What types of RVs will work with my Malibu?

With your 800 lbs safe towing capacity, you're looking at a great selection of travel trailers, fifth wheels, toy haulers, and pop-up campers. We've put together a list of compatible RVs on our site — take a look and see what catches your eye.

2011 Chevrolet Malibu LTZ Towing Capacity

Q: How much can I actually tow with my 2011 Chevrolet Malibu LTZ?

Your 2011 Chevrolet Malibu LTZ can tow up to 1,000 lbs according to the manufacturer. But here's our advice: stay around 80% of that (about 800 lbs) for a much better towing experience. You'll have room for hills, headwinds, and those unexpected moments on the road.

Q: What about payload — how much stuff can I put in the truck?

You've got 0 lbs of payload capacity. That's everything that goes IN your truck: passengers, camping gear, coolers, and don't forget — the tongue weight from your trailer counts too. It adds up faster than you'd think!

Q: What kind of hitch do I need for my Malibu?

For your 1,000 lbs towing capacity, you'll want a Class II hitch. Make sure whatever hitch you buy is rated for the weight you're actually planning to tow — not just the minimum.

2.4L I4 • 169 HP • 160 lb-ft

(4-Door) • FWD

Test in Tow Calculator Add to My Garage

Max Towing

1,000 lbs

Class II Hitch

0 lbs

Payload

160 lb-ft

Torque

Gas

Fuel Type

0 lbs

GVWR

View Specs

Fuel Economy

EPA 22/33/26

Light Tow 17.7 mpg

Heavy Tow 13 mpg

~378 mi

See RVs I Can Tow

Light Duty Towing Class

At 1,000 lbs, you'll want to stick with lighter trailers. We always recommend staying around 80% of your max (that's 800 lbs for you) — it's easier on your truck and gives you a safety buffer for hills and headwinds.

What Real Owners Get

We pulled data from 97 actual Malibu owners — they're averaging 23.6 mpg day-to-day. Once you hook up a trailer, expect somewhere between 13-17.7 mpg depending on what you're pulling.

Budget Your Trip

Let's say you're planning a 500-mile trip while towing. At 13 mpg, you're looking at roughly $123 in fuel. That works out to about $25 per 100 miles — handy to know when you're planning adventures.

RVs That Fit Your Truck

These all fall within your safe towing range of 800 lbs (we use 80% of max to give you breathing room)

Use the tow calculator to find RVs that match your towing capacity.

Open Tow Calculator

Recommended Towing Gear

Equipment recommended for 1,000 lbs towing capacity

Class II Hitch

Rated for up to 1,000 lbs

Shop Hitches →

Brake Controller

Required for trailers over 3,000 lbs

Shop Controllers →

Towing Mirrors

Extended visibility for safe towing

Shop Mirrors →

Specifications

Max Towing Capacity 1,000 lbs

Max Payload 0 lbs

GVWR 0 lbs

GCWR 0 lbs

Curb Weight 0 lbs

Hitch Class Class II

Cargo Capacity 15 cu ft

Engine 2.4L

Horsepower 169 HP @ 6400 rpm

Torque 160 lb-ft @ 4500 rpm

Transmission 6-speed shiftable automatic

Drive Type Front Wheel Drive

Fuel Type Regular unleaded

Fuel Tank 16.0 gallons

Length 191.8"

Width 70.3"

Height 57.1"

Other 2011 Chevrolet Malibu Configurations

View All Trims →

Configuration	Max Towing	MPG
2012 Chevrolet Malibu LT FWD	1,000 lbs	23.6 mpg	→
2012 Chevrolet Malibu LTZ FWD	1,000 lbs	23.6 mpg	→
2011 Chevrolet Malibu LT FWD	1,000 lbs	23.6 mpg	→
2010 Chevrolet Malibu LS FWD	1,000 lbs	23.7 mpg	→
2010 Chevrolet Malibu LT FWD	1,000 lbs	23.7 mpg	→
2010 Chevrolet Malibu LTZ FWD	1,000 lbs	23.7 mpg	→

Common Questions

How much can I actually tow with my 2011 Chevrolet Malibu LTZ?

Your 2011 Chevrolet Malibu LTZ can tow up to 1,000 lbs according to the manufacturer. But here's our advice: stay around 80% of that (about 800 lbs) for a much better towing experience. You'll have room for hills, headwinds, and those unexpected moments on the road.

What about payload — how much stuff can I put in the truck?

You've got 0 lbs of payload capacity. That's everything that goes IN your truck: passengers, camping gear, coolers, and don't forget — the tongue weight from your trailer counts too. It adds up faster than you'd think!

What kind of hitch do I need?

For your 1,000 lbs towing capacity, you'll want a Class II hitch. Make sure whatever hitch you buy is rated for the weight you're actually planning to tow — not just the minimum. A little overkill on the hitch is always better than not enough.

What types of RVs will work with my truck?

With your 800 lbs safe towing capacity, you're looking at pop-up campers and smaller travel trailers. We've put together a list of compatible RVs above — take a look and see what catches your eye.

What does GVWR mean and why should I care?

GVWR stands for Gross Vehicle Weight Rating — yours is 0 lbs. Think of it as the maximum your truck can weigh when it's fully loaded with people, gear, fuel, everything. Exceed it and you're putting extra stress on your brakes, suspension, and tires. Not worth the risk.

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