2016 Chevrolet Colorado towing capacity.

Published trailer ratings range from 3,500 to 7,700 lbs across the configurations in Chevrolet's same-year guide.

Find your exact towing capacity Run the 2016 Colorado lookup → Check towing capacity by VIN Decode your VIN to prefill the 2016 lookup → View full towing chart 16 configurations →

Built from the 2016 Chevrolet Trailering Guide. Source pages are cited below.

2016 Colorado towing chart

Engine group

Duramax 2.8L Turbo-Diesel 4-cylinder

7,600–7,700 lbs

4 groups4 exact7,600 to 7,700 lbs published

Crew Cab2WD · 3.42 axleOriginal body style	Duramax 2.8L Turbo-Diesel 4-cylinder	2WD	3.42	Conventional	7,700 lbs	12,700 lbs	No row note	p.12	Exact
Crew Cab4x4 · 3.42 axleOriginal body style	Duramax 2.8L Turbo-Diesel 4-cylinder	4x4	3.42	Conventional	7,600 lbs	12,700 lbs	No row note	p.12	Exact
Extended Cab2WD · 3.42 axleOriginal body style	Duramax 2.8L Turbo-Diesel 4-cylinder	2WD	3.42	Conventional	7,700 lbs	12,700 lbs	Available for fleet and government orders only	p.12	Exact
Extended Cab4x4 · 3.42 axleOriginal body style	Duramax 2.8L Turbo-Diesel 4-cylinder	4x4	3.42	Conventional	7,600 lbs	12,700 lbs	Available for fleet and government orders only	p.12	Exact

Engine group

3.6L V6

3,500–7,000 lbs

8 groups8 exact3,500 to 7,000 lbs published

Crew Cab2WD · 3.42 axleOriginal body style	3.6L V6	2WD	3.42	Conventional	7,000 lbs	12,000 lbs	with Trailering Package	p.12	Exact
Crew Cab2WD · 3.42 axleOriginal body style	3.6L V6	2WD	3.42	Conventional	3,500 lbs	12,000 lbs	No row note	p.12	Exact
Crew Cab4x4 · 3.42 axleOriginal body style	3.6L V6	4x4	3.42	Conventional	7,000 lbs	12,000 lbs	with Trailering Package	p.12	Exact
Crew Cab4x4 · 3.42 axleOriginal body style	3.6L V6	4x4	3.42	Conventional	3,500 lbs	12,000 lbs	No row note	p.12	Exact
Extended Cab2WD · 3.42 axleOriginal body style	3.6L V6	2WD	3.42	Conventional	7,000 lbs	12,000 lbs	with Trailering Package	p.12	Exact
Extended Cab2WD · 3.42 axleOriginal body style	3.6L V6	2WD	3.42	Conventional	3,500 lbs	12,000 lbs	No row note	p.12	Exact
Extended Cab4x4 · 3.42 axleOriginal body style	3.6L V6	4x4	3.42	Conventional	7,000 lbs	12,000 lbs	with Trailering Package	p.12	Exact
Extended Cab4x4 · 3.42 axleOriginal body style	3.6L V6	4x4	3.42	Conventional	3,500 lbs	12,000 lbs	No row note	p.12	Exact

Engine group

2.5L 4-cylinder

3,500–3,500 lbs

4 groups4 exact3,500 to 3,500 lbs published

Crew Cab2WD · 4.1 axleOriginal body style	2.5L 4-cylinder	2WD	4.1	Conventional	3,500 lbs	8,500 lbs	No row note	p.12	Exact
Crew Cab4x4 · 4.1 axleOriginal body style	2.5L 4-cylinder	4x4	4.1	Conventional	3,500 lbs	8,500 lbs	No row note	p.12	Exact
Extended Cab2WD · 4.1 axleOriginal body style	2.5L 4-cylinder	2WD	4.1	Conventional	3,500 lbs	8,500 lbs	No row note	p.12	Exact
Extended Cab4x4 · 4.1 axleOriginal body style	2.5L 4-cylinder	4x4	4.1	Conventional	3,500 lbs	8,500 lbs	No row note	p.12	Exact

Engines

Towing capacity by engine

Your engine determines your base towing limit. Start here to see the 2016 ratings for your specific Chevrolet Colorado configuration.

Match the configuration and equipment below to find the rating that applies to your truck.

Duramax 2.8L Turbo-Diesel 4-cylinder 4 configurations

Range: 7,600–7,700 lbs

Published max 7,700 LBS

3.6L V6 8 configurations

Range: 3,500–7,000 lbs

Published max 7,000 LBS Printed condition: with Trailering Package

2.5L 4-cylinder 4 configurations

Range: 3,500–3,500 lbs

Published max 3,500 LBS

SOURCE Guide basis

SAME-YEAR GUIDE

2016 Chevrolet Trailering Guide

GUIDE NOTES Published topics

9 TOPICS

Reviewed partial document-policy subset

CITATIONS Guide pages

5 PAGES

p.2 · p.3 · p.4 · p.5 · p.6

VIEW GUIDE NOTES

FIG. 2016.1 Trailering Guide

Guide rating notes

Note 1 Before you buy a vehicle or use it for trailering, carefully review the Trailering section of the Owner's Manual. The weight of passengers, cargo and options or accessories may reduce the amount you can tow.

