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

2003 GMC Sierra 1500 towing capacity

The 2003 GMC Sierra 1500 is published in 48 configurations, with tow ratings ranging from 7,900 to 10,200 lb depending on cab, bed, drivetrain, and hitch class. The peak figure (10,200 lb) sits in half-ton plus / heavy-duty truck territory.

The table below lists every trim of the 2003 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
SLE Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V8, 5.3 Liter 285 325 — 8,800 — 4,548 —
Pickup 2D 6 1/2 ft V6, 4.3 Liter 200 260 — 9,100 — 4,142 —
Work Truck Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V6, 4.3 Liter 200 260 — 8,100 — 4,548 —
SLT Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V8, 5.3 Liter 285 325 — 8,800 — 4,548 —
SLE Pickup 2D 6 1/2 ft V8, 4.8 Liter 270 285 — 9,100 — 4,142 —
SLT Pickup 4D 8 ft V8, 5.3 Liter 285 325 — 8,700 — 4,810 —
Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V8, 5.3 Liter 285 325 — 8,800 — 4,548 —
SLE Pickup 4D 8 ft V8, 5.3 Liter 285 325 — 8,700 — 4,810 —
Pickup 2D 8 ft V8, 4.8 Liter 270 285 — 9,000 — 4,227 —
Pickup 4D 8 ft V8, 5.3 Liter 285 325 — 8,700 — 4,810 —
SLE Pickup 2D 8 ft V8, 5.3 Liter 285 325 — 9,000 — 4,227 —
SLE Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V8, 6.0 Liter 0 0 — 10,200 — 5,506 —
Denali Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V8, 6.0 Liter 325 370 — 10,000 — 5,013 —
SLT Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V8, 6.0 Liter 0 0 — 10,200 — 5,506 —
SLE Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V8, 5.3 Liter 285 325 — 8,800 — 4,548 —
Work Truck Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V6, 4.3 Liter 200 260 — 8,100 — 4,548 —
SLT Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V8, 5.3 Liter 285 325 — 8,800 — 4,548 —
SLT Pickup 4D 8 ft V8, 5.3 Liter 285 325 — 8,700 — 4,810 —
Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V8, 5.3 Liter 285 325 — 8,800 — 4,548 —
SLE Pickup 4D 8 ft V8, 5.3 Liter 285 325 — 8,700 — 4,810 —
Pickup 4D 8 ft V8, 5.3 Liter 285 325 — 8,700 — 4,810 —
Denali Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V8, 6.0 Liter 325 370 — 10,000 — 5,013 —
SLE Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V8, 6.0 Liter 0 0 — 10,200 — 5,506 —
SLT Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V8, 6.0 Liter 0 0 — 10,200 — 5,506 —
Work Truck 4x2 Regular Cab 8 ft. box 133 in. WB — 200 260 3.42 8,300 6,400 4,227 2,173
Base 4x2 Regular Cab 6.5 ft. box 119 in. WB — 200 260 3.42 8,400 6,100 4,142 1,958
SLE 4x2 Regular Cab 6.5 ft. box 119 in. WB — 270 285 3.42 8,400 6,100 4,142 1,958
Base 4x2 Regular Cab 8 ft. box 133 in. WB — 200 260 3.42 8,300 6,400 4,227 2,173
SLE 4x2 Regular Cab 8 ft. box 133 in. WB — 270 285 3.42 8,300 6,400 4,227 2,173
Base 4x2 Extended Cab 6.5 ft. box 143.5 in. WB — 270 285 3.42 8,100 6,200 4,548 1,652
SLE 4x2 Extended Cab 6.5 ft. box 143.5 in. WB — 270 285 3.42 8,100 6,200 4,548 1,652
SLT 4x2 Extended Cab 6.5 ft. box 143.5 in. WB — 270 285 3.42 8,100 6,200 4,548 1,652
Work Truck 4x2 Extended Cab 6.5 ft. box 143.5 in. WB — 200 260 3.42 8,100 6,200 4,548 1,652
Base 4x4 Regular Cab 6.5 ft. box 119 in. WB — 270 285 3.73 9,100 6,200 4,439 1,761
SLE 4x4 Regular Cab 6.5 ft. box 119 in. WB — 270 285 3.73 9,100 6,200 4,439 1,761
Work Truck 4x4 Regular Cab 8 ft. box 133 in. WB — 270 285 3.73 9,000 6,400 4,579 1,821
Base 4x4 Regular Cab 8 ft. box 133 in. WB — 270 285 3.73 9,000 6,400 4,579 1,821
SLE 4x4 Regular Cab 8 ft. box 133 in. WB — 270 285 3.73 9,000 6,400 4,579 1,821
Base 4x4 Extended Cab 6.5 ft. box 143.5 in. WB — 270 285 3.73 8,800 6,400 4,919 1,481
SLE 4x4 Extended Cab 6.5 ft. box 143.5 in. WB — 270 285 3.73 8,800 6,400 4,919 1,481
SLT 4x4 Extended Cab 6.5 ft. box 143.5 in. WB — 270 285 3.73 8,800 6,400 4,919 1,481
Denali 4x4 Extended Cab 6.5 ft. box 143.5 in. WB — 325 370 4.1 10,000 7,200 5,013 2,187
Base 4x2 Extended Cab 8 ft. box 157.5 in. WB — 285 325 3.42 7,900 6,400 4,810 1,590
SLE 4x2 Extended Cab 8 ft. box 157.5 in. WB — 285 325 3.42 7,900 6,400 4,810 1,590
SLT 4x2 Extended Cab 8 ft. box 157.5 in. WB — 285 325 3.42 7,900 6,400 4,810 1,590
Base 4x4 Extended Cab 8 ft. box 157.5 in. WB — 285 325 3.73 8,700 6,400 5,097 1,303
SLE 4x4 Extended Cab 8 ft. box 157.5 in. WB — 285 325 3.73 8,700 6,400 5,097 1,303
SLT 4x4 Extended Cab 8 ft. box 157.5 in. WB — 285 325 3.73 8,700 6,400 5,097 1,303

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 2002

The 2002 GMC Sierra 1500 carried a maximum tow rating of 10,300 lb. The 2003 model is rated 100 lb lower — sometimes a real spec change, sometimes a re-test under a stricter standard like SAE J2807. See the 2002 GMC Sierra 1500 page for the full per-trim breakdown of the prior year.

Other 2003 GMC models

The rest of GMC's 2003 lineup, ranked by maximum tow rating. Click through for the per-trim breakdown of any of these.

Model Max tow (lb)
2003 GMC Sierra 2500 HD Crew CAB 12,000
2003 GMC Sierra 2500 HD Extended CAB 12,000
2003 GMC Sierra 2500 HD Regular CAB 12,000
2003 GMC Sierra 3500 Crew CAB 12,000
2003 GMC Sierra 3500 Extended CAB 12,000
2003 GMC Sierra 3500 Regular 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.