Ball weight on Colorado 7

Submitted: Thursday, May 09, 2013 at 17:12

ThreadID: 102106 Views:6574 Replies:6 FollowUps:10

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Cruiser .

Does anyone know the ball weight on a Colorado 7. The brochure from Holden does not specify what it is and Holdens online specs dont either.

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Reply By: Sand Man (SA) - Thursday, May 09, 2013 at 18:08

Thursday, May 09, 2013 at 18:08

It should be specified in the owner's manual.

I have the previous model (2009) and the ball weight specified in the owner's manual is 300kg. I would expect the newer model to be around the same specs, or higher.

Bill

I'm diagonally parked in a parallel Universe!

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AnswerID: 510654

Follow Up By: Cruiser . - Thursday, May 09, 2013 at 18:46

Thursday, May 09, 2013 at 18:46

Sand Man,

I dont actually have a Colorado 7, but am considering one along with a few other vehicles and the Colorado 7 is the only one so far that doesnt specify ball weight in their brochure and naturally the sales people cant answer the question. I one case I dont think he even knew what I was talking about.

Cheers,

Cruiser

FollowupID: 788781

Follow Up By: Sand Man (SA) - Thursday, May 09, 2013 at 18:51

Thursday, May 09, 2013 at 18:51

Ah!

I'm surprised the dealer can't provide the information for you, based on a possible sale.

Perhaps try another dealer?

Bill

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Follow Up By: Cruiser . - Thursday, May 09, 2013 at 18:53

Thursday, May 09, 2013 at 18:53

Have tried 2 so far, same result

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Follow Up By: Ross M - Thursday, May 09, 2013 at 19:01

Thursday, May 09, 2013 at 19:01

I saw recently, Holden had released a SUV version of the Colorado called the Colorado 7, not sure how there was a previous model of what was a first release?
Being an SUV style it may have coil sprung rear and then most likely will be LESS than the Colorado itself.

300kg on these vehicles applied right at the outermost point called a ball
will certainly alter it's handling characteristics.
If a Colorado or even a Colorado 7 it will most likely to be asked to carry something, like 7 people as well as tow. So ball weight may have to BACK OFF.

I wouldn't for a moment expect or be prepared to operate one of these with that amount of weight on the towbar ball, no matter what the manufacturer is prepared to claim is ok and be accepted as legal. It isn't always an ideal world when towing.
It is no good being a correct corpse just because a book said something.

FollowupID: 788785

Follow Up By: Grant L - Thursday, May 09, 2013 at 20:25

Thursday, May 09, 2013 at 20:25

Ask a sales person for a look At an owner manual and show him at the same time.

I don't no if the colorado 7 has coil springs on the rear but if Ross is correct he better tell all those owners of Prados with coil sprung rear ends that their vehicles are unsafe.

Grant

FollowupID: 788797

Follow Up By: Ross M - Thursday, May 09, 2013 at 21:54

Thursday, May 09, 2013 at 21:54

Grant L
It is a slightly different vehicle concept there between the Collie & and a Prado.
Read "SUV" orientation as mentioned above.
Also look at the chassis on a Colorado 7 and a Prado.

I never mentioned the vehicle was unsafe only maybe expect less ball weight rating and not a BIG weight which some accept without question.

Don't you just love it when someone aligns something else with the discussion.Is the Prado a red herring colour? Patrols have coil springs too. what does that mean?

FollowupID: 788808

Follow Up By: Mark C - Thursday, May 09, 2013 at 22:32

Thursday, May 09, 2013 at 22:32

Ross M, great to see we are getting expert comment from someone with greater expertise than the designers of the vehicles.

cheers

FollowupID: 788813

Follow Up By: tim_c - Friday, May 10, 2013 at 10:34

Friday, May 10, 2013 at 10:34

I'm not sure that Ross M is claiming to be more qualified than the vehicle manufacturers, as I understand he is saying two things:
1- Colorado 7 is a passenger wagon (unlike Colorado which is a ute), therefore, the ball load may be less than the Colorado ute (passengers are generally more fussy about ride quality in the back than the contents of a ute may be, therefore the suspension in a wagon is often (but not always) 'softer' than in a ute).
2- Maximum allowable ball weight may be reduced if the vehicle is heavily loaded - look at the Nissan brochures, they actually specify how much the max. ball load is reduced when the vehicle is loaded.

I'm not sure that I'd trust what a dealer "said" anyway - I'd want to see some written spec before making a decision to hand over my 'hard earned'. Does Holden have a technical department you could contact?

FollowupID: 788830

Follow Up By: Patrol22 - Friday, May 10, 2013 at 11:23

Friday, May 10, 2013 at 11:23

Don't know diddly squat about the Colorado 7 or the ute version but when you look at the Nissan Pathfinder and the D40 - SUV and Ute versions of the same vehicle (sort of) - they both have a tow ball download weight of 300 kg. I understand that this download max holds true even for the newer versions that now have a 3500kg towing capacity (vice 3000kg that applies to my 2008 model).

FollowupID: 788831

Follow Up By: Ross M - Friday, May 10, 2013 at 19:57

Friday, May 10, 2013 at 19:57

tim_c
Yes, you have understood where the others have missed the point entirely.
Isn't it funny how they then begin stating that i am claiming I know more than the makers. How do they work that out. It's not what was said at all.

Why do people just blindly accept and follow what a manufacturer claims without even thinking about it.
People seem smitten with figures and marketing and common sense and mass relativity somehow goes out the window.

Perhaps these are the people who have the broken chassis and the smashed off towbars and the failed shocks and the crashes later on.

What surprised a friend of mine with an earlier 4.2 Patrol wagon is. When he first hitched up his Kimberley Camper it sank the rear of the Patrol. It was within the so called specs but modifications had to happen in order to tow and use the camper safely.

Ross M

FollowupID: 788864

Reply By: rocco2010 - Thursday, May 09, 2013 at 23:55

Thursday, May 09, 2013 at 23:55

Gidday

Don't want to buy into an argument but you raise an intersting question and good luck getting an answer. I did some investigation into the ball weight thing a while ago while contemplating a camper trailer purchase. Every manufacturer boast about a 3000 kg towing capacity or whatever but beyond that info can be hard to find. I
recall the Nissan online specs were quite detailed, pointing out that as the ball weight rises the vehicle weight must be reduced and giving some examples. Mitsubishi offered some guidance for the pajero but there was no mention on the Toyota websites for Prado. I just had a look at the Colorado7 site and you are right (not that I doubted you) there is no mention of ball weights.
I didn't buy the camper and still have my ranger and the only advice there (which is on a plaque attached to to the tow bar) is 120kg or 180 with a wdh and the weight in the tray needs to be watched.
I think you will just have to keep asking. And try the service department, not sales.

Good luck

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AnswerID: 510682

Reply By: dazza62 - Friday, May 10, 2013 at 00:06

Friday, May 10, 2013 at 00:06

This is a question that any Salesperson entitled to a commission should be able to answer.

In looking at the vehicle I can confirm that recently GMH Engineers took a Colorado Wagon and Ute over both Billy Goat Track and Mathieson Track straight out of the factory with HT tyres on and no modifications.

I was impressed and informed them so.

AnswerID: 510683

Reply By: Member - Allan L2 - Friday, May 10, 2013 at 08:47

Friday, May 10, 2013 at 08:47

Hi Cruiser
Genuine GMH towbars have a plague welded on them stating the max tow weight & max ball weight. You could check with the Holden Dealer spare parts Dept..

AnswerID: 510707