Built, Driven, Camped, and Tested
Hitting 30,000 miles is a solid milestone for any vehicle – especially one that has been used for camping, trails, road trips, and real-world abuse. After living with my GMC Canyon for 30,000 miles, I can confidently say this truck has been reliable, capable, and genuinely fun to own.
Everyday Space & Road Trips with Dogs
For daily driving and weekend camping trips, the Canyon has been great. There’s plenty of space for myself and my two German Shepherds, especially for shorter trips. That said, anything over four hours does start to feel cramped – mainly for the dogs.
That’s where my future plans come in. My goal is to add a truck bed cap and turn the bed into a comfortable, secure space for them. Once that’s done, longer road trips should be far more comfortable and less crowded. As it sits now, space can become limited if you’re carrying rear-seated passengers or dogs, which is worth considering if that’s a regular use case for you.
Towing Performance
I haven’t towed often, but when I have, the truck has handled it perfectly. Power delivery is smooth and exactly what you’d want out of a modern, midsize truck. Just note, you will not get the same acceleration you’d expect out of a full-size or a diesel. But, this truck is awesome when it comes down to it, I was even able to pull a trailer that was loaded down with my Bronco to the shop! Overall, I am super impressed with how well these little trucks handle the weight.
Modifying & The Aftermarket Reality
Building and modifying the Canyon has been a blast, but let’s be honest, the aftermarket is still limited. There are options, just nowhere near the variety you find when it comes to Tacomas, Jeeps, or Broncos.
That said, the platform is growing, and the mods that are available do the job well. If you’re someone who wants unlimited bolt-on choices day one, this may be frustrating. If you enjoy piecing together a build as the market expands, it’s still a solid experience.
Maintenance & Reliability
From a maintenance standpoint, the truck has been excellent. No major issues, no breakdowns, and no surprises. The only problems I’ve encountered have been minor and fairly inexpensive:
- A dome light button popped out of place (easy DIY fix)
- Brake pads wore down early and need replacement
- A radiator hose leak, which is a known and a simple repair
The brake pad sensor also broke, but it comes with the new brake kit, so that’s a non-issue. I would also like to note that before my sensor broke, it said my brake pads had 80% life left… that was a total like, so don’t fully put your trust in those sensors.
These are the only issues I’ve had in 30,000 miles.
Dealership Reality Check
A word of advice… avoid the GM dealership if you can.
They quoted me $800+ to replace the brake pads – which is crazy. A shop like Silo Hill Customs can do the same job for under $400, or you can do it yourself for roughly $150 in parts for front and rear pads.
This is a good example of why having a trusted independent shop – or doing basic maintenance yourself – makes a big difference in ownership costs.
Camping & Storage
Camping with the Canyon has been awesome. Even as a midsize truck, the bed space is extremely usable. I can carry all my camping gear and still have room left over. With the right setup, storage has never felt like a limitation.
Off-Road Performance
This is where the truck really shines.
Despite being the Elevation trim – which doesn’t include 4-low or lockers – the Canyon performs incredibly well on the trails. It’s capable, predictable, and honestly outperforms vehicles that people expect to do better. Yes… even Jeeps. 😉
For the kind of trails I run, it’s been more than enough.
Comfort, Power & Fuel Efficiency
The ride is comfortable, steering is soft, and the interior feels luxurious (in my opinion). Power has never been an issue – on road or off. Fuel economy could be better, but that’s the trade-off you make when you add bigger tires.
No regrets there.
Final Verdict
If I had to do it all over again?
I absolutely would.
The only change I’d make is choosing the AT4 trim for 4-low and rear lockers – not because I’ve needed them, but because it would be nice to have. Even without them, I’ve never been in a situation where the truck couldn’t handle what I threw at it.
At 30,000 miles, this GMC Canyon has proven itself to be reliable, capable, comfortable, and worth every mile.