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

2012 GMC Sierra 3500hd towing capacity

The 2012 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 2012 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 — — — 4.1 13,000 10,400 5,775 4,625
SLE 4x2 Regular Cab 133.7 in. WB DRW — — — 3.73 9,600 13,400 6,185 7,215
Work Truck 4x2 Regular Cab 133.7 in. WB DRW — — — 3.73 9,600 13,400 6,185 7,215
SLE 4x4 Regular Cab 133.7 in. WB DRW — — — 3.73 9,300 13,400 6,502 6,898
Work Truck 4x4 Regular Cab 133.7 in. WB DRW — — — 3.73 9,300 13,400 6,502 6,898
SLE 4x2 Extended Cab 158.2 in. WB DRW — — — 3.73 9,100 13,000 6,679 6,321
SLT 4x2 Extended Cab 158.2 in. WB DRW — — — 3.73 9,100 13,000 6,679 6,321
Work Truck 4x2 Extended Cab 158.2 in. WB DRW — — — 3.73 9,100 13,000 6,679 6,321
SLE 4x4 Extended Cab 158.2 in. WB DRW — — — 3.73 8,900 13,000 6,968 6,032
SLT 4x4 Extended Cab 158.2 in. WB DRW — — — 3.73 8,900 13,000 6,968 6,032
Work Truck 4x4 Extended Cab 158.2 in. WB DRW — — — 3.73 8,900 13,000 6,968 6,032
SLE 4x2 Crew Cab 167.7 in. WB DRW — — — 3.73 9,000 13,000 6,802 6,198
SLT 4x2 Crew Cab 167.7 in. WB DRW — — — 3.73 9,000 13,000 6,802 6,198
Work Truck 4x2 Crew Cab 167.7 in. WB DRW — — — 3.73 9,000 13,000 6,802 6,198
Denali 4x2 Crew Cab 167.7 in. WB DRW — — — 3.73 8,900 13,000 6,946 6,054
SLE 4x4 Crew Cab 167.7 in. WB DRW — — — 3.73 8,700 13,000 7,144 5,856
SLT 4x4 Crew Cab 167.7 in. WB DRW — — — 3.73 8,700 13,000 7,144 5,856
Work Truck 4x4 Crew Cab 167.7 in. WB DRW — — — 3.73 8,700 13,000 7,144 5,856
Denali 4x4 Crew Cab 167.7 in. WB DRW — — — 3.73 8,500 13,000 7,297 5,703
SLE 4x2 Regular Cab 133.7 in. WB SRW — — — 4.1 13,000 10,400 5,775 4,625
SLE 4x4 Regular Cab 133.7 in. WB SRW — — — 3.73 9,700 10,700 6,092 4,608
Work Truck 4x4 Regular Cab 133.7 in. WB SRW — — — 3.73 9,700 10,700 6,092 4,608
SLE 4x2 Extended Cab 158.2 in. WB SRW — — — 3.73 9,500 10,700 6,257 4,443
SLT 4x2 Extended Cab 158.2 in. WB SRW — — — 3.73 9,500 10,700 6,257 4,443
Work Truck 4x2 Extended Cab 158.2 in. WB SRW — — — 3.73 9,500 10,700 6,257 4,443
SLE 4x4 Extended Cab 158.2 in. WB SRW — — — 3.73 9,200 11,000 6,545 4,455
SLT 4x4 Extended Cab 158.2 in. WB SRW — — — 3.73 9,200 11,000 6,545 4,455
Work Truck 4x4 Extended Cab 158.2 in. WB SRW — — — 3.73 9,200 11,000 6,545 4,455
SLE 4x2 Crew Cab 167.7 in. WB SRW — — — 3.73 9,400 10,700 6,392 4,308
SLT 4x2 Crew Cab 167.7 in. WB SRW — — — 3.73 9,400 10,700 6,392 4,308
Work Truck 4x2 Crew Cab 167.7 in. WB SRW — — — 3.73 9,400 10,700 6,392 4,308
SLE 4x4 Crew Cab 167.7 in. WB SRW — — — 3.73 9,100 11,000 6,734 4,266
SLT 4x4 Crew Cab 167.7 in. WB SRW — — — 3.73 9,100 11,000 6,734 4,266
Work Truck 4x4 Crew Cab 167.7 in. WB SRW — — — 3.73 9,100 11,000 6,734 4,266
SLE 4x2 Crew Cab 153.7 in. WB SRW — — — 3.73 9,500 10,500 6,313 4,187
SLT 4x2 Crew Cab 153.7 in. WB SRW — — — 3.73 9,500 10,500 6,313 4,187
Work Truck 4x2 Crew Cab 153.7 in. WB SRW — — — 3.73 9,500 10,500 6,313 4,187
Denali 4x2 Crew Cab 153.7 in. WB SRW — — — 3.73 9,300 10,500 6,400 4,100
SLE 4x4 Crew Cab 153.7 in. WB SRW — — — 3.73 9,200 10,800 6,610 4,190
SLT 4x4 Crew Cab 153.7 in. WB SRW — — — 3.73 9,200 10,800 6,610 4,190
Work Truck 4x4 Crew Cab 153.7 in. WB SRW — — — 3.73 9,200 10,800 6,610 4,190
Denali 4x4 Crew Cab 153.7 in. WB SRW — — — 3.73 9,100 10,800 6,722 4,078

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 2011

The 2011 GMC Sierra 3500hd carried a maximum tow rating of 13,000 lb. The 2012 model carries the same headline figure — manufacturers usually leave the rating alone year-over-year unless there's a powertrain or hitch change. See the 2011 GMC Sierra 3500hd page for the full per-trim breakdown of the prior year.

Other 2012 GMC models

The rest of GMC's 2012 lineup, ranked by maximum tow rating. Click through for the per-trim breakdown of any of these.

Model Max tow (lb)
2012 GMC Sierra 3500 HD Crew CAB 18,000
2012 GMC Sierra 3500 HD Extended CAB 18,000
2012 GMC Sierra 3500 18,000
2012 GMC Sierra 3500 HD Regular CAB 16,000
2012 GMC Sierra 2500 HD Crew CAB 13,000
2012 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.