New camper towing

Last I knew, the Traverse was rated to tow 5000 lbs when properly equipped. Check with a service manager to verify this, and ask him what equipment was in the tow package. (As an alternative, if there is a Chevy Traverse owners' forum I bet they can tell you.) If you add the equipment that is critical, you can confidently tow the higher limit.

For example, my 2008 Toyota Highlander (very similar vehicle with 3.5L V6, 270 HP) was rated 2000 lbs without tow pkg and 5000 lbs with tow pkg. The main items in the tow package that enabled that rating boost were the extra transmission cooling capacity and a higher-output alternator (the latter is to keep up with the trailer's lights and charge line). I towed either a TT or a cargo trailer, up to 3500 lbs, at 60-62 mph for 140,000 miles with my Highlander and it still ran great when I sold it. The situation with your Traverse might be very similar.

I would recommend that the popup have brakes. If it doesn't, look behind the wheels for square backer plates with mounting holes; if you have those a brake kit can be added. Otherwise a new axle with brakes can be purchased for perhaps a grand.

Keep in mind that many members of this particular forum tend to think that you need at least a 3/4 ton diesel truck to tow anything. Your popup should tow pretty easily with its low frontal area. Get a class III receiver and whatever else the techies recommend, and go have some fun!

Sounds like a lot never towed a pop up before. Its lighter , but still responds to physics. The max gross weight is closer to 3000. I wouldn't do it. Add roughly 350 for the extras towibg dry. And then your stuff, it will get up there quickly. And its more about stopping then towing it. Yes, tou xan tow it, but is your tv designed to stop it?

"If you are sticking with that vehicle,you need to add a transmission cooler and a transmission temp. gauge. In the 70s when I was a mechanic . I made plenty of money off people who thought if the engine was running cool the transmission was cool also."

You know this based on cars you used to work on almost 50 years ago?
I agree that trans temp is one of the critical concerns when towing, but the trailering package could simply be a hitch and maybe a brake controller wiring.
OP didn't even mention what year or trim/level of vehicle. Any of the variants are at least like 260hp and 6 or 9 speed, so capable from that standpoint.
But the OP needs to provide more info, or more succinctly, go do the research. Find a Chevy traverse website or talk to a dealer.

ChiefAndSweetie wrote:
Just purchased a 2013 Flagstaff 205 pop-up and would like to tow with my Chevy Traverse that didn’t come with tow pkg. I want to make sure I can tow the pop-up before I get a hitch added. Owners manual says towing capacity is 2000 and camper dry weight is 1900. I’m sure it’s not that simple and was hoping some experienced campers could advise?

Tina

If you are sticking with that vehicle,you need to add a transmission cooler and a transmission temp. gauge. In the 70s when I was a mechanic . I made plenty of money off people who thought if the engine was running cool the transmission was cool also.

I wouldn't even bat an eye at towing a, sub 3000lb (by the time you fill it up ready to camp) popup camper with a traverse.
Trailer hitch and possibly a trans cooler needed.
Would be good to talk with someone who actually knows what goes into the towing package, but engines are generally designed to use all their horsepower, so great chance the radiator is the same.
Drivetrain wise, they're only offered with one engine trans/gearing combo and no mention of different ratios options in the finals.

Trailer brakes, if a little popup like that actually comes with brakes, I'd use them. You can get a bluetooth brake controller easy enough. If it doesn't then I wouldn't be worried.

Bottom line, no reason a 310hp midsize SUV will have any issues with a mid size popup camper, regardless of what the rvnet weight authorities are saying. That's what popups are made for...

A question you might ask is what is the tow rating of a Traverse with a tow package? Do they make a Traverse with a tow package? If it is enough, then what is the difference? Then you can look at adding those features to your vehicle, it could be a transmission cooler, larger radiator, trailer brake controller, and possibly other items. If it is impossible to add the correct items to allow you to tow, then you have 2 options, do it anyway and hope nothing happens, or upgrade your vehicle.

The good news is that pop-ups are easier to tow, and easier on the vehicle towing them because there is much, much less aerodynamic resistance.
Going steady down a flat road your Chevy Traverse will not care what the weight is, only how much wind resistance there is.
Climbing hills your Chevy Traverse will care only about the weight, even the less-than 6% hills on interstate.
I do not know what the limiter is for the Chevy Traverse. The transmission is the expensive and vulnerable component you need to worry about. If the trans is what is limiting the towing capacity to only 2,000lbs then I would be concerned.
Will you tow in flat areas for short distances, or
will you tow long distances through hilly country?
Makes a difference.
You can get away with short trips over flat roads with a slightly heavier trailer, but keep the acceleration slow.
Hills will greatly shorten the life of your transmission.
New vehicle time? If you really get into camping then your next move is to sell the pop-up and get a bigger trailer. You will go over-board and get the biggest thing on the lot, and soon regret it, sell it and get a reasonable size with compromises, and be stuck with that 3/4 ton truck you bought to tow it with.

valhalla360 wrote:
If you want to stay within the trucks ratings, it's too much trailer.

You can choose to ignore the ratings (lots of people do) but then it's on you if something fails.

This!

Note that tow ratings are based on an empty vehicle with a full tank of gas and a driver (often around 150lbs). So, as you add your family, your gear, your dog, the weight of the hitch, etc... all of that weight comes off of the available towing capacity. Add in that the 1,900lbs for your pop-up doesn't even include a full bottle of propane, and you will be WAY overweight.

Whether or not you will be unsafe is arguable, and I won't make a claim on that one way or another. The only objective measure provided in these situations, however, is the vehicle's ratings, and you could easily be over that by a good 500-1,000 pounds. Whether or not you want to tax your vehicle in that way is entirely up to you!

If you want to stay within the trucks ratings, it's too much trailer.

You can choose to ignore the ratings (lots of people do) but then it's on you if something fails.

ChiefAndSweetie wrote:
Just purchased a 2013 Flagstaff 205 pop-up and would like to tow with my Chevy Traverse that didn’t come with tow pkg. I want to make sure I can tow the pop-up before I get a hitch added. Owners manual says towing capacity is 2000 and camper dry weight is 1900. I’m sure it’s not that simple and was hoping some experienced campers could advise?

Tina

I am hating to say this,but you are under vehicled. I see no way to make that combination work if your numbers are correct.
Open your drivers door, there will be a sticker, either on the door it self or the sill.
It will say something to the effect of "Weight of all cargo and passengers shall not exceed xxxx" And that means everything, from your cooler to spanky to the chicken nuggets under the seat.
Your empty trailer will be putting a bit over two hundred pounds of weight on your hitch before batteries and propane.

I know I am just some guy on the interwebs,but I would not operate that combination.