GM Authority has been fielding questions from readers who want to know about fitting a slide-in camper to the Chevy Colorado midsize pickup truck or its corporate cousin, the GMC Canyon. This is, after all, possible on the full-size Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra, but that’s not the case on the Colorado and Canyon midsizers.
General Motors has made this point unambiguously clear in the relevant section of the Colorado’s and Canyon’s owner’s manual: “The vehicle was neither designed nor intended to carry a slide-in camper,” it says. “Adding a slide-in camper or similar equipment to the vehicle can damage it, and the repairs would not be covered by the vehicle warranty. Do not install a slide-in camper or similar equipment on the vehicle.”
Well, nothing could be clearer than that. But this leads immediately to a supplementary question: what exactly is the problem? For the answer to that, we hand you over to Megan Soule, communications manager of Chevrolet Trucks and Full-Size SUVs.
“When we began developing the current generation Colorado‘s architecture, there was no mid-size box like ours on the market,” she explains. “So naturally, no one made a slide-in camper that was designed to fit. Because of this, we didn’t design or test the architecture for that specific accessory condition.”
Some have already fitted a slide-in camper to the Colorado, such as Outfitter Manufacturing’s Caribou Lite Camper. Even so, the use case is clearly not advisable.
What’s more, this will not change during the life cycle of the current, second-gen Colorado or Canyon, though it might not necessarily apply to their replacements. The next-generation Chevy Colorado and future GMC Canyon are expected to launch toward the end of the 2022 calendar year as 2023 model year vehicles. If GM now feels there is enough demand for the midsize pickup trucks to accommodate a slide-in camper, then the 2023 Colorado and 2023 Canyon should have it.
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Comments
Slide in campers are not real common today and if they are used they usually are in a full size truck. Space is everything and most buyers go for the larger truck and camper.
I just saw a slide in camper. It was on Chips and it got squashed.
Those campers are so 70’s.
It may be a good thing they are not so popular today. Someone would take a CTSv wagon, cut the back off and graft it on.
So many 50’s Cadillacs died this way.
So tell me what the difference is between a 900lb FWC pop up camper and a 900lb crate? This leaves us with only two possible realities: The first is GM covering their butts because something failed horribly with a camper during testing. Or they are lying about the payload capacity. I see no middle of the road.
What a shame and very narrowed minded by GM. I have a 2019 Canyon..I will look in a different place next time..Tacoma?
But a Toyota Tacoma if want an overpriced 5-10 year old platform for that truck…read the reviews they are behind everyone else expect the ancient nissan frontier and the make pretend truck Honda Ridgeline if I want all wheel drive buy a Crossover!
Make pretend? What kind of 4 year old insult is that? I am going to go out on a limb here and say that you are so offended by the ridegeline because that truck is exactly what you need… You don’t off road (very few actually do in the single digit percent of owners) and don’t tow or haul more than what a run to Home Depot can dish out. Not to mention you were originally and still are a car guy but bought a truck for that mach image when taking the kids to soccer practice or to flex on the other dads at the local starbucks (with a level kit, aggressive tires and black rims).
The Ridgeline is a fantastic truck and rides better with more room and comfort than those in the class. It’s biggest hold back is the tow capacity and the long term ability to take abuse in a work environment from an IRS. Other than that the chassis is up to stuff as it is a hybrid unibody with a frame underneath, so it has that truck box checked.
Maybe you should take a realistic look at our actual uses and buy what you need and use and not what others think you should. This also goes with those that refuse to buy a minivan even though they are so much better than any 3 row crossover. Funny thing is those 3 row crossovers look real similar to a minivan anyways with out all the added room and usefullness of sliding doors; so they aren’t looking any cooler. And you are an older adult with kids, you aren’t cool no matter what you drive…
No I don’t off road which is I own a Chevy Equinox and big Burley V8 monster truck with a lift, stupid big exhaust, and off road tires…and then drive said truck to get groceries 😂
I don’t want a full size, giant truck either. The way things are going, I think I will stick with my S-10 extended cab 4×4 and continue modifying, upgrading and welding to strengthen it ala Thunderbolt Grease-Slapper.
This shows your lack of common sense. Since you think a small pickup should be able to do anything a real pickup can do. The only direction you should look at is a full size truck. But then you should have thought of that before you bought.
What kind of garbage is this now? Megan obviously doesn’t understand how the aftermarket works, let alone the meaning of the phrase. Of this is an official answer from GM, I’m even more disappointed than I have been in recent past.
You people are killing me…just pony up and buy a Silverado with the 3.0 six cylinder Diesel and get the six foot bed…if you can’t afford brand new then get a used full size truck with 5.3 liter V8 you might even save money as used is probably cheaper then a new GMC Canyon or Chevy Colorado, even the Ford Ranger starts at like 30,000 dollars…a used full size truck would probably be cheaper or the same price for more room, a bigger engine, better interior, and I have owned GM V8’s and there V6 engines are very reliable if taken care of properly. Midsize trucks are a waste of time…which is probably the number one reason why dodge won’t come out with a new Dakota.
Why, they are so much larger these days people don’t want the wasted space and added cost. No, they aren’t the same price or cheaper than a mid size truck. These trucks are 80% the size (about the same size as a mid-late 90’s full sizer with is fantastic) and about 80% of the price as well both retail and with discounts these things get.
For example an AT4 Canyon with leather stickers for about $42k well equipped (gas 3.6), you can get it for $36k after discounts. A Sierra At4 stickers for $62k well equipped (gas 6.2) and you can get it for about $52k after discounts. I don’t know about you but many people that are shopping $16k is a big difference in payments. Many don’t care about all the room, there are some options you can’t get on the canyon but that is only a few like cooled seats (you can get it on the Denali Canyon), adaptive cruise and dual climate control or HUD.
The smaller truck even with a 6 ft bed will fit in a standard garage comfortably and will be longer than the short box Sierra. It drives better (not the ride it tends to be a little rougher) and will handle most peoples towing and hauling duties (it will tow a 25 ft boat and handle 1500lbs in the bed still) and fit better on trails if that is your thing. Plus it will just fit better all around.
I have a Silverado now and much prefer driving my dads CCLB Canyon. I will go mid size next as it will tow my toy car and boat, haul everything I have put in my Silverado and do it with a smaller more enjoyable foot print and save gas. Plus it will carry our nephews on occasion and two other adults for trips around the metroplex comfortably. I don’t have an image problem, I could care less if I drive a 1 ton or a Ridgeline, as long as it fits what I need it to do.
Only reason I have my Silverado is the GM mid size trucks were just getting on the lots when I bought so inventory was minimal and no discounts where available and we buy GMS (family GM discount) so I saved a crap ton of money on my Silverado that was on the lot.
That is such an image problem when you say go full size or nothing and even go used as opposed to new mid size. What about if it fits their needs and uses? What if it is just two people? Let me guess, you live in a suburb, drive a full size that is leveled with aggressive tires, black rims and 4×4 and off road emblems on it, am I right? That is the suburban dad with an image problem go to vehicle. Or if they want to be more in debt they go 2500/F250 with barely any savings.
But a Toyota Tacoma if want an overpriced 5-10 year old platform for that truck…read the reviews they are behind everyone else expect the ancient nissan frontier and the make pretend truck Honda Ridgeline if I want all wheel drive buy a Crossover!
Make pretend? What kind of 4 year old insult is that? I am going to go out on a limb here and say that you are so offended by the ridegeline because that truck is exactly what you need… You don’t off road (very few actually do in the single digit percent of owners) and don’t tow or haul more than what a run to Home Depot can dish out. Not to mention you were originally and still are a car guy but bought a truck for that mach image when taking the kids to soccer practice or to flex on the other dads at the local starbucks (with a level kit, aggressive tires and black rims).
The Ridgeline is a fantastic truck and rides better with more room and comfort than those in the class. It’s biggest hold back is the tow capacity and the long term ability to take abuse in a work environment from an IRS. Other than that the chassis is up to stuff as it is a hybrid unibody with a frame underneath, so it has that truck box checked.
