It’s time to put the all-new 2023 Chevy Colorado to the ultimate towing test – the Ike GauntletTM. GM’s newest midsize pickup truck uses a 2.7-liter turbocharged I4 engine that is rated to tow up to 7,700 lbs! This is a class-leading trailer rating for a 4×4 midsize pickup truck. This is why we hook up a large Roamer1 off-road camping trailer and go to the top of the world in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Is this trailer too big or too heavy for this smaller pickup? Let’s find out!
Thanks to Mr.Truck and ROA Off-road for making this video test possible.
Ike GauntletTM
This is the world’s toughest towing test because this stretch of the I-70 Interstate goes up to the top of the Colorado Rocky Mountains at 11,158 feet above sea level. It’s an 8-mile stretch of the grueling highway with a maximum of 7% grade.
2023 Chevy Colorado
The new Colorado rides on a longer wheelbase that has been extended by around three inches to 131.4 inches. The Turbo Plus version of the engine is rated at 310 horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque. The engine is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission.
This time the Roamer1 off-grid and off-road luxurious camping trailer is loaded up to a total weight of 6,800 lbs. This way we can compare it to when we towed it with other pickup trucks and SUVs. Many of you have asked us to tow the same camping trailer with several classes of pickup trucks. Do you need to upgrade to a full-size truck for this type of trailer or can a midsizer handle it?
- Silverado ZR2 6.2L V8 & Ram TRX with a trailer of a similar size and weight.
- Ford F-150 Tremor & Ford Expedition Timberline with this trailer.
- Ford Raptor R & GMC Sierra AT4X AEV with this trailer.
Check out the video below for all the details!
The new Colorado was always stable during this towing test. This trailer has nearly 800 lbs of tongue weight, and we had three people in the cab. We were getting close to the this truck’s 1,500 lbs maximum payload capacity. Still the suspension handled the load with poise.
The downhill performance was not very good. We recorded 11 brake applications. The truck was still in control and the brakes never got overheated. However, many other midsize trucks have done the downhill with more aggressive grade shifting from the transmission.
The truck had enough power on the way up the mountain, but the recorded efficiency of 3.6 MPG left us wanting more. The new Colorado is equipped with an integrated trailer brake controller, Trailer application in the center infotainment screen, and relatively easy hitch & trailer chain hookup points.
In the end this truck get a good 4 out of 5 star Ike Gauntlet rating, but it can still be improved. The downhill grade shifting can be better, and overall efficiency should be a bit better. Would I tow this trailer with this Chevy Colorado again? Yes, I would.
