Holden Colorado 2, 147kw towing capability

Hi Con
I have seen all the various new breed 4cyl diesels towing vans around that weight, some maybe heavier. My opinion is too heavy for a 4cyl vehicle, asking those 4cyl to do a big job. I don't know how the towing capacity is calculated, but I do think overstated. Once again in my opinion 2.5 ton loaded is the max I would tow. far less stress on the donk, gearbox drive train etc. I not saying they can't do it, I'm asking at what cost to the vehicles mechanics.

We have the 1st generation of the same engine (132Kw and 470Nm) and tow a 2.5T full size van with no problems at all.

Economy is great, but naturally varies with driving styles/wind/road conditions etc

Hope this info helps in some way

Cheers,

Cruiser

We tow around 2200-2300 no problems with ours, but I agree with bluefella. Wouldn't like to tow 3000 with it

Most of the new breed utes are rated at three ton, I think it's worthwhile remembering the manufacturers have enough confidence in the vehicle to rate them at three ton - and provide a warranty. I don't think they would be interested in making problems for themselves.

Con
I agree with those who have said a 3 ton van would really be stretching a car of that size and weight to the limit.

There are two issues that should be considered when towing something that big and that is the ability of the car to not only tow it but to keep it under control as well. General Motors have a Corvette sports car in their range of vehicles that would have enough power and torque to tow your van at 150 kph all day but it is nowhere near heavy enough or long enough in the wheelbase to have any hope of controlling it. That is the problem you will face with a relatively light weight car like a Colorado when coupled to a huge van with a lot of weight a long way in front of and behind the axles and a massive wind catching body surface along each side. If anything like wind or a sudden change in direction by the car knocks the van off its straight ahead course at highway speeds, it will swing the rear end of the car one way and its heavy rear end the other then go back the other way in an instant and you will be wishing you had a car that was 1 ton heavier than the van instead of 1 ton lighter.

The towing capacity of these size utes does look rather high but you have to remember they are commercial vehicles and there are plenty of commercially used trailers that could weigh 3 to 3.5 tons yet are much shorter and lower with lower ball weights than a similar weight van. When towed at moderate speeds in fairly flat areas, the cars will handle them easily.

A similar weight van out on the highways or freeways is a totally different story and that is why all of the utes in this size range don't have a good safety record when towing large vans.

Con_Qld

Yes they will move it along but the inherent safety is a concern.

If you get a 1metre length of timber and tie a 2kg bag of rice on one end and a 3 kg bag of rice on the other, then hold it in the middle and shake it all about ( NO , not a song) you will see the 3 kg bag has the ability to tell the 2kg bag to do what it wants. I just thought rice was a suitable in the circumstances.

Like some of the above I like the bags to be closer to the same weight if you want some sort of control in less than ideal conditions, ie, driving on the road is one such situation.