Having a truck tends to give one the feeling of being able to accomplish any truck-related task. Whether it’s moving things, tackling trails, or towing, trucks tend to inspire a lot of confidence. The Chevy Colorado is a midsize truck with reasonably good numbers for towing, hauling, and off-roading. Let’s take a look at how it fares while doing truck things.
Moving Dirt
Moving two yards of topsoil seems like a cinch when you have a handy truck bed to do it in. However, before you get started, it’s important to know the payload of your truck. In this case, the Chevy Colorado ZR2 offers 1,234 pounds of payload, and that’s before subtracting the weight of the driver. This means you can’t simply fill the bed with topsoil and expect to move it. In fact, by the numbers, roughly 10 inches deep is the most you can carry in the Colorado’s bed.
What about 250 square feet of sod? That’s likely to clock in at around 1,000 pounds depending on moisture content. However, the length is a problem,m and you’ll likely have to put the tailgate down to have enough room. If you have a lot to move, this will translate to at least a few trips.
Taking the Back Roads
When you’re in a truck like the Chevy Colorado ZR2, it’s tempting to take the back roads whenever possible. How does the Colorado fare on the trails? Actually, it’s more than competent with a sturdy suspension, body armor, and selective drive modes. The Colorado is deceiving in this way as it’s quite comfortable and composed driving around town. When you hit a speed bump faster than usual, you’ll feel the dampers erasing the bump and settling the chassis. It’s a reminder that the Colorado is ready to roll on rough roads.
To get the most out of tackling trails, hit Baja mode to disable traction and stability control. Whether you’re in 2WD or 4WD, Baja mode adds to the driving experience as it removes some of the more nanny-like aspects of the traction control. It activates Performance Shift, which allows the truck to hold gears longer while you power through turns.
Living with the Chevy Colorado
What the Colorado lacks in payload, it makes up for in sharp maneuverability on the trails. As you might expect, midsize trucks tend to be better off-road machines thanks to their more compact size and precision handling. However, what you gain on the trail, you tend to lose in payload and towing ability. Depending on the trim, the Colorado can tow between 3,500 and 7,700 pounds. That’s usually adequate for towing a medium-sized boat or trailer, but it’s obviously nowhere near the towing ability of the larger Chevy Silverado trucks.
However, what the Colorado lacks in towing and payload, it makes up for by tackling trails with ease. The ZR2 is at the higher end of the Colorado model lineup, but it can be had with some extra options for around $52,000. A full-size truck is obviously going to cost a lot more at the higher end of the trims.
