2023 Chevy Colorado Trail Boss Best Towing Midsize Truck!

The 2023 Colorado is the best towing midsize truck. To see the Tacoma and Frontier over this same course check out the videos here:
• 2023 Tacoma TRD Pro To...
• 2023 Nissan Frontier P...
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Engine Adventures strives to explore and test the AWD and 4WD systems of all crossovers, SUVs, and pickup trucks. To do this we test vehicles in real world environments in a way that allows viewers to cross shop and explore any vehicle they may be interested in learning about.
New videos every Friday at 6:30 A.M. MST and occasionally on Wednesdays.

[@WillieBeard]

People gotta get over the lack of the hardware headlight switch.

[@EngineAdventures]

It's required by law that the emergency flashers be a hard button/switch/toggle. I think headlights are more important than hazard lights due to the frequency of use. By moving the headlight switch to the touch screen why didn't they also put the turn signals there as well?

[@KR8T]

@@EngineAdventures I have a 2012 Silverado and have never moved the lights off auto.

[@EngineAdventures]

Yeah, lots of people don't, I do. If I'm parking with my headlights shining in a house window, towards oncoming traffic, or any other place that could bother someone, I turn them to the parking/running lights. This could be in a campground hooking/unhooking up a trailer, at a job site before sunrise or after dark unloading loading/unloading material, at a drive in diner or movie, etc. There are lots of times and places when it's courteous to turn them off.

[@craigguinn5423]

I just ignore mine, only slightly irritating. Not related to towing.

[@robm3357]

@@EngineAdventures Me too, o that all the time. And when I’m working on my truck I force the lights off. They stay on as parking lights if you leave the key on accessories with the radio on… I have heard some vehicles don’t have a wiper switch on the steering column. Have you ever been splashed by a big truck and need the wipers in an emergency situation. WTF

[@jimsomerville3924]

Thanks for showing the door stickers. Always nice to fact check the max specs on websites versus an actual vehicle.

[@EngineAdventures]

Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@surferider]

Thank you for this excellent video, your presentation is spot on.

[@EngineAdventures]

Thanks for watching and commenting! This was a fun truck to test for sure!

[@spyd3rsam273]

Thanks for the review. I just purchased my new 2023 Colorado and plan to tow an overland style trailer in the Colorado mountains this summer and this review reassured me of it's capability.

[@EngineAdventures]

Yeah, those smaller trailers should be no issue for this thing. I really enjoyed this truck!

[@jsharpe987]

It will tow a liberty jeep lol in hail and snow

[@EngineAdventures]

Haha, do you have experience with this?

[@belentom1]

I know that road, also, I have this truck 2024 LT and love it

[@EngineAdventures]

Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@michaelp.toussaint8018]

Good overall demo of an average sized trailer pull. I plan to buy the 2024 Trail Boss since it is supposed to have the top tier 2.7 like the Silverado, a larger instrument panel screen, and the same wheels as the Silverado.

[@EngineAdventures]

Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@patrickmckowen2999]

Excellent 👍 I'm m putting the Col at the top of my list. Cheers

[@EngineAdventures]

It is an excellent midsize truck!

[@jakegroenig5820]

Nice towing review, there are not many out there for this truck. On the lights, if you press the power button on the radio/head unit (while it is not running) you can activate the head unit to turn the lights on and off. You get full access to the lights when it is not running...I have the Canyon but I would guess it is the same on the Colorado...including the rear cargo light.

[@EngineAdventures]

Thanks for sharing, I should have done more research!

[@jakegroenig5820]

@@EngineAdventures Not a big deal. I have yet to see a review that has showed that. Every reviewer complains about having to start the car to do anything with the lights. I just pushed the button on the head unit out of frustration to having to start the truck to turn on and off the lights.

[@GregEmbury]

And the lights icon, on the top left of the infotainment screen, is always there when the truck is running, so there's no need to search the menus for the lights.

[@EngineAdventures]

@@GregEmbury thanks! I actually noticed that the day after filming this video, and I believe I talked about it in my normal review or off-road review of the truck. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@rossenix5666]

Off center camera makes better sense it allows you to see the hitch partially from a side view

[@EngineAdventures]

I realized that as well. Once the programming side is done correctly the offset is helpful, with bad programming, it sucks.

