Racer's Lounge - Anyone tow their car with any 6 cylinder or smaller?

My work truck is a 2011 Colorado with the 3.7l 5 cylinder, ext cab short bed 2wd and its rated at 5000 lbs. Ive been debating trying to tow my car with it. Anybody push the limits of a 6 cyl or smaller towing something around 5000lbs? Maybe an explorer, or blazer or S10?

My Uncle tows his boat with his 5 cylinder Canyon. I'm not sure how much it weighs but it's a pretty big boat, 20+ feet. I'm sure it ways much more than a car.

I towed 2000lbs of firewood on a trailer with 1500lbs in the bed of my truck and it didnt like me very much, tires were squished and the suspension banged off the bumpstops constantly. If the load was better distributed it might have been ok, thats why Im curious to try my car.

I can tow just about anything with my 6 cylinder.

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i249/ross87t/Truck_Beach.jpg

Years ago I had a 86 Toyota long bed Xtra cab and woudl tow my car with. didn't like bridges, stopping was no problem as the trailer had brakes on both axles. A few years later there was a 94 S10 Blazer 4 door in our house hold. It did a pretty good job also. Just remember, trailer brakes are a very big plus and dont' try to get in a hurry going anywhere.

My brother tows with his 4.3 S10 on a regular basis. I swear he's moving a car every week sometimes. Loaded he'll get around 11-12mpg with his 18ft steel trailer, unloaded around 16mpg. I know he's pulled around 5000lbs with it loaded.

The S10s were actually rated very similar to fullsize 1500 trucks in their day. My 94 S10 has the same payload capacity as a the equal fullsize in its day (it has the optioned ZM6 heavy duty suspension)

I've seen Rangers with 4.0's tow small trucks, jeeps and fine as well as boats. I wouldnt do it on a weekly basis with mine, but i wouldnt be worried about it with my ranger

I had a 93 Chevy single cab with the v6 and 4l60e and it would barely maintain 70mph on a hill with my foot to the floor. If the A/C was on it couldn't and would slow down until you either got to the top or turned the a/c off.

My dad has a '01 Sport Trac V6 and has towed his '66 Mustang through the mountains with no issue. We also used that truck to tow my car and the only problem was the amount of gas it sucked down. That truck has SuperSprings on it, and I'd highly recommend puttin a set of those on, really helps the suspension and prevents bottoming out.
I also used to have a '96 Explorer with a V6 that my dad used to tow his 14' (I think) boat through the mountains with and had no issues. The only modification on that truck was an aftermarket trans cooler, though I dono if it made a difference.

I can tow just about anything with my 6 cylinder.

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i249/ross87t/Truck_Beach.jpg

My best friend had a 01 CTD with a 5 speed, and he had a sticker on his back windshield "my little six banger"... And it had a 6 inch lift, 2 inch body lift, and 37in tall tires. I used to laugh. You'd get some people saying "that's not a V6", and my buddy would say "I know..." and then they would be all sorts confused and then walk away. lol.

Other than a CTD, I wouldn't recommend towing with one.

I towed a u-haul trailer, one of their little dinky ones with some furniture in a 2004 Tacoma, 2wd, 5 speed, 4 banger. Probably weighed about 1500-2000lbs. That truck couldn't pull a greasy string out of a cat's ass.

On the interstate you couldn't maintain speed going up hill, it would bog down, shift to 4th, then to 3rd, with it revving like a mofo to maintain 55mph. Figured out the secret was to get going 80mph down one hill, shift to 4th, floor it, and you might be doing 65mph at the top of the next hill. Even then that was kind of dangerous because the trailer did like to sway around and drive the truck if the wind was blowing right.

My buddy had a 4 door 4x4 i5 Colorado. Rented a trailer and bobcat for a landscape project. Went around a curve and it took the whole thing into a ditch. He now has a full-size truck.

Nissan frontiers are rated at 6000lbs and they have nissan's 3.5. My buddy towed his TA with it.

The nissans with the 4.0 seem pretty stout, there are a few people that tow big boats with Pathfinders and Xterras. I had an Astro with the 4.3 V6 for a couple years and that motor was a lot torquier than the I5 I have now in the colorado, yet they are both rated at 5000lbs. Does anyone have any pics of overloaded 4-6 cyls pulling big trailers?

couldn't pull a greasy string out of a cat's ass


:rotflmao:

I have an 08 Colorado 3.7 2wd and I tow my 3150 car with it. It pulls great. The braking department leaves a lot to be desired if you don't have trailer brakes. The trailer I use doesn't so I have to begin breaking really early compared to if I had a larger truck.

I would imagine an 18-20 foot car trailer weighs a couple thousand pounds... then putting a 3000+ car ontop of it you are already exceeding the weight capacity of these little trucks...

S10s with the 4.3 were rated at 6000lbs, earlier/mid 90s S10s were higher than that based on suspension and gear ratios, so i would disagree with you. The S10 pulls just as well as a comparable fullsize -when setup correctly -and gets better fuel mileage doing it.

I would not be comfortable with a compact truck pulling a 20 foot trailer with a car on it. Compact truck has smaller brakes, smaller frame and I would imagine the truck would probably wander quite a bit.

