1997 GMC Savana 3500 Cargo towing capacity

The 1997 GMC Savana 3500 Cargo is published in one configuration with a tow rating of 10,000 lb (half-ton plus / heavy-duty truck territory).

The table below lists every trim of the 1997 GMC Savana 3500 Cargo with the engine, drivetrain, axle ratio, horsepower, torque, GVWR, curb weight, and payload that go with that trim's headline tow rating. Manufacturers often publish more than one tow figure per truck — a conventional bumper-hitch rating, a weight-distributing rating, and a gooseneck or fifth-wheel rating — so the highest number here is the maximum across all hitch classes the source carries for the trim.

Per-trim breakdown

How to interpret the headline tow figure

Ratings in this range are typically achievable with a weight-distributing hitch and the appropriate tow package. The conventional bumper-pull rating without weight distribution will be lower than the headline figure shown here — usually 5,000 to 8,000 lb. Confirm the hitch class on your vehicle's door-jamb sticker before towing at the upper end.

How this year compares to 1996

The 1996 GMC Savana 3500 Cargo carried a maximum tow rating of 6,500 lb. The 1997 model adds 3,500 lb on top of that — usually a sign the manufacturer added a tow package option, refreshed the powertrain, or revised hitch class certification. See the 1996 GMC Savana 3500 Cargo page for the full per-trim breakdown of the prior year.

Other 1997 GMC models

The rest of GMC's 1997 lineup, ranked by maximum tow rating. Click through for the per-trim breakdown of any of these.

All figures sourced from manufacturer documentation. See our methodology for how the dataset is compiled. Always confirm against your vehicle's door-jamb sticker before towing.