New Chevy Colorado, This thing is SEXY!!

[superbuickguy]

07 Sequoia currently, 2001 1.8T VW and a 2010 Limited 2.5 CVT Outback, prior to the Sequoia we had a 93 Land Cruiser for 8yrs. And for Fun Grandpa's SLK 350 which sits in my driveway every day.
My interest in the new midsized trucks is to see if we can eventually replace the Sequoia with one that gets good mileage - interested in the small diesels to arrive sooner than later I hope, then eventually go to a FWC camper or possibly a flat bed though only if I sell the sail boat given we wouldn't have time for both the boat and enough camping to justify the Flatbed FWC.

I liked the Colorado size but I suspect attention to the details that make that final level of interest will either show up in the higher trim GMC Canyon or possibly the Toyota or Nissan response in a year or two. Today I'm not for any one brand given any major brand should have similar performance and reliability where they start to be different in ways that matter is how the Company handles customer vehicle issues and the quality of the materials put into things like seat covers and the options they let you get in various trims.

My response to the Z1 - I was expecting much nicer seat covers given it was Chevy's top trim version. It was missing that final bling factor that gets the check book to surface. I'll wait to see what the Canyon looks like and what Toyota and Nissan cook up.

If it were just me I'd get a KTM pack my tent and gear and go, but given I want my wife on board with more trips and camping she's going to need to like both the ride and the destination. The Sequoia has Fo leather but at least its looks good feels good and is durable as hell. Same goes for the option I've seen in the Tacoma and Frontier. We were sitting in the Nissan Dealer back on 2005 negotiating on a nice 4dr 6spd leather package loaded Frontier when we walked out dealers wanted too much for those trucks then in our area. We bought a cherry 93 Land cruiser instead for 1/3 the price great truck. Sold it not long ago for exactly what we paid for it in 2005. No complaints there!! The new midsized if they all are in the colorado/canyon size range and offer diesels that get car like mileage offering some really nice range plus gives us the ability to get a heated FWC camper to bunk in that would be ideal. The LC we were always worried about range vs fuel given 12-13mpg was our typical mileage. The Sequoia is more of a soccer mom rig works great for hauling kids and grand parents but its not my idea of a long distance driver on longer trips and our tent trailer is cold when it gets cold out.

We take the Subaru Outback on the long road trips that do not involve hauling grand parents and the entire house with us. Having 500mile range without the trailer has been a very nice thing to have and having a 350 mile range with the trailer has been just as nice. To get that type of range and more modern comfy interior in one of these new midsized rigs starting to surface would be ideal!

so why are you in the domestic section, troll? no one here cares that you sell out America with your rice.

 

[Clutch]

FWC is only about 15 minutes from where I grew up. I really like the company and their stuff. Would love to have one!!!! Wife's job puts us on the edges of the summer warm camping months for when we can get away, cold tents and wife ='s limited to zero camping opportunities. She asked what I wanted for Christmas this year and I responded right away with "A CAMPING TRIP!" ha ha pretty sad.

The Canyon interior picts looks to address much of the lousy looking and quality Seat covers the Z1 had. So I'll go check it out when the dealers get them. Though won't be buying anything for a while diesel isn't a money thing for me its more about the range and type of power just seems more fitting for the type of use I would really like to use it for. Range limitations can put a damper on the adventure fun given within just 2-3hr drive from our front door we have areas that start to get pretty remote with some interesting places to see that start to put you right at the very costly remote fill up locations or trying to avoid them and sweating the fuel gauge status. That was a huge deal with the 12-13mpg Landcruiser I didn't enjoy that aspect about it at all.

Seems like most people that start out with the Tacoma and move up do so because of load capacity needs. The new numbers on the Colorado / Canyon seem like they would probably address most of that except for those who really want to pack some serious weight and gear for multiple people. I'm a back packer thats tired of carrying my stuff so keeping the gear down and going as small and light as comfortably possible is more my style. The car camping trips with the Subaru we seem to pack plenty of fun toys and nice comfort stuff for the kids and were still pretty light and simple. So a midsized idea like the Colorado with an interior the wife will tolerate long drives in seems like it could work pretty well. For extra heavy toy load trips we could just load up the trailer and drag it along and use it as the kids bunk house too. But cooler temp trips I think we could make do with a Fleet sized FWC rigged with a bunk that drops in at the top of the hard side over lower seating/bunk space would be tight but primary use in that situation would be warm place to snooze. The Flatbed version would be the cats meow but I would need to convince my wife to sell our sailboat and really get serious about camping trips to justify the $20K build on a new pickup.

Just moving to Idaho...has me looking at the FWC's...not sure a Flip Pac will cut in the cold temps...though I have tent camped in cold temps with -40º bags...not sure that I want to do that anymore though. It is all fine and dandy until you have to get out of them.

