, locking differential? Street tires or more grippy all season tires? All of this has a bearing on towabilty. Getting up a ramp is not a question of power but of traction. With no data we can't help you. Towing on flat land will not be a problem. Stopping will likely be an issue so you might want to consider trailer brakes. In fact depending on what state you live in, your trailer may "require" them. There is a sticky at the top of the forum that lists trailer brake requirements which can vary from 2000# to 3500#.

 

[jfadool]

Re: Towing 3500# with a Colorado?

With the 4wd those trucks have some pull. But I would also be worried about stopping. That 5cly is a good engine but as said with normal street tires you may do some sliding.

 

[tractoman]

Re: Towing 3500# with a Colorado?

2500 lbs seems light for a 21 footer. Plus add fuel and all your gear and your probably closer to 3000 lbs for the boat and gear alone. Your on the edge of capacity.

 

[diesel5599]

Re: Towing 3500# with a Colorado?

I would worry about stopping too. I had a 22' Sea Ray supposedly about 3800lbs plus trailer so lets say 4800lbs. I towed it with an Expedition which has a 9000lb tow rating. The trailer had brakes but they were completely corroded = not working. Even in my Expedition with a 9000lb tow rating I had a hard time stopping. After a few stoplights the brakes would heat up and it felt like it wasn't going to stop at all.

My current boat is right at 9000lbs, the trailer has 4 disc brakes that work, and the Expedition tows it like its not even back there. I have read most tow ratings are actually based on stopping power, not transmission or engine power. Not to say that if you tried to pull 10K lbs you might not need a new torque converter within a few miles, just saying brakes are usually the weakest link.

 

[DianneB]

Re: Towing 3500# with a Colorado?

Sorry, I should have given more information.

The truck is standard cab, 2WD, automatic, light truck tires (fairly grippy, good condition).

The trailer has surge brakes that work very well - I tested them behind the Colorado when I brought the empty trailer home by doing a panic stop on an empty road - couldn't tell the trailer was there and it behaved well.

My main concerns are having the traction to pull the boat up the ramp and wondering how much I will shorten the transmission life by towing. (I have never towed with an automatic before.)

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Towing 3500# with a Colorado?

Stay out of overdrive when you tow. That will shorten the life in that transmission.

You really are maxed out while towing...... is this a trailer boat or do you have a slip at a marina? I would have it weighed and keep a close eye on the trailer brakes...... I think you are towing too much boat for the truck.

 

[DianneB]

Re: Towing 3500# with a Colorado?

Towing with the Chevy wont be a frequent or long-term arrangement - just a few trips this year, mostly 50 or 100 mile round trips while I shake out my new to me Sylvan and get things set up the way I want before I park the boat in a marina for the summer.

(My regular tow vehicle was supposed to be a camperized 76 passenger school bus but after sitting for 6 years I have to do some engine work before it is serviceable.)

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Towing 3500# with a Colorado?

I'm guessing that the Colorado does not have a locking differential and that you will have an issue with wheel spin on slippery ramps. The only suggestion I have is to add the locker if finances allow or visit a local auto salvage yard and see if you can trade them plus a little cash for an entire rear end that does have a locker. As pointed out, you will be at or very near the rated towing capacity so overdrive is not an option. Just for the record, towing with an automatic is actually better than with a stick as the auto will start a heavier load than a stick, all other things being equal. The torque multiplication from the torque converter provides this edge.

 

[DianneB]

Re: Towing 3500# with a Colorado?

Issue resolved. My neighbours are going to loan me their F-350 pickup to do sea trials and I am going to buy a 3500 series Chevy to replace my old tow vehicle.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Towing 3500# with a Colorado?

Good lord that sounds a little overkill Good luck with it.

 

[DianneB]

Re: Towing 3500# with a Colorado?

Good lord that sounds a little overkill

LOL! Got a chance to pick up a 3500 service truck for a good price - no more than fixing my old International - so it is an economical alternative. Besides, the boat is one of the LIGHTER things I tow

 

[diesel5599]

Re: Towing 3500# with a Colorado?

Good lord that sounds a little overkill Good luck with it.

There is no such thing as overkill when it comes to boating. I got my Expedition with its 9K tow rating back when I had a 2000lb 18' ski boat. Less than 5yrs later I'm towing a 9000lb 25' Century and didn't have to upgrade a thing except the ball and shank.

I think I have finally reached my limits in acceptable boat size though, my fun meter is pegged when I'm spending 2hrs just to prep the boat and 2 more hrs afterwards to re cover and unload it.

 

[Banditz]

Re: Towing 3500# with a Colorado?

Thats cool man, but just so you know, your truck would have likely done it no problem at all. It really depends on what gear you have in the rear. If its the 373 then your rated all the way to 5500lbs. But it also depends on which five banger you have...the 3.7 or the 3.5? 04, and 05 models have the 3.5ltr. Newer have the 3.7ltr.
If you have the 242 rear then your capped at your original estimate. The truck will likely have the locker from factory, and your in luck..its a true locker. Not a posi or some crap like that. Easy way to tell, put one wheel in greass, and one on the pavement..gun it and see if you leave a black line on the road..lol. If so...your set. If not, I'm sorry...lol.

Now, as far as stopping...well if your careful it will do the job without a problem as the brakes on colly's and canyon's are pretty beefy for what the truck is... And dont worry about the tranny, just stay out of over drive and if your really concerned, either swap out the servos for covette servos, or call PCMSFORLESS in moorseville NC... They can tune your pcm to shorten your shift times and also make them firmer. Really makes life better anyway as you will get a nice power adder there too. And its cheap only like $125...

anyway at least now you know...later.

 

[JaseBosto]

Re: Towing 3500# with a Colorado?

If its the 373 then your rated all the way to 5500lbsQUOTE]

The colorado's maximum towing capacity is 4000#.

 

[jkust]

Re: Towing 3500# with a Colorado?

I towed my 4000lb rig with a 3500 lb tow capacity minivan for its first season. I am pretty sure there are snowmobiles with more hp than the mv. No problems but wouldn't recommend it. Gotta imagine a truck is more robust that an ancient minivan.

 

[Bene288]

Re: Towing 3500# with a Colorado?

I'll probably catch flack for this, but I think you'd be fine. I use to tow a lot more than that on my S-10, off the bumper none the less. Just make sure your brakes are up to par. That 5cyl might be a little doggy going up a hill. But if you live in the plains you'll be good.

 

[geeco1]

Re: Towing 3500# with a Colorado?

I had a mid 90's S-10. I don't remember the exact year, but it did have a 6-cyl, manual transmission. Anyway, I needed to tow my brothers 18 foot run-about. I called Chevy to see what the max tow rating was. They informed me that for the year S-10 that I had, they didn't recommend that I tow with that truck.???? They indicated that the clutch plate on that truck is the smaller one like they put in their cars. However, if I would have had a year or two newer, those had the larger clutches. I don't know if they were right or wrong, but I do remember that it was difficult to keep my speed-up. The slightest hill forced me to downshift. I didn't tow it but a couple of times with that truck.