I own a 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe LTZ. I am driving cross country, and want to tow two cars: 2022 Nissan Pathfinder, 2016 Mini JCW. Can the Tahoe tow both? If yes, how do I distribute the weight, and what type of trailer is required?
Thanks for the help!
You're looking at 4500 lbs for the pathfinder, and another 3400 for the mini. Plus figure 3-4000 lbs. for a trailer that can haul both of those, and you're up around 11-12,000 pounds, give or take. No Tahoe is rated for that. Depending on how yours is configured, your tow rating will be between 5000 and 8100 lbs. So the short answer is no.
I tow a 7000 lb camper with a 2012 Yukon XL Denali (6.2L) and that's all the weight I'd be willing to tow, and even at that it's a struggle to keep things cool. As far as distributing weight goes, the hitch on your Tahoe is only rated for 1,000 pounds of tongue weight, and that's *with* a weight distributing hitch. But you don't want 1,000 pounds of tongue weight on your hitch - trust me on that. With 11,000+ pounds of total trailer weight, your tongue weight will need to be at least 10-15% of that to reduce sway to manageable levels, and given that leveling cars on a trailer is difficult with the engine of one of them close to the tongue, you'll have a hard time keeping that tongue weight below 2,000 pounds, IMHO. So the long answer is not only no, but hell no. You'd need a minimum 3/4 ton truck for that job.
They do make 2-car tandem trailers, designed to be hauled behind a 2500/3500 truck. Note that they are 15K GVW, with a 2500 lb tongue weight - well beyond the capabilities of a Tahoe:
https://www.appalachiantrailers.com/car-trailers/open-center-two-car-hauler-trailer-15k
Probably your best bet is to rent a U-Haul car trailer for the Pathfinder, and hire a car transport service to take your mini for you. Cross-country will be around $1800, I would guess. A lot cheaper than a new truck.
