Any Chevy Colorado or GMC Canyon Owners
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Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
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URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10417
Printed Date: 30 Jun 2025 at 9:04pm
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Topic: Any Chevy Colorado or GMC Canyon Owners
Posted By: rawest50
Subject: Any Chevy Colorado or GMC Canyon Owners
Date Posted: 28 Jul 2017 at 4:48pm
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Looking at the Colorado & Canyon they are rated to pull 7,000 lbs. How does your Colorado/GM pull your RV. Especially in hills and mountains? I have a Jeep unlimited with the tow package and it is great as long as the road is level. When I get to hills I have to great down or I will lose all my speed. It is an automatic but when towing I drive it like a standard. Do they struggle to keep speed going up hill? ------------- 2017.5 RPod 179 2017 Jeep Unlimited Wrangler 2017 Chevy Colorado Z71 Off Road Crew Cab 2 Weiner dogs Great wife puts up with my BS ❤️ Thoroughbred Racing. 
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Replies:
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 28 Jul 2017 at 5:11pm
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Rawest50,
I have a 2016 Colorado, 3.6L, Z-71, non-4WD. With tow package, the brake controller wiring is in truck but requires wiring in controller. No issues towing the 178, with sway control. With trailer it gets better mileage than my Silverado with 5.3L V8. Both rated at 7000 lbs. Has a lot of options, wide screen GPS, backup camera, etc. The diesel was not available when I bought mine. It does not struggle, but does slow, I don't tow over 65 mph. I use it on shorter trips as it is not as roomy as my Silverado, more compact. I also use it when I go fishing at some of the more cramped COE lakes here in TN, the bed has less capacity than the Silverado. ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
Posted By: rawest50
Date Posted: 28 Jul 2017 at 6:04pm
I can keep my Jeep at 60 on hills. Not small rises in the road. The RPMs get up to 4K in thirds gear. Have you pulled through the Smoky Mountains with it? ------------- 2017.5 RPod 179 2017 Jeep Unlimited Wrangler 2017 Chevy Colorado Z71 Off Road Crew Cab 2 Weiner dogs Great wife puts up with my BS ❤️ Thoroughbred Racing.
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Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 28 Jul 2017 at 6:15pm
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No I have not, I have used it mainly in the TN and AL areas, pretty good hills, but no long trips, my Silverado is more comfortable, also Silverado has more bed space. The Colorado has no towing issues. ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
Posted By: rawest50
Date Posted: 28 Jul 2017 at 6:29pm
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I know I am asking a lot of questions but I am going to upgrade from my Jeep. If you pulled 6-7k in your Colorado would it handle it without much stress on the motor & tranny? Would it handle an upgrade to a heavier trailer? Years from that. Would you recommend the diesel? ------------- 2017.5 RPod 179 2017 Jeep Unlimited Wrangler 2017 Chevy Colorado Z71 Off Road Crew Cab 2 Weiner dogs Great wife puts up with my BS ❤️ Thoroughbred Racing.
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Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 28 Jul 2017 at 6:46pm
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Rawest50,
I'm confident I can tow more than a Pod. I've actually used that truck to tow my 1967 Buick Riviera, which is much heavier than a Pod. I know they changed the trans in 2017, I believe to a 6 speed, and I have no knowledge of the diesels other than what I have read. They are a relative small diesel at a high price as an option. Once you get around 40 grand new, why not go for a Silverado. I have owned diesels, and they come with their own maintenance and cost issues. I was not impressed with a 2.4 L. The reviews are good, suggest you go to GM and drive see what you think. My 3.6 is a strong motor, the multiple trans gears makes it shift a lot to me, up and down, but I'm an older guy who likes simplicity. As a side note my experience has been Dodge and Ford do better with diesels than GM, anybody recall the 6.2L fiasco? test drive is the right way I think, 2 cents. Lastly I think if you get to 6-7K you are at 100 percent capacity of that vehicle, you need a bigger truck and about 60K in dollars. You need a 2500/250 series truck. ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 28 Jul 2017 at 8:28pm
------------- bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 29 Jul 2017 at 7:38am
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Good point, original intent was to say I wouldn't use a 7k rated truck to pull a 7K TT. I think the diesel version of the Colorado has a towing capacity of 7600, BTW, has 100 foot pounds more torque than the V6. ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
Posted By: rawest50
Date Posted: 06 Sep 2017 at 12:28pm
Pull the Pod for the first time with my 2017 Colorado Crew Off Road edition. Pulled great. Thanks for the info you provided on yours. I do not plan to be pulling 7K with it. ------------- 2017.5 RPod 179 2017 Jeep Unlimited Wrangler 2017 Chevy Colorado Z71 Off Road Crew Cab 2 Weiner dogs Great wife puts up with my BS ❤️ Thoroughbred Racing.
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Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 06 Sep 2017 at 4:22pm
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Good, if I helped THANKS. Happy Trails. ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
Posted By: Subzilla
Date Posted: 07 Sep 2017 at 10:24am
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"...my experience has been Dodge and Ford do better with diesels than GM, anybody recall the 6.2L fiasco?..."  A couple of forums out there dedicated to these old engines. Plus, don't forget, this is what was run in the ALL of the military Hummers!! Don't think the military would have chosen something that was that bad to help protect its folks. They do have issues but they are fairly dependable......just sayin.......------------- Mark Concord, NC 2017 RP 179 "Podzilla" 2011 Silverado 1500 4X4 |
Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 07 Sep 2017 at 10:46am
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That GM converted gas->diesel engine fiasco was a long, long time ago. Yet the legacy lives on. You're right, the crank/journals/main bearings on those were not really designed for diesel. Too bad they thought they could get away with it. They have ended up with egg on their face for decades now. ------------- bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 07 Sep 2017 at 5:24pm
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I drove them for 20 years in the military and maintained them, my opinion hasn't changed, appreciate both your comments. I wouldn't buy one. ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |