Towing with a small truck?

If you're only moving the camper around once in a while, a smaller truck will be fine. If you want to actually travel cross country without worries, mountains or not...go for the 6500 lb plus tow rating, transmission cooler, V8 engine, brake controller, 4WD, all the bells and whistles. You will not regret it when things get troublesome.

My Colorado is the old style...not the newer bigger trucks. 2010... it has the 3.5L 5-cylinder motor in it and has been a very good truck. I'm considering a full size truck but have got this for now. I'll let you know how it goes.

So we sold my husbands Jeep Liberty a few weeks ago. I called on two chevy colorados I wanted to look at and they both sold that same day :/ So for about 3 weeks I have been searching for something. The other day day I saw a gmc canyon pop up with low miles so yesterday we drove 3 hours to get it. Excited we found what we were looking for. It has a 3.7L 5cy engine with factory tow package and I plan to add a break controller eventually.

Apparently the one we bought 2008 is rated for 5500 pounds which I have trouble believing out of a 5cy. I had previously looked up 04-06 5cy 3.5L models because that is what I was finding in my price range. And those are rated for 4000lbs so I figured this one was too.

I guess in 08-12 they changed the engine from 5cy 3.5L to 5cy 3.7L Which to me doesnt say hey I can pull 1500 more pounds. I will never have anything heaver than my airflyte. But I found that interesting.

Anyways I will stop rambling my random thoughts now.
IMG_3406 by Mel L, on Flickr
IMG_3407 by Mel L, on Flickr

Somewhat off topic but what is the difference between sway bars and load levelers?  I thought I had sway bars but was told they are load levelers.


Thanks,
Kathy

Another factor to keep in mind is that smaller, narrower towing vehicles will restrict your rear vision. While each U.S. State has their own laws, generally speaking, your mirrors should reflect a clear vision of 200' of the highway behind you. Few, if any, smaller vehicles can do so with stock factory mirrors.   

I realize that we all would like to buy a $100.00 truck that would tow our trailers over the tallest mountain and across the hottest desert while getting 50 mpg but remember to pick a tow vehicle that will do it safely. YOUR FAMILIES LIFE DEPENDS ON IT. Also did you ever wonder why some people enjoy their travel trailer vacation and other say never again. If your rig doesn't sway in the wind and you can see well enough to be comfortable plus not have to worry if it will get up or down a hill or even make it back home you will probably be one who enjoyed their vacation.
I'm not saying you have to buy a brand new crew cab dually just something that you can use comfortably. There are a lot of low mileage older tow vehicles out there that can be bought reasonable, take the time to make the best decision for you.
May God be with you in your hunt.

Looks like I'm too late, but figured I'd chime in anyway in case someone is reading through this for advice one day. I'm a user that tows with smaller vehicles.

Last year I towed my small camper from Eastern MA to Far West TX and back with a V6 Mazda Tribute rated at 3,500lbs. I made it, but had to give up on that car by the time I got back. Even though my trailer only weighs 1,200lbs, that little thing was struggling and that trip did it in.

I replaced it with a V6 4Runner rated for 5,000lbs, which is still smaller than what most people tow with on here. But the drive from MA to TX was incredibly easier this year. One of the biggest differences has been the longer wheelbase and heavier weight: the trailer sways so much less. With the smaller vehicle I was on edge everytime a truck drove by.

So towing with smaller SUVs long-distance is definitely possible, you just need to be comfortable taking it a little slower.