The Chevrolet Equinox is a compact SUV that has been in production since 2005. They have regularly introduced new models and updates for new customers, and their levels of quality and comfort have steadily grown the entire time. Because of this wide range of years and models, this article will only cover the 2020 edition of the Chevy Equinox in order to provide the most current information possible.
A Chevrolet Equinox is capable of towing between 1,500 and 3,500 lbs. depending on the model and engine power. As such, they are capable of towing teardrop trailers, pop-up trailers, and some types of light travel trailers.
The Chevy Equinox comes in a wide variety of engine configurations, upgrades, and models. The area that will most affect your towing capacity is the engine capacity however, so the three main configurations and their specifications are listed below.
| Model Name: | 1.5L Turbo | 1.6L Turbo | 2.0L Turbo |
| Towing Capacity: | 1,500 lbs. | 1,500 lbs. | 3,500 lbs. |
| Unladen Vehicle Weight: | 3,274 lbs. | 3,485 lbs. | 3,448 lbs. |
Most Chevy Equinoxes will only be able to tow about 1,500 lbs. but as you can see, there are models that can get up to 3,500 lbs. As such, the information and camper recommendations below will fall within that range. Make sure you know the specifications of your specific Chevy Equinox before committing to a camper on this list! You don’t want to buy a camper that’s too heavy for your car.
Things to Keep in Mind
When you’re reading about the towing capacity of a car, the measurement that is listed is the absolute maximum weight that is safe for that vehicle to tow. This means that you shouldn’t push too close to the limit for your sake, and for the sake of everyone else on the road.
When you’re looking at campers, try to find models that are about 15-30% lighter than your maximum towing capacity. This isn’t always possible and can be annoying when you’ve been searching for a long time. It’s worth the hassle though because this helps keep you, your car, your camper, and your fellow travelers safe and in good condition.
Another thing to bear in mind is that the campers listed in this article are being sold at their lightest possible weight. When you buy a camper, its cargo has been totally emptied out, including water and extra fuel. This initial weight is referred to as it’s unladen vehicle weight (or dry weight).
Once you add water, fuel, camping gear, food, luggage, additional furniture, and a proper hitch, your trailer can end up being a lot heavier than it was at first. You always need to be careful when you’re dealing with new campers for this reason. Try to calculate how much weight you’ll be adding at the end and choose your vehicle accordingly.
Different camper configurations have different weight ranges they fall into. Teardrop trailers will be a pretty safe bet for any Chevy Equinox, as will some of the lighter models of pop-up trailers. Classic travel trailers will only work with Equinoxes that have higher towing capacities. Below we’ll explore the different types, as well as some specific models that will work with Chevy Equinoxes.
Teardrop Trailers
Teardrop trailers are miniature travel trailers are super easy to tow behind just about any type of vehicle. They’re light, aerodynamic, and well designed to fit everything you need for a comfortable trip across the country.
Their signature small size makes them stand out from other types of campers. This miniature size doesn’t mean that they can’t do anything though! Teardrop trailers come in a lot of different forms, lengths, and designs. Some of them have lots of fold-outs and extensions that make them great for outdoor cooking. Some maximize their storage space to double as storage and equipment haulers. Most of them even offer a good amount of sleeping space!
Teardrop trailers are great options for anyone with a fairly low towing capacity and a sense of adventure! Teardrop trailers are easy to fit with just about any type of tow vehicle because they’re so light and adaptable. Towing capacity is rarely a problem with this type of camper.
The absolute heaviest teardrop trailer I was able to find weighed about 3,000 lbs. In general, they only weigh about 1,000 lbs. or less. So if you can’t tow anything else, you’ll be able to tow a teardrop.
If you’re just looking for a cozy, simple living space to bring along on trips, then teardrop trailers are probably the most stress-free option to look into. Because they have such limited floorplans, you may end up sacrificing a bit of space and functionality, but these campers still manage to do a lot despite their small size.
Most companies that manufacture teardrop trailers have a totally unique approach to their construction. No two teardrop trailers are the same because of this! Because these come in such a wide range of options and layouts, it can be hard to know where to start.
To help you in your search, here are some teardrop trailers that I think would be great matches for a Chevy Equinox. All of these except for the third one can be towed by Equinoxes with towing capacities of 1,500 lbs.
Polydrop Trailer Limited Edition
- Unladen Vehicle Weight: 760 lbs.
- Hitch Weight: 80 lbs.
