What you need to tow 1,500 lb with a 2026 Chevrolet Traverse

Every published configuration of the 2026 Chevrolet Traverse is rated for 1,500 lb. At 1,500 lb you are at 30% of this vehicle's 5,000 lb ceiling. The hardware is sized to the trailer: Class 1 in a 1-1/4 in receiver, a ball mount rated past your 150–225 lb tongue weight, lighting wiring.

Which Traverse configurations are rated for 1,500 lb

2 configurations share the lowest rating that still clears 1,500 lb (1,500 lb). Anything rated below that will not do it. Closest-margin configurations first — the last column is how much headroom is left over.

Engine	Axle	Drive	Max trailer (lb)	Headroom
2.5L Turbo 4-cylinder SIDI FWD	3.49	FWD	1,500	0 lb
2.5L Turbo 4-cylinder SIDI AWD	3.49	AWD	1,500	0 lb
2.5L Turbo 4-cylinder SIDI FWD with available Trailering Package (V92)	3.49	FWD	5,000	3,500 lb
2.5L Turbo 4-cylinder SIDI AWD with available Trailering Package (V92)	3.49	AWD	5,000	3,500 lb

Source: 2026 Chevrolet Traverse manufacturer trailering chart · last verified 2026-08-29

What 1,500 lb leaves for the truck itself

GCWR caps the truck and the trailer together. Subtract the trailer and what remains is everything else — the vehicle, fuel, passengers, cargo, and the tongue weight sitting on the rear axle.

Qualifying configuration GCWR	Trailer	Left for the loaded vehicle
6,720 lb (lowest)	1,500 lb	5,220 lb
10,250 lb (highest)	1,500 lb	8,750 lb

Compare that against your vehicle's actual curb weight plus its load. If the loaded truck exceeds it, you are over GCWR even though the trailer is inside the tow rating — and your 150–225 lb of tongue weight is part of the truck side of that sum, not the trailer side.

The Traverse caps tongue weight at 500 lb. That is a fixed limit — it does not scale with the trailer. At 1,500 lb, 15% would be 225 lb, which is under the cap — the percentage rule governs here.

Your kit for 1,500 lb behind a Traverse

In the order you should buy it. Every requirement comes from a published manufacturer guide or standard — the full reasoning for each item is on the 1,500 lb kit page.

RequiredClass 1 hitch (1-1/4 in receiver)
A 1,500 lb trailer needs a hitch rated at or above 1,500 lb gross trailer weight.
Find it on Amazon →Affiliate link — as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
RequiredBall mount rated above 225 lb tongue weight
Your tongue weight lands in the 150–225 lb band (10–15% of 1,500 lb).
Find it on Amazon →Affiliate link — as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
RequiredHitch ball — 1-7/8 in or 2 in
The ball must match the size stamped on your coupler exactly.
Find it on Amazon →Affiliate link — as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
Required4-pin or 7-pin wiring harness
At 1,500 lb you are under the 1,500 lb trailer-brake threshold, so a 4-pin flat connector carrying running lights, turn signals and brake lights is usually enough.
Find it on Amazon →Affiliate link — as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
RequiredSafety chains rated for the trailer
Chains must be rated at or above 1,500 lb and cross under the tongue in an X, so the tongue is caught rather than dropped if the coupler releases.
Find it on Amazon →Affiliate link — as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
RecommendedHitch pin and lock
Keeps the ball mount in the receiver and makes it much harder to walk off with.
Find it on Amazon →Affiliate link — as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
RecommendedTowing mirrors
If the trailer is wider than your vehicle you must be able to see down both sides of it.
Find it on Amazon →Affiliate link — as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.

One number still has to come from you: payload. Addition of trailer hitch weight cannot cause vehicle weights to exceed Rear Gross Axle Weight Rating (RGAWR) or Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). These ratings can be found on the certification label located on the driver door or doorframe. Your 150–225 lb of tongue weight comes out of that payload, not out of the tow rating — which is why a truck rated for 5,000 lb can still be overloaded at 1,500 lb once four passengers and a full bed are in it.

Common questions

Can a 2026 Chevrolet Traverse tow 1,500 lb?

Yes — every published configuration of the 2026 Chevrolet Traverse is rated for 1,500 lb or more. That is a ceiling for a properly equipped vehicle that is otherwise unloaded — your passengers, cargo and tongue weight all come off it, and your payload is on your own door-jamb label.

What hitch do I need to tow 1,500 lb with a Traverse?

Class 1 hardware with a 1-1/4 in receiver, rated to 2,000 lb. The hitch is sized to the trailer, not to the truck — a 1,500 lb trailer needs the same Class 1 hitch behind any vehicle. Ratings are set per part number, so check the sticker on the hitch itself.

What is the tongue weight for 1,500 lb behind a Traverse?

150–225 lb — 10 to 15% of the loaded trailer. The Traverse also carries a published tongue-weight cap of 500 lb, which does not scale with the trailer. No manufacturer publishes a tongue-weight figure per trailer, because it depends entirely on how the trailer is loaded.

Do I need trailer brakes to tow 1,500 lb with a Traverse?

Not on weight alone — 1,500 lb is under the 1,500 lb threshold Chevrolet publishes for this class of vehicle. State law varies and some set it lower, so check your state.

Other weights behind a Traverse

Tow 2,000 lb with a Traverse Tow 2,500 lb with a Traverse Tow 3,000 lb with a Traverse Tow 3,500 lb with a Traverse Tow 4,000 lb with a Traverse Tow 4,500 lb with a Traverse Tow 5,000 lb with a Traverse

Other vehicles at 1,500 lb

The 1,500 lb kit for any vehicle →