GMC Canyon / Chevy Colorado

Anyone on here have a newer model Canyon/Colorado that can share their experiences with how they tow? I’ll be looking at replacing my current truck in a year or so (2009 Silverado crew cab), so the bug has hit me to start researching. Clearly its ‘rated’ to tow way more than my current and most likely future boat (current is a Lund 1600 prosport, other boat I may tow is a Alumacraft 175 navigator sport so neither in excess of 3000#) but I’m more concerned as to how it would handle, feel like you are in control of the tow or do you get the tail wagging the dog feeling. As we’ve decided our son is going to be our only child, the bigger back seat area of a full size isn’t as important, though as I tend to keep vehicles 8 to 10 years I do need to anticipate our son being basically an adult by the time I replace it. Would be nice taking up a little less space in the garage and looking at the market I can get more features/less miles on a barely used mid size for the same money as a full size. I’ve had my crew cab with its tiny bed for 8 years so dont think I will feel overly cheated there, except that a sheet of plywood won’t fit between the wheel wells. My main concerns would be back seat space for one child to adult by time I replace it and then the vehicles ability to control my tow versus a full size, as in when I have to take evasive maneuvers I’m telling the trailer where we are/are not going, not the other way around. Honestly not more than 15% of miles driven will likely be towing so not really enough to have issues of over stressing the drivetrain.

I’ve got at least a year to go (not buying till we pay off wife’s new vehicle), but the sooner I can rule out am option the less time I waste looking at non-options.

I don’t have any experience with one but would you ever be pulling a camper/fish House in the future? Of that is the case, I would go full size so you don’t limit your self.

Highly unlikely, all above being said, if I stumble upon the right deal on a half ton I will definately jump on it over the mid sizes, but that can be pretty tough, only reason I ended up with my current truck was because I went to the dealer to look at a different one and the one I bought just came out of detail and wasn’t even up on their listings yet.

My dad has a Colorado and he really likes it. He doesn’t tow real often but it easily handles our ATV trailer, 18′ boat and 16′ fish house. It’s comfortable to drive, gets great fuel milage (high 20’s) and has been reliable. I’m a Ford guy but I’d consider one for my next vehicle.

OK, first for the Official IDO Answer:

You need to max it. You need a 1 ton turbo diesel with dualies, chip that baby and get it blueprinted to churn out nothing less than 1100 HP or you’ll regret it. You never know when you’re going to have to pull a 4 bedroom, 3 bath ice house with a full basement. Also for the resale value, you’ll get much more back on your $100,000 truck if you spend $100,000 in the first place.

Now for the real world answer:

My dad is also looking at the Canyon now. These things are not “small” pickup trucks, they are about the size of half-ton pickups from 10 years ago. I believe I saw that the towing limit on the Canyon is 7,000 with towing package, which is more than enough to do what you’re looking to do as far as towing.

The previous generation of this truck did not seem to gather good reviews, but they’ve changed almost everything about it for the current version. My dad really likes it and will probably buy one later this year as it’s more than enough truck for him.

Grouse

You forgot the lift kit and oversized offroad tires grouse. Got to go for the complete ‘you know what’ compensation kit.

Upper twenties mpg would be pretty sweet in something I can still do all my current truck stuff with. I can usually get the upper end of fuel mileage out of whatever I’m driving anyway so I do like that.

Actually driving one when the time comes will be a big thing too, my current silverado rides like a car and I definately like that especially on long drives. Always been a Chevy guy as they have worked well for me, I’m not ruling out an F150 with the EcoBoost in the full size category though either, but they def. are not going to save me any garage space.

Grouse hit the nail non the head with his official IDO answer.