[@Dan007UT]

You are correct. the lights will turn off eventually.... one way or another :D

[@EngineAdventures]

Haha, thanks for watching and commenting!

[@gardnerberry113]

Thanks for your excellent demonstration! I'm busily sifting through as many reviews as possible to find the perfect balance of fuel economy/towing ability for my future Vista Cruiser purchase. (3090lb empty) Subscribed. 🙂👍

[@EngineAdventures]

Thanks for the support!!

[@urtypicalguy]

I also own the 2023 Colorado Trail Boss version. I've only been towing my bass boat and trailer that totals 2000 lbs. I'm a newbie to the truck and towing world and wanted to get your thoughts on why it feels like the boat/trailer seems to be "tugging" on the truck when I'm driving at about 20-30mph (sometimes even at higher speeds) and seems to be vibrating noticeably when I come to a stop and when I take off again (for ex. at a stop light). Sometimes, when I drive on longer trips while towing the boat, it feels as though the boat is hoping on the interstate and I could feel it all in the truck. I did switch the ball of the hitch with a ball that cushions some of the pull and vibration and that has helped somewhat but I still feel the bumps and pulls even though the boat and trailer is relatively light compared to how much the truck is intended to tow. Please let me know what i can do to make it a much smoother ride. My roads are leveled without extreme elevations and such. Would getting a hitch to level out the boat help with the ride? Thanks in advance for your support as this is all new to me!

[@EngineAdventures]

Thanks for watching and commenting! Tough question, but here are a few ideas: Boats, especially outboards, tend to have lower than 10% tongue weight. Try moving some weight forward. Not likely the cause, but you also want your trailer frame to be parallel to the ground while towing. Consider an adjustable height ball mount (the Fastway Scale Ball Mount is on a big discount on Amazon right now which has adjustable height and will tell you your tongue weight). I'm not sure what boat and trailer you have, but light weight trailers will often have too stiff of suspension for their size, causing the trailer to bounce off every bump rather than absorb it.

[@urtypicalguy]

​@EngineAdventures thanks so much for your feedback! I have a Ranger RT177 boat.

[@EngineAdventures]

@urtypicalguy happy to help! I'd try tongue weight first. Move weight forward and see if that helps. If you have a way to weigh the trailer and then get the tongue weight that would be best. You want to have tongue weight be about 10% of trailer weight

[@robm3357]

Put it on cruise control and then see how it does the hill and grade braking

[@EngineAdventures]

I didn't test that this time. Some newer trucks will use the service brakes to help slow the vehicle rather than just engine braking. I personally don't use cruise control when towing, but it's still a good test to do and I'll try to do better with that in future videos.

[@kennyhallam]

Thank you for the awesome video!! I am looking at getting this exact truck in 2WD. I live in Florida so anywhere I drive is flat and I drive equally on interstate and city during the week. I drive an average of 1500 miles a month pulling a 6x10 enclosed trailer with very little extra weight. Do you have any idea what I could expect the MPG to be from what you have found pulling your trailer? Thank you for any information you might be able to give!!

[@EngineAdventures]

Should be better than the 11ish I was getting with this billboard of a trailer. I can't give a good estimate though, sorry. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@006ruthe]

Hey there thank you for the informative video ! I'm new to towing and am going to be towing a 3500 lb car on a rental trailer from uhaul, I plan on buying a trailer in the future. Did you go with a 4 inch drop on your hitch ? Any words of wisdom ? I'm trying to learn everything I can and the information is a bit sparse. Looking into buying the same hitch you have. Thank you very much

[@EngineAdventures]

Right now on Amazon the Flash 6" drop scale ballmount is only $169. I typically suggest the 6" but it depends on the height of the truck and the height of the trailer. My brother with an F-150 uses a 4" that works for all his trailers, but this truck has a hitch that sits a little higher than his. The Scale Ball Mount is nice, but does have a tiny bit more play than others, so you might get a little more noise from a bump now and then. On the other side the spring has a cushion effect that helps separate the tow vehicle from feeling the bumps the trailer hits. Both of these are minimal and not cause for concern, just an FYI. As for towing advice, just make sure you have proper tongue weight. That's the biggest factor. Many new trucks also require a weight distribution hitch when towing over 5,000 lbs. If you're going long distances I highly recommend the weight distribution hitch with the Equal-i-zer brand being my top recommendation. For shorter jaunts to local tracks then I wouldn't drop the extra money for the WD hitch.