Maybe you should take a realistic look at our actual uses and buy what you need and use and not what others think you should. This also goes with those that refuse to buy a minivan even though they are so much better than any 3 row crossover. Funny thing is those 3 row crossovers look real similar to a minivan anyways with out all the added room and usefullness of sliding doors; so they aren’t looking any cooler. And you are an older adult with kids, you aren’t cool no matter what you drive…
I have seen first hand the construction of the beds on the 2017 colorado having mine in an accident where the outer skin peeled off. The bed skin is glued on with a polymer glue with no spot welds holding the steel together. I love both of my 2017 Colorado’s having a zr2 and a z71 but the construction of the bed makes a tonka toy built better.
This is easy people. Buy a vehicle to do the things you plan on doing. If you wouldn’t buy a Corvette to use as a family car, why would you buy a midsize truck and expect to utilize things that full sized trucks are better equipped for?
Actually I don’t know about the Silverado. But on the 14 and up GMC full size trucks it actually says not to put a slide in camper on a sticker in the glove box. I don’t recall if it says it that on the 2500 or 3500. but I know for sure it does say that on the 1500
That’s not true for all models, it depends on your specific powertrain configuration, bed length, cab type, spring option, interior option weights, etc. GM calculates the capacity and CG envelope for each truck and places an appropriate sticker for the exact VIN.
For your example, there is no blanket prohibition for a 2014 GMC half-ton, but it is automatically disqualified if it is a crew cab or has 20 inch wheels.
The problem is slide-in campers are quite heavy (2500 lbs easily), and have a high and aft CG, compared to usual loads.
My truck camper weighs 7000 lbs wet and I haul it on a 2015 Silverado 3500 dually with the regular cab.
An example of the right tool for the job.
Who here actually owns a slide in camper?
My thoughts exactly…just get a motor home or a camper trailer! If that’s your thing. Why sit here and complain about ancient technology that no one uses anymore… besides did you see the picture of the Chevy Colorado with the camper on the the bed!? Ir looks downright hideous!
Hmm none just as I expected.
GM’s statement here is much like many after market parts. Companies like. K&N have intake systems that may work for different years but they do not recommend them till they have been tested.
When GM designed this truck the only small truck of any number was the Toyota. That bed is not the same as the GM.
What GM basically is saying here is if you modify your truck with a slide in you are responsible for anything that goes wrong. This is no different than if you put on your own exhaust, wheels and or any other aftermarket part not embraced by GM.
Some of these slide in camper will work but if they do damage don’t cry to GM as it is not anything they said would work.
Lame comments are the result of lawyers who represent people who fail to take responsibility for their actions.
Most people get it and don’t expect warranty work on their mistakes but some still want to pass the buck
You’re pretty much showing yourself as a GM troll here at this point so I’ll play (your “washer and dryer” comment sealed the deal).
So tell me what the difference is between a 900lb FWC pop up camper and a 900lb crate? This leaves us with only two possible realities: The first is GM covering their butts because something failed horribly with a camper during testing. Or they are lying about the payload capacity. I see no middle of the road.
Ask the same question to Ford, or Toyota and they’ll send you pic’s of their mid sized trucks with campers and a link to FWC. Hell, even Honda says you can do it.
Something that a lot of people are missing is that this exact same mealy mouthed statement was credited to a DIFFERENT GM employee on another website.
Sounds like damage control to me.
I do!
Well that is one.
Photo? We would like to see the washer and dryer.
Wow no slide in camper!? Ohh man that does it for me I won’t purchase this truck……. NOT! I have a canyon and love the truck and don’t care about no stupid slide in camper so whoopty doo who cares just get a roof top tent or a truck bed tent if you want to go camping or just tow a small camper life goes on
As a retired GM Master body tech I must say that the point of the slide in camper recommendations is being tatally missed here. A lower than total bed height cargo is much easier on a truck bed than a comparable weighted camper slide-in with a 4 or 5 foot height increase. These mid-sized trucks have all experienced metal gauge cuts to assist in achieving CAFE increases. Structure strain caused by weight shift increasing side loads on bedside panels are the true cause of the “Don’t use slide- ins” warning. The bed structures have been lightened to the point of being unsuitable for side loads. I have no doubt, after my 50 years of truck bed repairs that a slide- in would cause widespread panel weld failure from weight shift from turns. Your GM truck can easily handle a slide-in performance-wise, but GM would prefer to make you aware of consequenses from doing so. The off brands say yeah, go ahead. Bed breaks welds, you will get NO warranty consideration from it. So Boys, go for it.
