How to Set Up 2024 GMC Canyon for Flat Towing

Updated 03/07/2025 | Published 07/09/2024

Question:

Do you have instructions on how to put a 2024 gmc canyon in to flat tow mode

asked by: Ray G

Expert Reply:

Hey Ray, I was able to find the instructions in the owner's manual on how to setup your GMC Canyon for flat towing. Basically what you're going to want to do is:

1. Position the vehicle being towed behind the tow vehicle, facing forward and on a level surface.

2. Securely attach the vehicle being towed to the tow vehicle.

3. Apply the parking brake and start the engine.

4. Shift the transfer case to N (Neutral).

5. With the engine running, release the parking brake and verify that the transfer case is in N?(Neutral) by shifting the transmission to D?(Drive) and then to R? (Reverse). There should be no movement while shifting the transmission.

6. Shift the transmission to P (Park).

7. Release the parking brake.

8. Turn the vehicle off.

9. Turn on the ignition without starting the engine. To do this, take your foot off the brake pedal then press and hold ENGINE START/STOP for five seconds until the green light on the button is illuminated.

10. Disconnect the negative (–) battery cable. See “Negative Battery Cable Disconnection” in Battery.

11. Move the steering wheel to make sure the steering column is unlocked.

12. Verify the transmission is in P?(Park). Failing to put the transmission into P?(Park) before flat towing can damage the transmission.

13. Keep the remote key outside of the vehicle and manually lock the doors. Access the vehicle by using the key in the door lock.

expert reply by: Bryce D

Sue N.

2/22/2025

On our 2025 GMC Canyon, the front passenger door has no button to manually lock and there is no manual key hole. How do we lock this door when the vehicle is in tow mode?

Bryce D.

2/24/2025

@SueN Hey Sue, does the key fob not lock the doors when in tow mode? The fob should still function as it normally would.

Suen

2/24/2025

@BryceD Thanks. We haven't tried it yet. I just assumed that with the battery's negative cable disconnected that the fob would not work. We'll give it a try.

Bryce D.

2/25/2025

@Suen Ok Sue, go ahead and give it a try and feel free to come back if there's any issues!

Sue N.

3/6/2025

Thanks for the procedure above and for answering my question below about locking the doors. We ran through the procedure above for the first time recently. At step 6 to put the transmission into Park, there was a grinding noise as we did this. Is this normal? Thanks much.

Bryce D.

3/7/2025

@SueN Hey Sue, no problem! Your transmission should not be making a grinding noise though. A grinding noise when usually indicates a problem with the transmission itself, most likely caused by worn components.