Makes · Chevrolet · Chevrolet Colorado
2012 Chevrolet Colorado towing capacity
Trim-level maximum towing capacity — 1,900 – 5,500 lbs across packages. Exact capacity depends on configuration. Payload is separate from towing capacity and is shown where GVWR and curb weight (or manufacturer payload) exist.
Tow Planner
Select your exact configuration and tell us what you're towing. We'll compare trailer weight, payload, tongue weight and the available vehicle limits. Year-level towing and payload answers below are available without selecting a configuration.
Which configuration do you have?
16 configurations
16 possible configurations match your selections.
What are you trying to do?
Choose a job to open interactive tools. Year-level towing and payload answers appear below even before you pick a configuration.
What can a 2012 Chevrolet Colorado tow?
Across 16 configurations with published ratings, 2012 Chevrolet Colorado towing capacity ranges from 1,900 lbs to 5,500 lbs. Exact capacity depends on configuration — not every 2012 Chevrolet Colorado can tow the maximum value.
- Minimum published towing capacity in this dataset: 1,900 lbs
- Maximum published towing capacity in this dataset: 5,500 lbs
- Configurations with a towing rating: 16 of 16
Highest-rated example: 1LT · 4x4 · Crew Cab — 5,500 lbs
Lowest-rated example: Work Truck · 4x4 — 1,900 lbs
Highest towing configurations
Top configurations by published maximum trailer rating for the 2012 Chevrolet Colorado. Payload is shown only when present in the dataset.
| Trim | Cab | Drivetrain | Bed | Axle ratio | Max towing | Payload |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1LT | Crew Cab | 4x4 | 5 ft | 3.73 | 5,500 lbs | 1,186 lbs |
| 2LT | Crew Cab | 4x2 | 5 ft | 3.73 | 5,500 lbs | 1,228 lbs |
| 2LT | Extended Cab | 4x2 | 6 ft | 3.73 | 5,500 lbs | 1,397 lbs |
| 2LT | Crew Cab | 4x4 | 5 ft | 3.73 | 5,500 lbs | 1,186 lbs |
| 2LT | Extended Cab | 4x4 | 6 ft | 3.73 | 5,500 lbs | 1,378 lbs |
| 3LT | Extended Cab | 4x2 | 6 ft | 3.42 | 4,000 lbs | 1,397 lbs |
| 3LT | Crew Cab | 4x2 | 5 ft | 3.42 | 3,800 lbs | 1,228 lbs |
| LT | Regular Cab | 4x2 | 6 ft | 3.73 | 3,400 lbs | 1,440 lbs |
| 1LT | Extended Cab | 4x2 | 6 ft | 3.73 | 3,200 lbs | 1,397 lbs |
| LT | Regular Cab | 4x4 | 6 ft | 3.73 | 3,100 lbs | 1,421 lbs |
Towing capacity by drivetrain
2012 Chevrolet Colorado 4x2 towing capacity
Range: 2,200 – 5,500 lbs (median 3,400 lbs) across 9 configurations in this dataset.
2012 Chevrolet Colorado 4x4 towing capacity
Range: 1,900 – 5,500 lbs (median 3,100 lbs) across 7 configurations in this dataset.
Towing capacity by cab style
2012 Chevrolet Colorado Crew Cab towing capacity
Observed range: 3,000 – 5,500 lbs (5 configurations).
2012 Chevrolet Colorado Extended Cab towing capacity
Observed range: 1,900 – 5,500 lbs (7 configurations).
2012 Chevrolet Colorado Regular Cab towing capacity
Observed range: 2,100 – 3,400 lbs (4 configurations).
Towing capacity by axle ratio
| Axle ratio | Towing range | Configurations |
|---|---|---|
| 3.42 | 3,800 – 4,000 lbs | 2 |
| 3.73 | 1,900 – 5,500 lbs | 14 |
2012 Chevrolet Colorado payload capacity
Payload is not the same as towing capacity. Where both GVWR and curb weight exist in the catalog, payload is GVWR minus curb weight (or the manufacturer payload field when present). Payload covers people, cargo in the truck, hitch equipment, and trailer tongue weight — not the full trailer weight.
- Observed payload range: 1,186 – 1,440 lbs
- Configurations with payload data: 16
Highest-payload configurations
- LT · 4x2 · Regular Cab — 1,440 lbs
- Work Truck · 4x2 · Regular Cab — 1,440 lbs
- LT · 4x4 · Regular Cab — 1,421 lbs
- Work Truck · 4x4 · Regular Cab — 1,421 lbs
- 2LT · 4x2 · Extended Cab — 1,397 lbs
Quick configuration comparison
Observed towing ranges from the 2012 Chevrolet Colorado dataset. Values are min–max of published ratings in each group — not a claim that every unit in the group can tow the top figure.
