2016 GMC Sierra 3500hd towing capacity
The 2016 GMC Sierra 3500hd is published in 43 configurations, with tow ratings ranging from 13,000 to 15,000 lb depending on cab, bed, drivetrain, and hitch class. The peak figure (15,000 lb) sits in serious heavy-duty pickup territory.
The table below lists every trim of the 2016 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base 4x2 Regular Cab 133.6 in. WB SRW | — | — | — | — | 13,000 | 10,400 | 5,958 | 4,442 |
| Base 4x2 Regular Cab 133.6 in. WB DRW | — | — | — | — | 14,000 | 13,500 | 6,295 | 7,205 |
| Base 4x4 Regular Cab 133.6 in. WB SRW | — | — | — | — | 13,000 | 10,000 | 6,281 | 3,719 |
| Base 4x2 Double Cab 158.1 in. WB SRW | — | — | — | — | 13,000 | 10,000 | 6,404 | 3,596 |
| Base 4x2 Double Cab 158.1 in. WB DRW | — | — | — | — | 13,000 | 13,025 | 6,737 | 6,288 |
| Base 4x4 Regular Cab 133.6 in. WB DRW | — | — | — | — | 13,000 | 13,400 | 6,617 | 6,783 |
| Base 4x2 Crew Cab 153.7 in. WB SRW | — | — | — | — | 13,000 | 10,000 | 6,427 | 3,573 |
| SLE 4x2 Regular Cab 133.6 in. WB SRW | — | — | — | — | 13,000 | 10,400 | 5,958 | 4,442 |
| Base 4x2 Crew Cab 167.7 in. WB SRW | — | — | — | — | 13,000 | 10,000 | 6,554 | 3,446 |
| Base 4x2 Crew Cab 167.7 in. WB DRW | — | — | — | — | 13,000 | 13,025 | 6,886 | 6,139 |
| SLE 4x2 Regular Cab 133.6 in. WB DRW | — | — | — | — | 14,000 | 13,500 | 6,295 | 7,205 |
| Base 4x4 Double Cab 158.1 in. WB SRW | — | — | — | — | 13,000 | 10,000 | 6,680 | 3,320 |
| Base 4x4 Double Cab 158.1 in. WB DRW | — | — | — | — | 13,000 | 13,025 | 7,017 | 6,008 |
| Base 4x4 Crew Cab 153.7 in. WB SRW | — | — | — | — | 13,000 | 10,000 | 6,695 | 3,305 |
| Base 4x4 Crew Cab 167.7 in. WB SRW | — | — | — | — | 15,000 | 11,000 | 6,892 | 4,108 |
| SLE 4x4 Regular Cab 133.6 in. WB SRW | — | — | — | — | 13,000 | 10,000 | 6,281 | 3,719 |
| Base 4x4 Crew Cab 167.7 in. WB DRW | — | — | — | — | 13,000 | 13,025 | 7,229 | 5,796 |
| SLE 4x2 Double Cab 158.1 in. WB SRW | — | — | — | — | 13,000 | 10,000 | 6,404 | 3,596 |
| SLE 4x4 Regular Cab 133.6 in. WB DRW | — | — | — | — | 13,000 | 13,400 | 6,617 | 6,783 |
| SLE 4x2 Double Cab 158.1 in. WB DRW | — | — | — | — | 13,000 | 13,025 | 6,737 | 6,288 |
| SLE 4x2 Crew Cab 153.7 in. WB SRW | — | — | — | — | 13,000 | 10,000 | 6,427 | 3,573 |
| SLE 4x2 Crew Cab 167.7 in. WB SRW | — | — | — | — | 13,000 | 10,000 | 6,554 | 3,446 |
| SLE 4x4 Double Cab 158.1 in. WB SRW | — | — | — | — | 13,000 | 10,000 | 6,680 | 3,320 |
| SLE 4x2 Crew Cab 167.7 in. WB DRW | — | — | — | — | 13,000 | 13,025 | 6,886 | 6,139 |
| SLE 4x4 Double Cab 158.1 in. WB DRW | — | — | — | — | 13,000 | 13,025 | 7,017 | 6,008 |
| SLT 4x2 Double Cab 158.1 in. WB SRW | — | — | — | — | 13,000 | 10,000 | 6,404 | 3,596 |
| SLT 4x2 Double Cab 158.1 in. WB DRW | — | — | — | — | 13,000 | 13,025 | 6,737 | 6,288 |
| SLE 4x4 Crew Cab 153.7 in. WB SRW | — | — | — | — | 13,000 | 10,000 | 6,695 | 3,305 |
| SLE 4x4 Crew Cab 167.7 in. WB SRW | — | — | — | — | 15,000 | 11,000 | 6,892 | 4,108 |
| SLE 4x4 Crew Cab 167.7 in. WB DRW | — | — | — | — | 13,000 | 13,025 | 7,229 | 5,796 |
| SLT 4x2 Crew Cab 153.7 in. WB SRW | — | — | — | — | 13,000 | 10,000 | 6,427 | 3,573 |
| SLT 4x2 Crew Cab 167.7 in. WB SRW | — | — | — | — | 13,000 | 10,000 | 6,554 | 3,446 |
| SLT 4x2 Crew Cab 167.7 in. WB DRW | — | — | — | — | 13,000 | 13,025 | 6,886 | 6,139 |
| SLT 4x4 Double Cab 158.1 in. WB SRW | — | — | — | — | 13,000 | 10,000 | 6,680 | 3,320 |
| SLT 4x4 Double Cab 158.1 in. WB DRW | — | — | — | — | 13,000 | 13,025 | 7,017 | 6,008 |
| SLT 4x4 Crew Cab 153.7 in. WB SRW | — | — | — | — | 13,000 | 10,000 | 6,695 | 3,305 |
| SLT 4x4 Crew Cab 167.7 in. WB SRW | — | — | — | — | 15,000 | 11,000 | 6,892 | 4,108 |
| SLT 4x4 Crew Cab 167.7 in. WB DRW | — | — | — | — | 13,000 | 13,025 | 7,229 | 5,796 |
| Denali 4x2 Crew Cab 153.7 in. WB SRW | — | — | — | — | 13,000 | 10,500 | 6,427 | 4,073 |
| Denali 4x2 Crew Cab 167.7 in. WB DRW | — | — | — | — | 13,000 | 13,025 | 6,886 | 6,139 |
| Denali 4x2 Crew Cab 167.7 in. WB SRW | — | — | — | — | 13,000 | 10,700 | 6,554 | 4,146 |
| Denali 4x4 Crew Cab 167.7 in. WB DRW | — | — | — | — | 13,000 | 13,025 | 7,229 | 5,796 |
| Denali 4x4 Crew Cab 153.7 in. WB SRW | — | — | — | — | 13,000 | 10,800 | 6,695 | 4,105 |
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 3500hd carried a maximum tow rating of 14,200 lb. The 2016 model adds 800 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 3500hd 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 2500 HD Crew CAB | 14,500 |
| 2016 GMC Sierra 2500 HD Regular CAB | 14,500 |
| 2016 GMC Sierra 2500 | 14,500 |
| 2016 GMC Sierra 3500 HD Regular CAB | 14,300 |
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.