2016 Chevrolet Trailering Guide, p.2

FIG. 2016.2 Trailering Guide

Trailer brake requirements

TRAILER BRAKES These are required above a 2,000-lb. trailer weight on Silverado, Tahoe and Suburban, and above a 1,000-lb. trailer weight on all other models. (Brake requirements vary by State, consult State laws for actual requirements.) The most common trailer braking systems are surge brakes (found primarily on boat trailers) and electric brakes (often used on travel trailers, horse trailers and car haulers). Surge brakes are a self-contained hydraulic brake system on the trailer, activated during deceleration as the trailer coupler pushes on the hitch ball. An electric trailer brake system uses a brake control unit mounted inside the trailering vehicle; it operates by sensing the vehicle brakes and then applying the trailer brakes.

2016 Chevrolet Trailering Guide, p.3

FIG. 2016.3 Trailering Guide

Maximum-rating scope

TRAILER WEIGHT RATINGS AND GROSS COMBINATION WEIGHT RATINGS Chevrolet engineers perform extensive testing of acceleration, handling, braking, and thermal and structural performance to determine the Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) and the trailer weight rating for your vehicle. The GCWR is the total allowable weight of the completely loaded vehicle and trailer including any passengers, cargo, equipment and conversions. You should not exceed the GCWR of your vehicle when you tow a trailer. Chevrolet also calculates and publishes a trailer weight rating for each model or series of Chevrolet vehicles for comparison purposes. The trailer weight rating is not specific to an individual vehicle and is most useful for comparing product lines to one another to help you select a product that will meet your needs. When you buy a vehicle, you should ensure that the total load (including passengers, cargo and equipment) you intend to pull with it will be less than the trailer weight rating of the vehicle.

Because the trailer weight rating is calculated for a line of vehicles, rather than an individual load situation, some standardized assumptions are made when calculating the trailer weight rating. First, the base curb weight of that type of vehicle is used (the weight of a standard equipped vehicle without any options). Second, it is assumed that there is only a driver and also a front passenger each weighing 150 lbs. Third, it is assumed there is a certain tongue weight for the load (a tongue weight is the weight of only the tongue of the loaded trailer). For conventional trailering, a tongue weight that is 10% of the loaded trailer weight is used. For fifth-wheel/ gooseneck trailering, a tongue weight that is a minimum of 15% of the loaded trailer weight is used.

2016 Chevrolet Trailering Guide, p.5

FIG. 2016.4 Trailering Guide

Weight-rating checks

HOW TO KEEP YOUR LOAD WITHIN THE CAPABILITIES OF YOUR VEHICLE It is important that the combination of the tow vehicle and trailer does not exceed any of its weight ratings — GCWR, GVWR, RGAWR, trailer weight rating or tongue weight. The only way to be sure to not exceed any of these ratings is to weigh the tow vehicle and trailer combination, fully loaded for the trip, getting individual weights for each of these items. You can then subtract the weight of your vehicle from the GCWR. The difference between the two is the capacity you have available for your cargo, passengers, trailer, load and any other equipment you might use to set up your trailer. Put another way, your GCWR should always be greater than or equal to the weight of your vehicle, passengers, cargo, trailer (with equipment) and load.

2016 Chevrolet Trailering Guide, p.5

FIG. 2016.5 Trailering Guide

Trailer load distribution

The tongue weight for your trailer is the downward force of the coupler of the trailer on the vehicle hitch. You can calculate the tongue weight by placing the tongue of the trailer on an appropriate scale. For conventional trailering, the tongue weight should be 10% to 15% of the loaded trailer weight. For fifth-wheel/gooseneck trailering, the tongue weight should be a minimum of 15% of the loaded trailer weight.

2016 Chevrolet Trailering Guide, p.5

FIG. 2016.6 Trailering Guide

GVWR guidance

The GVWR is the maximum amount the vehicle itself should weigh, including the as-equipped weight of the vehicle plus the cargo, passengers and trailer tongue weight. Put another way, the GVWR should always be greater than or equal to the weight of your vehicle, passengers, cargo and tongue weight.

2016 Chevrolet Trailering Guide, p.5

FIG. 2016.7 Trailering Guide

GCWR and combined weight

GCWR The Gross Combination Weight Rating is the total allowable weight of the completely loaded vehicle and trailer.

2016 Chevrolet Trailering Guide, p.4

FIG. 2016.8 Trailering Guide

Safety chains

SAFETY CHAINS Always attach safety chains between your vehicle and your trailer and cross them under the tongue of the trailer so that the tongue will be less likely to drop if the trailer should separate from the hitch. Leave enough slack in the chains so you can corner without the chains impeding the movement of the trailer. Do not allow safety chains to drag on the ground.

2016 Chevrolet Trailering Guide, p.6

FIG. 2016.9 Trailering Guide

Conventional trailer loading

LOADING YOUR TRAILER Load your trailer to attain a 10%–15% tongue weight. A good rule of thumb is to distribute 60% of the load over the front half of the trailer and evenly from side to side. Loads sitting either too far forward or too far back in the trailer can create unstable trailering conditions —such as trailer sway — at highway speeds and during heavy braking. Once the trailer has been loaded and the weight is distributed properly, all cargo should be secured to prevent the load from shifting.

2016 Chevrolet Trailering Guide, p.6

Technical Audit

Data sources

These citations identify the Chevrolet guide pages used for the 2016 Colorado ratings and displayed guide notes.

Show source pages for the 2016 guide

DOC_ID: chevrole DOCUMENT BASIS

2016 Chevrolet Trailering Guide

Audit Scope PAGES: 2-6, 12