2012 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 LT Max Towing Capacity & Payload
Max Towing Capacity
8,000 lbs
Safe limit: 6,400 lbs (80% rule)
Max Payload
1,576 lbs
Often the real limiting factor
Fuel Economy
14.4 mpg
15 city / 21 hwy (EPA Est.)
The 2012 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 LT is rated to tow up to 8,000 lbs powered by the 5.3L. For real-world towing, the practical limit is 6,400 lbs — that's 80% of max, giving you margin for hills, headwinds, and load variation. The payload rating of 1,576 lbs is the number to watch closely — once you add passengers, hitch weight, and gear, it fills faster than most people expect. With this setup, you're looking at most travel trailers and slide-in campers.
Recommended Equipment
Towing Gear for This Truck
Matched to this trim's Class III hitch class and 8,000 lb tow rating
Class III Hitch Receiver
Required for towing. 2" receiver is standard on tow-equipped models.
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Trailer Wiring Adapter
7-pin to 4-pin adapters for trailer brake lights and signals.
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Brake Controller
Required by law in most states for trailers over 3,000 lbs.
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Weight Distribution Hitch
Strongly recommended for trailers over 6,000 lbs to level the load and reduce sway.
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Full Data
Specifications
Towing & Capacity
Engine & Performance
Dimensions
SpecificationValueShopLearn More
Towing
Payload & Weight
Curb Weight
5,824 lbs
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Engine
Engine
5.3L
Horsepower
320 HP @ 5400 rpm
Torque
335 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm
Transmission
6-speed shiftable automatic
Drive Type
Four Wheel Drive
Fuel Type
Flex-fuel (unleaded/E85)
Fuel Tank
31.0 gallons
Fuel Economy (EPA)
City15 mpg
Highway21 mpg
Combined17 mpg
Real-World (Fuelly, 49 owners)14.4 mpg
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Dimensions
Overall Length222.4"
Overall Width79.1"
Height76.8"
What Can I Tow?
RV Class Compatibility
Based on a safe tow limit of 6,400 lbs and 1,576 lb payload. Shows what % of each RV class in our database you can tow.
RV Type
Weight Range
Coverage
Status
Travel Trailers
Bumper Pull
1,100 – 89,950 lbs
Limited
Toy Haulers
5th / Bumper
1,300 – 112,250 lbs
Limited
Destination Trailers
Bumper Pull
9,800 – 16,500 lbs
Out of Range
Fifth Wheels
5th Wheel
1,176 – 24,000 lbs
Out of Range
⚠ Vehicle capacity only — does not include passengers, gear, or tongue weight. Run the full calculator →
Compare Configurations
Other 2012 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 Trims
| Configuration | Max Towing | MPG | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 LS RWD | 8,100 lbs | 13.7 mpg | View → |
| 2014 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 LT RWD | 8,100 lbs | 13.7 mpg | View → |
| 2014 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 LTZ RWD | 8,100 lbs | 13.7 mpg | View → |
| 2014 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 LS 4WD | 8,000 lbs | 13.7 mpg | View → |
| 2014 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 LT 4WD | 8,000 lbs | 13.7 mpg | View → |
| 2014 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 LTZ 4WD | 8,000 lbs | 13.7 mpg | View → |
| 2013 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 LS RWD | 8,100 lbs | 14.4 mpg | View → |
| 2013 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 LT RWD | 8,100 lbs | 14.4 mpg | View → |
| 2013 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 LTZ RWD | 8,100 lbs | 14.4 mpg | View → |
| 2013 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 LS 4WD | 8,000 lbs | 14.4 mpg | View → |
Questions & Answers
Common Questions
How much can I actually tow with my 2012 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 LT?
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The 2012 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 LT is rated at 8,000 lbs maximum — but the real-world best practice is the 80% rule: target 6,400 lbs as your practical limit. This gives you margin for hills, headwinds, braking distance, and real-world load variance. More critically, check your payload first — the door sticker tells you your specific truck's limit, and payload may be your actual binding constraint.
What about payload — how much stuff can I put in the truck?
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You have 1,576 lbs of payload capacity — that's everything going IN the truck: passengers (~150 lbs each), camping gear, coolers, and critically the tongue weight from your trailer. For bumper pull trailers, tongue weight is typically 10–15% of the trailer's loaded weight. It fills up faster than most people expect, especially on longer trips.
What kind of hitch do I need?
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For the 2012 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 LT, you need a Class III receiver hitch rated for 8,000 lbs. Don't skimp here — the hitch is the critical link between truck and trailer. For fifth wheel towing, you'll need a dedicated kingpin-style fifth wheel hitch mounted in the truck bed.
What types of RVs will work with my truck?
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With your 6,400 lb safe towing capacity, you're looking at most travel trailers and slide-in campers. The compatibility chart above shows what percentage of each RV class in our database you can handle. Use the Tow Calculator to check a specific RV including gear, water, and passengers.
What does GVWR mean and why should I care?
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GVWR is Gross Vehicle Weight Rating — the maximum your truck can weigh when fully loaded with people, gear, and fuel. Your truck's GVWR is 7,400 lbs. Exceed it and you're over-stressing brakes, suspension, and tires. This is different from towing capacity — it's about what the truck itself can carry.
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