Towing and trailering is a trucker’s game… right? Not necessarily. Plenty of SUVs have extremely remarkable towing capacity, with some of the best having higher ratings than many midsize pickup trucks. It’s an area that doesn’t get talked about a whole lot when it comes to discussing SUV capabilities and feature sets, but it is something that I think is well worth investigating or at least exploring when it comes to Chevy’s lineup of SUVs, which are some of the most popular in the segment when it comes to SUV capabilities. Whether you were scouring a Chevy dealer near you for an SUV or you were just interested in what the SUV trailering capacities were for each segment of the brand’s SUVs, you’ve come to the right place.
2024 Chevy Tahoe: 8,400 lbs
The 2024 Tahoe has a max trailering capacity of 8,400 lbs when properly equipped with the right package and the 5.3-liter Ecotec3 V8. However, the lowest or starting trailering capacity is 8,200 lbs when paired with the 3.0-liter Duramax, and the mid-tier towing tops out at 8,300 lbs with the 6.2-liter EcoTec3 V8. The towing capacity is made possible thanks to the chassis and being a full-size SUV in either rear-wheel or four-wheel drive configurations.
The trailering capacity is achieved thanks to the right trailering package. This includes the Advanced Trailering Package and the Max Trailering Package. The Advanced Trailering Package includes hitch guidance with hitch view, an integrated trailer brake controller, a Smart Trailer Integration Indicator, and Trailer Side Blind Zone Alert for the Premier and High Country trims. The Max Trailering Package contains everything from the Advanced Trailering Package but with an enhanced cooling radiator and a two-speed transfer case for the four-wheel drive LS, LT, and RST models.
2024 Chevy Suburban: 8,300 lbs
The next in line when it comes to the best trailering capacity from Chevy SUVs is the Chevy Suburban. The Suburban has a top-end trailering capacity of 8,300 lbs. This capacity is achieved with the 5.3-liter Ecotec3 V8, identical to the Chevy Tahoe. In fact, both the Suburban and the Tahoe have the exact same powertrain configurations, and both are available in rear-wheel or four-wheel drive; only the Suburban is slightly larger than the Tahoe. However, due to the size, it also limits its total trailering capacity, which is why its limit is slightly lower than that of Tahoe.
The same applies for the other two powertrains available for the Suburban, where the 6.2-liter EcoTec3 V8 manages a max towing capacity of 8,200 lbs, and the 3.0-liter Duramax turbo-diesel provides a max towing capacity of 8,000 lbs, just slightly lower than the Tahoe. Much like the Tahoe, the Suburban also achieves its tow rating thanks to its design and thanks to proper equipment like the Advanced Trailering Package and the Max Trailering Package. Both packages contain the exact same features as the content in the Advanced Trailering Package and Max Trailering Package for the Tahoe. The only difference is that the Suburban also has the option of the Enhanced Trailer View Package, which comes with trailering assist guidelines, an inside and rear trailer camera input, and an auxiliary trailer camera.
2024 Chevy Traverse: 5,000 lbs
Classified as a three-row crossover, the 2024 Traverse isn’t quite as big as the Tahoe or Suburban, both of which are considered full-size SUVs. As a result, the Traverse is on a smaller wheelbase, has a slightly smaller design, and comes with a smaller displaced powertrain. In fact, unlike the other two full-size SUVs, there is only one powertrain option available for the 2024 Chevy Traverse, and that is the 2.5-liter turbocharged inline 4-cylinder. The Traverse also has a completely different drivetrain configuration, being available either in front-wheel or all-wheel drive, and as a result, the torque distribution is very different, so its max trailering capacity is only 5,000 lbs.
It’s still useful for those who want a good three-row SUV with crossover appeal. It’s obviously larger than the average midsize SUV but slightly smaller and definitely less expensive than a full-size SUV. Even still, it can be equipped with the right packages to help bolster its trailering appeal. Select trims are available with a basic Trailering Package, which contains a heavy-duty cooling system, Hitch Guidance with Hitch View, a 220 amp alternator, and a factory-installed hitch. This is how you can efficiently manage the 5,000 lb tow rating.
2024 Chevy Blazer: 4,500 lbs
The 2024 Blazer is a proper midsize SUV. The two-row SUV comes with two powertrains in front-wheel or all-wheel drive that have two different tow capacity ratings. The first is the 2.0-liter turbocharged inline 4-cylinder that has a max tow rating of 3,250 lbs. The second powertrain, the 3.6-liter V6, manages a total tow rating of 4,500 lbs. Technically, that’s not too far off from what the Traverse is capable of, which makes sense given that the Traverse has a 2.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder.
