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

2016 GMC Sierra 1500 towing capacity

The 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 is published in 51 configurations, with tow ratings ranging from 5,500 to 12,000 lb depending on cab, bed, drivetrain, and hitch class. The peak figure (12,000 lb) sits in half-ton plus / heavy-duty truck territory.

The table below lists every trim of the 2016 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
Pickup 2D 6 1/2 ft V6, EcoTec3, FF, 4.3L 285 305 — 8,900 — 4,517 —
Pickup 2D 8 ft V6, EcoTec3, FF, 4.3L 285 305 — 9,800 — 4,723 —
SLE Pickup 2D 6 1/2 ft V8, EcoTec3, 5.3 Liter 355 383 — 8,600 — 4,816 —
Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V8, EcoTec3, 5.3 Liter 355 383 — 5,500 — 5,166 —
SLE Pickup 2D 8 ft V8, EcoTec3, 5.3 Liter 355 383 — 9,500 — 4,975 —
Pickup 4D 5 3/4 ft V8, EcoTec3, 5.3 Liter 355 383 — 9,100 — 5,302 —
SLE Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V8, EcoTec3, 5.3 Liter 355 383 — 10,800 — 5,333 —
Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V8, EcoTec3, 5.3L 355 383 — 9,200 — 5,263 —
SLT Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V8, EcoTec3, 5.3L 355 383 — 11,800 — 5,263 —
SLE Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V8, EcoTec3, 5.3L 355 383 — 10,900 — 5,263 —
SLE Pickup 4D 5 3/4 ft V8, EcoTec3, 5.3 Liter 355 383 — 10,900 — 5,302 —
Denali Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V8, EcoTec3, 5.3 Liter 355 383 — 9,100 — 5,509 —
SLT Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V8, EcoTec3, 5.3 Liter 355 383 — 10,800 — 5,333 —
SLT Pickup 4D 5 3/4 ft V8, EcoTec3, 5.3 Liter 355 383 — 10,900 — 5,302 —
Denali Pickup 4D 5 3/4 ft V8, EcoTec3, 5.3 Liter 355 383 — 9,100 — 5,452 —
Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V8, EcoTec3, 5.3 Liter 355 383 — 5,500 — 5,166 —
Pickup 4D 5 3/4 ft V8, EcoTec3, 5.3 Liter 355 383 — 9,100 — 5,302 —
SLE Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V8, EcoTec3, 5.3 Liter 355 383 — 10,800 — 5,333 —
SLE Pickup 4D 5 3/4 ft V8, EcoTec3, 5.3 Liter 355 383 — 10,900 — 5,302 —
Denali Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V8, EcoTec3, 5.3 Liter 355 383 — 9,100 — 5,509 —
SLT Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V8, EcoTec3, 5.3 Liter 355 383 — 10,800 — 5,333 —
SLT Pickup 4D 5 3/4 ft V8, EcoTec3, 5.3 Liter 355 383 — 10,900 — 5,302 —
Denali Pickup 4D 5 3/4 ft V8, EcoTec3, 5.3 Liter 355 383 — 9,100 — 5,452 —
Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V8, EcoTec3, 5.3L 355 383 — 9,200 — 5,263 —
SLT Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V8, EcoTec3, 5.3L 355 383 — 11,800 — 5,263 —
SLE Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V8, EcoTec3, 5.3L 355 383 — 10,900 — 5,263 —
