What you need to tow with a 2026 GMC Canyon

The 2026 GMC Canyon is rated from 5,500 to 7,700 lb depending on engine and drivetrain — a 40% spread. Find your configuration below, then size the hitch to the trailer you are towing, not to the truck's maximum.

A single towing number for this truck would be a lie. 7,700 lb applies to one exact configuration when properly equipped. Same badge, different engine or drivetrain, and the real figure can be thousands of pounds lower. That is why every row below carries its configuration.

2026 GMC Canyon towing by configuration

Engine	Axle	Cab	Drive	GCWR (lb)	Max trailer (lb)	Requires
2.7L TurboMax	3.42	Crew Cab	2WD	13,250	7,700	—
2.7L TurboMax	3.42	Crew Cab	4WD	13,250	7,700	—
2.7L TurboMax (AT4X)	3.42	Crew Cab	4WD	11,600	6,000	AT4X.
2.7L TurboMax (AT4X AEV Edition)	3.42	Crew Cab	4WD	11,600	5,500	AT4X AEV Edition.

Axle ratio is the spec that gets left out. It changes the rating materially, and no commercial vehicle-data API carries it — which is one reason third-party towing databases have been measured overstating ratings by thousands of pounds. It is on your build sheet, or decodable from the RPO label in the glovebox.

GCWR is the maximum combined weight of the loaded truck and the loaded trailer. Max trailer weight assumes the vehicle is properly equipped and otherwise unloaded — every passenger and every pound of cargo comes off it.

Source: 2026 GMC Canyon manufacturer trailering chart · last verified 2026-08-29

The kit for this truck

Towing hardware is sized to the trailer. Pick the weight you are actually pulling:

Tow 2,500 lb with a Canyon Tow 3,000 lb with a Canyon Tow 3,500 lb with a Canyon Tow 4,000 lb with a Canyon Tow 4,500 lb with a Canyon Tow 5,000 lb with a Canyon Tow 6,000 lb with a Canyon Tow 7,000 lb with a Canyon

At this truck's ceiling (7,700 lb) you would be in Class 3 hardware with a weight-distributing hitch and a brake controller. See the 7,000 lb kit for this vehicle →

Before you trust any of these numbers

Your payload governs. Addition of trailer hitch weight cannot cause vehicle weights to exceed Rear Gross Axle Weight Rating (RGAWR) or Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). These ratings can be found on the certification label located on the driver door or doorframe.
Tongue weight is not free. 10–15% of the trailer sits on your rear axle and comes out of payload, not out of tow rating.
Engines in this chart: 2.7L TurboMax · 2.7L TurboMax (AT4X) · 2.7L TurboMax (AT4X AEV Edition). If yours is not listed, this chart does not cover your configuration.

Common questions

How much can a 2026 GMC Canyon tow?

Between 5,500 and 7,700 lb depending on the exact configuration — that is a 40% spread, so a single headline number is misleading. The 7,700 lb figure requires one specific combination of engine and drivetrain. Look up your own configuration in the table on this page.

What hitch do I need for a 2026 GMC Canyon?

Size the hitch to the trailer, not the truck. For a trailer up to 7,700 lb you need Class 3 hardware with a 2 in receiver, plus a weight-distributing hitch with sway control. The truck's rating is a ceiling you must stay under, not the thing you buy for.

Why is there no payload number on this page?

Because payload is specific to your individual vehicle, not to the model. It is printed on the certification label in your driver's door jamb. Published sources disagree with manufacturers in both directions on payload, so stating one per model would be wrong for most trucks. Your tongue weight counts against payload, which is why it matters.