[@danieliturralde9955]

My 24 has 310hrp 430 torque

[@EngineAdventures]

Trail boss or ZR2? I'm sure you can upgrade the Z71 or Trail Boss, but normally the ZR2 is the only one with the 430 torque rating.

[@chromenewt1691]

Yep, I want this truck. But I will wait for them to fix the headlight thing... I can't stand companies putting basic safety things inside software menus. Makes trying to change them quickly while driving stupid and in some cases unsafe. Like driving in fog.... Don't do this car companies!

[@EngineAdventures]

Thanks for watching and commenting! It is annoying for sure, but overall this was my favorite driving midsize truck!

[@tammieandrzejczuk2573]

I am really starting to like the new Colorado, it have to be the ZR2 tho.

[@EngineAdventures]

I'm hoping they'll send me a ZR2 to test at some point!

[@harolddenton6031]

Good luck finding a new 2023 Colorado zr2 as dealers do not get many of them each year. I was told they might be lucky to get 2 of them at their dealership for 2023.

[@tjwa103]

Quite a bit of engine noise in the cabin but I don't mind when its a v8. I know 4 cylinders can be louder...

[@EngineAdventures]

It actually has a little bit of a diesel clatter to it, I think it must be a lower/deeper tone, because it didn't feel overly loud when driving it, but the camera sure picked it up!

[@TB-dj8kl]

Like the truck but what worries me about all the new stuff today is all the tech and extra moving parts under the hood. Im sure they all work great when they are new but how is it gonna be beyond 100,000 + miles from now or 10 years of ownership.

[@EngineAdventures]

Who knows? Diesels have been running high pressure turbos for years and are quite reliable. I do agree with you though, for vehicles you're planning to keep forever, the Frontier with it's more basic naturally aspirated V6 might be the better way to go. It's a more basic truck all around, but very well done. I do like the new Colorado more than the Frontier, but before that, the new Frontier was my favorite midsize truck.

[@TB-dj8kl]

The amount of torque and payload that the colorado and canyons provide for towing is tough to over look, fullsize truck capability in a midsized truck. Makes me want one in this trail boss package, it's just the reliability unknowns for me.

[@EngineAdventures]

Most of the midsize trucks actually have payloads very close to what midsize trucks have. Even with high tow ratings the fullsize trucks will be more stable. That was the issue with the Titan XD, it's numbers for towing and payload weren't much higher than half ton trucks, but in reality it is a much better towing and hauling platform than any half ton I've driven.

[@joemcbride3564]

You are asking fot trouble pulling that fast regardless of truck or trailer...

[@EngineAdventures]

The faster you go the less stable the towing setup will be. This trailer has more drag than RuPaul, making it white stable at speed. It also has well over 10% tongue weight. Generally when I'm towing I stay between 65-70 mph. Slower is better for fuel mileage and trailer sway, but also impedes traffic which causes issues on its own.

[@drewgrows7765]

Not the most towing in a mid size. Ford Ranger 7,500 ,with a 4cyl turbo

[@EngineAdventures]

True, however numbers aren't everything. I've towed with the Ranger and it was very competent, but so was this Colorado. I prefer the driving characteristics of the Colorado over the Ranger, both empty and while towing.

[@Wiggles603]

Why'd you list the Ford Ranger that has less with 7500? He even showed the Trail Boss at 7700.

[@endlessnameless3996]

I like these new Colorados and Canyons, but i can't help but worry they'll leave me stranded. GMs simply aren't made well.

[@EngineAdventures]

I wouldn't worry too much about that. Some people have had problems, but I'd say overall they are very reliable, especially when properly cared for.

[@tnglator]

My last tacoma was a lemon. You never know