Drivetrain
| Drivetrain | Towing range | Configs |
|---|---|---|
| 4x2 | 2,200 – 5,500 lbs | 9 |
| 4x4 | 1,900 – 5,500 lbs | 7 |
Cab styles
| Cab | Towing range | Configs |
|---|---|---|
| Crew Cab | 3,000 – 5,500 lbs | 5 |
| Extended Cab | 1,900 – 5,500 lbs | 7 |
| Regular Cab | 2,100 – 3,400 lbs | 4 |
Bed lengths
| Bed | Towing range | Configs |
|---|---|---|
| 5 ft | 3,000 – 5,500 lbs | 5 |
| 6 ft | 1,900 – 5,500 lbs | 11 |
Axle ratios
| Axle | Towing range | Median | Configs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.42 | 3,800 – 4,000 lbs | 3,900 lbs | 2 |
| 3.73 | 1,900 – 5,500 lbs | 3,150 lbs | 14 |
Why does towing capacity vary for this vehicle?
Towing ratings vary across configurations. These are configuration differences present in our dataset:
- Drivetrain: 4x2, 4x4
- Axle ratios: 3.42, 3.73
- Cab styles: Crew Cab, Extended Cab, Regular Cab
- Bed lengths: 5 ft, 6 ft
- Published towing range: 1,900 – 5,500 lbs
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Towing capacity by trim
| Trim | Max towing | Curb weight | Payload* | HP | Torque | Axle | Wheelbase |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1LT 4x4 Crew Cab 5 ft. box 126 in. WB | 5,500 lbs | 4,070 lbs | 1,186 lbs | 242 | 242 | 3.73 | 126.0 |
| 2LT 4x2 Crew Cab 5 ft. box 126 in. WB | 5,500 lbs | 3,782 lbs | 1,228 lbs | 242 | 242 | 3.73 | 126.0 |
| 2LT 4x2 Extended Cab 6 ft. box 126 in. WB | 5,500 lbs | 3,649 lbs | 1,397 lbs | 242 | 242 | 3.73 | 126.0 |
| 2LT 4x4 Crew Cab 5 ft. box 126 in. WB | 5,500 lbs | 4,218 lbs | 1,186 lbs | 242 | 242 | 3.73 | 126.0 |
| 2LT 4x4 Extended Cab 6 ft. box 126 in. WB | 5,500 lbs | 3,972 lbs | 1,378 lbs | 242 | 242 | 3.73 | 126.0 |
| 3LT 4x2 Extended Cab 6 ft. box 126 in. WB | 4,000 lbs | 3,889 lbs | 1,397 lbs | 300 | 320 | 3.42 | 126.0 |
| 3LT 4x2 Crew Cab 5 ft. box 126 in. WB | 3,800 lbs | 4,013 lbs | 1,228 lbs | 300 | 320 | 3.42 | 126.0 |
| LT 4x2 Regular Cab 6 ft. box 111.3 in. WB | 3,400 lbs | 3,399 lbs | 1,440 lbs | 185 | 190 | 3.73 | 111.3 |
| 1LT 4x2 Extended Cab 6 ft. box 126 in. WB | 3,200 lbs | 3,590 lbs | 1,397 lbs | 185 | 190 | 3.73 | 126.0 |
| LT 4x4 Regular Cab 6 ft. box 111.3 in. WB | 3,100 lbs | 3,718 lbs | 1,421 lbs | 185 | 190 | 3.73 | 111.3 |
| 1LT 4x2 Crew Cab 5 ft. box 126 in. WB | 3,000 lbs | 3,728 lbs | 1,228 lbs | 185 | 190 | 3.73 | 126.0 |
| 1LT 4x4 Extended Cab 6 ft. box 126 in. WB | 2,900 lbs | 3,911 lbs | 1,378 lbs | 185 | 190 | 3.73 | 126.0 |
| Work Truck 4x2 Regular Cab 6 ft. box 111.3 in. WB | 2,400 lbs | 3,366 lbs | 1,440 lbs | 185 | 190 | 3.73 | 111.3 |
| Work Truck 4x2 Extended Cab 6 ft. box 126 in. WB | 2,200 lbs | 3,559 lbs | 1,397 lbs | 185 | 190 | 3.73 | 126.0 |
| Work Truck 4x4 Regular Cab 6 ft. box 111.3 in. WB | 2,100 lbs | 3,684 lbs | 1,421 lbs | 185 | 190 | 3.73 | 111.3 |
| Work Truck 4x4 Extended Cab 6 ft. box 126 in. WB | 1,900 lbs | 3,878 lbs | 1,378 lbs | 185 | 190 | 3.73 | 126.0 |
* Payload = manufacturer payload when present, otherwise GVWR − curb weight. Towing capacity is a separate rating and is not the same as payload.
What affects the rating
Higher figures usually need the tow package, the right axle ratio, and enough cooling. Passengers, fuel, gear, and tongue weight all eat into what you can safely pull — stay under both the trailer rating and the vehicle’s payload.