I wouldn't want to pull my car with my S10 Blazer, that's for sure. I pull my parents 18' ski boat with it but even then it still struggles at times. My Dad's Avalanche pulls the boat like it's not even there and gets better MPG than my blazer when doing so.

How far and often are you going to be towing? A one shot deal from the house to a shop or something local, no problem. Across country or for a whole race season... I would shy away from it big time.

this afternoon i'm about to tow a 1200lb boat with my 6cyl Jeep on 33's and stock gearing. That always makes for a good time

http://www.fquick.com/images/vehicles/full/13870355600.jpg?1317170983


I'm Bandit T/A's brother. I pull heavier loads with my ZR2 than most guys would with a 3/4 ton. That pic is 7,000lbs of stone I have. I've gone to several states with my S10 and car trailer towing cars. She does it in OD with the TC locked!!! 4.56 gears and 32" tires. Also thanks to the OD servo I have in it. Also has 292,500 miles on her. No complaints here. It does an amazing job towing

http://www.fquick.com/images/vehicles/full/13870327542.jpg?1282701498

http://www.fquick.com/images/vehicles/full/13870321619.jpg?1277085241

http://www.fquick.com/images/vehicles/full/13870282666.jpg?1252895167


4,000+ lbs of hard wood flooing between the trailer and bed of the truck

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/653_55175483829_514623829_1405815_7226466_n.jpg


and a 20' trailer with sleds on it in the winter also

http://www.fquick.com/images/vehicles/full/13870327542.jpg?1282701498

This has to be close to 6000lbs if that TA is full weight, thats damn impressive but must be a challenge to keep in control. Ive been debating using my Colorado to tow my Camaro to Bowling Green KY from MD, 600 miles for the LTx shootout. Only issue is its my work truck and Im not "technically" supposed to tow with it ;)

The truck handles the weight awesome. My truck also weighs 4500 lbs. Like I said earlier, I've hauled several cars/trucks. Even a full size GM truck once.

The picture I have up with the dump trailer and stone, I went across the scales at the pit at 11,500 Lbs. The GVW for a ZR2 is like 9500. I also live on top of a big hill, So it's really working for 3 miles to my house from town.

Your colorado would be fine, I would get a corvette servo, and 4th gear servo. Both can be found on online. and use 3rd gear you should be fine

My one ton cummins turbo diesel is a 6 cylinder, does that count? :jest:

Man I've been wondering the exact same thing! I've got an 05' Colorado Xtreme and I'm too damn scared to think that thing would tow a bag of rocks. I've got the 3.5 so that .7 might make difference. LOL I've towed my 600lb bike not including the weight of the trailer and that bitch would kick down on a flat road in minute just to maintain 70mph. So 5000lb and going up hill as I'd have to do going from FL to KY for the LTX shootout? Yeah, you guys will see me on the side of the road w/ the Xtreme's guts all out on the highway. LOL!

Keep in mind guys if you're over weight, which you probably will be pulling a car with a small truck, and you get in an accident, someones lawyer will have a field day with you.

That being said, my 6 cyl does alright... ;)

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b308/candidate_zero/189159_1728909341467_1200472599_31647401_7397374_n .jpg

I just saw this thread and figured I would bump it. I will be in the market for a truck in about a year and would prefer something like a frontier, ranger or colorado.

Colorado has NO torque down low with the 5 cylinder, and the 4.0 in the ranger is an ANCIENT motor with no power. Frontier or Taco should do ok though.

The I6 TB's/Evoys will tow a car fine.
I'd consider a brake and weight distributing hitch after 4000lbs though for any of these vehicles. But it'll do the job.

Colorado has NO torque down low with the 5 cylinder, and the 4.0 in the ranger is an ANCIENT motor with no power. Frontier or Taco should do ok though.

The 4.0 SOHC is stupid reliable and makes good power for being 10+ years old.

My dad tows a 5,000lb Bob Cat from time to time with his 2012 Tacoma with a 4.0L 230hp 260ft lbs tq. It does ok.

I used to haul 140 bales of hay on a 16ft dovetail with a 4.3 s 10. 4x4 5 speed and it pulled it fine for what it was. But wouldn't stop it for shit. I wouldn't try it with the same truck and an automatic without some decent upgrades to it.

Sorry to thread jack, but about towing a car (2900lb) with a 93 s10 blazer with upgraded suspension and a 5.3 with a 50shot for up hill stuff.

this afternoon i'm about to tow a 1200lb boat with my 6cyl Jeep on 33's and stock gearing. That always makes for a good time
I'm gonna say it again.. ahahahaha

My Jeep 4.SLOW could barely pull a pop up camper.. I guess it doesn't help that I'm on 31s with stock 3.55s...

But I have other 'performance' stuff to help..

I really think I need to regear my Jeep.... BAD

I think the engine could handle it, id be more worried about brakes and if you get the trailer swinging it'll throw that Colorado all over the road. i won't dare tow my car with anything under a 3/4 ton, after a couple fun experiences

I gave up on the colorado and am using my 95 2 door tahoe now. Car is on the Uhaul trailer, ready for the 2 hour drive tomorrow to Cecil.