I’d rather have a small travel trailer than a dumb slide in camper. Travel traiers are more spacious and convenient. Most people realize this. Slide-ins are becoming obsolete.
U r hi.
You have never seen my triple slide truck camper! It has washer and dryer. Two lazy boy recliners, an island in the kitchen, full bath with walking shower, queen size bed, 6 foot desk, two tvs, 65 gallons of water storage, and a large refrigerator.
LOL It must be made by Tardis!
Truck campers are for those that want to see the world not the local campground, and midsized trucks are in such high demand you have 2 in your lineup.
Here is how to make any slide in camper fit your midsized truck
https://aowanders.com/toyota-tacoma-truck-camper/
Megan’s comment was lame. Basically says “this truck wasnt built as well as other midsize pickups” (which DO accomodate slide in campers). But I had heard this BEFORE I recently bought a diesel Colorado. It can tow 7000 lbs so any camper (trailer) that we would ever be interested in. And no I didnt want a full size pickup for many reasons.
Hey the 70’s called, they want their slide in camper back…
This is the funniest comment on here! Lol 🤣 great one 😅
Maybe if they bring slide in campers back into fashion then we can have an old school 70’s Cannon Ball run style movie… complete with some of the slowest ugliest cars ever made! Lol 🤣👍
Most full sized 1/2 ton trucks really not up to the job of carrying any substantial truck camper. That is the realm of 3/4 and 1 tons.
Very true the old GM camper specials were heavier than the normal half ton.
Get an Alucab Canopy Camper, or a Go Fast Camper. Much cooler than slide-ins anyway.
All safety and weight limitations aside the physical fitment is the real problem.. Nearly all slide in campers are about 48-49 inches wide at the bottom that goes between the wheel wells.. this is fine for a full size…. BUT the 2015 Canyon/Colorado measures 44.4 inches between the wheel wells… so, it wont fit physically without heavy modifications to camper, truck or both..
My floor in my truck camper is level with the rails of the bed. The area you describe is all basement. And my truck camper is 102 inches wide and even wider and longer with the three slideout extended.
Wow that sounds top heavy! Doubt it would pass the ISO 3888-2 Moose Test.
I thought someone would finally come clean over why they don’t want you to use a slide in camper.
And as soon as I seen the name Megan……..I knew we were not going to get the truth.
Megan has no idea why GM doesn’t want a camper in the back of these trucks. But she did tow the company BS line.
The fact is
The frame on the twins was designed to bend down in a rear end accident……
This is not out of the ordinary. They want the frame to bend down to protect the occupants in the cabin.
But
These frames are a bit to easy to bend. Adding the weight of a slide in can and will bend the frame.
The spooky park!!
These truck bottom out very easy. That sudden stop of the down ward movement can bend the frame also. Now add the weight of even a light off road or overland trailer and you may end up with a bent frame.
Just check YouTube for bent frames……
These trucks are rated to pull 7600-7700 lbs .That can have a tongue weight of around 700 lbs.
700lbs hanging off the tail of these frames is very spooky. Better not bottom out as you run down the highway…..
GM screwed up. But they will never admit to it………….
The phrase is Toe the line, not Tow the line by the way.
It’s a boiler plate absolution of responsibility that’s been repeated since this question was first asked. Doesn’t really matter why, if it voids warranty, I’m not testing fate. The article is click bait with that title though. Nothing new here. I’m sort of glad it would void my warranty. Saves me from even looking at something I don’t really need but could easily convince myself I do!
I wouldn’t say this title is click bait. They get really mad when you call them out on it when it is though.
This one is a decent article, but it’s unfortuate that the response from GM wasn’t more detailed or useful.
As for bed campers, the only advantage I can think of is that you can still pull a small boat behind the truck. I’m pretty sure that bed campers and small fishing boats are both rapidly fading memories though.
