Trucks are often purchased for their towing capabilities. While compact and midsize trucks may not match the towing power of full-size models, they are still capable of handling a variety of towing tasks.
When manufacturers advertise “maximum towing capacity,” they typically refer to the highest possible rating within a truck’s lineup. Towing capacity can differ depending on factors like the engine, transmission, driveline, and cab size. For example, the Chevrolet Colorado’s towing capacity can vary by as much as 4,200 lbs, depending on the configuration.
Below is an overview of the towing capacity and payload for popular small and midsize trucks:
- Ford Maverick
- Toyota Tacoma
- Ford Ranger
- Jeep Gladiator
- Honda Ridgeline
- Nissan Frontier
- Chevrolet Colorado
- Hyundai Santa Cruz
- GMC Canyon
If you’re unsure which midsize truck is right for you, our guide “Small Trucks: 9 Best Compact Pickups in Canada” can help.
Towing Capabilities of Smaller Trucks
Here’s a range of weights for common items you might tow, including the weight of the trailer:
- Personal watercraft: 900 – 2,500 lbs
- Two snowmobiles on open trailer: 1,150 – 1,600 lbs
- Two snowmobiles in closed trailer: 3,100 – 3,500 lbs
- Small utility trailer: 700 – 1,000 lbs
- Fishing boat: 2,900 – 3,500 lbs
Considerations for Small Truck Towing
Remember to account for the weight of everything in your trailer, including any gear in the truck bed and the number of passengers. Overloading a truck can negatively impact its braking and handling.
Here are the towing capacities and payloads for compact and midsize trucks available in Canada:
Ford Maverick
- Towing capacity: 2,000 – 4,000 lbs
- Payload capacity: 1,500 lbs
- Engines:
- -2.5-litre I4 hybrid – 162 hp / 155 lb-ft of torque
- 2.0-litre EcoBoost I4 – 250 hp / 277 lb-ft of torque
- Configuration: Crew Cab
The Ford Maverick is a unibody, hybrid truck based on the Ford Escape and Bronco Sport platforms. It starts with a hybrid powertrain available only in front-wheel drive, but can be upgraded to a turbocharged 2.0-litre engine with all-wheel drive. Both engines offer a 2,000-lb towing capacity, but the 2.0-litre engine can be outfitted with a towing package that increases capacity to 4,000 lbs.
Toyota Tacoma
- Towing capacity: 6,400 – 6,500 lbs
- Payload capacity: 1,096 – 1,285 lbs
- Engine: 3.5-litre V6 – 278 hp / 265 lb-ft of torque
- Configurations: Access Cab, Double Cab
The Toyota Tacoma is a body-on-frame truck known for its reliability. It comes in Access Cab (with rear-hinged back doors and four-passenger seating) and Double Cab (with four doors and five-passenger seating). Both configurations come with a six-foot bed and four-wheel drive. The Access Cab can tow up to 6,500 lbs, while the Double Cab tops out at 6,400 lbs.
Ford Ranger
- Towing capacity: 7,500 lbs
- Payload capacity: 1,430 – 1,650 lbs
- Engine: 2.3-litre EcoBoost I4 – 270 hp / 310 lb-ft of torque
- Configurations: SuperCab, SuperCrew
The Ford Ranger is a body-on-frame truck available in SuperCab and SuperCrew configurations. Both offer four-wheel drive and a 7,500-lb towing capacity. The SuperCab has a payload capacity of up to 1,650 lbs, while the SuperCrew can handle up to 1,560 lbs.
Jeep Gladiator
- Towing capacity: 4,000 – 7,700 lbs
- Payload capacity: 1,075 – 1,710 lbs
- Engines:**
- 3.6-litre V6 – 285 hp / 260 lb-ft of torque
- 3.0-litre V6 EcoDiesel – 260 hp / 442 lb-ft of torque
- Configuration: Crew Cab
The Jeep Gladiator, a midsize body-on-frame truck, shares its cab with the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. It offers a maximum towing capacity ranging from 4,000 lbs to 7,700 lbs, depending on the engine and transmission. Payload capacity ranges from 1,075 to 1,710 lbs.
Honda Ridgeline
- Towing capacity: 5,000 lbs
- Payload capacity: 1,486 – 1,530 lbs
- Engine: 3.5-litre V6 – 280 hp / 262 lb-ft of torque
- Configuration: Crew Cab
The Honda Ridgeline is an SUV-based pickup with all-wheel drive and a consistent towing capacity of 5,000 lbs across all trims. Payload varies slightly between trims, with the base Sport trim offering the highest at 1,530 lbs.
Nissan Frontier
- Towing capacity: 6,240 – 6,490 lbs
- Payload capacity: 1,140 – 1,400 lbs
- Engine: 3.8-litre V6 – 310 hp / 281 lb-ft of torque
- Configurations: King Cab, Crew Cab
The Nissan Frontier is a recently redesigned midsize truck available in King Cab and Crew Cab configurations. It offers a towing capacity ranging from 6,240 to 6,490 lbs, with a payload capacity of up to 1,400 lbs.
Chevrolet Colorado
- Towing capacity: 3,500 – 7,700 lbs
- Payload capacity: 1,367 – 1,550 lbs
- Engines (2022):
- 2.5-litre I4 – 200 hp / 191 lb-ft of torque
- 3.6-litre V6 – 308 hp / 275 lb-ft of torque
- 2.8-litre I4 turbodiesel – 181 hp / 369 lb-ft of torque
- Engines (2023):
- 2.7-litre Turbo I4 – 237 hp / 259 lb-ft of torque
- 2.7-litre Turbo Plus I4 – 310 hp / 390 lb-ft of torque
- 2.7-litre Turbo High Output I4 – 310 hp / 430 lb-ft of torque
- Configurations: Extended Cab, Crew Cab with 5-foot-2 bed, Crew Cab with 6-foot-2 bed
The Chevrolet Colorado, a midsize body-on-frame truck, offers a wide range of towing capacities depending on the engine and configuration. For 2023, the Colorado features a new 2.7-litre turbocharged engine in three power variants.
Hyundai Santa Cruz
- Towing capacity: 1,650 – 5,000 lbs
- Payload capacity: 1,609 lbs
- Engine: 2.5-litre turbocharged I4 – 281 hp / 311 lb-ft of torque
- Configuration: Crew Cab
The Hyundai Santa Cruz, based on the Tucson SUV, offers a towing capacity ranging from 1,650 lbs for regular trailers to 5,000 lbs for trailers with their own braking systems. Payload capacity is up to 1,609 lb
GMC Canyon
- Towing capacity: 3,500 – 7,700 lbs
- Payload capacity: 1,398 – 1,578 lbs
- Engines (2022):
- 2.5-litre I4 – 200 hp / 191 lb-ft of torque
- 3.6-litre V6 – 308 hp / 275 lb-ft of torque
- 2.8-litre I4 turbodiesel – 181 hp / 369 lb-ft of torque
- Engine (2023): 2.7-litre Turbo High Output I4 – 310 hp / 430 lb-ft of torque
The GMC Canyon, a mechanical twin to the Chevrolet Colorado, shares similar towing and payload capacities. The 2023 model features a single high-output turbocharged engine option.