The table below lists every trim of the 2009 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
Work Truck Pickup 2D 6 1/2 ft V6, 4.3 Liter 195 260 8,200 4,558
Work Truck Pickup 2D 8 ft V6, 4.3 Liter 195 260 8,000 4,751
Work Truck Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V6, 4.3 Liter 195 260 9,700 5,027
SLE Pickup 2D 6 1/2 ft V8, 4.8 Liter 295 305 8,200 4,558
SLE Pickup 2D 8 ft V8, 4.8 Liter 295 305 8,000 4,751
SLE Pickup 4D 8 ft V8, Flex Fuel, 5.3 Liter 315 338 7,600 5,208
Work Truck Pickup 4D 5 3/4 ft V8, 4.8 Liter 295 305 8,500 5,361
Work Truck Pickup 4D 5 3/4 ft V8, 4.8 Liter 295 305 9,600 5,227
Work Truck Pickup 4D 8 ft V8, Flex Fuel, 5.3 Liter 315 338 7,600 5,435
SL Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V8, 4.8 Liter 295 305 10,400 5,263
SLE Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V8, Flex Fuel, 5.3 Liter 315 338 10,400 5,263
SL Pickup 4D 5 3/4 ft V8, 4.8 Liter 295 305 10,600 5,227
SLE Pickup 4D 5 3/4 ft V8, 5.3 Liter 315 338 8,500 5,361
XFE Pickup 4D 5 3/4 ft V8, Flex Fuel, 5.3 Liter 315 338 10,600 5,227
SLE Pickup 4D 5 3/4 ft V8, Flex Fuel, 5.3 Liter 315 338 10,400 5,348
SLT Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V8, Flex Fuel, 5.3 Liter 315 338 9,400 5,263
SLT Pickup 4D 5 3/4 ft V8, Flex Fuel, 5.3 Liter 315 338 8,500 5,361
SLT Pickup 4D 8 ft V8, Flex Fuel, 5.3 Liter 315 338 7,600 5,435
SLT Pickup 4D 5 3/4 ft V8, Flex Fuel, 5.3 Liter 315 338 10,400 5,348
Denali Pickup 4D 5 3/4 ft V8, Flex Fuel, 6.2 Liter 403 417 9,300 5,408
Hybrid Pickup 4D 5 3/4 ft V8, Hybrid, 6.0 Liter 332 367 6,100 5,641
Work Truck Pickup 4D 5 3/4 ft V8, 4.8 Liter 295 305 9,600 5,227
SL Pickup 4D 5 3/4 ft V8, 4.8 Liter 295 305 10,600 5,227
XFE Pickup 4D 5 3/4 ft V8, Flex Fuel, 5.3 Liter 315 338 10,600 5,227
SLE Pickup 4D 5 3/4 ft V8, Flex Fuel, 5.3 Liter 315 338 10,400 5,348
SLT Pickup 4D 5 3/4 ft V8, Flex Fuel, 5.3 Liter 315 338 10,400 5,348
Denali Pickup 4D 5 3/4 ft V8, Flex Fuel, 6.2 Liter 403 417 9,300 5,408
Hybrid Pickup 4D 5 3/4 ft V8, Hybrid, 6.0 Liter 332 367 6,100 5,641
Work Truck Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V6, 4.3 Liter 195 260 9,700 5,027
SLE Pickup 4D 8 ft V8, Flex Fuel, 5.3 Liter 315 338 7,600 5,208
Work Truck Pickup 4D 5 3/4 ft V8, 4.8 Liter 295 305 8,500 5,361
Work Truck Pickup 4D 8 ft V8, Flex Fuel, 5.3 Liter 315 338 7,600 5,435
SL Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V8, 4.8 Liter 295 305 10,400 5,263
SLE Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V8, Flex Fuel, 5.3 Liter 315 338 10,400 5,263
SLE Pickup 4D 5 3/4 ft V8, 5.3 Liter 315 338 8,500 5,361
SLT Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V8, Flex Fuel, 5.3 Liter 315 338 9,400 5,263
SLT Pickup 4D 5 3/4 ft V8, Flex Fuel, 5.3 Liter 315 338 8,500 5,361
SLT Pickup 4D 8 ft V8, Flex Fuel, 5.3 Liter 315 338 7,600 5,435
Work Truck 4x2 Regular Cab 6.6 ft. box 119 in. WB 195 260 3.23 4,800 6,400 4,558 1,842
SLE1 4x2 Regular Cab 6.6 ft. box 119 in. WB 295 305 3.23 5,200 6,400 4,558 1,842
SLE1 4x2 Regular Cab 8 ft. box 133 in. WB 295 305 3.23 5,100 6,400 4,751 1,649
Work Truck 4x2 Regular Cab 8 ft. box 133 in. WB 195 260 3.23 4,700 6,400 4,751 1,649
SLE1 4x2 Extended Cab 6.6 ft. box 143.5 in. WB 295 305 3.23 4,700 6,800 5,027 1,773
