2026 Rivian R1S towing capacity

US & Canada

Every rating Rivian publishes for the 2026 R1S, read from Rivian's own documents, in pounds and kilograms.

How much can the 2026 Rivian R1S tow?

Rivian rates the R1S by generation (Gen 2, 2025 onward), not by model year. These are the current Gen 2 figures; the Owner's Guide read covers model years 2025 and 2026.

7,700 lb Max conventional towing (3,493 kg)
Not published Max fifth wheel or gooseneck
2,161 lb Max payload (980 kg)
Not published Max conventional tongue load

Rivian rates the 2026 Rivian R1S to tow up to 7,700 lb (3,493 kg) on a ball hitch in 5 configurations, for example Gen 2, Standard battery, Dual-Motor AWD, with Weight distributing hitch; 5,000 lb without one. Source: Rivian Support, What is the maximum towing capacity?. Maximum payload is 2,161 lb (980 kg) (Rivian Support, What is the maximum payload?).

A maximum is one truck, not yours. The rating that applies is the one for your exact cab, bed, engine, drive, axle and packages, and it is printed on the labels in the driver's door opening. Find your row in the table below, then check payload and GCWR as well: a truck often runs out of payload before it reaches its tow rating.

2026 Rivian R1S towing capacity chart

Conventional (ball hitch) ratings, one row per configuration Rivian prints, grouped where the guide repeats a figure. Pounds are Rivian's figures; kilograms are converted from them.

2026 Rivian R1S: maximum loaded trailer weight by configuration, conventional hitch
Configuration GCWR Max trailer Needs Source
Gen 2, Standard battery, Dual-Motor AWD Not published 7,700 lb 3,493 kg Weight distributing hitch; 5,000 lb without one Rivian lists maximum payload 1,973 lb for this configuration Rivian Support, Gen 2 R1S (2025+) table
Gen 2, Large battery, Dual-Motor AWD Not published 7,700 lb 3,493 kg Weight distributing hitch; 5,000 lb without one Rivian lists maximum payload 2,161 lb for this configuration Rivian Support, Gen 2 R1S (2025+) table
Gen 2, Max battery, Dual-Motor AWD Not published 7,700 lb 3,493 kg Weight distributing hitch; 5,000 lb without one Rivian lists maximum payload 1,764 lb for this configuration Rivian Support, Gen 2 R1S (2025+) table
Gen 2, Max battery, Tri-Motor AWD Not published 7,700 lb 3,493 kg Weight distributing hitch; 5,000 lb without one Rivian lists maximum payload 1,764 lb for this configuration Rivian Support, Gen 2 R1S (2025+) table
Gen 2, Max battery, Quad-Motor AWD Not published 7,700 lb 3,493 kg Weight distributing hitch; 5,000 lb without one Rivian lists maximum payload 1,764 lb for this configuration Rivian Support, Gen 2 R1S (2025+) table
About the figures.

The Owner's Guide gives 7,700 lb as 3,492 kg; Rivian's Canadian support article gives 3,494 kg. Both are the same 7,700 lb rating.

Rivian's R1S model page shows payload 1,764 lb on its towing card, lower than the 1,973 lb and 2,161 lb the support article lists for the Dual Standard and Dual Large. The rows use the support article's per-configuration figures; the door sticker has the figure for your vehicle.

What the R1S needs to tow its rating

These come from Rivian's own documents, cited in the sources below.

  • Rivian: "A weight distributing hitch is required to achieve the maximum towing capability of R1S and R1T. Without a weight distributing hitch, the towing capacity is 5,000 lbs."
  • Rivian recommends a tongue weight of approximately 10% of the total loaded trailer weight. Rivian prints no maximum tongue rating for the receiver in the documents read.
  • The R1S has an integrated 2 in (5 cm) Class IV receiver and a 7-pin trailer connector behind the hitch cover under the rear bumper.
  • The R1S supports electric trailer brakes: set Trailer Brake Gain in Drive Modes > Trailers, and use the right thumbwheel for the manual trailer brake. Rivian says support for other braking systems will come in a future update.
  • Trailer loads transfer to the vehicle and count against cargo capacity; the GVWR is on the Certification Label on the B-pillar lower door jamb.
  • Rivian: "Dinghy towing or flat towing isn't supported." Tow charging another EV will damage both vehicles.
  • When a trailer is connected, Adaptive Cruise Control (Manual Cruise Control remains), Highway Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Automatic Emergency Braking, Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Cross-Traffic Warning are disabled; trailer sway control is always on.

Payload, tongue weight and GCWR: the limits you hit first

Our guidance, not a rule. This is how the ratings above fit together, not a figure from Rivian.

The tow rating is only one of five limits. The trailer's tongue weight sits on the truck, so it comes out of payload along with every passenger and everything in the bed, and it loads the rear axle. The truck and trailer together must stay under GCWR. A truck with a big crew and a full bed can reach its payload or GCWR with a trailer well under its tow rating. Run your own numbers in Can I tow this?, which checks all three at once and names the one you hit first, or work through them one at a time with the payload calculator and the tongue weight calculator.

2026 Rivian R1S towing capacity in Canada

Same limits. Rivian's Canadian articles list every Gen 2 R1S at 3,494 kg (7,700 lb) with a weight distributing hitch and 2,268 kg (5,000 lb) without, and the same payload figures (895 kg / 1,973 lb, 980 kg / 2,161 lb, 800 kg / 1,764 lb). Source: Rivian Support (en-CA), What is the maximum towing capacity? ; Rivian Support (en-CA), What is the maximum payload? .

