Can a Chevy Equinox pull a pop up camper?
By
Elaine Knight
In this blog post, we will answer the following question: Can a Chevy Equinox pull a pop up camper? We will discuss how capable a Chevy Equinox is for towing and how it is behaving on the road.
Can a Chevy Equinox pull a pop up camper?
Yes, a Chevy Equinox is more than capable to pull a pop-up camper. This Chevy can tow up to 3500 lbs (1500 kg), as you will see in the table below.
Chevrolet Equinox Towing Capacity
| Model | 1.5L Turbo | 1.6L Turbo | 2.0L Turbo |
| Towing Capacity | 1,500 lbs./680 kg | 1,500 lbs./680 kg | 3,500 lbs./1587 kg |
| Unladen Vehicle Weight | 3,274 lbs./1485 kg | 3,485 lbs./1580 kg | 3,448 lbs./1563 kg |
Recommended pop-up campers to tow with a Chevrolet Equinox
| Camper model | Unladen Vehicle Weight | Hitch Weight | Maximum Vehicle Length | Maximum Vehicle Height |
| Jay Sport 10SD | 1,740 lbs. | 160 lbs. | 13 feet, 6 inches | 6 feet, 8 inches |
| Sylvansport GO | 840 lbs | 90 lbs | 12 feet, 10 inches | 9 feet |
| QuickSilver 6.0 Tent Camper | 694 lbs. | 92 lbs. | 10 feet | 8 feet |
| Rockwood Extreme Sports Package | 1,722 lbs | 178 lbs. | 17 feet, 1 inch | 5 feet, 11 inches |
| Flagstaff Hard Side T12RB | 2,014 lbs | 222 lbs | 17 feet, 1 inch | 5 feet, 1 inch |
Chevrolet Equinox Technical Data
- Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder
- Maximum power: 170 hp @ 5,600 rpm
- Maximum torque: 203 lb.-ft. @ 2,500 rpm
- Transmission: Automatic 6 vels.
- Front-wheel drive
- Brakes: Disc / Disc
- Weight: 1,508 kg (est.)
- Maximum speed: N.D.
- Acceleration from 0 to 100 km / h: N.D.
- Front suspension: Independent McPherson type
- Rear suspension: Independent multi-link
- Length: 4.651 mm
- Trunk: 846 liters
- Consumption in the city: 7.5 km / l
- Consumption on highway ‘: 13.6 km / l
- Combined consumption ‘: 11.9 km / l
- Tank capacity: 55 litres
Other questions you may be interested in
Can a Subaru Crosstrek tow a pop up camper?
Can a Camry tow a pop up camper?
Can a Chevy Cruze pull a pop up camper?
How is the Chevy Equinox on the road?
In a world where customization is increasingly important, Chevrolet continues to bet on the idea that you will not find two Equinox alike in the parking lot. The Midnight line arrives at the C-SUV of the house with an extra dose of elegance.
In essence, we are looking at the Chevrolet Equinox that we already knew, the one with sharp headlights, a large grill and a very American appearance. The Midnight Special Edition is featured through glossy black 19 “aluminium wheels, a black grille, and black bowtie badging. In fact, pretty much everything on this truck is black, except for the lights and the bezel windows.
Perhaps the most interesting thing about this special edition is that, unlike usual, the Equinox Midnight does not go on the most equipped version, but on the LT, which is the second in the range. That represents a gain in equipment. Compared to a traditional Equinox LT, we have an extra inch of wheels and upholstery in black leather with contrast stitching.
Despite not being a high-end version, the equipment level leaves a good taste in the mouth in terms of comfort and connectivity. We will have a power-opening tailgate, smart key, dual-zone automatic climate control, power-adjustable driver’s seat, 110V outlet, 8 “screen infotainment, blind spot monitor, cross-traffic alert and all OnStar services.
I must confess that to be the second version in the Equinox range, the equipment seems good to me, although for the price some elements are missing, such as sunroof, electrochromic rear-view mirror, LED headlights instead of xenon and perhaps more assistance management.
Now, when touching the subject of finishes, we are at the point to improve in any Equinox. We do have soft parts in some areas of the dash, but the quality impression left by the rigid plastic of the upper part of the dash and some parts of the doors does not make as much sense in a vehicle that exceeds half a million pesos.
On the nice side, the dashboard and instrument design favours easy reading as well as easy handling. Due to its location, it only takes a few days at the wheel of Equinox to know where all the buttons are without having to turn to see them
The interior space seems to be another highlight. In the back, there is a good place for three people, although two will travel better. In the centre plaza space is good, but the centre console steals some knee room – there’s a 110V socket and a couple of USB charging ports. Trunk volume offers a respectable 846 litres.
Towing with a Chevy Equinox: A comfortable SUV with the necessary power
The Chevrolet Equinox Midnight, like any other Equinox, has a 1.5-litre turbo engine, capable of generating 170 hp and 203 lb-ft. I hadn’t had a chance to drive an Equinox before, so this close-up is pleasantly surprising.
The suspension is very soft, without being too soft. Maybe the steering wheel assistance seems too much to me, but it is not something to worry about in a vehicle of this type, which puts smoothness and comfort before sensations. Sound insulation gets honourable mention. From the base version, called LS, an active noise cancellation system is included.
When it comes to the engine, perhaps 1.5 litres would have seemed a few years ago, but thanks to the turbocharger, this “little” engine develops enough power to carry the weight of the Equinox without much difficulty. Not back, but your response is agile. There is some delay in the turbo input, so you have to be calculating when joining or passing; once the tachometer is in the correct zone, power delivery is good.
The transmission is a six-speed automatic. Meets without standing out; It is not the smoothest when making changes, although its programming is very successful to avoid turbo lag and squeezing the qualities of the engine to the maximum. Sometimes, especially in the first gears, the tachometer tends to go too high, sometimes almost 3,000 rpm.
The transmission, along with the weight of the vehicle, makes the fuel economy somewhat high for a four-cylinder engine.
Final thoughts
I can’t deny that the label Chevrolet puts on it’s Equinox Midnight is somewhat risky, because it ranks right where the more equipped versions of some of its direct competitors, such as the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4 and KIA Sportage, finish.
Still, this car is more than capable to tow a small pop-up camper or lightweight caravan, and still make you feel comfortable and safe on the road.
Have you seen the latest model of the Chevy Equinox? Please let us know if you have any comments, questions or suggestions to improve this content.
FAQ on Can a Chevy Equinox pull a pop up camper?
What size trailer can an Equinox pull?
An Equinox can pull a small and lightweight trailer. This Chevy has a towing capacity of 1000 lbs for a trailer without brakes and of 1500 lbs for a braked trailer. Check the manufacturer’s guidelines for more precise numbers!
What SUV can pull a pop-up camper?
The following SUVs are the best for pulling a pop-up camper:
- Jeep Grand Cherokee;
- Land Rover Discovery;
- Ford Explorer;
- Dodge Durango;
- Nissan Pathfinder.
Will a Chevy Equinox pull a boat?
Yes, a Chevy Equinox will pull any boat that weights up to 3500 lbs!
References
- Can The Chevrolet Equinox Tow a Camper Trailer? | Drivin’ & Vibin’
- What Can You Tow With the Chevy Equinox? | GMParts Center Blog …
- 2021 Chevy Equinox Towing Capacity | Joe Basil Chevrolet
