Update on our Colorado and towing with it

[cowboywildbill]

The more we drive it the more we want to drive it. It is the most awesome mid sized truck we have ever owned, and we have had a few. Just hope we don't put over a hundred thousand miles on it before we can pay it off LOL.
We now have over 10,000 miles on it. Our true average mpg mostly town and city and occasional highway I-4 Florida, which isn't true highway driving always traffic and slow downs and construction. We have averaged at least 580 miles per tank full of fuel, although not unusual to see over 600 miles from a tankful. The computer say's 26.7 mpg "for real" When I stop somewhere I don't sit and idle " like parked at the store or waiting for my wife to run in and shop"
I did hand calculations about three times and the computer mpg is actually about 3 or 4 tenths less than our actual mpg. That was surprising because on other vehicles it's usually the other way around.
Not one minute of trouble out of it. Except for all of the questions I get, and I have to show them the computer mpg readout for them to believe me.
When we do actually get on the highway and cruise at 70 or 75 mph, we get over 30 mpg with no problem. Highest I have seen is 36 mpg on a 27 mile stretch of highway calm wind Florida driving no traffic. " Unusual for sure in Florida"
We have towed a large pop up camper empty weight "1800 lbs loaded weight 2300 lbs.
And about another 750 lbs in the bed and cab of the truck including my wife and I and two mutts.
Our average towing mpg is 25.7. "for real" It can do a little better on low traffic roads at 55 to 65 mph, and we have seen 28. 8 for around 10 miles when we brought it home empty when we bought it.
I know it isn't a real heavy camper and not much wind drag being low profile. We really don't know that we are pulling anything it is amazing and handles like nothing is hooked to it. "No sway or tug" or squat We have to look back to make sure the trailer is still back there. LOL
The only thing really noticed is wide open throttle acceleration from a dead stop or passing at highway speeds. Dead start it still jumps right up and pulls like a little freight train it just does not accelerate quite as fast as not towing, but it isn't a dog by any means.
Passing at 50 mph it gets up way way better than I would have expected.
Our trailer doesn't have brakes on it, which is surprising, but it stops it with no problem. We even had to get down hard on the brakes on the highway and it had no problem stopping it safely.
We used the tow haul mode but really didn't have to use the tow haul mode but was curious. The exhaust brake works well, it doesn't slow you down like a 6.6 D-max would, but after all it is only a baby at 2.8 .
I let the exhaust brake do all the stopping rolling from 45 or 50 mph up to traffic lights and it took us down to about 25 mph very well.
We didn't have any real hills to speak of , so I can't evaluate how well the exhaust brake would hold the speed down on a real steep grade.
One thing that would be nice would be extendable type towing mirrors like the ones that come on a 2500/3500 GMC or Chevy. The stock mirrors are OK, but it would be nice to have a wider view back around the trailer. I am going to check and see if the larger truck's mirrors have the same footprint as the Colorado, if so that may be what I'll do in the future. If anyone knows if they will fit please chime in.
We ran into someone with a ZR-2 Colorado Duramax and the worst mpg they have seen is 23.8. They said they average about 25 mpg overall. And best highway was 28.7 mpg. They only had 3,000 miles on it and loved it. They hadn't towed with theirs yet. The ZR-2 is a lifted up truck with no spoilers and has front and rear full locking differentials. Although the diff's would not affect mpg, they are the same ratios as the Z-71 or LT models far as I know. So the drag would explain the mpg difference being lifted, mostly highway drag being a factor.
I hear that with a tune these 2.8 diesel trucks will flat out fly, ripping a rear diff out isn't a problem when souped up ,so I'm told. LOL.
And with a highway tune they can get even better mpg's, but I like having a warranty, so our's will stay bone stock for now at least.
Sorry to be long winded but that's the scoop on it so far.
We wish everyone a Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukkah and a Happy New Year.
God Bless and thanks to all of our First Responders and our Veterans
and God Bless our Country .