I own a Chevy Colorado 2 wheel drive truck. I would like a camper to pull but I'm concerned that my truck would have difficulty pulling/stopping one. Is anyone currently pulling with a Colorado? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

I suggest you check with your local Chev. dealer for the tow rating of your truck. This will tell you how large or small you can tow. For a short while I tryed towing a 1982 21 funlight with a Bronco II. It was very bad!! there was sway, not enough power and after the second trip on flat ground. I bought a Dodge 1/2 ton with a large v8. It was like the trailer was not even there, like night and day. With the right tow vech and trailer match travling the country is fun. But if you try towing a trailer that is to large for you truck you will not enjoy camping as you will always be worring what may go wrong. Now I have Ford 3/4 ton 4 dr desiel and tow a 1999 29b Hi-Lo and travel this grate country from shore to shore.
Sam

Thanks Sam. I have a 31' motorhome that is just dollaring me to death. We just took a trip to Texas and ended up spending $2500 in repairs along the way. I'd like to downsize using the truck I already own, if possible. I may have to settle for a tent!

tiNillinois -

Sam's suggestion will be the most accurate way to find out your tow rating, however, you can also check the tow rating of your vehicle online, here is a link.

Tow Ratings

I'm not an expert, but what I've read says that your load shouldn't exceed 80% of your maximum tow rating. Take a look and see what you can tow with your specific vehicle. Then you can start looking at trailer weights. Keep in mind that the trailer weight is empty (dry), and that your stuff is going to add more weight to it.

From my brief check, it looks like you're going to be between 2200 and 4000 pounds. Your lookup will be more accurate because you know your engine size etc.

Neal

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2001 Hi-Lo 22TL
2010 F150

I'm with Sam, there's no sense doing it if it isn't safe number 1.
When I first started looking at RV's and then Hi-Lo's and researching a
little bit, I realized that my 1989 Toyota 4 cyl. wasn't going to cut it
at all. Bought a 2506C and a F-150. That was working out OK until we
took it out to Colorado last summer. Now we have a F-250 v10.
The F-150 was doing it up some of those mountain passes, but it seemed to
be working awfully hard. Having bigger brakes doesn't hurt either, as one
lady told me "it's doesn't matter how fast you're going up - but you don't want to go down too fast".

Just thought I would let you know that I do tow with a 2004 Chev Colorado, we just got back from a trip to Tenn. Flooting Mill camp ground. To get their we towed up a 4 mile long grade of 8% and a 5 mile grade of 6% we are towing a 19.6 Hi Lo trailer and we weigh in at 3200 lb. loaded. We pulled up the hills at 45 miles per hour and over all trip of 675 miles averaged 17.654 mile per gal. Not to bad. Our Colorado is a 2 wheel drive 5 cylender crew cab. If you are thing about towing stay some what small.

We pull a 2007 22 ft TravelLite with a 2008 Nissan Frontier 4x4 Crew Cab with factory tow package rated at 6,200#; I discount the rating 80% for a safety margin at 5,000# capacity. The Nissan has a 4L V6 rated at 285HP and 5 speed Auto. The 22T weighs in at 3,222# and when you add passengers, pets, fuel, fresh water, etc we are at 4,000# which gives us 1,000# of discretionary capacity ... enough if we pack light, shop local and keep the waste water tanks empty. So far there has not been any problem taking local roads with 12% hills ... the brakes don't fade and the engine doesn't protest .... of course we never set any land speed records, either .

Slow and steady ... we see more of the scenery that way!

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John

2007-22T TowLite 50th Anniversary, with Valley Towing Equalizer Hitch
2008 Nissan Frontier SE 4X4 Crew Cab, Snug Top & McKesh Mirrors
Cooper AT3 LT265/70R16 All Terrain w Slotted Rotors, Ride-Rite Air Springs

It's a common mistake for people to make when calculating a safe weight to tow, but the manufacturers towing capacity rating INCLUDES the weight of the tow vehicle with a full tank of gas and a 150lb driver. So, the actual legal limit is significantly less than what people think.

Good point ... I have taken all of that into consideration and any way I do the math I think I am good to go.

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John

2007-22T TowLite 50th Anniversary, with Valley Towing Equalizer Hitch
2008 Nissan Frontier SE 4X4 Crew Cab, Snug Top & McKesh Mirrors
Cooper AT3 LT265/70R16 All Terrain w Slotted Rotors, Ride-Rite Air Springs

I think if you get your 22T weighted the weight will be higher than 3222#, that weight is the factory dry weight with no options, stripped trailer, like air conditioner, bunk bed, spare tire, and what every other options are included on the trailer. The only way to get a true weight is get it weighted. However your truck should pull it ok. I pulled a 95, 21T, weight with out Clothes, food, water, empty propane tanks and etc. was 3400# with a 1999 Ford Explorer V6-210HP and 5 speed auto and I towed it for at least 70,000 miles, trouble free.The SUV now has 130,000 miles on it, at 125,000 I did have a Torque Converter lock up problem which has now been fixed. I am now pulling a 2209T which is some heavier with the same SUV but plans are for a 5.4- F150.