endurokIng
New member
Oh man thats dangerous! THANK YOU!
Where to begin!!!
- Thread starter endurokIng
- Start date
AlexCold
Observer
I can tell you that the Dmax 2.8 will tow 5000lbs no problem all day. The 3.6 gasser will as well, but not as easily (8speed helps). The problem is you like won't find one in your price range. While I'm a GM guy as well, I think you're best bet would be to look for a very nice Ram diesel 3/4 to 1 ton truck. The focus would be a clean, 1 owner with traceable, regular maintenance. Higher mileage isn't such a big deal with Cummins, more so just making sure the truck was well taken care of since most dodge interiors don't age well.
jeep-N-montero
Expedition Leader
While the Colorado "can" tow 5000lb, in a heavy cross wind with a trailer behind it you may crap yourself in certain situations.
AlexCold
Observer
We never had an issue while towing 7000 lbs during our durability testing. Mind you I understand that these are heavy weights for trailers and even 1/2ton trucks will move around with heavy winds with as light as the rear ends of trucks are now. My point is that the vehicle is more than capable.
alphaecho4386
New member
I got a CCLB Duramax Colorado and it's a brilliant "little" truck.
I only tow a little utility trailer for now, but otherwise it's my DD. 24mpg, with as much as 30mpg when cruising nicely.
I have seen new ones in LT trim and a diesel for as little as $32k new, bit it's not always common.
That being said, the ecodiesel ram is also a great used choice that might be better suited for bigger towing loads, not necessarily for weight, as they are both small displacement diesels, but as a bigger and heavier truck than the Colorado, it might offer a bit more stability when towing physically large loads in unfavorable conditions.
Basically just wanted to give a thumbs up for the Colorado!
Sent from my PH-1 using Tapatalk
I only tow a little utility trailer for now, but otherwise it's my DD. 24mpg, with as much as 30mpg when cruising nicely.
I have seen new ones in LT trim and a diesel for as little as $32k new, bit it's not always common.
That being said, the ecodiesel ram is also a great used choice that might be better suited for bigger towing loads, not necessarily for weight, as they are both small displacement diesels, but as a bigger and heavier truck than the Colorado, it might offer a bit more stability when towing physically large loads in unfavorable conditions.
Basically just wanted to give a thumbs up for the Colorado!
Sent from my PH-1 using Tapatalk
Buliwyf
Viking with a Hammer
The Colorados are nice.
For towing a 14' pop up trailer. A 25' TT, hahaha. Good luck. Fullsize 1/2 tons can get worked over hard by a trailer that big in a little wind. Even the 1/2 tons rated for "space shuttle" or "aircraft carrier". It's not just weight, a 25 TT has more surface area than the sails on some pretty decent boats. Ever tied a kite to a cat in a hurricane?
Towing is especially tough on bumpy roads, like over expansion joints over bridges. When that trailer bounces down, it comes back up again, lifting the towing truck with it. Add a turn, wind, rain, and we have another Yukon Denali flipped over in a ditch with kids picking glass out of their skin. Ever year, same olde thing. "But we had trailer sway control!" LOlz.
I subscribe to big truck, little trailer. I like to tow at 80mph comfortably. Not 65. If the average RV'er says you need a 150, get a 350.
For towing a 14' pop up trailer. A 25' TT, hahaha. Good luck. Fullsize 1/2 tons can get worked over hard by a trailer that big in a little wind. Even the 1/2 tons rated for "space shuttle" or "aircraft carrier". It's not just weight, a 25 TT has more surface area than the sails on some pretty decent boats. Ever tied a kite to a cat in a hurricane?
Towing is especially tough on bumpy roads, like over expansion joints over bridges. When that trailer bounces down, it comes back up again, lifting the towing truck with it. Add a turn, wind, rain, and we have another Yukon Denali flipped over in a ditch with kids picking glass out of their skin. Ever year, same olde thing. "But we had trailer sway control!" LOlz.
I subscribe to big truck, little trailer. I like to tow at 80mph comfortably. Not 65. If the average RV'er says you need a 150, get a 350.
Mickey Bitsko
Adventurer
Why in the world would you need to tow 80 mph?
Most st trailer tires have a max 65 mph rating.
calicamper
Expedition Leader
Good question. Except I was passed by a Dodge 3500 duelie pulling a gooseneck with 6 saddled stock horses on our trip to West Yellowstone. I was doing just under 85mph in my sequoia. Having grown up with horses I was amazed that a Dodge 3500 loaded with a big 5thwheel rig full of saddled live stock could do 95mph! I was kinda sad that someone thought so little about the livestock that they would even try it. Only thing I could guess the driver talking on the cell didnt own the truck, trailer or the live stock.
