Towing with GMC canyon/Chevy Colorado Gas v6

[NEWYORKHILLBILLY]

I know some are towing with these trucks with the diesel duramax,But i looking for some feedback on the gas 3.6L v6. In my case looks like i could save about 10 grand by going with the gas engine and still have a 7000 lb tow rating. I guess i wondering if this would be a good choice. Anyone with some real world experience?

[Finman]

I can’t speak to the gasoline engine, but I just bought a 2021 canyon with the diesel. I was thinking the same thing... save money upfront by getting the gas version. What convinced me to get the diesel was the gas mileage while towing and the engine exhaust brake. I saw a video on TFL trucks that tested the diesel towing on the Ike gauntlet.... you might want to check it out.
With that said, the gas version will be sufficient, just not as good as the diesel.
I’m new to towing a camper trailer and overly safe in general.... just to give you a reference. ��

[camp4528]

Originally Posted by NEWYORKHILLBILLY

I know some are towing with these trucks with the diesel duramax,But i looking for some feedback on the gas 3.6L v6. In my case looks like i could save about 10 grand by going with the gas engine and still have a 7000 lb tow rating. I guess i wondering if this would be a good choice. Anyone with some real world experience?

There’s a couple of owners on the Escape Facebook group with Escape 5.0 + Canyon/Colorado gas and they seem quite content. Might be worth posting the question there.

This configuration is my target as well, which is why I monitor it fairly closely. My main reservation is towing distance with the 80l/21gallon gas tank based on the reported 15mpg usage while towing.

Here’s the FB group I am referring to.
https://m.facebook.com/groups/913917998727810/?ref=group_browse

[JeffreyG]

Originally Posted by NEWYORKHILLBILLY

I know some are towing with these trucks with the diesel duramax,But i looking for some feedback on the gas 3.6L v6. In my case looks like i could save about 10 grand by going with the gas engine and still have a 7000 lb tow rating. I guess i wondering if this would be a good choice. Anyone with some real world experience?

When I was shopping the Colorado, I could configure the truck as I wanted it and the diesel engine added about $3500. I'd be hard pressed to justify $10,000, but I'm also surprised you are getting that big a difference when comparing otherwise similarly equipped trucks.

[DWM3]

Can't give you input on the gas engine, but we have been out twice now with the diesel and 21c. Towing in the California mountains averaged 18.4 mpg on one trip and 18.2 mpg on the other. The diesel exhaust brake alone is worth it to me. And as JeffreyG said, the diesel option runs about $3,500.

The other advantage is the rpm range that the diesel operates in. 1500 to 2500 is the usual, compared to much much higher with gas under the same conditions. Makes a difference in comfort, as well as wear on the engine. That's not to say there is anything wrong with going with gas. Fuel is more easily available and you don't have to mess with DEF.

[Hollybee]

we picked up our new 21C last June in Phoenix..towed it home to TN w our 2wd Frontier V6 long bed dbl cab truck [wh was fine for the old Casita].
We found the 260 HP V6 Fronty was underpowered for mountains...4000-4500 RPMs in 2nd gear was disconcerting at best., since TN is half mountainous.

We traded last fall up to a V8 Titan XD 4x4 dbl cab..w about twice the hauling capacity and 2x the room of the Frontier. 400 HP and 7 speeds. Heavy Duty frame and we do not need that heavy WD hitch we used on the Frontier.
IMHO the Frontier wd have been OK IF..IF Nissan had made it w a turbo as optional, but they do not. We get about 3 MPG less mileage, but that has been a good trade off for the room and power. My opinion..towing w under powered TV was no fun.

[Wunfiddy]

We consider our truck the same as a modern midsize. We have a 300hp naturally aspirated 3.7 V6 in a truck that's stock curb weight was 5600lb and a six speed auto.
While we literally just got our Escape 19, I can tell the truck will be tapped out in mountains.
With stock sized tires, or a re gear maybe not, but as it sits I know it's going to rev.
If you don't live where it's mountainous and only occasionally travel thru them it's probably fine. It's just going to rev. The High Value V6 in the GM twins isn't some old fixed cam pushrod dinosaur, it was built to rev and its peak torque is probably right around the 4k mark.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by Wunfiddy

If you don't live where it's mountainous and only occasionally travel thru them it's probably fine. It's just going to rev. The High Value V6 in the GM twins isn't some old fixed cam pushrod dinosaur, it was built to rev and its peak torque is probably right around the 4k mark.

