Can forester flat tow a GMC Canyon?

[lacrawgator]

My sister is interested in purchasing a GMC 4x4 Canyon. It says it can be towed 4down. My concern is the weight. It weighs in at 6000 lbs. The Forester is rated to tow up to 7500lbs. What do you all think?

[Witch Doctor]

Originally Posted by lacrawgator

My sister is interested in purchasing a GMC 4x4 Canyon. It says it can be towed 4down. My concern is the weight. It weighs in at 6000 lbs. The Forester is rated to tow up to 7500lbs. What do you all think?

In the real world, that is what the hitch is rated for, don't know what power train you have, that is a lot of weight to tow in my opinion. Can it do it probably yes, but your going to really feel it on any grades, also from stops to accelerations. I looked for the lightest toad my self, but I have seen f250 being towed.

[firemech2]

Are you sure about the weight of the canyon? We took our Chevy Colorado ZR2 to the scales and it weighed in at 5000.

[Gidyupgo]

crawgater, this is a little bit tricky. Hope you like math.

The 7500 rating is for that hitch. You can be within the hitch rating but exceed what your RV can safely handle. I believe the 6k is gross weight for that 4x4 Colorado. Looking at curb weight, you are 4,500 to 4800 lbs. That is not light, but lighter than 6k.

The number that may trip you up, is the Gross "Combined" Weight Rating which FR lists as 22000 lb for your 3011DS. That is your fully loaded, pulling your loaded Toad, gas groceries, people and "stuff" rolling down the road.

It is a little bit of trouble, but since we are discussing safety, I would advise to load your rig for a trip, including what you normally have in your holding tanks and go weigh it. Then add the 4800 for the Colorado and see how much margin you have in your 22000 GCWR.

If you are safely under the GCWR and spend the $ to outfit the Colorado with base plate, tow bar, a brake set-up and lights, please realize that you will feel it back there when going up grades and rolling off from a stop. Flat land, it will roll right along with you.

crawgater, for reference, we dolly towed a 2011 SRX for a while. It has a curb weight of 4300lb. The dolly is 550lb, so we calculated we were at 4850lb. At the CAT Scale at a truck stop, mid trip with all the "stuff" for just 2 people, with a full gas tank, fresh and gray tanks 1/3 with black tank empty. Our weights were; Steering axle, 4720, Drive Axle 9660 (overweight by 60#) and car/dolly combo 4920. Total Gross Combined weight was 19300. Took about two hundred pounds of stuff out of the rear compartments after we weighed. We ran like this for about two years until we swapped the SRX for a 2018 Acadia (4000lb) that we now flat tow. I always felt safe, but we were heavy.

[GL1800Rider]

Originally Posted by Gidyupgo

crawgater, this is a little bit tricky. Hope you like math.

The 7500 rating is for that hitch. You can be within the hitch rating but exceed what your RV can safely handle. I believe the 6k is gross weight for that 4x4 Colorado. Looking at curb weight, you are 4,500 to 4800 lbs. That is not light, but lighter than 6k.

The number that may trip you up, is the Gross "Combined" Weight Rating which FR lists as 22000 lb for your 3011DS. That is your fully loaded, pulling your loaded Toad, gas groceries, people and "stuff" rolling down the road.

It is a little bit of trouble, but since we are discussing safety, I would advise to load your rig for a trip, including what you normally have in your holding tanks and go weigh it. Then add the 4800 for the Colorado and see how much margin you have in your 22000 GCWR.

If you are safely under the GCWR and spend the $ to outfit the Colorado with base plate, tow bar, a brake set-up and lights, please realize that you will feel it back there when going up grades and rolling off from a stop. Flat land, it will roll right along with you.

crawgater, for reference, we dolly towed a 2011 SRX for a while. It has a curb weight of 4300lb. The dolly is 550lb, so we calculated we were at 4850lb. At the CAT Scale at a truck stop, mid trip with all the "stuff" for just 2 people, with a full gas tank, fresh and gray tanks 1/3 with black tank empty. Our weights were; Steering axle, 4720, Drive Axle 9660 (overweight by 60#) and car/dolly combo 4920. Total Gross Combined weight was 19300. Took about two hundred pounds of stuff out of the rear compartments after we weighed. We ran like this for about two years until we swapped the SRX for a 2018 Acadia (4000lb) that we now flat tow. I always felt safe, but we were heavy.

7500 is with a weight distributing hitch. Max without is 5000

[DontheRVDude]

I have a 319MB 2018 Leprechaun and 2017 GMC Canyon 4x4 (NOT 6000# but more like 4600-4800#) and it tows no problem. In my opinion you MUST get several suspension upgrades (Koni Shocks/Steer Dampener/Anti sway bar) on Leprechaun and you will be very happy.

[lacrawgator]

Originally Posted by DontheRVDude

I have a 319MB 2018 Leprechaun and 2017 GMC Canyon 4x4 (NOT 6000# but more like 4600-4800#) and it tows no problem. In my opinion you MUST get several suspension upgrades (Koni Shocks/Steer Dampener/Anti sway bar) on Leprechaun and you will be very happy.

Is that canyon a king cab

[jgallego]

I have a 2016 crew cab Colorado it is around 4,400 pounds.

[DontheRVDude]

YES....4 door Canyon 4x4

[monte]

I have a 2015 Forester 3051s V10 Ford and tow a 2010 Kia Soul 4 down. I think the Kia weight is approx 2600 lbs. I tow in cruise control on level ground with no problem but on 3-4% grade it will down shift to 3rd gear. Usually kick it out of cruise on any grade. I can definitely feel the difference when towing vs not towing. Just left Colorado/Utah and had to turn A/C off, heater on high and hold tach at 3500 and speed at 45 mph on 6% grades to keep from overheating. IMHO 6000 lbs is too much to tow with this motorhome unless you are staying on flat ground. Braking is also an issue, I always use tow haul to downshift and assist in braking.

[lacrawgator]

Originally Posted by DontheRVDude

I have a 319MB 2018 Leprechaun and 2017 GMC Canyon 4x4 (NOT 6000# but more like 4600-4800#) and it tows no problem. In my opinion you MUST get several suspension upgrades (Koni Shocks/Steer Dampener/Anti sway bar) on Leprechaun and you will be very happy.

I think she was looking at the gross weight, thanks

[lacrawgator]

Originally Posted by lacrawgator

I think she was looking at the gross weight, thanks

yes you are right