Can the Chevy Tahoe Tow an RV Camper Trailer?
When you compare it to the other big SUVs that are out there, a Chevy Tahoe is a beast in many ways. It’s fast and powerful, rides real smooth and carries a lot of cargo. It can also pull a lot of weight, which is good news for campers.
How much can a Chevy Tahoe tow? Quite a lot, it turns out.
Let’s put it this way: this rugged and roomy SUV can make a great camping companion for the whole family.
What’s a Chevy Tahoe?
The Chevy Tahoe is a great combination of style and utility. With its three rows of seats, it can accommodate up to nine passengers. Fold a couple of rows down and you can dramatically expand the cargo area.
The Tahoe made its debut in 1995 as a replacement to the old Chevrolet Blazer. (A companion model, the GMC Yukon, replaced an older SUV called the Jimmy.)
In recent years, the Chevy Tahoe has consistently been the biggest-selling full-size SUV in the United States. It actually outsells some of its competitors 2 to 1.
How Much Does the Chevy Tahoe Cost?
Today’s Tahoe offers six different trims with multiple configurations.
The LS is the base model, with an MSRP of $49,000. The RST appeals more to street use while the Z71 has more off-road-friendly features. Top-of-the-line comforts can be found in the High Country model, which has the high-end price of $68,000.
The other trims are the LT and the Premier.
Chevy Tahoe Towing Capacity and Specs
The Chevy Tahoe’s standard 5.3-liter V-8 engine provides 355 horsepower and 383 lb.-feet of torque. With an option called the Max Trailering Package, it can tow up to 8,400 lbs.
Chevy says that with the larger 6.2-liter V-8, which carries a 420 horsepower rating, the towing capacity is 8,300 lbs.
Without the Max Trailering Package, the ratings are 7,900 lbs. (2WD) and 7,700 lbs. (4WD).
Are Tahoes Good for Towing?
Full-size trucks are your best bet for bigger travel trailers – some of them can tow more than 10,000 lbs. But SUVs are good for towing, too, provided that their towing capacity is big enough.
They also have their benefits. One of the great things they have going for them is you can carry more people or cargo along with you. Many of them also maneuver better than trucks and get better gas mileage.
As SUVs go, in terms of towing, the Tahoe finishes pretty close to the top of the heap. The Ford Navigator can tow more, and so can the Dodge Durango and the Lincoln Navigator. The Tahoe finishes at a highly respectable fourth place, even edging out its slightly bigger sibling, the Suburban.
As we mentioned, gas mileage is an important consideration, too. With the 5.3-liter engine you can expect 16 mpg in the city and 20 on the highway. With the larger engine, you’ll see something in the neighborhood of 14 in the city and 19 on the highway. (These ratings, of course, are without a camper attached.)
Can a Chevy Tahoe Pull an RV Camper Trailer?
A Chevy Tahoe can absolutely tow a camper, and you might be surprised at the size it can haul.
We’ll have to look at some numbers to see what’s possible. An important one is the Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR). This is the total you get when you add up the weight of the trailer and the Tahoe when both are fully loaded.
What Kind of RVs Can You Tow with Chevy Tahoe?
Let’s talk first about what the Chevy Tahoe won’t be able to handle.
Fifth-wheel trailers are out of the question because of their design. You need a truck for them because the hitch coupler is actually inside the bed.
Toy-haulers are a no-go, too. In many cases, even their dry weight would be too much for a Tahoe.
The good news is that many travel trailers will be a great fit for the Chevy Tahoe. Of all of the various types of towable RVs, these are the most common. They range greatly in size, but the Tahoe should be able to tackle some large travel trailers, which are 22 feet or longer.
The Chevy Tahoe tow capacity may allow for bigger travel trailers than you imagined, but resist the temptation to go too big. There’s a general trend right now toward lightweight travel trailers with lots of amenities. This means an abundance of options with a Chevy Tahoe as your tow vehicle.
The Chevy Tahoe is a Great Camping Vehicle
The Chevy Tahoe can certainly be a useful partner when it comes to camping. In fact, there are many RVers out there getting the job done with much smaller vehicles.
You might be worried about whether a Chevy Tahoe can carry its weight. Hopefully we have helped you put your mind at ease.
Pro Tip: Here are the best half-ton trucks for towing.
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