If you are looking into the buick enclave 2017 towing capacity, you likely want to know if this luxury crossover can handle your weekend toys, like a pair of jet skis or a modest teardrop camper. The short answer is that while the Enclave is mostly known for its quiet cabin and smooth ride, it actually packs enough punch to be a decent tow vehicle, provided you have the right equipment installed.
For the 2017 model year, the Buick Enclave offers a maximum towing capacity of 4,500 pounds. However, there is a catch that catches a lot of used car buyers off guard: that 4,500-pound limit is only achievable if the vehicle is equipped with the factory-installed Trailering Provision Package. Without that specific package, you are looking at a much lower limit of just 2,000 pounds. That is a massive difference if you are planning to pull anything heavier than a basic utility trailer.
Breaking down the numbers
Let's look at why those two numbers exist. The base buick enclave 2017 towing capacity of 2,000 pounds is basically what the car can handle "out of the box" without any extra cooling or structural help. This is fine for a small cargo trailer or a bike rack, but it's not going to cut it for a real boat.
To get to that 4,500-pound sweet spot, Buick added the V08 Trailering Package. This wasn't just a hitch bolted onto the back; it included a heavy-duty cooling system and a wiring harness. The cooling system is the real hero here. When you are pulling heavy weight uphill on a hot July afternoon, your engine and transmission generate an incredible amount of heat. Without that heavy-duty radiator and cooling setup, you risk frying your transmission or overheating the motor, which is a recipe for a very expensive repair bill.
If you're shopping for a used 2017 Enclave, don't just take the seller's word for it. Look for the "V08" code on the silver sticker located in the glove box. That's the only way to be 100% sure the car was built to handle the higher weight.
What can you actually tow?
Visualizing 4,500 pounds can be a bit tricky if you aren't a regular at the weigh scales. To give you a better idea of what the buick enclave 2017 towing capacity looks like in the real world, here are a few things you could comfortably (and safely) tow:
- A small fiberglass outboard boat: Most 17- to 19-foot boats on a trailer will fall well within the 3,000 to 4,000-pound range once you account for fuel and gear.
- A pop-up camper: These usually weigh between 1,500 and 3,000 pounds, making them an easy task for the Enclave.
- Two personal watercraft (PWC): A trailer with two jet skis usually weighs around 2,500 pounds.
- Small livestock trailer: If you're hauling a single horse or some sheep, you might be okay, but you'll want to watch the tongue weight closely.
One thing to keep in mind is that the 4,500-pound limit includes everything—the trailer itself, the water in the tanks, the gear inside, and even the fuel. It's always a smart move to leave yourself a 10% to 15% buffer rather than maxing out the capacity every time you hit the road.
The power behind the pull
The 2017 Enclave is powered by a 3.6-liter V6 engine that puts out 288 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque. While those numbers might seem a bit modest compared to the massive diesel trucks you see on the highway, they are perfectly adequate for a mid-size crossover.
The 6-speed automatic transmission is geared more for comfort and fuel economy than raw pulling power, but it does a respectable job of finding the right gear when you're under load. One thing you'll notice when utilizing the buick enclave 2017 towing capacity is that the engine likes to rev. Don't be alarmed if the tachometer climbs higher than usual when you're merging onto the highway or climbing a grade; that V6 needs to breathe to get that weight moving.
Payload vs. Towing: The silent killer
This is where a lot of people get into trouble. Just because your Enclave is rated to tow 4,500 pounds doesn't mean you can also fill the interior with seven passengers and a mountain of luggage.
Towing capacity and payload capacity are two different things, but they affect each other. Every pound of "tongue weight" (the weight the trailer puts down on the hitch) counts toward your total payload. If you have a 4,500-pound trailer, your tongue weight is likely around 450 pounds. That 450 pounds comes directly off the amount of weight you can carry inside the cabin.
If you've got the whole family and a week's worth of camping gear inside, you might actually exceed the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) even if the trailer itself is under the limit. It's a bit of a balancing act, and it's always better to be safe than sorry.
How it feels on the road
The Enclave is built on a unibody platform, which means it drives more like a car than a traditional truck. This is great for daily driving—it's smooth, quiet, and doesn't feel like a tank. When towing, this translates to a very stable and predictable experience.
The long wheelbase of the 2017 Enclave helps prevent the "porpoising" effect, where the trailer and car bounce rhythmically over bumps. It stays planted. However, because it has a softer suspension tuned for luxury, you might notice some "rear-end squat" if your trailer is heavy. If the back of the car is sitting significantly lower than the front, it can affect your steering and braking. In those cases, a weight-distribution hitch can be a lifesaver, as it helps level the load across all four wheels.
Safety features that help
Buick didn't skimp on safety for this generation. When you're testing the buick enclave 2017 towing capacity, you'll have the support of StabiliTrak, which is GM's electronic stability control system. It includes trailer sway control, which can sense if the trailer is starting to fish-tail and will automatically apply the car's brakes to straighten things out.
The 2017 model also has a rearview camera as standard, which makes hooking up a trailer by yourself much less of a headache. You won't have to get out of the car five times to see if you're lined up with the ball.
Comparisons to the competition
Back in 2017, the Enclave was competing with vehicles like the Honda Pilot, the Toyota Highlander, and its own cousins, the Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Acadia.
Compared to the Pilot and Highlander of that year (which were generally rated around 5,000 pounds), the Enclave falls slightly short on paper with its 4,500-pound limit. However, the Enclave offers a much larger interior and a significantly more comfortable ride. If you only tow a few times a year but spend 300 days a year commuting, the trade-off for the Enclave's luxury and space usually makes sense for most people.
Maintenance tips for towers
If you plan on regularly using your Enclave to haul heavy loads, you can't just stick to the standard maintenance schedule. Towing puts a lot of stress on your fluids.
- Transmission Fluid: Heat is the enemy of transmission fluid. If you tow often, consider changing your fluid more frequently than the manual suggests.
- Brakes: Stopping a car is hard. Stopping a car plus a two-ton trailer is much harder. Keep a close eye on your brake pads and rotors. If you feel any pulsing or hear squealing, get them checked immediately.
- Tires: Check your tire pressure before every trip. Low pressure increases heat buildup, which can lead to a blowout when you're under the extra weight of a trailer.
Final thoughts
The buick enclave 2017 towing capacity makes it a versatile choice for families who need a "do-it-all" vehicle. It's not a heavy-duty pickup truck, and it shouldn't be treated like one. You won't be hauling large horse trailers or heavy construction equipment with this.
But for the average family looking to take a boat to the lake or bring a camper to a national park, it's more than capable. Just remember to check for that factory trailering package, keep an eye on your total weight, and enjoy the ride. After all, the best part of the Enclave is that you can get to your destination in total comfort, even with a trailer tagged along behind you.