#1G
2026 GMC Sierra 3500hd
89The pick — 36,000 lb tow rating, 5,600 lb payload capacity. Strong tow.
Best 2026 GMC Trucks for Towing
2026 model year only. Ranked on tow score.
Here's how the GMC lineup stacks up on tow. Same rubric across every truck — no brand favors.
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#2
2026 GMC Sierra 2500hd
7118,500 lb tow rating, 3,300 lb payload capacity. Capable tow.
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#3
2026 GMC Sierra 1500
4513,400 lb tow rating, Max tow package. Marginal tow — occasional use.
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#4
2026 GMC Canyon
417,700 lb tow rating, Max tow package. Marginal tow — occasional use.
Spec table
| Model | Max Tow (lbs) | Max Payload (lbs) | Powertrains |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 GMC Sierra 3500hd | 36,000 | 7,442 | 6.6L Duramax Diesel |
| 2026 GMC Sierra 2500hd | 18,500 | 3,979 | 6.6L V8, 6.6L Duramax Diesel |
| 2026 GMC Sierra 1500 | 9,300 | 2,140 | 6.2L V8, 5.3L V8, 4.3L V6 |
| 2026 GMC Canyon | 7,700 | 1,490 | 2.7L Turbo I4 |
How Goose scores Towing
Towing is math, not marketing. I read the sticker, not the ad copy.
Towing is math, not marketing. I read the OEM tow rating, payload, powertrain, and hitch hardware straight off the sticker — the same numbers the manufacturer certifies, not what the ad copy rounds up to. A truck that tows 12,000 lbs but runs out of payload at 1,400 gets called out for it, because your trailer's tongue weight doesn't care about the brochure. Higher score, more trailer, fewer surprises at the scales.
Frequently asked
- What's the difference between towing capacity and payload?
- Towing is what the truck pulls behind it; payload is what it carries, including the trailer's tongue weight, your passengers, and your gear. Most trucks run out of payload before towing. That's the number buyers skip and shouldn't.
- Can a half-ton tow a horse trailer?
- Some can, barely, with the right configuration. Two horses plus a steel trailer eats most of a half-ton's rating and nearly all its payload. I'd rather see you in a 250/2500 with margin than at 98% of a maxed-out 150.
- Why do two identical-looking trucks score differently?
- Axle ratio, powertrain, and tow packages. Two trucks with the same trim badge can be thousands of pounds apart in certified rating. That's why I score the actual configuration, not the model name.
- Does a diesel always score higher for towing?
- Usually on the rating, not always on the score. Diesels dominate heavy towing, but the extra engine weight cuts payload — for lighter trailers, a strong gas engine can be the smarter number.
- What's a good towing score?
- 80+ means built to tow heavy as a primary job. 50–79 handles boats, campers, and equipment with margin. Under 50 tows light duty — fine, as long as your trailer knows it.