Base 4x2 Regular Cab 6.6 ft. box 119 in. WB — 285 305 3.23 6,000 6,500 4,517 1,983
Base 4x2 Regular Cab 8 ft. box 133 in. WB — 285 305 3.23 6,000 6,700 4,723 1,977
Base 4x2 Double Cab 6.6 ft. box 143.5 in. WB — 285 305 3.23 6,000 6,900 5,010 1,890
Base 4x4 Regular Cab 6.6 ft. box 119 in. WB — 285 305 3.42 7,000 6,700 4,816 1,884
Base 4x4 Regular Cab 8 ft. box 133 in. WB — 285 305 3.42 7,000 6,900 4,975 1,925
SLE 4x2 Regular Cab 6.6 ft. box 119 in. WB — 285 305 3.23 6,000 6.5 4,517 -4,510.5
SLE 4x2 Regular Cab 8 ft. box 133 in. WB — 285 305 3.23 6,000 6.7 4,723 -4,716.3
Base 4x4 Double Cab 6.6 ft. box 143.5 in. WB — 285 305 3.42 7,000 7.1 5,263 -5,255.9
Base 4x2 Crew Cab 5.75 ft. box 143.5 in. WB — 285 305 3.23 6,000 6.9 5,037 -5,030.1
SLE 4x2 Double Cab 6.6 ft. box 143.5 in. WB — 285 305 3.23 6,000 6.9 5,010 -5,003.1
SLE 4x4 Regular Cab 6.6 ft. box 119 in. WB — 285 305 3.42 7,000 6.7 4,816 -4,809.3
SLE 4x4 Regular Cab 8 ft. box 133 in. WB — 285 305 3.42 7,000 6.9 4,975 -4,968.1
Base 4x4 Crew Cab 5.75 ft. box 143.5 in. WB — 285 305 3.42 7,000 7.1 5,302 -5,294.9
SLE 4x2 Crew Cab 5.75 ft. box 143.5 in. WB — 285 305 3.23 6,000 6.9 5,037 -5,030.1
Base 4x4 Crew Cab 6.5 ft. box 153.5 in. WB — 355 383 3.08 6,000 7.2 5,333 -5,325.8
SLE 4x4 Double Cab 6.6 ft. box 143.5 in. WB — 285 305 3.42 7,000 7.1 5,263 -5,255.9
SLT 4x2 Double Cab 6.6 ft. box 143.5 in. WB — 355 383 3.08 9,000 7 5,010 -5,003
SLE 4x4 Crew Cab 5.75 ft. box 143.5 in. WB — 285 305 3.42 7,000 7.1 5,302 -5,294.9
SLT 4x2 Crew Cab 5.75 ft. box 143.5 in. WB — 355 383 3.08 9,000 7 5,037 -5,030
SLE 4x4 Crew Cab 6.5 ft. box 153.5 in. WB — 355 383 3.08 6,000 7.2 5,333 -5,325.8
SLT 4x4 Double Cab 6.6 ft. box 143.5 in. WB — 355 383 3.08 9,000 7.2 5,263 -5,255.8
SLT 4x4 Crew Cab 5.75 ft. box 143.5 in. WB — 355 383 3.08 9,000 7.2 5,302 -5,294.8
SLT 4x4 Crew Cab 6.5 ft. box 153.5 in. WB — 355 383 3.08 9,000 7.2 5,333 -5,325.8
Denali 4x2 Crew Cab 5.75 ft. box 143.5 in. WB — 355 383 3.42 12,000 7 5,182 -5,175
Denali 4x4 Crew Cab 5.75 ft. box 143.5 in. WB — 355 383 3.42 9,000 7.2 5,452 -5,444.8

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 2015

The 2015 GMC Sierra 1500 carried a maximum tow rating of 11,900 lb. The 2016 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 2015 GMC Sierra 1500 page for the full per-trim breakdown of the prior year.

Other 2016 GMC models

The rest of GMC's 2016 lineup, ranked by maximum tow rating. Click through for the per-trim breakdown of any of these.

Model Max tow (lb)
2016 GMC Sierra 3500 HD Crew CAB 19,600
2016 GMC Sierra 3500 19,600
2016 GMC Sierra 3500hd 15,000
2016 GMC Sierra 2500 HD Crew CAB 14,500
2016 GMC Sierra 2500 HD Regular CAB 14,500
2016 GMC Sierra 2500 14,500

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.