- Maximum Vehicle Length: 12 feet, 5 inches
- Maximum Vehicle Height: 3 feet, 7 inches (interior)
For more information on this camper, including optional upgrades, additional layouts and floorplans, photo galleries, and purchasing information visit their website here.
Hütte Hut
- Unladen Vehicle Weight: 900 lbs.
- Hitch Weight: 75 lbs.
- Maximum Vehicle Length: 14 feet
- Maximum Vehicle Height: 6 feet
For more information on this camper, including optional upgrades, additional layouts and floorplans, photo galleries, and purchasing information visit their website here.
Classic Bean Trailer
- Unladen Vehicle Weight: 1,490 lbs.
- Hitch Weight: 185 lbs.
- Maximum Vehicle Length: 14 feet, 1/4 inch
- Maximum Vehicle Height: 5 feet
For more information on this camper, including optional upgrades, additional layouts and floorplans, photo galleries, and purchasing information visit their website here.
Vintage Overland Great Escape
- Unladen Vehicle Weight: 750 lbs.
- Hitch Weight: (approximately) 80 lbs.
- Maximum Vehicle Length: 12 feet
- Maximum Vehicle Height: 6 feet
For more information on this camper, including optional upgrades, additional layouts and floorplans, photo galleries, and purchasing information visit their website here.
Timberleaf Pika
- Unladen Vehicle Weight: 970 lbs.
- Hitch Weight: 120 lbs.
- Maximum Vehicle Length: 11 feet, 10 inches
- Maximum Vehicle Height: 5 feet, 5 inches
For more information on this camper, including optional upgrades, additional layouts and floorplans, photo galleries, and purchasing information visit their website here.
Pop-up Trailers
Pop-up trailers (sometimes called camping trailers) are fairly small travel trailers with fold-out sections along the sides or top. These expansions are different from traditional slide-outs because they are often covered by a flexible material such as canvas or other types of weather-proofed fabric. There are some pop-up trailers with hard-sided pop-ups, but generally, they will be soft-sided.
Pop-up trailers usually include a small living space inside, which can be enlarged once the pop-outs are extended. Dining space, kitchenettes, and small bathrooms are commonly found in these designs, although this will vary depending on the size and layout. The fold-outs usually contain beds. These are convenient for customers because space can be easily added and removed based on their needs.
Many pop-up trailer models can even be converted into different formats depending on the needs of the customer. For instance, there are models that can double as gear haulers once the interior furniture is removed/ stowed away.
If you’re a family that loves to travel and camp as you go, a pop-up trailer could be a good option for you. They’re basically pre-made campsites that require little to no setup once you arrive!
You can also enjoy the open-air feeling of a tent due to the soft sides of the pop-outs. Windows and airflow are a major benefit of this camper design. You can feel connected to nature, while also feeling safe and comfortable. And if you’re camping in an area that’s too hot or too cold, you also have the luxury of a ventilation system or a space heater. It really is one of the best ways to camp because you can choose how exposed your campsite is.
If you’re interested in a pop-up trailer that can be towed by a Chevy Equinox, check out the models I’ve selected below. Most of these can be towed by models with lower tow capacities, but a couple of them would be best for vehicles with the 3,500 lb. limit.
Jay Sport 10SD
- Unladen Vehicle Weight: 1,740 lbs.
- Hitch Weight: 160 lbs.
- Maximum Vehicle Length: 13 feet, 6 inches
- Maximum Vehicle Height: 6 feet, 8 inches
For more information on this camper, including optional upgrades, additional layouts and floorplans, photo galleries, and purchasing information visit their website here.
Sylvansport GO
- Unladen Vehicle Weight: 840 lbs.
- Hitch Weight: (approximately) 90 lbs.
- Maximum Vehicle Length: 12 feet, 10 inches
- Maximum Vehicle Height: 9 feet
For more information on this camper, including optional upgrades, additional layouts and floorplans, photo galleries, and purchasing information visit their website here.
QuickSilver 6.0 Tent Camper
- Unladen Vehicle Weight: 694 lbs.
- Hitch Weight: 92 lbs.
- Maximum Vehicle Length: 10 feet
- Maximum Vehicle Height: 8 feet
For more information on this camper, including optional upgrades, additional layouts and floorplans, photo galleries, and purchasing information visit their website here.
Rockwood Extreme Sports Package
- Unladen Vehicle Weight: 1,722 lbs.
