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What you need to tow 4,500 lb with a 2026 Chevrolet Traverse

2 of this vehicle's 4 published configurations are rated for 4,500 lb — the other 2 are not. At 4,500 lb you are at 90% of this vehicle's 5,000 lb ceiling. The hardware is sized to the trailer: Class 3 in a 2 in receiver, a ball mount rated past your 450–500 lb tongue weight, trailer brakes with a controller, and a weight-distributing hitch with sway control.
Check your own configuration before you buy anything. 2 published 2026 Chevrolet Traverse configurations are not rated for 4,500 lb — the lowest in this chart is 1,500 lb. Same badge on the tailgate, different engine or axle, and the answer changes. See the full configuration chart →

Which Traverse configurations are rated for 4,500 lb

2 configurations share the lowest rating that still clears 4,500 lb (5,000 lb). Anything rated below that will not do it. Closest-margin configurations first — the last column is how much headroom is left over.

EngineAxleDriveMax trailer (lb)Headroom
2.5L Turbo 4-cylinder SIDI FWD with available Trailering Package (V92)3.49FWD5,000500 lb
2.5L Turbo 4-cylinder SIDI AWD with available Trailering Package (V92)3.49AWD5,000500 lb

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

Which Traverse configurations fall short of 4,500 lb

Closest first — the ones that nearly make it are the ones worth checking your window sticker against, because a different axle or cab on the same badge is where this usually goes wrong.

EngineAxleDriveMax trailer (lb)Shortfall
2.5L Turbo 4-cylinder SIDI FWD3.49FWD1,5003,000 lb short
2.5L Turbo 4-cylinder SIDI AWD3.49AWD1,5003,000 lb short

What 4,500 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 GCWRTrailerLeft for the loaded vehicle
10,030 lb (lowest)4,500 lb5,530 lb
10,250 lb (highest)4,500 lb5,750 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 450–500 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 4,500 lb, 15% would be 500 lb, which is above the cap. Load the trailer to stay at or under 500 lb on the tongue, which is why Chevrolet's rule at maximum trailer weight is 10%, not 15%.

Your kit for 4,500 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 4,500 lb kit page.

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 450–500 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 4,500 lb once four passengers and a full bed are in it.

Common questions

Can a 2026 Chevrolet Traverse tow 4,500 lb?

Only in some configurations. 2 of the 4 published configurations are rated for 4,500 lb; 2 are not. The lowest-rated configuration that clears it is rated 5,000 lb. 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 4,500 lb with a Traverse?

Class 3 hardware with a 2 in receiver, rated to 8,000 lb, plus a weight-distributing hitch with sway control. The hitch is sized to the trailer, not to the truck — a 4,500 lb trailer needs the same Class 3 hitch behind any vehicle. Ratings are set per part number, so check the sticker on the hitch itself.

What is the tongue weight for 4,500 lb behind a Traverse?

450–500 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, and at 4,500 lb the 15% figure (500 lb) is above it — so use the lower number. 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 4,500 lb with a Traverse?

Yes. Chevrolet requires trailer brakes above 1,500 lb of trailer weight for this class of vehicle, and electric brakes need a controller in the cab. State law varies and some states set a lower threshold.

Other weights behind a Traverse

Tow 1,500 lb with a TraverseTow 2,000 lb with a TraverseTow 2,500 lb with a TraverseTow 3,000 lb with a TraverseTow 3,500 lb with a TraverseTow 4,000 lb with a TraverseTow 5,000 lb with a Traverse

Other vehicles at 4,500 lb

Tow 4,500 lb with a ColoradoTow 4,500 lb with a TahoeTow 4,500 lb with a SuburbanTow 4,500 lb with a CanyonTow 4,500 lb with a FrontierTow 4,500 lb with a PathfinderTow 4,500 lb with a 1500Tow 4,500 lb with a RangerThe 4,500 lb kit for any vehicle →