All kidding aside, I would drive one hands down, I do not have first hand experience with a Canyon or Colorado. I do run a 3/4 ton for pulling my bigger toys, but I pull my boat and ice fishing gear with an envoy with the 4.2 I6. I like the ease of parking, and the maneuverability of the smaller vehicles but the one thing I will note is if it is windy these shorter wheel base vehicles do not track as well as the full size pickups. It isn’t a big deal on short trips but long hauls it may get exhausting. These newer smaller trucks are no slouch and will do most things the normal person needs a truck for. I have been in the back seat of a crewcab S10 (not sure how that will compare) and it was a little cramped, definitely not something I would want to normally have to sit in as an adult, but fine for 2 hrs or so.

Test drove one last year and it was great for that short time period. I ended up with a Silverado crew cab because the backseat is not very big on em, the wifes equinox has more room in the back seat than the Colorado did (or at least it felt that way). With a growing family and an almost 5ft tall 2nd grader it wasn’t going to cut it for the future.

Poomunk,
I just bought one 2 weeks ago.
2018 Colorado Crewcab 4×4
I LOVE IT.
I haven’t towed my boat yet but I have NO worries about it. Plenty of horsepower and heavy enough. I used to pull my Alumacraft Edge 185 with my Traverse so this thing will be much better.
Plenty of room for what I need and on the first two tanks of gas I got 28.3 MPG
I drive like an old person and mostly highway but I am still very happy.
Pm me if you have any questions

The new mid-sized trucks can tow just as much a mid-2000’s 1500 Silverado…with more HP on tap…they are no slouch and they get up and go! The kicker is what Aaron mention, wheelbase. However, for a boat in the sizes you described, I don’t see an issue. Find a dealer who will let you test drive with your trailer, any good dealer will allow it.

For me, the extra interior space and bed width on the half ton trucks, combined with relatively close MPG ratings (15/21 vs 17/24) and a sale price that’s also relatively close (4-5K), I saw the half ton as a better value for me. But space was not a concern of mine. If it was, I would think again about my decision.

people keep saying that new trucks can tow more than old ones? can someone provide the specifics as to why? any actual tests been done or is this based off of estimates? Not trying to be a smart ass at all just looking for more than hearsay

I bought one new last year and have no complaints. I have a 185 alumacraft edge and have no issues pulling. With a tailwind I’ve gotten as high as 18 mpg. Backseat is a little smaller, but it fits in my garage just fine. I would recommend one to anyone

crappie55369 wrote:

people keep saying that new trucks can tow more than old ones? can someone provide the specifics as to why? any actual tests been done or is this based off of estimates? Not trying to be a smart ass at all just looking for more than hearsay

Manufacturers rate their towing capacity. Whether they can tow more or less than what they rate, 95% of people will never find that out…Could it just be marketing numbers? Who knows, not many people even pull anywhere near that with theirs…

In 2006, Chevrolet rated the Silverado to tow a maximum of 7,700lbs, versus 2,900lbs on the Colorado of the same year…A 2019 Colorado is claimed by Chevrolet to tow up to 7,000lbs…

There’s towing and there’s the weight ratio between the two vehicles. I had a Jeep Cherokee once that could easily pull my new 17’Lund but it was light enough that it was persuaded all over the place by the boat.
I was trying to talk my wife into one of these Trucks when she on a recent truck craze but now she has lost interest. I think they look cool and wouldnt mind one as a second vehicle.

404 ERROR wrote:

A 2019 Colorado is claimed by Chevrolet to tow up to 7,000lbs…

“Properly equipped” is the key term.

7K pound for a midsize truck seems very optimistic to me.

not to derail the post but I looked up the upcoming Ford Ranger. Looks pretty slick. 2.3L turbo and 10 speed transmission. rated for more than 7700 lbs towing is all it said. Imagine that little truck would be fun to drive with that motor. Im about 4 years away from a new truck but when the time comes ill likely opt for a full size. The price different just doesn’t seem to justify a smaller truck as someone else mentioned.

