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

2018 GMC Sierra 1500 towing capacity

The 2018 GMC Sierra 1500 is published in 52 configurations, with tow ratings ranging from 5,000 to 11,800 lb depending on cab, bed, drivetrain, and hitch class. The peak figure (11,800 lb) sits in half-ton plus / heavy-duty truck territory.

The table below lists every trim of the 2018 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 8 ft V6, EcoTec3, Flex Fuel, 4.3 Liter 285 305 — 9,800 — 4,696 —
Pickup 2D 6 1/2 ft V6, EcoTec3, Flex Fuel, 4.3 Liter 285 305 — 8,900 — 4,515 —
Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V8, EcoTec3, 5.3 Liter 355 383 — 6,200 — 5,232 —
SLE Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V8, EcoTec3, 5.3 Liter 355 383 — 10,800 — 5,461 —
Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V8, EcoTec3, 5.3 Liter 355 383 — 6,300 — 5,247 —
SLE Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V8, EcoTec3, 5.3 Liter 355 383 — 10,800 — 5,232 —
SLE Pickup 2D 6 1/2 ft V8, EcoTec3, 5.3 Liter 355 383 — 8,600 — 4,788 —
SLE Pickup 2D 8 ft V8, EcoTec3, 5.3 Liter 355 383 — 9,500 — 4,948 —
SLE Pickup 4D 5 3/4 ft V8, EcoTec3, 5.3 Liter 355 383 — 10,800 — 5,300 —
Pickup 4D 5 3/4 ft V8, EcoTec3, 5.3 Liter 355 383 — 9,100 — 5,300 —
SLT Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V8, EcoTec3, 5.3 Liter 355 383 — 11,800 — 5,232 —
SLT Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V8, EcoTec3, 5.3 Liter 355 383 — 11,700 — 5,461 —
Denali Pickup 4D 5 3/4 ft V8, EcoTec3, 5.3 Liter 355 383 — 9,100 — 5,414 —
SLT Pickup 4D 5 3/4 ft V8, EcoTec3, 5.3 Liter 355 383 — 11,700 — 5,300 —
Denali Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V8, EcoTec3, 5.3 Liter 355 383 — 9,100 — 5,458 —
SLE Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V8, EcoTec3, 5.3 Liter 355 383 — 10,800 — 5,461 —
Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V8, EcoTec3, 5.3 Liter 355 383 — 6,300 — 5,247 —
SLE Pickup 4D 5 3/4 ft V8, EcoTec3, 5.3 Liter 355 383 — 10,800 — 5,300 —
Pickup 4D 5 3/4 ft V8, EcoTec3, 5.3 Liter 355 383 — 9,100 — 5,300 —
SLT Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V8, EcoTec3, 5.3 Liter 355 383 — 11,700 — 5,461 —
Denali Pickup 4D 5 3/4 ft V8, EcoTec3, 5.3 Liter 355 383 — 9,100 — 5,414 —
SLT Pickup 4D 5 3/4 ft V8, EcoTec3, 5.3 Liter 355 383 — 11,700 — 5,300 —
Denali Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V8, EcoTec3, 5.3 Liter 355 383 — 9,100 — 5,458 —
Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V8, EcoTec3, 5.3 Liter 355 383 — 6,200 — 5,232 —
SLE Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V8, EcoTec3, 5.3 Liter 355 383 — 10,800 — 5,232 —
SLT Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V8, EcoTec3, 5.3 Liter 355 383 — 11,800 — 5,232 —
Base 4x2 Regular Cab 6.6 ft. box 119 in. WB — 285 305 3.23 6,000 6,500 4,515 1,985