- Hitch Weight: 178 lbs.
- Maximum Vehicle Length: 17 feet, 1 inch
- Maximum Vehicle Height: 5 feet, 11 inches
For more information on this camper, including optional upgrades, additional layouts and floorplans, photo galleries, and purchasing information visit their website here.
Flagstaff Hard Side T12RB
- Unladen Vehicle Weight: 2,014 lbs.
- Hitch Weight: 222 lbs.
- Maximum Vehicle Length: 17 feet, 1 inch
- Maximum Vehicle Height: 5 feet, 1 inch
For more information on this camper, including optional upgrades, additional layouts and floorplans, photo galleries, and purchasing information visit their website here.
Classic Travel Trailers
The classification of “travel trailer” can mean a lot of things! Within this type of camper, there is a huge range of sizes, weights, floor plans, etc. There are ways to distinguish one type from another though, and this section deals with classic (or standard) travel trailers.
Unlike pop-up trailers (which have soft sides that can flip out to extend interior space) or teardrop trailers (which are miniature trailers that usually include just a single room), classic travel trailers usually are much larger, offering a more complex and comfortable living space on the road.
They range in length from 10 feet to 35 feet and often include bathrooms, interior kitchens, dining space, bedrooms, etc. Travel trailers are very popular among the camper community because they can be towed by any vehicle with a high enough tow capacity. You don’t necessarily need a truck to bring your travel trailer out on the road!
Because they’re so popular, travel trailers have been made for vehicles of every shape and size. The general lengths have been listed above, but there are specialty manufacturers that can create trailers for specific circumstances. There are even travel trailers that are almost the size of teardrop trailers!
If you’re the owner of a Chevy Equinox, you might want to look into the specialty market for travel trailers. Your vehicle should be able to handle some small or medium models, but custom camper manufacturers could help you find a trailer that will fit your towing vehicle like a glove!
This comfortable and versatile nature might appeal to you if you’re the owner of a Chevy Equinox. All you’ll need is a ball hitch on the back of your car, plus maybe a weight-distribution hitch if your camper is pretty heavy. You’ll probably need an Equinox with a towing capacity of 3,500 lbs. to handle any of the campers in this section though. Travel trailers can be light but generally speaking, they are also the heaviest options on this list.
I’ve picked out a few of my favorite travel trailer models below and provided some basic information on each of them. But again, your Chevy Equinox will probably only be able to pull these trailers if it’s one of the models that has a towing capacity of 3,500 lbs. Otherwise, you should stick to a teardrop or pop-up trailer.
Flagstaff E-Pro E12SRK
- Unladen Vehicle Weight: 1,763 lbs.
- Hitch Weight: 258 lbs.
- Maximum Vehicle Length: 12 feet
- Maximum Vehicle Height: 7 feet, 6 inches
For more information on this camper, including optional upgrades, additional layouts and floorplans, photo galleries, and purchasing information visit their website here.
Jayco Hummingbird 16FD
- Unladen Vehicle Weight: 2,535 lbs.
- Hitch Weight: 270 lbs.
- Maximum Vehicle Length: 18 feet, 10 inches
- Maximum Vehicle Height: 6 feet, 6 inches (interior)
For more information on this camper, including optional upgrades, additional layouts and floorplans, photo galleries, and purchasing information visit their website here.
Rockwood GEO Pro G16BH
- Unladen Vehicle Weight: 2,993 lbs.
- Hitch Weight: 420 lbs.
- Maximum Vehicle Length: 18 feet, 4 inches
- Maximum Vehicle Height: 9 feet, 7 inches
For more information on this camper, including optional upgrades, additional layouts and floorplans, photo galleries, and purchasing information visit their website here.
No Boundaries NB16.5
- Unladen Vehicle Weight: 2,991 lbs.
- Hitch Weight: 321 lbs.
- Maximum Vehicle Length: 20 feet
- Maximum Vehicle Height: 9 feet, 7 inches
For more information on this camper, including optional upgrades, additional layouts and floorplans, photo galleries, and purchasing information visit their website here.
R-Pod RP-171
- Unladen Vehicle Weight: 2,342 lbs.
- Hitch Weight: 242 lbs.
- Maximum Vehicle Length: 18 feet, 4 inches
- Maximum Vehicle Height: 9 feet, 6 inches
For more information on this camper, including optional upgrades, additional layouts and floorplans, photo galleries, and purchasing information visit their website here.
