Cadillac Escalade EXT Towing Capacity: Trailer, Boat Or Jet Ski?

What is the maximum towing capacity of a Cadillac Escalade EXT? And what kind of trailers, boats, or jet skis can it actually tow? In this article, we explain all the ins and outs of the Cadillac Escalade EXT’s towing. First, let us give you a quick answer:

A first-generation Cadillac Escalade EXT produced between 2003 – 2006 has a towing capacity of 7,300 – 8,000 pounds. The second-generation EXT produced between 2007 – 2013 has a towing capacity of 7,400 – 7,600 pounds.

However, that doesn’t tell you the whole story. In the table below, we’ll first explain the maximum towing capacity of this car based on the model year and the available engine types. After that, we also made a list of 22 different types of trailers and told you when the EXT can tow that trailer and when not.

Also read: The Expected Mileage Of A Cadillac Escalade

Maximum Towing Capacity Per Year

First of all, it’s important to look at the maximum towing capacity of the Cadillac Escalade EXT. Because this is a particular Escalade model, there aren’t many different factors involved, making the table easy to read.

The Cadillac Escalade EXT has two generations: the one produced from 2003 – 2006 has a 6.0 L V8 with a minimum towing capacity of 7,300 pounds and 8,000 pounds. The second generation was produced from 2007 – 2013 and had a 6.2 L V8 with a minimum towing capacity of 7,400 pounds and a maximum capacity of 7,600 pounds.

Furthermore, it’s good to know that the Cadillac Escalade EXT is a car that was designed for towing. The EXT includes a 7-wire harness with independent fused trailering circuits and a 7-way sealed connector. Also, it has a tow/haul mode, which means the car will shift quicker when activated, resulting in more torque in lower gears. This is especially useful if the EXT is reaching its maximum capabilities.

Also read: The Drive Systems A Cadillac Escalade Has (Explained)

Can A Cadillac Escalade EXT Tow A Camper Trailer, Boat Or Jet Ski?

Besides knowing how much a Cadillac Escalade EXT can tow, it’s also essential to know what practical implications this has for you as the car owner. Therefore, in the table below, we’ve outlined the average empty and loaded weight of 22 different trailers. For each trailer, we’ve identified whether or not the Cadillac Escalade EXT can tow it or not. The short conclusion is as follows:

Almost all Cadillac Escalade EXT’s will be able to tow a kayak/canoe-, jetski-, motorcycle-, teardrop-, small utility-, a-frame-, fishing boat-, pop-up-, travel-, tow dolly or small horse trailer with a maximum weight of 7,300 pounds.

However, let it be clear that this does not tell the whole story. Below the table, you’ll find extra information for each type of trailer that the EXT can carry. There, we will further elaborate on if the EXT can carry all types of trailers of that specific kind or if there are certain exceptions that you should take into account.