Base 4x2 Regular Cab 8 ft. box 133 in. WB — 285 305 3.23 5,000 6,700 4,696 2,004
Base 4x4 Regular Cab 6.6 ft. box 119 in. WB — 285 305 3.42 7,000 6,700 4,788 1,912
Base 4x2 Double Cab 6.6 ft. box 143.5 in. WB — 285 305 3.23 5,000 6,900 4,982 1,918
Base 4x4 Regular Cab 8 ft. box 133 in. WB — 285 305 3.42 7,000 6,900 4,948 1,952
Base 4x4 Double Cab 6.6 ft. box 143.5 in. WB — 285 305 3.42 7,000 7,100 5,231 1,869
Base 4x2 Crew Cab 5.75 ft. box 143.5 in. WB — 285 305 3.23 5,000 6,900 5,036 1,864
Base 4x4 Crew Cab 5.75 ft. box 143.5 in. WB — 285 305 3.42 7,000 7,100 5,300 1,800
Base 4x4 Crew Cab 6.5 ft. box 153 in. WB — 355 383 3.08 6,000 7,200 5,461 1,739
SLE 4x2 Regular Cab 6.6 ft. box 119 in. WB — 285 305 3.23 6,000 6,500 4,515 1,985
SLE 4x2 Regular Cab 8 ft. box 133 in. WB — 285 305 3.23 5,000 6,700 4,696 2,004
SLE 4x2 Double Cab 6.6 ft. box 143.5 in. WB — 285 305 3.23 5,000 6,900 4,982 1,918
SLE 4x4 Regular Cab 6.6 ft. box 119 in. WB — 285 305 3.42 7,000 6,700 4,788 1,912
SLE 4x4 Regular Cab 8 ft. box 133 in. WB — 285 305 3.42 7,000 6,900 4,948 1,952
SLE 4x2 Crew Cab 5.75 ft. box 143.5 in. WB — 285 305 3.23 5,000 6,900 5,036 1,864
SLE 4x4 Double Cab 6.6 ft. box 143.5 in. WB — 285 305 3.42 7,000 7,100 5,231 1,869
SLE 4x4 Crew Cab 5.75 ft. box 143.5 in. WB — 285 305 3.42 7,000 7,100 5,300 1,800
SLE 4x4 Crew Cab 6.5 ft. box 153 in. WB — 355 383 3.08 6,000 7,200 5,461 1,739
SLT 4x2 Double Cab 6.6 ft. box 143.5 in. WB — 355 383 3.08 6,000 7,000 4,982 2,018
SLT 4x2 Crew Cab 5.75 ft. box 143.5 in. WB — 355 383 3.08 6,000 7,000 5,036 1,964
SLT 4x4 Double Cab 6.6 ft. box 143.5 in. WB — 355 383 3.08 6,000 7,200 5,231 1,969
SLT 4x4 Crew Cab 5.75 ft. box 143.5 in. WB — 355 383 3.08 6,000 7,200 5,300 1,900
SLT 4x4 Crew Cab 6.5 ft. box 153 in. WB — 355 383 3.08 6,000 7,200 5,461 1,739
Denali 4x2 Crew Cab 5.75 ft. box 143.5 in. WB — 355 383 3.42 9,000 7,000 5,161 1,839
Denali 4x4 Crew Cab 5.75 ft. box 143.5 in. WB — 355 383 3.42 9,000 7,200 5,452 1,748
Denali 4x4 Crew Cab 6.5 ft. box 153 in. WB — 355 383 3.42 9,000 7,200 5,458 1,742

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 2017

The 2017 GMC Sierra 1500 carried a maximum tow rating of 12,000 lb. The 2018 model is rated 200 lb lower — sometimes a real spec change, sometimes a re-test under a stricter standard like SAE J2807. See the 2017 GMC Sierra 1500 page for the full per-trim breakdown of the prior year.

Other 2018 GMC models

The rest of GMC's 2018 lineup, ranked by maximum tow rating. Click through for the per-trim breakdown of any of these.

Model Max tow (lb)
2018 GMC Sierra 3500 HD Crew CAB 20,000
2018 GMC Sierra 3500 20,000
2018 GMC Sierra 2500 HD Regular CAB 14,500
2018 GMC Sierra 2500 14,500
2018 GMC Sierra 2500hd 14,500
2018 GMC Sierra 3500hd 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.