It's actually the High Feature engine, not the earlier pushrod High Value engine... but I assume that's what was intended. And yes, it needs to run relatively fast for best performance:

• LFX (2015-2016 Colorado/Canyon): 269 lb⋅ft (365 N⋅m) @ 4000 rpm
• LGZ (2017-up Colorado/Canyon): 275 lb⋅ft (373 N⋅m) @ 4000 RPM

Power climbs with higher speed and peak power comes at 6800 RPM, but even down at 4000 RPM it's producing over 200 horsepower... which is more than the diesel which is available in the same truck models can produce at any speed.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by Wunfiddy

We consider our truck the same as a modern midsize. We have a 300hp naturally aspirated 3.7 V6 in a truck that's stock curb weight was 5600lb and a six speed auto.

The engine is similar, but that's about half a ton heavier than a midsize truck, which won't help grade climbing performance.

[Wunfiddy]

High Feature was what I meant. Got them mixed up. The other was the pushrod motor with cam timing.
Yeah looking at those numbers I wouldn't be surprised to see 3-4k rpm the sweet spot.

The new NA V6 aluminum F150 are more in line with the weight of crew cab Tacoma's and Colorado's, which I believe are pushing 5000lb these days.

[Doug2000]

Before choosing a engine, consider where your towing and your destination. If your heading to higher elevations you may want a turbo. For every 1000' of elevation you lose 3% Horse Power. So when we went over Loveland Pass in Colorado my 4Runner with 278 HP only had 184 HP and we had it in third gear. The air is a lot thinner up there and I was blown away by the difference.

[Sean Murry]

Originally Posted by NEWYORKHILLBILLY

I know some are towing with these trucks with the diesel duramax,But i looking for some feedback on the gas 3.6L v6. In my case looks like i could save about 10 grand by going with the gas engine and still have a 7000 lb tow rating. I guess i wondering if this would be a good choice. Anyone with some real world experience?

we tow our Escape 19 with a 2018 GMC Canyon with the 3.6 V-6 gas engine. We are very happy with it. We live in British Columbia and have towed up the Coquihalla without any issues. Can maintain speed up the long ascent.
We also towed it over the Sierra's where the elevation was very high. We could maintain speed at about 55 mph, but not above that.

Over all I think it is a great TV. I did also consider the diesel, but was a little concerned about the potential for the diesel going to into limp mode when the vehicle was "lugged" over rough roads. I have heard of a few cases where that has happened. We do some back country driving and just didn't want to take the chance..

[Sean Murry]

Originally Posted by Sean Murry

we tow our Escape 19 with a 2018 GMC Canyon with the 3.6 V-6 gas engine. We are very happy with it. We live in British Columbia and have towed up the Coquihalla without any issues. Can maintain speed up the long ascent.
We also towed it over the Sierra's where the elevation was very high. We could maintain speed at about 55 mph, but not above that.

Over all I think it is a great TV. I did also consider the diesel, but was a little concerned about the potential for the diesel going to into limp mode when the vehicle was "lugged" over rough roads. I have heard of a few cases where that has happened. We do some back country driving and just didn't want to take the chance..

Check out this you tube video of a comparison between the Chevy Colarado and GMC Canyon, one is gas the other diesel going up IKE Gauntlet

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqcYm4_80Vg

[NEWYORKHILLBILLY]

Originally Posted by JeffreyG

When I was shopping the Colorado, I could configure the truck as I wanted it and the diesel engine added about $3500. I'd be hard pressed to justify $10,000, but I'm also surprised you are getting that big a difference when comparing otherwise similarly equipped trucks.

In my case Irather have the extended cab, to get the Diesel engine you have to get a higher grade crew cab model. when you combine the upgraded cab and engineit comes out to about $9700

Originally Posted by Sean Murry

Check out this you tube video of a comparison between the Chevy Colarado and GMC Canyon, one is gas the other diesel going up IKE Gauntlet

thanks for posting

[NellieFlower]

I have towed my 17’ Escape with a 2019 Chevy Colorado 3.6 L gas for three years and love it. Plenty of power and overall I get approximately 17 mpg towing. Highway mileage driving without the trailer is about 24 mpg and in town about 21 mpg. Great truck!

[skyfree]

Originally Posted by NellieFlower

I have towed my 17’ Escape with a 2019 Chevy Colorado 3.6 L gas for three years and love it. Plenty of power and overall I get approximately 17 mpg towing. Highway mileage driving without the trailer is about 24 mpg and in town about 21 mpg. Great truck!

That's about the same mileage I get with my Duramax ZR2. I know the regular narrower version of the truck with the smaller tires gets better mileage, but the ZR2 is definitely a downgrade on MPGs. For anyone reading this don't expect the ZR2 or Bison versions of the truck to give you great fuel economy!