2017 Chevy Colorado ZR2

[DaveInDenver]

I've thought about adapting a tow bar(the kind made for towing behind a rv) to make something like this on my Forester, minus the receiver.

That would be super clever!

The only thing that would concern me would be rating it. It's going to have a load rating based on your car being towed using both eyes, so there's probably a shear pin and self braking ability for the car for fail safe. When the use is changed you can easily imagine a situation that puts a lot of forces through such a bracket that it was never intended to see.

So I see some chin scratching to be done to stay safe and avoid damaging anything.

 

[Highlander]

There are a few Ford Rangers here. I guess they are test models.
this video takes place in Cali.

[video]https://youtu.be/eT6HD3-11Kw[/video]

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One thing I wish all small trucks had done is redesigning the current rear suspension system (leaf spring) into a modern one (coil sprin). RAM has the best rear suspension system - 5 link system.

 

[p nut]

Ford has pretty much eliminated stick shifts in all their trucks. The Colorado stick is only available on 2WD extended cab 4 cylinder base trim. I'm not even sure you can get a WT trim with a stick.

I just did a Build&Price on AU Ford site, and I could get a Ranger, 3.2 or 2.2L (diesel) with 6-sp manual. Both crew and ext cabs. Even Chassis cabs (Flat bed would be super cool, although for me, a regular bed is more useful. Still looks super cool with steel wheels, black cladding). Of course, Ozland gets all the cool toys there, and we get the shaft. But we can hope.

 

[DaveInDenver]

We can hope. Toyota (and I think Nissan) does offer stick shifts in various bodies and trims. It's not necessarily an either/or at every step but they at least recognize that some people prefer them.

I'm honestly not sure why the base Colorado gets one because it would seem to me to offer it on such a limited number would cost more in configuration management than it's worth. The base truck to me is probably for fleets and that's sort of the last place I'd put one logically, rentals and work trucks. Dunno. It could be that the base truck with a stick gets that extra 1MPG and it's what brings them under a CAFE number or something.

 

[Clutch]

One thing I wish all small trucks had done is redesigning the current rear suspension system (leaf spring) into a modern one (coil sprin). RAM has the best rear suspension system - 5 link system.

I have been wanting that for a while to the dismay to some of the purist. Toyota could pull the system from a 4Runner.

Or even IRS, my stepdad's Highlander rides awfully well down washborads. Might be one of the few that likes the Honda Ridgeline. Even saw a Ridgeline with a Phoenix popup camper running down the interstate the other week. The Honda misses just a few marks for me, need/want 6' bed, a high rider model...could get a little better mileage. Where-as a Duramax Colorado pretty much hits most of the marks. Choice between the Ridgeline or a DCSB Colorado, would have to go with the Chevy.

 

[DaveInDenver]

The Ridgeline has a fundamental structural challenge by being a derivative of an SUV. When you cut off the back end and eliminate the D pillar you end up with a significant loss of rigidity. With the Ridgeline that's even trickier due to a unibody design. That's why the 1st generation had that huge triangular C pillar. The new Ridgeline has a ladder frame under the bed, so it's more of a hybrid and appears to me to have uncoupled the bed walls from the cab to allow some flex.

The reason trucks still use body-on-frame is mainly so that you don't start cracking the body seams when you twist the heck of it. For full size and large trucks that's from the engine torque and for smaller trucks like the Tacoma it's probably going to be from off road. The Ridgeline is a great pavement truck and is great for towing. It can do off highway duty but eventually the limits of starting with a unibody would catch up. This is also why the 4Runner is still built the way it is, it being from the Prado family, which in other places is still put through the ringer over less than great roads.

This is a pretty good article about it all.

http://truckyeah.jalopnik.com/mid-size-trucks-dont-need-frames-1785674405

 

[Clutch]

There are a few Ford Rangers here. I guess they are test models.
this video takes place in Cali.

[video]https://youtu.be/eT6HD3-11Kw[/video]

.

Saw one up from Mexico, about 3 years ago.

 

[Clutch]

The Ridgeline has a fundamental structural challenge by being a derivative of an SUV. When you cut off the back end and eliminate the D pillar you end up with a significant loss of rigidity. With the Ridgeline that's even trickier due to a unibody design. That's why the 1st generation had that huge triangular C pillar. The new Ridgeline has a ladder frame under the bed, so it's more of a hybrid and appears to me to have uncoupled the bed walls from the cab to allow some flex.

