Toad Question - 2552 Pulling a Chevy Colorado/GMC Canyon

Question for folks with the 2552 and pulling a toad between 4500 and 5000 lb.  What has been your experience handling and stopping?  And what are you pulling?  A 4 door Wrangler or Colorado/Canyon should all fall into this range.

We currently pull a nice light weight Mini Cooper base model, but with potential long term back issues I'm looking at changing to something with an automatic (easier to drive with a hurt back and the wife can't drive a manual).  Slightly off topic, a toad that is a truck would allow me to sell my M416 trailer that I use from time to time...one that you have to pick up the tongue to get it hitched.  I was looking at the Ford Maverick, but Ford has been having issues with their 4 down capable rigs that I'm just not interested any more.  My Bronco would be ideal but who knows if the transmission would be a pile of parts when I get to my destination.  Or Ford backtracking on the Lincoln Corsair was 4 down not they say not it isn't.

For braking I currently use the NSA ReadyBrake, but I'll probably switch to some type of in cab either portable or permanently mounted system.  With the extra weight, I'm thinking of having a system with more control over the toad brakes while in motion.

Thanks in advance and sorry for the long winded post.

Since 2009, with our 2007 PC-2350, we have been towing a 2006 Jeep Liberty 4x4 that weighs 4150 pounds on CAT scales.

We use THIS ROADMASTER FALCON 2 tow bar with THESE BRACKETS, and THIS UNIFIED TOW BRAKE SYSTEM BY US GEAR that is integrated into the Jeep but is not seen.  I wouldn't know if it's all the greatest choice.  I only know that it works well and simply so.  The Jeep helps slow down the motorhome.  The Unified system applies the same amount of braking power regardless of the demand which is naturally less than ideal, but we are used to it.  We can adjust "brake sensitivity," when the brakes get activated via a centrifugal force sensor/controller located on the center cup holder.

What I like about the system is how nicely it is integrated into the towing apparatus.  The electronics are hooked up through the same multi-wire unbilical cord as the brake lights, and the tow vehicle battery is maintained.  The only extra hookup is an emergency break-away cable that is thinner than the diameter of a bicycle brake cable.

BTW:  I like your choice of tow vehicle... Canyon/Colorado.  If you decide to buy one and tow it, I would love to hear how it does for you.  Our Jeep Liberty will be 20 years old next year.  It's not ready to be retired, but I like to keep abreast on future options of interest.

We bought a one owner 2018 2551 PC in July of 2023 and we bought a new 2024 Chevy Colorado Z71 in April 2024.
 After connection installed by Smitty’s in Houston, Tx we have had no issues with the truck towing.  It’s a perfect size truck to tow behind this coach. 

Hi, I was towing a 4 door wrangler (about 4600 lbs loaded) up until this year when I bought a 2024 Canyon Denali (about 4800lbs empty).
I do carry a bit of stuff in the bed so I am probably a bit over 5K lbs but have not weighed it yet.
It tows great!
At the same time as the toad upgrade I also added the 5 star tuner to my 2020, 2552.
With that I would say it pulls on hills as well or better than it did with the lighter Wrangler.
I have not had any issues with hills or braking with my Demco Sit in Play braking and Roadmaster Nighthawk Tow bar and base plates. (fun to install  )
The 5 star also made a big improvement in the shifting.

Here's a question for you:
When I found my hitch name plate it says it is rated for 5000lbs with a 500lb tongue weight -OR- 6000LB weight distributing.

Am I crazy to think that if it is good for 6000lbs weight distributing that it should also be good for 6000 lbs flat tow with zero tongue weight?
Thinking the Push/Pull forces would be similar whether Weight Distributed or Flat Towing.

Either way, I feel safe because I know there is a margin of safety built into those ratings and I am not over by much if at all.
It tows very well and I love the truck.

Thanks everyone for the advice. This is not 100% sure but we may do this for my son. If we do a tow, I will let you know how it goes.

Hi, I was towing a 4 door wrangler (about 4600 lbs loaded) up until this year when I bought a 2024 Canyon Denali (about 4800lbs empty).
I do carry a bit of stuff in the bed so I am probably a bit over 5K lbs but have not weighed it yet.
It tows great!
At the same time as the toad upgrade I also added the 5 star tuner to my 2020, 2552.
With that I would say it pulls on hills as well or better than it did with the lighter Wrangler.
I have not had any issues with hills or braking with my Demco Sit in Play braking and Roadmaster Nighthawk Tow bar and base plates. (fun to install  )
The 5 star also made a big improvement in the shifting.

Here's a question for you:
When I found my hitch name plate it says it is rated for 5000lbs with a 500lb tongue weight -OR- 6000LB weight distributing.

Am I crazy to think that if it is good for 6000lbs weight distributing that it should also be good for 6000 lbs flat tow with zero tongue weight?
Thinking the Push/Pull forces would be similar whether Weight Distributed or Flat Towing.

Either way, I feel safe because I know there is a margin of safety built into those ratings and I am not over by much if at all.
It tows very well and I love the truck.

Thanks for the feedback.  I put the Demco baseplates on last weekend.  Not too bad.  I still need to connect the secondary safety cables to the baseplates, but otherwise that is done.  Still need to install the braking system.  Next weekend we're taking our old toad (Mini Cooper) to TN to hand over to a family member who could use a second vehicle.

For your question, I would say you are fine tipping the scales at 5k or slightly over.  The loading on the hitch flat towing is less than pulling a trailer as the tongue weight is less as well as any bending moment on the hitch.  The chassis itself is rated at 7500 lb towing, but with the 2552, the frame has been extended beyond the end of the E450 stock frame and I think that is the driver for reducing the hitch capacity to 5k.  The extended frame is noticeably smaller than the stock Ford frame.