What a load of corporate drivel coming out of Megan’s mouth.Both Toyota and Nissan have mid size trucks that handle slide- ins and have had them for years. Long before GM got it’s lazy ass in gear to design one.I guess GM thinks mid size trucks are candy assed toys. We bought a new Frontier in 2005 and put over 300000 fun miles on it with our “Four Wheel” camper that weighs roughly 700 Lbs., the load rating for the Canyon is just over 1000Lbs. What the hell are trucks for? For reasons still escaping me we bought a new 2017 Canyon. The bloody salesman knew we used our Frontier to haul the camper but said nothing.I will never buy another GD GM product again our Canyon needed a new oil pump at 7000Km ,the transmission is a pain in the ass and who was the dead headed creep who decided to hide the four wheel drive control where it’s hidden behind the steering wheel. To think we bailed these bastards out should we have sent them to the trash bin of history. Why anyone buys GM is beyond me.I DON”T BLOODY WANT A FULL SIZED TRUCK!!
Wow a Nissan with 300,000 miles on it!? Holy midsize trucks Batman the rust killed it! lol 😂😆
No Rust at all!! Neighbour has it and loves it. I have told him I would buy it back if ever wants to sell.
You want to haul truck campers step up and get a real mans truck, a 1/4 or 1 ton! Small trucks are toys for getting groceries.
Give me a break. I used to own an S10 back in the day and I was able to haul all kinds of crap, no problem. Small trucks have their uses and it’s way beyond hauling groceries – they aren’t even good for that with all your crap sliding around in the bed.
The Colorado isn’t anywhere near that small anyway. Big enough for a small bed camper? Probably.
I don’t have to buy and over oversized truck to make me feel like a real man.Apparently a lot of guys are suffering an inferiority complex and the truck marketers are lovin it.Lots of things I would rather do with my money than buy an oversized overpriced depreciating asset.If that’s what you want fill you boots.
Here’s what bothers me about GM. The Colorado /Canyon doesn’t have power folding mears or a 4.7 V8. I test drove both a Sierra and a Canyon. The column shifter in the Sierra felt like it was going to snap off. Then… I see it. A full blown antenna on the right side. I double checked the canyon… One neat, compact antenna on the roof. How hard is it to use technology across platforms? And my final gripe. No push button start in the canyon. Nissan Versas even have push bottons. Who wants to screw around with a key? First world issues….
Nissan made that Frontier for a long time. They had all the bugs worked out.
I don’t care for Nissan products but that was a good truck.
And for me this isn’t about the ability to use a slide in. It’s about hiding from a bad frame design.
It’s not just slide ins that will bend a GM frame.
I haven’t seen any frame issues with Toyota or Nissan.
But I have with the twins and surprise surprise the Jeep pickup……. And not because of using a slide in.
Rob
If you haven’t seen any frame issues with Toyota than you weren’t paying attention. They had a pretty serious recall with the Tacoma (2011-2017) because the frames would rust within a pretty short period of time. Check their forums for all the horrible details about the ugly “fix” they are doing.
Old news
And Toyota stood behind there trucks and replaced the frames at an extreme cost to the company.
Even though they were rusting I couldn’t find one that bent………..
What mealy mouthed response… So GM, tell me what the difference is between a 900lb FWC pop up camper and a 900lb crate? This leaves us with only two possible realities: The first is GM covering their butts because something failed horribly with a camper during testing. Or they are lying about the payload capacity. I see no middle of the road.
Ask the same question to Ford, or Toyota and they’ll send you pic’s of their mid sized trucks with campers and a link to FWC. Hell, even Honda says you can do it.
I agree whole heartedly Ryan as I have commented before.Why don’t the basta%%% have a big sign in their showrooms announcing that their candy assed trucks are only good to drive to work.It surprised me that I got negative comments on my remarks. There seem to be a lot of GM trolls or GM “people” like my father was.Thankfully I discovered early on that the American manufactures had fallen woefully behind, believing their own propaganda. I thought I would give them another try when I bought my Canyon but ,no, hidden on page 235,if my memory serves, one finds the gem about slide ins.You can get me once.
Yup they got me too. Had a camper in my Ranger so didn’t even think about it when I got my Colorado (the new ranger wasn’t out yet before you ask…). Unfortunately both were totaled thanks to someone not realizing traffic had gone from 65 to 20 and used them for their crumple zone. Now that I’m finally in the market to replace the camper I’m finding this truck isn’t as cool as I thought it was. Same with the support from GM. I’m the guy that buys a truck and keeps it for at least 10 years if not more. Not this one. It will be my first and last Chevy/GM product. As soon as it’s paid off I’m going Tacoma or back to a Ranger.