Can a Chevy Suburban Tow a Car Trailer?

The Chevy Suburban is often listed with an impressive tow rating, which makes it a popular choice for towing car trailers.

But the real question isn’t just “Can it tow?” — it’s whether the setup works once you account for passengers, gear, and tongue weight.

Why Tow Rating Alone Is Misleading

Many Suburbans are rated to tow 7,500–8,300 lb depending on year, engine, and axle ratio.

That number assumes:

• One driver
• No passengers
• No cargo
• Minimal hitch weight

Real-world towing rarely looks like that.

A Realistic Example Setup

Where Payload Disappears

A loaded car trailer typically puts 10–15% of its weight on the hitch.

For a 6,000 lb trailer, that’s roughly:

Add that to passengers, cargo, and hitch hardware, and the Suburban’s payload can be used up very quickly — even though the tow rating still looks fine on paper.

So… Can It Tow the Trailer?

In many cases, yes — but often with very tight margins.

The limiting factor is usually:

• Payload capacity
• Receiver tongue weight rating
• Rear axle and tire limits

This is why two Suburbans with the same tow rating can have very different real-world towing limits.

The safest towing setups usually aren’t the ones closest to the published tow rating — they’re the ones with payload margin left over.