Will my truck pull it?

cattlejack · Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2019 11:03 am Post subject: Will my truck pull it?

I have a 2008 Chevy Colorado Z71 4X4 3.7 in line 5 cylinder
Will I enable to tow a 2008 Cory 22 with trailer?
Just what to be safe and sure

DavidM · Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2019 11:11 am Post subject:

The tow rating of that truck is 4,000 lbs. The all in tow weight of a C Dory 22 with fuel, minimal gear and an aluminum trailer is very near that weight.

I think it will be ok for short tows, but not long distance and particularly not in mountains.

David

DayBreak · Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2019 12:05 pm Post subject:

2008 Trailer Life Towing Guide for a Chevy/GMC Colorado/Canyon regular cab is 4000 lb. with 4 x 4, ZO8 Suspension Package and 3.73 axle ratio. If you have the extra cab truck it increases to 5,500 lb. tow rating.

Sea Wolf · Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2019 1:35 pm Post subject:

Add in the fact that a CD-22 with a steel trailer fully loaded for cruising for two or more weeks can weigh 4500+ lbs. The margin is shrinking!

Joe. Teeth

cattlejack · Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2019 1:49 pm Post subject:

I just want to get her from Florida to my home in Maryland

DavidM · Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2019 2:29 pm Post subject:

The fact that with the crew cab (longer wheelbase) and heavier suspension the Colorado is good for 5,500 lbs tells me that the engine and basic drive train is up for it, but the standard wheelbase and suspension is what limits towing capacity to 4,000 lbs.

So strip it down of all gear and fluids and keep it down to 65 or less and you should be ok for that run.

David

ssobol · Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2019 7:05 pm Post subject:

My 08 22 with our normal stuff in it, but not fully loaded for long range cruising weighs 4400# on an aluminum trailer. I don't think I could get it below 4400# just by taking our stuff out of it.

journey on · Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2019 9:20 pm Post subject:

Well, Florida to Maryland is flat and here's a couple of quotes on what people do to get from here to there.

ssobl wrote:

"I tow mine with a 2nd gen Sienna. I live on the east coast so there is not much in the way of hills compared to the west. There was a poster on this forum that lived out west and towed his 22 all over the place with a 1st gen Sienna."

South of Heaven wrote:

"I towed my 19 with my Volvo S60 turbo, front wheel drive. It was fine."

And I towed Journey On, a 25, from Bellingham to San Diego, over the mountains with a short bed Chevvie V-8.

So it can be done.

Boris

Sea Wolf · Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2019 9:51 pm Post subject:

Some advice from some previous discussions like this-

Just remember the bigger issue is not simply towing, but stopping in a true emergency.....

Thanks for everyone's contributions! Wink

Joe.

colbysmith · Posted: Fri Mar 29, 2019 12:35 am Post subject:

You guys must have some pretty light CD-22's. Midnight Flyer on a tandem axle aluminum trailer, weighs in at around 5150 lbs. That's with mostly full tanks, a kicker, and some supplies. I suppose if you are traveling empty you can get it down to closer to 4000 lbs. Colby

Two Bears · Posted: Fri Mar 29, 2019 1:14 am Post subject:

I enjoy this topic every time it comes up. It all depends on just how much risk you are willing to take.

Behind me on the dock at Jones Island (San Juan Islands) one time was a Cutwater 28. The owner lived in Chilliwack, BC. The road is mostly level and he said he carefully picked his time to tow to launch in Bellingham WA. He towed it with a older Dodge Dakota, which by my guess has a towing rating of about 4,000 lbs. I suspect he was towing close to 10,000 lbs. No electric break controller. He insisted he was safe.

Takes all kinds.

Chuck

Foggy · Posted: Fri Mar 29, 2019 8:20 am Post subject:

ssobol · Posted: Fri Mar 29, 2019 11:00 am Post subject:

I bought my van for towing boats. The boat I had before the CD22 was smaller and lighter. However, I have had the 22 for 6 years now. Any towing in the that time has been with the van. In the 50K miles or so that I've had the van, I have not had to replace the brake pads. They get inspected every year by the state and have only at the last inspection (yesterday) was it mentioned that the pads are down to about 25% remaining.

My trailer has brakes.

I only mention this because it would seem that towing my boat with my van does not seem to put abnormal load (and thus wear) on the vehicle brakes.

hardee · Posted: Fri Mar 29, 2019 12:27 pm Post subject:

My 22 Cruiser (05) on a pacific tandem steel galvanized trailer is right at 4950 pounds. That's the max for my truck, (5050). The towing is the easy part, although I do slow some in the mountains, and the stopping is doable, But I drive like an old Montana rancher -- I like lots of acreage all around me -- all the time. Kind of goes well with riding a motorcycle too.

You are talking Florida an up the east coast. No mountains. So, Empty the tanks, fuel and water. Take all canned food goods, the extra oil, fuel treatment and drinks off the boat, take the inflatable dingy out, and keep 6 - 10 seconds between you an the vehicle ahead of you and you should be OK.

I drove Dodge vans for years and loved to tow with them, but I never towed anything that outweighed my van then.

Harvey
SleepyC Moon

Sea Wolf · Posted: Fri Mar 29, 2019 1:48 pm Post subject:

Not to belabor the point, but there's no greater feeling of helplessness than suddenly finding out you have to brake at a full emergency level while towing, and once you your foot on the pedal, discovering that your braking rate is far too little to get you stopped before a big collision is going to occur right on the your nose.

(BTDT!)

It's like having a freight train bolted to your bumper and both of you are on the tracks lined up with the collision target. Hope it isn't a cement truck!

You owe it to yourself to try an emergency stop or two with your boat & trailer combo just to see how long it takes and how much room you ought to provide in your towing practices.

Joe. Teeth