SLT 4x2 Extended Cab 6.6 ft. box 143.5 in. WB 315 338 3.42 6,700 6,800 5,027 1,773
Work Truck 4x2 Extended Cab 6.6 ft. box 143.5 in. WB 195 260 3.23 4,400 6,400 5,027 1,373
SL 4x2 Extended Cab 6.6 ft. box 143.5 in. WB 295 305 3.23 4,700 6,800 5,027 1,773
SLE1 4x4 Regular Cab 6.6 ft. box 119 in. WB 295 305 3.42 6,000 6,400 4,798 1,602
Work Truck 4x4 Regular Cab 6.6 ft. box 119 in. WB 195 260 3.73 5,100 6,400 4,798 1,602
SLE1 4x4 Regular Cab 8 ft. box 133 in. WB 295 305 3.42 5,800 6,800 5,007 1,793
Work Truck 4x4 Regular Cab 8 ft. box 133 in. WB 195 260 3.73 4,900 6,400 5,007 1,393
SLE1 4x4 Extended Cab 6.6 ft. box 143.5 in. WB 295 305 3.42 5,500 7,000 5,263 1,737
SLT 4x4 Extended Cab 6.6 ft. box 143.5 in. WB 315 338 3.73 7,500 7,000 5,263 1,737
Work Truck 4x4 Extended Cab 6.6 ft. box 143.5 in. WB 295 305 3.42 5,500 7,000 5,263 1,737
SL 4x4 Extended Cab 6.6 ft. box 143.5 in. WB 295 305 3.42 5,500 7,000 5,263 1,737
SLE1 4x2 Extended Cab 8 ft. box 157.5 in. WB 315 338 3.42 6,600 6,900 5,208 1,692
SLT 4x2 Extended Cab 8 ft. box 157.5 in. WB 315 338 3.42 6,600 6,900 5,208 1,692
Work Truck 4x2 Extended Cab 8 ft. box 157.5 in. WB 315 338 3.42 6,600 6,900 5,208 1,692
SLE1 4x4 Extended Cab 8 ft. box 157.5 in. WB 315 338 3.73 7,300 7,000 5,435 1,565
SLT 4x4 Extended Cab 8 ft. box 157.5 in. WB 315 338 3.73 7,300 7,000 5,435 1,565
Work Truck 4x4 Extended Cab 8 ft. box 157.5 in. WB 315 338 3.73 7,300 7,000 5,435 1,565
SLE1 4x2 Crew Cab 5.75 ft. box 143.5 in. WB 295 305 3.23 4,700 6,800 5,227 1,573
SLT 4x2 Crew Cab 5.75 ft. box 143.5 in. WB 315 338 3.42 6,100 6,800 5,227 1,573
Work Truck 4x2 Crew Cab 5.75 ft. box 143.5 in. WB 295 305 3.23 4,700 6,800 5,227 1,573
Denali 4x2 Crew Cab 5.75 ft. box 143.5 in. WB 403 418 3.42 9,600 6,800 5,181 1,619
SL 4x2 Crew Cab 5.75 ft. box 143.5 in. WB 295 305 3.23 4,700 6,800 5,227 1,573
Xtra Fuel Economy 4x2 Crew Cab 5.75 ft. box 143.5 in. WB 315 338 3.08 7,000 6,700 5,227 1,473
SLE1 4x4 Crew Cab 5.75 ft. box 143.5 in. WB 295 305 3.42 5,500 7,000 5,348 1,652
SLT 4x4 Crew Cab 5.75 ft. box 143.5 in. WB 315 338 3.42 6,000 7,000 5,348 1,652
Work Truck 4x4 Crew Cab 5.75 ft. box 143.5 in. WB 295 305 3.42 5,500 7,000 5,348 1,652
Denali 4x4 Crew Cab 5.75 ft. box 143.5 in. WB 403 418 3.42 9,300 7,000 5,408 1,592
SL 4x4 Crew Cab 5.75 ft. box 143.5 in. WB 295 305 3.42 5,500 7,000 5,348 1,652
SLE1 4x2 Extended Cab 5.75 ft. box 133.9 in. WB 295 305 3.23 4,800 6,400 4,986 1,414
SLT 4x2 Extended Cab 5.75 ft. box 133.9 in. WB 315 338 3.42 6,800 6,400 4,986 1,414
SLT 4x2 Extended Cab 5.75 ft. box 133.9 in. WB 195 260 3.23 4,400 6,400 4,986 1,414
SLE1 4x4 Extended Cab 5.75 ft. box 133.9 in. WB 295 305 3.42 5,500 6,800 5,361 1,439
SLT 4x4 Extended Cab 5.75 ft. box 133.9 in. WB 315 338 3.73 7,500 6,800 5,361 1,439
Work Truck 4x4 Extended Cab 5.75 ft. box 133.9 in. WB 295 305 3.42 5,500 6,800 5,361 1,439

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 2008

The 2008 GMC Sierra 1500 carried a maximum tow rating of 10,500 lb. The 2009 model adds 100 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 2008 GMC Sierra 1500 page for the full per-trim breakdown of the prior year.

Other 2009 GMC models

The rest of GMC's 2009 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.