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

2011 GMC Sierra 3500hd towing capacity

The 2011 GMC Sierra 3500hd is published in 42 configurations, with tow ratings ranging from 8,500 to 13,000 lb depending on cab, bed, drivetrain, and hitch class. The peak figure (13,000 lb) sits in half-ton plus / heavy-duty truck territory.

The table below lists every trim of the 2011 GMC Sierra 3500hd 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 4x2 Regular Cab 133.7 in. WB SRW — 322 — 4.1 13,000 10,400 5,768 4,632
SLE 4x2 Regular Cab 133.7 in. WB DRW — 322 — 3.73 9,600 12,800 6,165 6,635
Work Truck 4x2 Regular Cab 133.7 in. WB DRW — 322 — 3.73 9,600 12,800 6,165 6,635
SLE 4x4 Regular Cab 133.7 in. WB DRW — 322 — 3.73 9,300 12,800 6,492 6,308
Work Truck 4x4 Regular Cab 133.7 in. WB DRW — 322 — 3.73 9,300 12,800 6,492 6,308
SLE 4x2 Extended Cab 158.2 in. WB DRW — 322 — 3.73 9,100 13,000 6,668 6,332
SLT 4x2 Extended Cab 158.2 in. WB DRW — 322 — 3.73 9,100 13,000 6,668 6,332
Work Truck 4x2 Extended Cab 158.2 in. WB DRW — 322 — 3.73 9,100 13,000 6,668 6,332
SLE 4x4 Extended Cab 158.2 in. WB DRW — 322 — 3.73 8,900 13,000 6,945 6,055
SLT 4x4 Extended Cab 158.2 in. WB DRW — 322 — 3.73 8,900 13,000 6,945 6,055
Work Truck 4x4 Extended Cab 158.2 in. WB DRW — 322 — 3.73 8,900 13,000 6,945 6,055
SLE 4x2 Crew Cab 167.7 in. WB DRW — 322 — 3.73 9,000 13,000 6,777 6,223
SLT 4x2 Crew Cab 167.7 in. WB DRW — 322 — 3.73 9,000 13,000 6,777 6,223
Work Truck 4x2 Crew Cab 167.7 in. WB DRW — 322 — 3.73 9,000 13,000 6,777 6,223
Denali 4x2 Crew Cab 167.7 in. WB DRW — 360 — 3.73 9,200 13,000 6,949 6,051
SLE 4x4 Crew Cab 167.7 in. WB DRW — 322 — 3.73 8,700 13,000 7,095 5,905
SLT 4x4 Crew Cab 167.7 in. WB DRW — 322 — 3.73 8,700 13,000 7,095 5,905
Work Truck 4x4 Crew Cab 167.7 in. WB DRW — 322 — 3.73 8,700 13,000 7,095 5,905
Denali 4x4 Crew Cab 167.7 in. WB DRW — 360 — 3.73 8,500 13,000 7,267 5,733
SLE 4x2 Regular Cab 133.7 in. WB SRW — 322 — 4.1 13,000 10,400 5,768 4,632
SLE 4x4 Regular Cab 133.7 in. WB SRW — 322 — 3.73 9,700 10,700 6,134 4,566
Work Truck 4x4 Regular Cab 133.7 in. WB SRW — 322 — 3.73 9,700 10,700 6,134 4,566
SLE 4x2 Extended Cab 158.2 in. WB SRW — 322 — 3.73 9,500 10,700 6,303 4,397
SLT 4x2 Extended Cab 158.2 in. WB SRW — 322 — 3.73 9,500 10,700 6,303 4,397
Work Truck 4x2 Extended Cab 158.2 in. WB SRW — 322 — 3.73 9,500 10,700 6,303 4,397
SLE 4x4 Extended Cab 158.2 in. WB SRW — 322 — 3.73 9,200 11,000 6,580 4,420
SLT 4x4 Extended Cab 158.2 in. WB SRW — 322 — 3.73 9,200 11,000 6,580 4,420
Work Truck 4x4 Extended Cab 158.2 in. WB SRW — 322 — 3.73 9,200 11,000 6,580 4,420
SLE 4x2 Crew Cab 167.7 in. WB SRW — 322 — 3.73 9,400 10,700 6,414 4,286
SLT 4x2 Crew Cab 167.7 in. WB SRW — 322 — 3.73 9,400 10,700 6,414 4,286
Work Truck 4x2 Crew Cab 167.7 in. WB SRW — 322 — 3.73 9,400 10,700 6,414 4,286
SLE 4x4 Crew Cab 167.7 in. WB SRW — 322 — 3.73 9,100 11,000 6,732 4,268
SLT 4x4 Crew Cab 167.7 in. WB SRW — 322 — 3.73 9,100 11,000 6,732 4,268
Work Truck 4x4 Crew Cab 167.7 in. WB SRW — 322 — 3.73 9,100 11,000 6,732 4,268
SLE 4x2 Crew Cab 153.7 in. WB SRW — 322 — 3.73 9,500 10,500 6,300 4,200
SLT 4x2 Crew Cab 153.7 in. WB SRW — 322 — 3.73 9,500 10,500 6,300 4,200
Work Truck 4x2 Crew Cab 153.7 in. WB SRW — 322 — 3.73 9,500 10,500 6,300 4,200
Denali 4x2 Crew Cab 153.7 in. WB SRW — 360 — 3.73 9,300 10,500 6,461 4,039
SLE 4x4 Crew Cab 153.7 in. WB SRW — 322 — 3.73 9,200 10,800 6,573 4,227
SLT 4x4 Crew Cab 153.7 in. WB SRW — 322 — 3.73 9,200 10,800 6,573 4,227
Work Truck 4x4 Crew Cab 153.7 in. WB SRW — 322 — 3.73 9,200 10,800 6,573 4,227
Denali 4x4 Crew Cab 153.7 in. WB SRW — 360 — 3.73 9,100 10,800 6,734 4,066

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 2010

The 2010 GMC Sierra 3500hd carried a maximum tow rating of 10,100 lb. The 2011 model adds 2,900 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 2010 GMC Sierra 3500hd page for the full per-trim breakdown of the prior year.

Other 2011 GMC models

The rest of GMC's 2011 lineup, ranked by maximum tow rating. Click through for the per-trim breakdown of any of these.

Model Max tow (lb)
2011 GMC Sierra 3500 HD Crew CAB 17,000
2011 GMC Sierra 3500 17,000
2011 GMC Sierra 3500 HD Extended CAB 16,000
2011 GMC Sierra 3500 HD Regular CAB 16,000
2011 GMC Sierra 2500 HD Crew CAB 13,000
2011 GMC Sierra 2500 HD Extended CAB 13,000

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.