Box trailer
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What's the weight of the trailer dry and what do you intend to put in it? Does it have trailer brakes?
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I am now thinking about a 14' one. The dry weight is around 1600 pounds and the suggested payload is around 3500 pounds. So that would put me around 5100 total. It does have trailer brakes. I will mostly be hauling household items. I will be moving soon and instead of spending $2500 on a u-haul I would rather buy a trailer.
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Makes sense. Then you can use the trailer for other things too. I have no experience with an enclosed box trailer, but if it's a V-Nose, it should be more like hauling an aerodynamic brick wall instead of just a brick wall...
I would give it a try if it were me. Still under the max load rating by over 2k pounds and shouldn't have a problem stopping the thing with the tow/ haul on the truck and brakes on the trailer.
I would give it a try if it were me. Still under the max load rating by over 2k pounds and shouldn't have a problem stopping the thing with the tow/ haul on the truck and brakes on the trailer.I have a 16 foot Featherlite that I used to move from Ohio to Washington. Yep, over 8500 foot pass.
1587 dry weight with dual axles and electric brakes. It pulled without issue but mileage dropped to 11 mpg.
Managed to get 16 mpg pulling it empty.
I'm selling mine if interested.
This is the kind of thread everyone has their own opinion, experience, and comfort level so here's mine
Personally towing anything that can cause loss of control in a myriad of situations scares the hell out of me - but I want one too...
My criteria is:
- Electric brakes, surge brakes or OK for normal stops but I keep thinking if the trailer starts misbehaving applying it's brakes may get it back under control.
- Tandem axle (a safety thing with me, if one tire blows hopefully things stay stable).
- All aluminum including the floor, the thing has to last.
- Dual purpose, cargo and or camping so a personnel door and windows are a must.
- It must be 12-14' long (16' absolute max), I've seen to many issues with extreme cross winds where trailers 'wag the truck'.
- I'd like it to hopefully be close to the width of the truck so I don't have to get huge trailer mirrors.
- I want a v-nose also to put in a small kitchen area for camping use and aerodynamics.
Lastly this is not an endorsement, just an example of pretty much what I want but the AE714TAR from Aluma or similar company/product is my current target and they cost around $10K in WA.
Personally towing anything that can cause loss of control in a myriad of situations scares the hell out of me - but I want one too...
My criteria is:
- Electric brakes, surge brakes or OK for normal stops but I keep thinking if the trailer starts misbehaving applying it's brakes may get it back under control.
- Tandem axle (a safety thing with me, if one tire blows hopefully things stay stable).
- All aluminum including the floor, the thing has to last.
- Dual purpose, cargo and or camping so a personnel door and windows are a must.
- It must be 12-14' long (16' absolute max), I've seen to many issues with extreme cross winds where trailers 'wag the truck'.
- I'd like it to hopefully be close to the width of the truck so I don't have to get huge trailer mirrors.
- I want a v-nose also to put in a small kitchen area for camping use and aerodynamics.
Lastly this is not an endorsement, just an example of pretty much what I want but the AE714TAR from Aluma or similar company/product is my current target and they cost around $10K in WA.
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I just towed an 8-1/2’X22’ enclosed cargo trailer weighing 8000 lbs loaded 1800 miles from NM to GA behind my 2017 long bed 4X4 Duramax without issue. I averaged 10 mpg and occasionally experienced crosswinds and trailer wag but the built in integrated sway control that brakes the trailer when sway is detected is amazing and immediately corrects the sway. It was an impressive trip for this truck.
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407 Posts
Too heavy. Unsafe. Glad you got away with it, and the systems ironically make it easier. But you should have made other arrangements. These are great trucks, but as with ALL new trucks, no lagniappe like older trucks.
Still doing my own research but I'm going to revisit this thread with some of my technical 'finds' (spoiler alert, it's all about vehicle + trailer payloads, 2wd has better towing capacity, and all those awesome weighty options we install count against us).
First check out all towing videos by this guy - yes he is Australian based but it all translates.
Second, download and SAVE the GM Trailering / towing guide for the year of your vehicle;
2019
2018
2017
2016 (still looking for this but the 2017 should be the same or close).
Third, get smart on what your trailer with all the precious crap in it actually weighs.
First check out all towing videos by this guy - yes he is Australian based but it all translates.
Second, download and SAVE the GM Trailering / towing guide for the year of your vehicle;
2019
2018
2017
2016 (still looking for this but the 2017 should be the same or close).
Third, get smart on what your trailer with all the precious crap in it actually weighs.
I have several times now towed a 6x14 Vnose, BUT 74" tall at the door, much taller than my 2019 Canyon. Single axle, W/brakes. Have it loaded usually around the 3500-4k range. Truck handles it great except when I get an occasional side heavy wind gust then I know its back there. I avg 14-16 at 68-72mph. Not bad at all considering my old Ford expedition pulling the very same trailer got 7mpg. I added a Airlift system to the back, mainly to give some added help when I tow my tandem, having the Airlift DID help some with the feel encountered during cross gusts.
curious what airlift kit you used? I've always used airlift and really like the company but they said they didn't have one for the colorado so i went with the firestone which is a nice lift but an absolute pain in the a$$ to install and more expensive as well.
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EKarlW, thanks for the refreshers. FMI, do any of you see point blank wave offs by GM on towing properly accoutered, light enough, bed hitch trailers with Colorado/Canyon Z71/(Canyon comparable) long bed diesels? I might be missing it, but I don't. In fact, GM sold a 5th wheel trailer hitch lock as a Colorado/Canyon add on goodie for awhile in 2017. Now, I DO see such a flat out verboten warning for trailer bed campers. I can say that quite a few of us do tow bed hitch trailers, just from an Escape/Boler travel trailer rally I attended in Canada. My ~20,000 miles of doing so has been fine. Next to no sway, always felt firm. We just go slow to ease up on the rolling stock....