The Blazer manages to achieve its tow rating thanks to the available trailering options you can add to select trims. The trailering package featuring Hitch Guidance and Hitch View gives you added infotainment trailering technology, but the trailering equipment features heavy-duty cooling for the 3.6-liter V6, trailer sway control, and a 7-pin wiring harness. This allows you to achieve the highest tow rating capable for both the 2.0-liter 4-cylinder and the 3.6-liter V6.
2024 Chevy Blazer EV: 3,500 lbs
When it comes to EV models, towing and trailering can sometimes end up taking a big backseat within the segment offerings. However, the 2024 Blazer EV manages to stay within 1,000 lbs of the max towing capacity of its ICE sibling. Available in single or dual-motor configurations for rear-wheel or all-wheel drive, the Blazer EV manages impressive stats, considering that a large part of its frame is designed to occupy a beefy battery pack. The 102 kWh battery Single Motor configuration manages a max tow capacity of 3,500 lbs, whereas the all-wheel drive configuration with an 85 kWh battery Dual Motor setup manages a max tow capacity of 1,500 lbs.
Unlike the other Chevy SUV models, you don’t have access to a sprinkling of trailering packages to boost or maintain the trailer rating. Instead, the Blazer EV only has two additional trailer add-ons in the form of a trailer hitch cover and a removable trailer hitch. Given the lack of mechanical parts for the powertrain, you don’t need a heavy-duty cooler, replacement amp, or any modifications to the differential. So, what you see is what you get.
2024 Chevy Equinox: 1,500 lbs
The Chevy Equinox only has one powertrain but it is configured in front-wheel or all-wheel drive. Even still, the 1.5-liter turbocharged inline 4-cylinder only has a max towing capacity of 1,500 lbs. It makes sense because the Equinox is a compact SUV. So, quite naturally, it has a smaller wheelbase, smaller chassis, and a less powerful engine than its larger siblings, and as a result, its towing is maxed out at 1,500 lbs. Unlike with the other SUVs, however, there are no trailering packages available to reach its max tow rating, nor any packages available to modify or change its tow rating. However, you can install compatible hitches for the Equinox to tow or trailer your cargo.
2024 Chevy Equinox EV: 1,500 lbs
Surprisingly, the Chevy Equinox EV has the exact same tow rating as the standard ICE Equinox. So whether you go with the gas-powered or the electric option, both versions of the Equinox have a max tow rating of 1,500 lbs. Much like its ICE relative, the Equinox EV is also available in front-wheel or all-wheel drive, with the single-motor variant being front-wheel and the dual-motor variant being all-wheel drive. Either way, the Equinox EV’s towing tops out at 1,500 lbs.
Now, unlike the standard Equinox, the Equinox EV actually does have an available Trailering Package, which comes with a trailer hitch and a trailer hitch closeout. This allows you to actually make use of the conventional towing capabilities of the Equinox EV. However, while the trailering rating is the same as the ICE version, you will need the added equipment from the package to make proper use of it.
2024 Chevy Trailblazer: 1,000 lbs
The 2024 Trailblazer is an interesting option from Chevy, as it now occupies the spot that the Trax used to occupy as a subcompact SUV. Yet despite its diminutive size, the Trailblazer still manages a total towing capacity of 1,000 lbs. Like many of Chevy’s other SUVs, the available 1.2-liter and 1.3-liter EcoTec turbocharged 3-cylinders are available in front or all-wheel drive. What’s interesting is that even with its small size it still has a trailering package to reach its peak trailering capacity.
You can add the Trailering Package to the Trailblazer to make the most of the subcompact SUV’s max trailering capabilities. The package comes equipped with a trailer hitch, a trailering harness, and a hitch trim bezel. The harness features a 4-wire electrical harness and a 4-pin sealed connector for connecting trailer lights to the Trailblazer. You may not be able to tow much, but you will be able to tow it efficiently.
The Future of Towing With a Chevy SUV
Now that you have an idea of what the towing capacity is for Chevy’s 2024 lineup of SUVs, you have a better concept of what the vehicles are capable of and how they can achieve those ratings. However, expect these ratings to continue to fluctuate and change drastically as powertrain configurations continue to be overhauled as alternative fuel options become more prominent. What will the line-up look like for 2025? It will definitely be interesting, especially as more Chevy dealers add more hybrid and electric SUVs to their inventory.