For the first time ever I am looking at other stuff due to high prices and lack of options by GM. F-150 with 5.0 AND the 3.5 ECO look very interesting. All the new talk about Dodge, very interesting. Im going to be in the market soon and the days of automatically getting a full sized GM product no longer apply.

I have a 2017 Colorado CCLB. Would not trade it at all. Pulled my 17′ Lund Impact from Appleton to Kenora great. Averaged about 15 mpg on that trip. I love the ease of parking and how it fits in garage compared to a full size.

When you pull that load with a smaller grade truck I’m sure it does fine. But is the transmission in the truck built to last. I have a 17 ram 1500 and pulling my dads 18 ft to lake of the woods I average 22 mpgs, when nothing on I get 28 and cruising at 80 I get 27. That’s a 4 door 6ft box

Bearcat89 wrote:

When you pull that load with a smaller grade truck I’m sure it does fine. But is the transmission in the truck built to last. I have a 17 ram 1500 and pulling my dads 18 ft to lake of the woods I average 22 mpgs, when nothing on I get 28 and cruising at 80 I get 27. That’s a 4 door 6ft box

Is that a v6 or hemi v8?

You get 27-28 mpg??

Must be the Dodge diesel, or incorrect math?

Plenty of room for what I need and on the first two tanks of gas I got 28.3 MPG

The Colorado must also be the diesel.

ajw wrote:

You get 27-28 mpg??

Yeah I’m also curious, is that the ecodiesel?

Not to start a debate, but you may want to check out a Toyota Tacoma also. I have a 2007 and pull a 1660 Lund pro v with it. Have only had it for a year, but with the 4.0 v6 crew cab short box 4×4 I’ve been getting between 17-22 mpg.

suzuki wrote:

Im going to be in the market soon and the days of automatically getting a full sized GM product no longer apply.

@suzuki
Come to the dark side.

No my Dodge is a 5.7 gas motor, just put a tuner in it. And full exhaust, the math is correct. Or I can hide my tune way up ad 90 horsepower and get 8 miles per gallon with the tuner and exhaust obviously I added a new intake system but all that on top of the pipe price of the truck was 2 grand and well worth it, prior to the chip and intake and exhaust the dodge would get 23 all day long, 8 speed tranny helps a lot

Besides that my neighbor bought a new canyon last year and pulls a pop up camper all over the state and he really talks that truck up.

Ralph Wiggum wrote:

7K pound for a midsize truck seems very optimistic to me.

Agreed. But at the same time, every single midsize truck on the market today with their highest offered motor is rated for a minimum of 6,400lbs…

Ralph Wiggum wrote:

“Properly equipped” is the key term.

7K pound for a midsize truck seems very optimistic to me.

Except if you look at the “midsize” Canyon next to a 1/2 ton, they aren’t ALL that much smaller. Also, GMC rates the max towing capacity of their 1500 half ton at 10k to 12.1k depending on configuration. If a half ton can be rated at 10k or more, then 7k doesn’t seem out of line.

Also, you have to read the fine print on the towing capacity in the owner’s manual. Based on vehicle weight, the manual will state a weight beyond which trailer brakes are required. So yes, while the Canyon is “rated” to tow 7000, my guess would be somewhere in the manual it will state that trailer brakes are required for any trailer/load combination over 5000.

Also, as others have said, it doesn’t really matter because towing 7k would scare the pants off the average guy, much less 10k. I’ve towed several tractors that were well north of 12,000 with a pickup, and it’s really not all that much fun. Pickups don’t handle all that well in the first place, without dual tires in the rear they can be skittish. You have to worrry constantly about something breaking, tires blowing out, dumbazz other drivers cutting you off when you can’t stop quickly, etc, etc. Even if you CAN, it isn’t all that much fun to actually have to do it.

Grouse

I wouldn’t worry about the truck it’s self until I piled into the back seat and had my wife drive me around. You will be hauling a person back there not tackle boxes. How about keeping the present truck for your fishing trips and buying the Canyon for a everyday driver?