On a Canadian truck the certification label gives GVWR in kilograms, labelled both GVWR and PNBV (Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations (C.R.C., c. 1038), s. 6(1)(e)(i)). The figures to trust are the ones on your own door opening.

Check your own R1S

Sources

Every document below was opened and read on the date shown. Ratings are the maker's; we have not tested them.

  • Rivian Support, What is the maximum towing capacity?: Gen 2 R1S (2025+): Standard Dual, Large Dual, Max Dual, Max Tri and Max Quad are all 7,700 lb. Gen 2 R1T (2025+): Standard Dual and Large Dual 7,700 lb; Max Dual, Max Tri and Max Quad 11,000 lb. Without a weight distributing hitch both are 5,000 lb. Quoted: "A weight distributing hitch is required to achieve the maximum towing capability of R1S and R1T. Without a weight distributing hitch, the towing capacity is 5,000 lbs." Checked 2026-10-24.
  • Rivian Support, What is the maximum payload?: R1S Gen 2 (2025+) maximum payload: Dual Standard 1,973 lb, Dual Large 2,161 lb, Dual Max 1,764 lb, Tri Max 1,764 lb, Quad Max 1,764 lb. Quoted: "Check your vehicle's door sticker to see its specific payload value." Checked 2026-10-24.
  • Rivian, R1S Owner's Guide, Model Year 2025-2026 (United States, software 2026.23, August 2026), Towing a Trailer, pp. 249 to 254 (loading notes p. 109): Rivian recommends a tongue weight of approximately 10% of the total loaded trailer weight. The R1S has an integrated 2 in (5 cm) Class IV receiver and a 7-pin connector. The vehicle supports electric trailer brakes with a Trailer Brake Gain setting and a manual trailer brake. Dinghy (flat) towing is not supported, and tow charging another EV damages both vehicles. Trailer loads count against cargo capacity; GVWR is on the Certification Label on the B-pillar. Adaptive Cruise Control, Highway Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Automatic Emergency Braking, Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Cross-Traffic Warning are disabled when towing; trailer sway control is always on. Quoted: "The R1S can tow up to 7,700 lbs (3,492 kg) using a weight distributing hitch, and up to 5,000 lbs (2,267 kg) using a standard hitch." Checked 2026-10-24.
  • Rivian, R1S model page, towing spec card: The R1S page's towing card lists towing capacity up to 7,700 lb and payload 1,764 lb, and carries the same Gen 2 towing tables as the support article. The page's lease examples refer to 2027 R1S models. Quoted: "Actual vehicle capability will depend on selected options and trim." Checked 2026-10-24.
  • Rivian Support (en-CA), What is the maximum towing capacity?: Canadian article: every Gen 2 R1S (2025+) configuration is 3,494 kg (7,700 lb) with a weight distributing hitch and 2,268 kg (5,000 lb) without; the same figures as the US article. Quoted: "Without a weight distributing hitch, the towing capacity is 2,268 kg (5,000 lb)." Checked 2026-10-24.
  • Rivian Support (en-CA), What is the maximum payload?: Canadian article: R1S Gen 2 payload Dual Standard 895 kg (1,973 lb), Dual Large 980 kg (2,161 lb), Dual Max, Tri Max and Quad Max 800 kg (1,764 lb); the same pound figures as the US article. Quoted: "Dual Large: 980 kg (2,161 lbs)" Checked 2026-10-24.

Common questions

How much can a Rivian R1S tow?
7,700 lb with a weight distributing hitch, on every Gen 2 (2025 onward) battery and motor combination. Without a weight distributing hitch the limit is 5,000 lb (2,268 kg).
What is the max towing capacity of the R1S Quad?
7,700 lb, the same as every other R1S, and it needs a weight distributing hitch above 5,000 lb. Its maximum payload is 1,764 lb.
How does the R1S compare with the R1T for towing?
Rivian rates the Gen 2 R1T higher on the Max battery: 11,000 lb for the Max Dual, Tri and Quad, and 7,700 lb for the Standard and Large Dual. Every Gen 2 R1S is 7,700 lb. Both need a weight distributing hitch above 5,000 lb.
Do I need a weight distributing hitch to tow with an R1S?
Only above 5,000 lb. Rivian says a weight distributing hitch is required to reach 7,700 lb and caps the R1S at 5,000 lb without one.
What is the R1S payload?
Rivian lists 1,973 lb (Dual Standard), 2,161 lb (Dual Large) and 1,764 lb (Dual Max, Tri Max and Quad Max). Tongue weight, passengers and cargo all count against it; the door sticker has your vehicle's figure.
What tongue weight should I run on an R1S?
Rivian recommends about 10% of the loaded trailer weight, which is 770 lb at the 7,700 lb limit. Rivian does not print a separate maximum tongue rating in the documents we read, so check that the tongue weight plus people and cargo stays inside your payload.
Does the R1S have a built-in trailer brake controller?
Yes for electric trailer brakes. You set the gain in Drive Modes > Trailers and can apply the trailer brakes alone with the right thumbwheel. Rivian says other brake types will be supported in a later update.
Can you flat tow a Rivian R1S?
No. Rivian says dinghy towing or flat towing isn't supported.