The reason trucks still use body-on-frame is mainly so that you don't start cracking the body seams when you twist the heck of it. For full size and large trucks that's from the engine torque and for smaller trucks like the Tacoma it's probably going to be from off road. The Ridgeline is a great pavement truck and is great for towing. It can do off highway duty but eventually the limits of starting with a unibody would catch up. This is also why the 4Runner is still built the way it is, it being from the Prado family, which in other places is still put through the ringer over less than great roads.

This is a pretty good article about it all.

http://truckyeah.jalopnik.com/mid-size-trucks-dont-need-frames-1785674405

Kinda like the old Dodge vans, yeah? Thanks for the link, haven't read too much about it.

That is the other thing...not sure how well it would hold up off pavement. While I don't do anything too too gnarly.. .do a lot of mile after mile washboard roads.

View attachment 385951

 

[p nut]

I haven't looked under the current gen Ridgeline, but the prior gen...it was like looking under my Subaru. Suspension components aren't too robust. Unibody issues aside, I think longevity would be a concern if I were taking it off road, or even as Clutch mentioned, backcountry roads. They seemed like they just wouldn't stand up to the abuse compared to these other mid-size trucks.

 

[DaveInDenver]

I think that's the main difference to me. Not that a Ridgeline is or isn't a truck or really good at what it does. But it's not an off highway vehicle. I'm not even sure it has a low range. Will it tolerate being abused for years? Call me skeptical.

 

[Highlander]

Ideally it would be great if small pickups come out with solid axles on coil spring.

I feel Honda is a cool truck but I would take it to any long distance overland trip in remote areas. The truck does't even have two speed transfer case. No low gear as well.

 

[p nut]

A friend of mine has the original gen and loves it. He bikes and does house projects. Never camps. Hardly ever goes off asphalt (if ever?). Perfect for someone like him.

No low range in those, but does have some sort of beefed up LSD that supposedly works really well.

 

[kmacafee]

Chevy is making the announcement at the LA Auto Show. No word on pricing just yet. Very trick Multimatic DSSV long travel suspension dampers. E-lockers front rear and center. 2.8L 4 cylinder Diesel (369 ft lbs) or all new 3.6L V6 gas engine (275 ft lb) options. 8 speed auto the only transmission for the gas V6. Not clear if the diesel will stick with a 6 speed or use the new 8 speed auto. Both 2 door and four door cabs shown in the photos.

Unfortunately carrying capacity reported to be reduced from 1500 lb to 1100 lb, so you won't be adding much ExPo farkle.

EPA numbers are not available for the new gas V6. I expect about 20 mpg in combined driving. The 2016 diesel 4x4 is rated to deliver 25 mpg in combined driving. Extra torque at low rpm and 25% greater range make the diesel plenty attractive for ExPo-style use.

Here's the Chevrolet press release that is the basis for the blog posts about this vehicle
http://media.chevrolet.com/media/us.../Pages/news/us/en/2016/nov/laas/1115-zr2.html

The carrying capacity is a non-starter for me. My FWC is 900 pds dry -- add gear and I'm over the 1100 pound limit quickly.

 

[upcruiser]

Well, I left for New Hampshire for work Wed, my wife took the boys to run some errands that evening and the truck had a bunch of lights come on and it went into limp mode. She drove it home at 25... not sure why they consider this a safe speed at any rate... she started it up the next morning and the check engine light was still on but the limp mode was off. After work she dropped it off st the dealer who kept it for the night. They reported today that they found no issues and drove it around without anything else happening. She is grabbing it tonight but I told her t find out specifically what code the CEL was on for. Onstar told her the night it happened that it was some brake system error. Anyway, it has 150 miles on it and I am disappointed as the whole point of buying this was to avoid this exact crap from happening when I am traveling. So yeah, I am hoping it's a fluke but not going to lie, the complicated systems on these new cars always make me skeptical and I wanted to give GM the benefit of the doubt with a new US platform and unproven reliability. Will keep this updated.

 

[2025 deleted member]

That stinks, hope it was a fluke deal. I have learned with owning a diesel its worth it to buy a cheap code reader. Heck I had to reset to codes that popped up on my truck last night. It seems some times it will set off a code but you can reset it and that code will never come back.