Growing up in the construction biz...I downsized to the Toyotas, because I was tired of driving big and towing heavy. Wanted something small and nimble...now with dirt bikes, kayaks, snowmobiles...really have to watch the weight with the Taco. Today's 1/2 tons wouldn't have to worry too much. Though 3/4-1 tons seem a bit over-kill for my needs. Out of all of them, I like the Tundra the best...and not because it is a Toyota....haven't seen the 2015 F150 yet though...I don't think they are on the lots just yet though.

 

[calicamper]

Just moving to Idaho...has me looking at the FWC's...not sure a Flip Pac will cut in the cold temps...though I have tent camped in cold temps with -40º bags...not sure that I want to do that anymore though. It is all fine and dandy until you have to get out of them.

Growing up in the construction biz...I downsized to the Toyotas, because I was tired of driving big and towing heavy. Wanted something small and nimble...now with dirt bikes, kayaks, snowmobiles...really have to watch the weight with the Taco. Today's 1/2 tons wouldn't have to worry too much. Though 3/4-1 tons seem a bit over-kill for my needs. Out of all of them, I like the Tundra the best...and not because it is a Toyota....haven't seen the 2015 F150 yet though...I don't think they are on the lots just yet though.

My rough figures on numbers. Loaded ie packed FWC 1000lbs conservative estimate. If we sold our big sailboat I'd probably go for the Flat bed FWC pricy but super cool and weight would probably be similar with the loss of the stock bed weight. No big sailboat I'd probably find a small pocket cruiser to tow which case guessing my tow weights would be similar to hauling one or two sleds on a fairly light trailer say 3000lbs and under and probably closer to say 2000lb trailer. I would think that the Tundra / new Colorado /Canyon payload numbers would give me a decent performance at that rough weight figuring. Adding helper springs or custom springs or say bags for the camper weight to retain some stock ride height would be fine.

Whats your weight guess on your typical Tacoma trip when your packing sleds and gear?

 

[Clutch]

My rough figures on numbers. Loaded ie packed FWC 1000lbs conservative estimate. If we sold our big sailboat I'd probably go for the Flat bed FWC pricy but super cool and weight would probably be similar with the loss of the stock bed weight. No big sailboat I'd probably find a small pocket cruiser to tow which case guessing my tow weights would be similar to hauling one or two sleds on a fairly light trailer say 3000lbs and under and probably closer to say 2000lb trailer. I would think that the Tundra / new Colorado /Canyon payload numbers would give me a decent performance at that rough weight figuring. Adding helper springs or custom springs or say bags for the camper weight to retain some stock ride height would be fine.

Whats your weight guess on your typical Tacoma trip when your packing sleds and gear?

Roughly 1000 lbs in the truck and 2000 lbs +/- on the trailer (including the weight if the trailer) So well within the limits. A "wet" full of supplies/gear FWC would kill the payload in the Tacoma...then tack on wind drag and such, now you've got a slug trying to climb mountain passes. Flip Pac on a Taco would be a non-issue.

With a Tundra (or any of the fullsize 1/2 ton) you wouldn't even know it was there. Plus the FWC gives a nice warm place to strip out of the snow gear.

 

[rotti]

My rough figures on numbers. Loaded ie packed FWC 1000lbs conservative estimate.

Too conservative.....my Hawk dry, completely empty, jacks off was 1,380 pounds.
Wet, loaded, two people at the scales I was at 2,100 pounds.

 

[Clutch]

Too conservative.....my Hawk dry, completely empty, jacks off was 1,380 pounds.
Wet, loaded, two people at the scales I was at 2,100 pounds.

Sounds like a 3/4-1 ton would be a better platform.

 

[calicamper]

Sounds like a 3/4-1 ton would be a better platform.

Or smaller camper.
I wouldnt be upposed to the flatbed camper idea either. I would be ok going smaller to stay on a smaller platform. But Clutch you sound like the snow machine trips would have big advantages going to a larger rig.

 

[Clutch]

Or smaller camper.
I wouldnt be upposed to the flatbed camper idea either. I would be ok going smaller to stay on a smaller platform. But Clutch you sound like the snow machine trips would have big advantages going to a larger rig.

Yeah probably...since I have to tow a trailer regardless, could do a Toy Hauler for the winter months, and a Flip Pac for the summer months [with dirt bike/boat trailer]. Might cost similar to a FWC. I "think" A Tundra would work keep my tow weight around 6000lbs....since I have no interest in diesel...the gas engines in the 3/4 tons put about the same hp/tq numbers as the 5.7 in the Tundra. The Tundra gets a smidge better mpg running empty than the 3/4 tons. Buddy of mine gets 18 hwy in his...a F250 6.2 gas you might get 12.

 

[plumber mike]

so why are you in the domestic section, troll? no one here cares that you sell out America with your rice.

KTM is not rice. Pirate post if ever I saw one. There is a Harley joke in there somewhere, but I'll refrain.

 

[calicamper]

Never saw that post Mike had the poster blocked. ;-) Guessing HS kid out of school during Thanksgiving week.