Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon Towing Capacity by Year and Engine

How much can my Colorado or Canyon tow? Year by year

Find your model year below. The figure is the same for both trucks, but it belongs to the engine in the third column with the Trailering Package; a truck without that equipment can be rated far lower.

On an older truck the rating also depends on the cab, wheelbase and drivetrain. The 2015 Chevrolet Trailering Guide and GM's 2019 Duramax Diesel Supplement list every combination.

Which engine you have, and why it matters

Before 2025 the engine decided the rating. Through 2022 the diesel towed the most, up to 7,700 lb, though a used 4WD diesel Crew Cab is rated a little less, 7,550 to 7,600 lb. The off-road Colorado ZR2 diesel is rated only 5,000 lb. On a 2019 truck, the 3.6L V6 is rated 7,000 lb with the Z82 trailering package, and the 2.5L four-cylinder 3,500 lb. A bumper-mounted hitch is limited to 3,500 lb.

The 2023 Colorado's 2.7L turbo came in three tunes, as set out in Chevrolet's launch release for the 2023 Colorado. The base 2.7L Turbo, standard on Work Truck and LT, is rated 3,500 lb, in the territory of compact pickups such as the Ford Maverick. The Turbo Plus and the High-Output are rated 7,700 lb, except the ZR2 at up to 6,000 lb. Every 2023 Canyon got the High-Output tune, so none is limited to 3,500 lb. From 2024 the stronger tunes are called TurboMax, and from 2025 every truck has the same engine.

Which 2026 Colorado or Canyon tows 7,700 lb

Every 2026 truck has the same engine, so the rating comes down to equipment: the factory Trailering Package (GM's option code Z82) and, on four-wheel drive, the limited-slip rear differential (G80). The table gives each trim's best towing figure and the most payload GM lists for it, for Crew Cab trucks with the 5' box.

Your own truck's figure depends on its cab, drivetrain and trim. The 2026 Chevrolet Trailering Guide and GMC's 2026 Canyon Max Trailering chart list every combination. 4WD versions of the Work Truck, LT and Elevation carry a little less than the payload in the table, which comes from GM's 2026 Fleet Guide.

Without the Trailering Package, a truck with only an accessory hitch and wiring is rated 3,500 lb. The Colorado ZR2 Bison and Canyon AT4X AEV Edition top out at 5,500 lb. The hitch and tongue weight rules are in GM's 2026 Colorado/Canyon Trailer Towing Supplement.

Can a Colorado or Canyon pull a camper?

A smaller travel trailer, yes, as long as both the camper's loaded weight and the truck's payload fit.

Compare the rating with the trailer's GVWR, its maximum loaded weight from the federal certification label, not the dry or brochure weight. A full fresh water tank adds weight too; the yellow cargo carrying capacity label on every RV trailer, required under 49 CFR 571.120, says how much.

Then check payload, which usually decides what a midsize truck can actually pull. Tongue weight counts against the truck's payload, along with passengers, gear and anything in the bed. A 2026 truck offers 1,260 to 1,710 lb, so a full 770 lb of tongue weight can use up close to half of it before anyone climbs in.

If the trailer you want is heavier than 7,700 lb, look at a half-ton pickup or one of the SUVs rated to tow a travel trailer.

Hitch, brakes and tongue weight

Near the top of the rating, GM asks for a weight-distributing hitch, trailer brakes and tongue weight kept within its limits.

Keep tongue weight at 10% to 15% of the loaded trailer weight, up to 770 lb, without pushing the truck past its rear axle rating (GAWR) or its maximum loaded weight (GVWR). At the 7,700 lb maximum, tongue weight is capped at 10%, which is the 770 lb limit.

• A weight-distributing hitch is optional up to 6,000 lb of trailer weight and required above it, set to 50% distribution.
• Fit trailer brakes on any trailer over 1,500 lb, and check your state's own minimum.
• The built-in trailer brake controller, where fitted, works only with electric or most electric-over-hydraulic trailer brakes.

General towing practice, including brake and lighting rules, is covered by NHTSA's towing guidance.

Finding the figure for your own truck

The labels on your truck tell you how much weight it can carry; its tow rating comes from matching its build to the right year.

The Tire and Loading Information label, on the door pillar or the front edge of the rear door, shows how much weight the truck can carry. The Certification/Tire label beside the driver's seat, required by 49 CFR 567.4, may show GVWR and the front and rear axle ratings (GAWR). Unlike a Silverado, a Colorado has no trailering label, so check its engine, cab, drivetrain, trim and the Z82 and G80 options against that year's GM guide; the full procedure is in the guide to how to find your own truck's rating.

Colorado or Canyon, and other midsize trucks

The two trucks tow the same: GM gives both the same maximum in every model year from 2015 to 2026. Only a few trims differ, such as the 2024 Colorado ZR2 Bison at 5,900 lb and the Canyon AT4X AEV at 5,800 lb.

Against other midsize trucks such as the Toyota Tacoma, compare payload and tongue weight limits, not headline tow ratings: each maker's maximum applies only to its best-equipped version.

Common questions