The Chevy Colorado was introduced into Chevy’s lineup as a compact pickup truck in 2005 and is still made today. The Colorado is one of the most popular compact trucks in the USA and has many features consumers expect from today’s trucks, including towing. But what is the towing capacity of a 2012 Chevy Colorado?
A 2012 Chevy Colorado has a maximum towing capacity of 6,000 pounds when properly equipped.
The 2012 Chevy Colorado tow capacity can vary based on a few different factors such as engine size, drivetrain, and others which we’ll cover in this guide.
There’s a bit more to know about the 2012 Chevy Colorado tow capacity which we’ll cover in today’s guide.
How Much Can The 2012 Chevy Colorado Tow?
The 2012 Chevy Colorado has a towing capacity of 6,000 pounds.
The 2012 Chevy Colorado tow capacity is affected by other factors like engine type, drivetrain, the weight of cargo and passengers, and whether your vehicle has a tow package equipped or not.
You can always reach out to your local Chevy dealership for details to confirm how much your Colorado can tow.
You can also read our guide on what makes a vehicle towing capacity to learn all the aspects that go into it.
Take a look at our guide to Chevy Colorado towing capacity by year to see the max tow stats for every model year of the Colorado while you’re here.
2012 Chevy Colorado Tow Capacity By Trim Level
There are several trim levels for the 2012 Colorado, and some engines are not available on certain trims, so they’ll each have different max towing limits.
Here’s the max tow capacity broken down for each trim level on the 2012 Chevy Colorado:
2012 Chevy Colorado Work Truck Max Tow Capacity: 5,500 pounds
2012 Chevy Colorado Z85 Max Tow Capacity: 5,500 pounds
2012 Chevy Colorado Sport Max Tow Capacity: 6,000 pounds
2012 Chevy Colorado Z71 Max Tow Capacity: 6,000 pounds
Towing Capacity By Engine Size & Drivetrain
2012 Chevy Colorado Engine Towing Specs
There are three engine options for the 2012 Colorado: a 2.5L I4 engine, a 3.7L I5 VVT engine, and a 5.3L V8 engine.
2012 Chevy Colorado 2.5L I4 Engine Towing Capacity: 3,400 pounds
2012 Chevy Colorado 3.7L I5 VVT Engine Towing Capacity: 5,500 pounds
2012 Chevy Colorado 5.3L V8 Engine Towing Capacity: 6,000 pounds
2012 Chevy Colorado Drivetrain Towing Specs
The 2012 Chevy Colorado comes standard with two wheel drive, with four-by-four available as an option.
2012 Chevy Colorado 2WD Towing Capacity: 6,000 pounds
2012 Chevy Colorado 4×4 Towing Capacity: 6,000 pounds
Note that these are the max towing limits for each 2012 Chevy Colorado engine. Your Chevy Colorado may have a lower towing capacity based on the drivetrain, axle ratio, and if your vehicle has a towing package installed.
2012 Chevrolet Colorado Payload Capacity
The maximum payload capacity of the 2012 Chevy Colorado is 1,651 pounds.
Note that the max payload capacity of your 2012 Colorado will vary based on factors like the engine type, drivetrain and whether or not a towing package that includes other features like an engine oil cooler or transmission oil cooler is installed.
You can always contact your local dealership for extra details if you’re unsure of your vehicle’s payload capability.
2012 Chevy Colorado Tow Package
The 2012 Chevy Colorado does not come with a towing package installed, but it is available as an add-on option.
The 2012 Colorado tow package includes a trailer hitch and a 4-pin/7-pin wiring harness.
If you plan on towing anything with your 2012 Colorado, we definitely recommend getting the tow package because adding it will allow your 2012 Colorado to tow heavier items and bigger loads.
2012 Chevrolet Colorado Tow Capacity Vs Competitors
The 2012 Chevy Colorado has a maximum tow capability of 6,000 pounds, which makes it capable of doing some heavy duty trailer towing.
This number is similar to the Colorado’s main competitors which are the 2012 Toyota Tacoma and the 2012 Nissan Frontier.
Here are some similar vehicles to the 2012 Chevy Colorado and their towing capacities below:
2012 Toyota Tacoma Towing Capacity: 6,500 pounds
2012 Nissan Frontier Towing Capacity: 6,500 pounds
2012 Honda Ridgeline Towing Capacity: 5,000 pounds
2012 GMC Canyon Towing Capacity: 5,500 pounds
2012 Chevy Trucks Towing Capacity Chart
| 2012 Chevy Truck Model | Towing Capacity |
| 2012 Chevy Silverado 3500 | 23,000 pounds |
| 2012 Chevy Silverado 2500 | 13,000 pounds |
| 2012 Chevy Silverado 1500 | 10,700 pounds |
| 2012 Chevy Colorado | 6,000 pounds |
Data Accuracy
We’ve gathered all data represented here from the official 2012 Chevy Colorado Owner’s Manual on Chevy’s site and have checked all data thoroughly for accuracy.
Having said that, we still recommend you refer to your vehicle’s owner’s manual yourself before towing with a 2012 Chevrolet Colorado.
