How much weight can you put in the back of a Chevy Colorado?
Across Chevy Colorado configurations, the practical limit for cargo and passengers together is typically about 1,500 to 1,800 pounds. The bed’s load is constrained by the truck’s payload rating, not by an isolated bed weight figure.
The question centers on how much weight you can safely carry in the bed (and in the cabin) while staying within design limits. The payload rating is determined by subtracting the curb weight from the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR); it covers both people and cargo. Always check the certification label on the driver’s door jamb for your exact model configuration to get precise numbers.
Understanding payload and weight limits
The payload rating is the key figure for a Chevy Colorado. It indicates how much weight the vehicle can carry in total, including passengers, cargo in the bed, and any added equipment. This rating varies by cab type (crew cab versus extended cab), bed length, drivetrain, and options.
What you’ll typically see on the spec label are three related figures: GVWR (the maximum weight the vehicle can carry when fully loaded), payload (GVWR minus the curb weight), and GAWR (the maximum weight each axle can support). These numbers work together to determine safe loading limits.
Before loading, it helps to review these numbers and plan loads accordingly. The following list highlights the key figures and what they mean for everyday use.
- Payload rating: The total allowable weight of cargo and occupants. For the Chevy Colorado, this generally falls in roughly the 1,300–1,900-pound range depending on configuration.
- GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating): The maximum allowable weight of the vehicle when fully loaded, including passengers, cargo, and fluids. Most Colorado GVWR figures sit around the 6,000–6,400-pound range, but check your exact build.
- GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating): The highest weight that each axle can safely carry (front and rear). Exceeding either axle limit can affect handling, braking, and component life.
- Bed vs. cabin loads: The payload is the total limit; there isn’t a separate official bed-only weight rating published by GM. Distribute weight evenly and stay within the overall payload while obeying axle limits.
In practice, staying well under these limits helps ensure safe braking, steering, and tire performance, especially on rough roads or with heavy tools and equipment in the bed.
Bed load vs total payload
The payload number covers all weight the vehicle carries, whether in the bed or in the cab. Loading a heavy tool chest or dense materials in the bed consumes payload just as adding passengers does. If you’re carrying heavy equipment, you’ll reduce the available payload for passengers accordingly. Always account for weight distribution and secure heavy loads properly.
How to calculate your own payload
Use a simple step-by-step method to determine how much you can safely load in the bed for your specific Colorado.
- Find the GVWR on the door jamb certification label or in the owner’s manual.
- Find the curb weight (unladen weight) of your vehicle from the same label or official specs.
- Calculate payload capacity: payload = GVWR − curb weight.
- Subtract the estimated weight of any passengers in the cabin from the payload capacity.
- Subtract the weight you plan to put in the bed to see what remains for safe loading. Make sure you stay within GAWR per axle as well.
- Remember to distribute heavy loads and secure them properly using appropriate tie-downs and anchors.
Example calculation (illustrative, not model-specific): If a Colorado has a GVWR of 6,100 pounds and a curb weight of 4,600 pounds, the payload capacity would be about 1,500 pounds. If two occupants weigh around 350 pounds total, you would have roughly 1,150 pounds available for bed cargo, assuming no other added weight and no axle overages.
Always verify with your exact truck’s labels and documentation, as configurations can shift these numbers by several hundred pounds.
Summary
The safe maximum weight you can put in the back of a Chevy Colorado is governed by the vehicle’s payload rating, which combines cargo and passengers. Most Colorado models fall in a roughly 1,300–1,900-pound payload range, with GVWR typically near 6,000 pounds. To load safely, check your door-jamb sticker for GVWR and curb weight, calculate payload, subtract occupant weight, and ensure you do not exceed any axle (GAWR) limits. Distribute weight evenly, secure loads properly, and consult the owner’s manual for model-specific figures.