• Kayak: All Cadillac Escalade EXT models will be able to tow a kayak trailer. On average an empty kayak trailer will weigh 200 pounds. A loaded kayak trailer will weigh an average of 400 pound with a maximum of 800 pounds which is well within the range of the Cadillac EXT.
• Jet Ski Trailer: All Cadillac Escalade EXT models will be able to tow a jet ski trailer. On average an empty jet ski trailer will weigh 300 pounds. A loaded jet ski trailer will weigh an average of 1,800 pounds with a maximum of 3,000 pounds which is within the range of the Cadillac EXT.
• Motorcycle Trailer: All Cadillac Escalade EXT models will be able to tow a motorcycle trailer. On average an empty motorcycle trailer will weigh 500 pounds. A loaded motorcycle trailer will weigh an average of 2,400 pounds with a maximum of 3,500 which is within the range of the Cadillac EXT.
• Teardrop Trailer: All Cadillac Escalade EXT models will be able to tow a teardrop trailer. On average an empty teardrop trailer will weigh 1,700 pounds. A loaded teardrop trailer will weigh an average of 2,400 pounds with a maximum of 6,000 pounds which is within the range of the Cadillac EXT.
• Small Open Utility Trailer: All Cadillac Escalade EXT models will be able to tow a small open utility trailer. On average an empty small open utility trailer er will weigh 700 pounds. A loaded small open utility trailer will weigh an average of 2,500 pounds with a maximum of 3,000 pounds which is within the range of the Cadillac EXT.
• A-Frame Camper: All Cadillac Escalade EXT models will be able to tow an a-frame camper. On average an empty a-frame camper weighs 1,700 pounds. A loaded a-frame camper will weigh an average of 2,900 pounds with a maximum of 3,600 pounds which is withing the range of the Cadillac EXT.
• Small Enclosed Utility Trailer: All Cadillac Escalade EXT models will be able to tow a small enclosed utility trailer. On average an empty small enclosed utility trailer weighs 1,000 pounds. A loaded small enclosed utility trailer will weigh an average of 3,200 pounds with a maximum of 7,000 pounds which is within the range of the Cadillac EXT.
• Fishing Boat Trailer: All Cadillac Escalade EXT models will be able to tow a fishing boat trailer. On average an empty fishing boat trailer weighs 600 pounds. A loaded fishing boat trailer will weigh an average of 3,300 pounds with a maximum of 6,000 pounds which is within the range of the Cadillac EXT.
• Pop-Up Camper: All Cadillac Escalade EXT models will be able to tow a pop-up camper. On average an empty pop-up camper weighs 2,300 pounds. A loaded pop-up camper will weigh an average of 3,400 pounds with a maximum of 4,000 pounds which is within the range of the Cadillac EXT.
• Small Travel Trailer: All Cadillac Escalade EXT models will be able to tow a small travel trailer. On average an empty small travel trailer weighs 2,800 pounds. A loaded small travel trailer will weigh an average of 3,600 pounds with a maximum of 4,500 pounds which is within the range of the Cadillac EXT.
• Tow Dolly: All Cadillac Escalade EXT models will be able to tow a tow dolly. On average an empty tow dolly weighs 600 pounds. A loaded tow dolly will weigh an average of 4,000 pounds with a maximum of 5,000 pounds which is within the range of the Cadillac EXT.
• Large Enclosed Utility Trailer: All Cadillac Escalade EXT models will be able to tow a large enclosed utility trailer. On average an empty large enclosed utility trailer weighs 2,700 pounds. A loaded large enclosed utility trailer weighs an average of 7,100 pounds which is within the range of the Cadillac EXT. Some trailers will weigh 10,000 pounds which means an EXT won’t be able to tow it.
• Small Horse Trailer: All Cadillac Escalade EXT models will be able to tow a small horse trailer. On average an empty small horse trailer weighs 2,900 pounds. A loaded small horse trailer weighs an average of 7,200 pounds which is within the range of the Cadillac EXT. Some trailers will weigh 8,000 pounds which means only the 2003 EXT can tow it.

How Well Can A Cadillac Escalade EXT Tow Compared To It’s Competitors?

Besides knowing how much a Cadillac Escalade EXT can tow and what this means in real life, it’s also important to compare the towing capacity of the EXT to its main competitors. The reason for this is that this is essential information if you’re in the market for an EXT.

For this, we took several different competitors and compared the 2013 models, given that this was the last year the EXT was on the market. The results are displayed in the table below.

We can see immediately that the EXT has a strong minimum towing capacity of 7,600 pounds. This towing capacity is a lot more than its competitors, who sometimes only have 4,900 (Toyota Tundra) to start with. However, it does also become clear that the maximum towing capacity of the EXT falls short.

The maximum towing capacity of 7,600 pounds is a lot lower than all of the other cars. The Ford F-150 even has a model that can tow 11,300 pounds. However, we must say that 7,600 pounds is still a lot and still very useful for many practical applications.

If you’re planning on towing many smaller trailers or medium-sized campers, the EXT will serve that purpose. If you’re looking for more pulling power, the competitors may be a better option.

Stefan K.

Hi! My name is Stefan; I’m the owner and lead writer at TheDriverAdviser.com.

I’m an active writer on this blog myself, as well as a novice car mechanic. For the really technical stuff, I find writers with experience as a mechanic or who have studied mechanical engineering.

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