Check Owners Manual to Find Towing Bumper Capacity on a 2002 Chevy Suburban

Question:

Hi My Suburban 2002 has a bumper pad which is suposed to be used to pull a trailer with a boat. Whats the bumper pad towing capacity? The SUV has no towing package other than the bumper pad. Please help.

asked by: Tomas A

Expert Reply:

In order to determine the official capacity of the bumper, you will need to consult your 2002 Chevy Suburban owners manual and/or a Chevy dealer. I can tell you that the standard towing capacity for a 1500 is 7,500 pounds. And for a 2500 model, 7,900 pounds. The towing capacity of the bumper will be lower as step bumpers can be used to tow lightweight trailers but should not be used for all applications.

Instead, I would install a trailer hitch. We have several available for your Suburban. I would go with a higher capacity 2 inch receiver since you will have more options as far as accessories and you will be able to use weight distribution if you wanted. I recommend the Draw-Tite Trailer Hitch, # 41930, which is a Class IV, 2 inch trailer hitch rated for 1,00 pounds tongue weight and 10,000 pounds gross trailer weight. When used with weight distribution the tongue weight increases to 1,200 pounds and the gross trailer weight to 12,000 pounds. I have included a link to the installation details below.

To complete your towing package, the recommended ball mount is # 2923 and you can use ball # 19260 (1-7/8 inch diameter), # 19247 (2 inch diameter), or # 19287 (2-5/16 inch diameter). For trailer wiring, you would need Pollak 7- and 4-Pole Trailer Connector Socket, # HM40975. I have included a link to a video showing installation on a similar vehicle below.

expert reply by: Michael H