Airlift DOES make one for the Colorado Canyon, this is the one I got.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00R7THISE/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FFBXR46/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
The airlift was very easy and simple to install, the biggest problem I had was trying to find a place to mount the compressor and control module. took me about 2 hrs total. I did one firestone system many years ago and yes was a pain in arse....however from what I read they are both good systems. Very pleased with mine.
Manufacturers in general I think are getting away from recommending anything on towing anything. Too much liability for them to do otherwise, yet they brag about tow capacities when they try to sell their trucks. Ive always seen the topic of tow such that, the owner needs to know their personal and equipment limitations. Just about anything will tow just about anything, and can do so safely but one has to know the limitations of all things involved. I would not recommend to even tow a jet ski but a 1 ton, to someone who has no experience. And with this modern generations approach to for the most part having a total lack of common sense ability, being out on the open road is scary. I've been towing all things for over 40 years, I know well all the limits of all my possessions and personal ability. I have seen first hand what lacking in either can result (not me). Genx/Mill crowd....they know it all, cant tell em a darn thing, Ive seen a few have road towing mistakes and first thing they want to do is talk about is suing the manufacturer.....in case my point above.
thanks for that, i am wondering if the problem is that mine is 4WD? what is yours? i could not believe how hard that firestone kit was to install and that was made worse by the instructions that said 1.5 hours or whatever. mechanicking my whole 60+ yr life and OMG i was ready to throw in the towel a few times. a few design tweaks would have made it much simpler.
Mine is LWB, 4wd, and of course diesel, SLE model.
As for the bags, all I had to do was drill 4 holes in the main chassis beam and bolt to the top of rear of the leaf....now due to the fact I was up on a lift and the full load was off of the truck, I had to use one of my tall support stands and drop the lift back down until the top of the bag mount touched the chassis beam. That would have been a bit fun with a roll around jack but not impossible. Othewise, I mounted my compressor and controller on the chassis beam just to the left of my transfer case 4wd drive shaft right before the beam goes up toward the battery area. This made the harness stuff a short run to the battery area, the air tubing I took from there along frame rail back to the DS bag, T'd over to the PS and another T for the optional air hose fill up mounted in the rear bumper....Only left I want to do is make a small metal cover to protect the compressor from any sort of heavy moisture/mud throw up.
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Recently completed a 3853 mile trip (ID--> TX --> MO then return) towing a 7x14 enclosed trailer (tandum w/brakes gain @8 loaded 4 empty) using a 2019 Z71 SWB duramax without mods. 2058 miles was 9960ibs GVWR - 4100lbs trailer - truck had 2540 front and 3320 rear axle weight. 1795 miles for the return almost empty - trailer @2300 lbs. MPG average going was ~12 and return was ~9 which had some headwinds and uphill . Used 7.5 gallons of DEF the entire trip. Going RPM was 1750 to 2250 but kicked up to ~3K on some hills. Return was 2250 most of the time. The shift point up near 3K is odd looking at the torque HP curves.
Truck performed without issues loaded up and down the long hills of Wyoming while snowing with full range of road conditions (wet, snow, wind, sun). Used 4x4 hi or auto depending on snow coverage along with reduced velocity - which helped the mpg. I think the 4x4 auto was useful with recovery during cross wind events on patchy ice/snow/pavement. Denver driving on snow pack was flawless.
Stock mirrors were OK and kept me on my toes when changing lanes and turning. Boost towing mirrors have been ordered and will be installed before the next towing event. Considering a camera on the back of the trailer as well. Any recommendations for RV wireless cameras that plug and play with the factory screen?
. Used 7.5 gallons of DEF the entire trip. Going RPM was 1750 to 2250 but kicked up to ~3K on some hills. Return was 2250 most of the time. The shift point up near 3K is odd looking at the torque HP curves.Truck performed without issues loaded up and down the long hills of Wyoming while snowing with full range of road conditions (wet, snow, wind, sun). Used 4x4 hi or auto depending on snow coverage along with reduced velocity - which helped the mpg. I think the 4x4 auto was useful with recovery during cross wind events on patchy ice/snow/pavement. Denver driving on snow pack was flawless.
Stock mirrors were OK and kept me on my toes when changing lanes and turning. Boost towing mirrors have been ordered and will be installed before the next towing event. Considering a camera on the back of the trailer as well. Any recommendations for RV wireless cameras that plug and play with the factory screen?
Hi Mike, FWIW I checked again with AirLift and even talked to their tech people and they said they don't make a kit for the diesel. They said the DEF interferes which doesn't make sense to me since it's a ways away. Bottom line is though if you ever have a warranty issue with your air lifts, don't tell them they were on the diesel. As a follow up on my Firestone air bags; they failed because the bolts in the lower bracket sheared off. IMO it's a design flaw IMO because the bolts were totally unhardened and clearly were not strong enough. I bought some Grade 5 to replace them. Anyway, they agreed to send me a new bag under warranty "just this once" and I have been waiting since November 6th and now they are saying it'll likely be the end of March before they're available. So, basically no warranty coverage. I am installing a set of SumoSprings instead: https://www.etrailer.com/Vehicle_Suspension/SuperSprings/SS75FR.html
I'll probably put my Firestone set up for sale after I receive the replacement air bag.
I'll probably put my Firestone set up for sale after I receive the replacement air bag.
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