Buliwyf
Viking with a Hammer
Been towing at 70+ all my life. Properly spec'd trucks and trailers do it no problem. I pity the giant 5'ers going 55-60mph in the slow lane. I have a weeks vacation, not a months vacation, I don't want to spend all of it on the road. Fuel stops and food stops are strategically placed. 80 isn't fast, that's the slow lane with the 18 wheelers.
But my point was, a truck should be confident and stable. Not stressed to the max. A stressed out truck can't be pushed faster, be confident in wind, handle bumpy roads, etc. I don't have to go fast every trip. But it's nice being safer at 80 than a Yukon at 55.
Then there was Irma with the work truck. Only truck on I75 heading south into the storm, only vehicle on that side of the road, cruise set to 80mph. The difference between 80 and 60 then, could be someones life. And 70 is boring easy slow on that stretch of road.
We don't run $90 budget trailer tires made for Walmart shopping RV'ers. Usually they're E rated truck tires, if we think an F rated tire would be too rough/bouncy and hard on the TT, or high quality super strong F rated tires for stronger industrial trailers.
https://www.goodyear.com/en-US/tires/wrangler-ht?cta=BBCardFullTireDetails
Watch your weight ratings if you use truck tires on a trailer. Trailer tires often have high ratings and thick sidewalls.
Rated to 81mph:
https://www.etrailer.com/Tires-and-Wheels/Kenda/AM10501.html
Please use quality trailer tires if you have kids in your rig. $150 per tire is NOT too much to ask. Note: Most TT's come with Chinese made trailer tires, regardless of rating, they are absolute junk. Use them for a season, and get a quality Ohio made tires. GY Marathons are made in China, get some Wranglers.
Good luck, stay safe. More wheelbase and more weight are great things to have in a truck that tows.
But my point was, a truck should be confident and stable. Not stressed to the max. A stressed out truck can't be pushed faster, be confident in wind, handle bumpy roads, etc. I don't have to go fast every trip. But it's nice being safer at 80 than a Yukon at 55.
Then there was Irma with the work truck. Only truck on I75 heading south into the storm, only vehicle on that side of the road, cruise set to 80mph. The difference between 80 and 60 then, could be someones life. And 70 is boring easy slow on that stretch of road.
We don't run $90 budget trailer tires made for Walmart shopping RV'ers. Usually they're E rated truck tires, if we think an F rated tire would be too rough/bouncy and hard on the TT, or high quality super strong F rated tires for stronger industrial trailers.
https://www.goodyear.com/en-US/tires/wrangler-ht?cta=BBCardFullTireDetails
Watch your weight ratings if you use truck tires on a trailer. Trailer tires often have high ratings and thick sidewalls.
Rated to 81mph:
https://www.etrailer.com/Tires-and-Wheels/Kenda/AM10501.html
Please use quality trailer tires if you have kids in your rig. $150 per tire is NOT too much to ask. Note: Most TT's come with Chinese made trailer tires, regardless of rating, they are absolute junk. Use them for a season, and get a quality Ohio made tires. GY Marathons are made in China, get some Wranglers.
Good luck, stay safe. More wheelbase and more weight are great things to have in a truck that tows.
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Was the OP looking to tow a 25' TT? Based on what he described (snowmobiles, cargo trailer at ~5klbs) I think either the 2.8l duramax or the 3.0l ecodiesel should be more than sufficient, and will return much better fuel economy over a 3/4 ton platform.
As for towing at 80mph, I'm sure it can be done, but that isn't the preferred speed for such duties IMO. You're certainly not getting good fuel efficiency at those speeds.
Buliwyf
Viking with a Hammer
I heard "cargo trailer" and "home". That's got to weight as much.
endurokIng
New member
Yeah I would love to get the ZR2 diesel over the ecodiesel, seems as if its a bit more dialed in. Although, the price for a diesel ZR2 is around 41k. Let me know if you see one for a good price, willing to fly out and drive back or get it shipped!
odoffroadmontero
New member
go montero they are the best any year will do lol
'round n' back again
Explorer
your a trooper. bikes sno machines and a (for now) utility trailer,,, mens as much truck as you can handle. and that might not be enough. everyone her can testify to the experience of outgrowing your equipment or expanding your dreams once on the road.
i have no advice for you.
my own experience tells me to build out big and heavy at start. tonners or better, duallies sometimes, and always looking to shed weight even as i have added gear. always a balance, but going marginal means at some point tipping the scales in the wrong direction.
i have no advice for you.
my own experience tells me to build out big and heavy at start. tonners or better, duallies sometimes, and always looking to shed weight even as i have added gear. always a balance, but going marginal means at some point tipping the scales in the wrong direction.
Buliwyf
Viking with a Hammer
Exactly. It's Murphys law. You don't need a truck bigger than an F150, until you buy an F150.
And we all used to Oh and Awe, at trucks that Expo guys swapped Dana 60's and lockers into. Now the 250's come standard with a Dana Super 60 front, and 10.5 locked rear.