Tow Ratings Towing capacity for every US vehicle, 1991 to today

2001 GMC Sierra 1500 towing capacity

The 2001 GMC Sierra 1500 is published in 21 configurations, with tow ratings ranging from 8,100 to 9,300 lb depending on cab, bed, drivetrain, and hitch class. The peak figure (9,300 lb) sits in full-size truck and SUV territory.

The table below lists every trim of the 2001 GMC Sierra 1500 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

Configuration Engine HP Torque Axle Tow (lb) GVWR Curb Payload
SL 4x2 Regular Cab 6.5 ft. box 119 in. WB — 200 260 3.08 8,600 6,100 4,048 2,052
SLE 4x2 Regular Cab 6.5 ft. box 119 in. WB — 270 285 3.08 8,600 6,100 4,133 1,967
SL 4x2 Regular Cab 8 ft. box 133 in. WB — 200 260 3.08 8,500 6,400 4,147 2,253
SLE 4x2 Regular Cab 8 ft. box 133 in. WB — 270 285 3.08 8,500 6,400 4,255 2,145
SL 4x2 Extended Cab 6.5 ft. box 143.5 in. WB — 270 285 3.42 8,300 6,200 4,378 1,822
SLE 4x2 Extended Cab 6.5 ft. box 143.5 in. WB — 270 285 3.42 8,300 6,200 4,654 1,546
SLT 4x2 Extended Cab 6.5 ft. box 143.5 in. WB — 270 285 3.42 8,300 6,200 4,649 1,551
SL 4x4 Regular Cab 6.5 ft. box 119 in. WB — 270 285 3.73 9,300 6,100 4,337 1,763
SLE 4x4 Regular Cab 6.5 ft. box 119 in. WB — 270 285 3.73 9,300 6,100 4,422 1,678
SL 4x4 Regular Cab 8 ft. box 133 in. WB — 270 285 3.73 9,200 6,400 4,453 1,947
SLE 4x4 Regular Cab 8 ft. box 133 in. WB — 270 285 3.73 9,200 6,400 4,561 1,839
SL 4x4 Extended Cab 6.5 ft. box 143.5 in. WB — 270 285 3.73 9,000 6,400 4,749 1,651
SLE 4x4 Extended Cab 6.5 ft. box 143.5 in. WB — 270 285 3.73 9,000 6,400 4,901 1,499
SLT 4x4 Extended Cab 6.5 ft. box 143.5 in. WB — 270 285 3.73 9,000 6,400 4,895 1,505
C3 4x4 Extended Cab 6.5 ft. box 143.5 in. WB — 325 370 3.73 8,700 6,800 5,013 1,787
SL 4x2 Extended Cab 8 ft. box 157.5 in. WB — 270 285 3.42 8,100 6,400 4,656 1,744
SLE 4x2 Extended Cab 8 ft. box 157.5 in. WB — 270 285 3.42 8,100 6,400 4,801 1,599
SLT 4x2 Extended Cab 8 ft. box 157.5 in. WB — 270 285 3.42 8,100 6,400 4,804 1,596
SL 4x4 Extended Cab 8 ft. box 157.5 in. WB — 270 285 3.73 8,800 6,400 4,950 1,450
SLE 4x4 Extended Cab 8 ft. box 157.5 in. WB — 270 285 3.73 8,800 6,400 5,099 1,301
SLT 4x4 Extended Cab 8 ft. box 157.5 in. WB — 270 285 3.73 8,800 6,400 5,099 1,301

How to interpret the headline tow figure

Tow ratings at this level are normally achievable with a conventional Class II or Class III receiver hitch. Always verify your vehicle has the manufacturer's tow package installed if you intend to tow at the upper end of the rating, and inspect the door-jamb sticker for the actual maximum permitted on your specific configuration.

How this year compares to 2000

The 2000 GMC Sierra 1500 carried a maximum tow rating of 9,400 lb. The 2001 model is rated 100 lb lower — sometimes a real spec change, sometimes a re-test under a stricter standard like SAE J2807. See the 2000 GMC Sierra 1500 page for the full per-trim breakdown of the prior year.

Other 2001 GMC models

The rest of GMC's 2001 lineup, ranked by maximum tow rating. Click through for the per-trim breakdown of any of these.

Model Max tow (lb)
2001 GMC Sierra 2500hd 15,900
2001 GMC Sierra 3500 15,700
2001 GMC Sierra 2500 HD Crew CAB 12,000
2001 GMC Sierra 2500 HD Extended CAB 12,000
2001 GMC Sierra 3500 Crew CAB 12,000
2001 GMC Sierra 3500 Extended CAB 12,000

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.