When you have an SUV, you might think you can do anything you want because of how heavy they are and how much they can pull. But, is it safe for a Chevy Colorado to pull a camper?

This will depend on which model you have because different years have different features, but in general, a Chevrolet Colorado should be able to pull a camper. The average camper weighs about 5,000 pounds, and the Colorado can pull anything from 3,500 to 7,000 pounds.

So, some models can, but others can’t or won’t be able to unless they choose a small camper. We’ll tell you how to find out if your Chevy Colorado can pull a camper and how to do it.

Towing Capacity of a Chevy Colorado

How much each model can pull. The weight of a Colorado is between 3,500 and 7,000 pounds, so you know that some models can pull a camper and others can’t.

So, what makes these models different, and how do you know if yours is one that can carry that weight?

Well, older models don’t usually have as much pulling power as newer ones. But if you have a model with four-wheel drive, you might be able to pull more than you could with a similar model.

But if you look at the basic range, most Colorado models can tow between that range, so you should be able to pull a camper with them.

Since 5,000-pound campers are within that range, many of the models will be able to handle that weight.

What To Consider When Towing a Camper

If you want to bring a camper with you on a family trip or vacation, make sure to do it safely and take the right precautions before you leave, or you could end up on the side of the road.

You don’t want this to happen while you’re on vacation, so follow these tips to make sure everything goes well!

#1 Load Balance

Whenever you try to pull something behind your car, no matter what it is, you should make sure that everything in your load is balanced.

This will keep you from having trouble driving on the streets or highway, which can happen when one side is heavier than the other.

The load should include the camper and everything that is kept in it. You’ll want to make sure it’s as well-balanced as possible and that all your things are fastened down so they don’t move while you’re driving.

This will keep you, your passengers, and other drivers safe and also make it easier to drive with all that extra weight. This is very important for people who have never pulled a camper behind their car before.

#2 Gas in Your Tank

When you think about how much your car weighs and how much the camper weighs, you need to think about every little thing.

This means that you should weigh your car with a full tank of gas and your camper if it needs gas.

If you don’t think about this and buy a camper that is close to the limit of what your vehicle can pull, you might go over that limit if you put gas in the camper’s tank. This could make it go over the limit, which could hurt your car while you’re driving.

So, before you check the weight of each vehicle, you should make sure the tanks are full, or at least mostly full, so you can account for that extra weight.

#3 Weight of Camper

The total weight of the camper, including the fuel, should be about 80% of your total towing capacity. This makes sure that you have enough space and weight to add to your bags and suitcases for the trip without going over the weight limit.

On some trips, you might only need a few fishing poles, clothes, and a few small other things. But sometimes you might have big things like cooking tools or coolers full of food and drinks that need to be kept cold.

This will add more weight than you might think, and you should get ready to bring a lot of things with you. If you only leave enough weight for a few things, you might forget something important that you wanted to bring along.

Or, if you try to drive with all your things because you’re not too far over the weight limit, you could damage your Chevy Colorado’s engine and put yourself, your passengers, and other people on the road in danger.

Risks of Driving Over the Weight Limit

If you were planning to drive while towing more than your Chevy Colorado can handle, you should think again.

There are a lot of serious risks that could ruin your trip or even cause something dangerous to happen.

So, here are just a few of the biggest dangers you and your passengers face if you overload your vehicle.

Failing Brakes

The worst thing that could happen to you while you are driving is that your brakes fail. This could cause you to hit a car in front of you or force you to drive off the road to avoid a dangerous crash.

Not only is it scary when your brakes stop working, but it’s also very dangerous for everyone around you. Depending on how bad the accident is, this could even lead to deaths.

So, you don’t want to put even a little too much in your car because the results could be terrible for your family and other people.

Difficulty Accelerating

When your car is pulling too much weight behind it, it will also be hard to get the engine to speed up like it should. This is because your SUV’s engine has to work harder to pull the camper along with it.

This can put a lot of stress on your engine, and it might break down. It could get too hot, and you might have to stop on the side of the road to let it cool down before you can drive again.

This could cause other problems down the road, so you shouldn’t keep driving with the extra weight if your engine starts to act up.

Trouble Steering Properly

If you are towing more than your vehicle can handle, you will also have trouble steering.

When a car has too much weight, the suspension and steering can break down because the car can’t handle all that weight.

Because of this, even with your hands on the wheel, it might be hard to keep it facing forward. If you don’t take the weight off, this could also cause an accident.

What is a Camper?

A camper is a type of recreational vehicle that usually has places to sleep, eat, cook, and use the bathroom. Its name comes from the fact that it is often used for camping.

These campers are also called RVs, which is short for “recreational vehicles.” They come in many different sizes, from small ones with just enough space for one person to sleep to big ones that can fit a whole family.

Some RVs have a place to drive so they don’t have to be pulled behind another vehicle. There are also options that don’t have a cockpit and need to be towed to move.

A normal-sized camper usually weighs around 5,000 pounds when there are no extra items in storage or gas in the tank. This should be your starting point, but the actual weight can be a little more or a little less depending on the type of camper you buy.

Final Thoughts

If you have a Chevy Colorado, you should be able to handle the camper you want to take with you on a camping trip. However, you should make sure you have the towing capacity for that camper and the other things you will bring with you.

Even though most Chevy Colorado models can handle the weight of a typical camper, you need to count the luggage and other items as extra weight or you could go over your vehicle’s weight limit without realising it.

If you take these tips and instructions seriously and use them all, you should be able to tow your camper behind your Colorado without any problems, so you and your friends or family can have a great time on your trip.