2021 GMC Sierra 1500 towing capacity
The 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 is published in 56 configurations, with tow ratings ranging from 7,000 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 2021 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, 4.3 Liter | 285 | 305 | — | 9,900 | — | 4,520 | — |
| Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft | V8, EcoTec3, 5.3 Liter | 355 | 383 | — | 9,400 | — | 4,940 | — |
| SLE Pickup 4D 5 3/4 ft | 4-Cyl, Turbo, 2.7 Liter | 310 | 348 | — | 10,900 | — | 4,920 | — |
| Pickup 4D 5 3/4 ft | V8, EcoTec3, 5.3 Liter | 355 | 383 | — | 9,400 | — | 4,950 | — |
| Elevation Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft | 4-Cyl, Turbo, 2.7 Liter | 310 | 348 | — | 10,900 | — | 4,970 | — |
| Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft | V8, EcoTec3, 5.3 Liter | 355 | 383 | — | 9,400 | — | 4,990 | — |
| SLE Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft | 4-Cyl, Turbo, 2.7 Liter | 310 | 348 | — | 10,900 | — | 4,970 | — |
| SLE Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft | V8, EcoTec3, DFM, 5.3 Liter | 355 | 383 | — | 11,000 | — | 4,920 | — |
| Elevation Pickup 4D 5 3/4 ft | 4-Cyl, Turbo, 2.7 Liter | 310 | 348 | — | 10,900 | — | 4,920 | — |
| Elevation Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft | V8, EcoTec3, DFM, 5.3 Liter | 355 | 383 | — | 11,000 | — | 4,920 | — |
| SLT Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft | V8, EcoTec3, DFM, 5.3 Liter | 355 | 383 | — | 11,800 | — | 5,080 | — |
| SLT Pickup 4D 5 3/4 ft | V8, EcoTec3, DFM, 5.3 Liter | 355 | 383 | — | 11,700 | — | 5,040 | — |
| Denali Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft | V8, EcoTec3, DFM, 5.3 Liter | 355 | 383 | — | 9,100 | — | 5,080 | — |
| AT4 Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft | 6-Cyl, Turbo Diesel, 3.0 Liter | 277 | 460 | — | 9,100 | — | 5,390 | — |
| AT4 Pickup 4D 5 3/4 ft | V8, EcoTec3, DFM, 5.3 Liter | 355 | 383 | — | 9,200 | — | 5,040 | — |
| Denali Pickup 4D 5 3/4 ft | V8, EcoTec3, DFM, 5.3 Liter | 355 | 383 | — | 9,200 | — | 5,040 | — |
| SLE Pickup 4D 5 3/4 ft | 4-Cyl, Turbo, 2.7 Liter | 310 | 348 | — | 10,900 | — | 4,920 | — |
| Pickup 4D 5 3/4 ft | V8, EcoTec3, 5.3 Liter | 355 | 383 | — | 9,400 | — | 4,950 | — |
| Elevation Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft | 4-Cyl, Turbo, 2.7 Liter | 310 | 348 | — | 10,900 | — | 4,970 | — |
| Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft | V8, EcoTec3, 5.3 Liter | 355 | 383 | — | 9,400 | — | 4,990 | — |
| SLE Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft | 4-Cyl, Turbo, 2.7 Liter | 310 | 348 | — | 10,900 | — | 4,970 | — |
| Elevation Pickup 4D 5 3/4 ft | 4-Cyl, Turbo, 2.7 Liter | 310 | 348 | — | 10,900 | — | 4,920 | — |
| SLT Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft | V8, EcoTec3, DFM, 5.3 Liter | 355 | 383 | — | 11,800 | — | 5,080 | — |
| SLT Pickup 4D 5 3/4 ft | V8, EcoTec3, DFM, 5.3 Liter | 355 | 383 | — | 11,700 | — | 5,040 | — |
| Denali Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft | V8, EcoTec3, DFM, 5.3 Liter | 355 | 383 | — | 9,100 | — | 5,080 | — |
| AT4 Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft | 6-Cyl, Turbo Diesel, 3.0 Liter | 277 | 460 | — | 9,100 | — | 5,390 | — |
| AT4 Pickup 4D 5 3/4 ft | V8, EcoTec3, DFM, 5.3 Liter | 355 | 383 | — | 9,200 | — | 5,040 | — |
| Denali Pickup 4D 5 3/4 ft | V8, EcoTec3, DFM, 5.3 Liter | 355 | 383 | — | 9,200 | — | 5,040 | — |
| Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft | V8, EcoTec3, 5.3 Liter | 355 | 383 | — | 9,400 | — | 4,940 | — |
| SLE Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft | V8, EcoTec3, DFM, 5.3 Liter | 355 | 383 | — | 11,000 | — | 4,920 | — |
| Elevation Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft | V8, EcoTec3, DFM, 5.3 Liter | 355 | 383 | — | 11,000 | — | 4,920 | — |
| Base 4x2 Regular Cab 8 ft. box 139.6 in. WB | — | 285 | 305 | 3.42 | 7,000 | 6,800 | 4,520 | 2,280 |
| Base 4x2 Double Cab 6.6 ft. box 147.4 in. WB | — | 285 | 305 | 3.42 | 7,000 | 6,800 | 4,720 | 2,080 |
| Base 4x4 Regular Cab 8 ft. box 139.6 in. WB | — | 285 | 305 | 3.42 | 7,000 | 6,900 | 4,730 | 2,170 |
| Base 4x2 Crew Cab 5.75 ft. box 147.4 in. WB | — | 285 | 305 | 3.42 | 7,000 | 6,800 | 4,720 | 2,080 |
| Base 4x4 Double Cab 6.6 ft. box 147.4 in. WB | — | 285 | 305 | 3.42 | 7,000 | 7,000 | 4,940 | 2,060 |
| Base 4x4 Crew Cab 5.75 ft. box 147.4 in. WB | — | 285 | 305 | 3.42 | 7,000 | 7,000 | 4,950 | 2,050 |
| Base 4x4 Crew Cab 6.6 ft. box 157 in. WB | — | 285 | 305 | 3.42 | 7,000 | 7,000 | 4,990 | 2,010 |
| SLE 4x2 Double Cab 6.6 ft. box 147.4 in. WB | — | 310 | 348 | 3.42 | 9,000 | 6,800 | 4,700 | 2,100 |
| SLE 4x2 Crew Cab 5.75 ft. box 147.4 in. WB | — | 310 | 348 | 3.42 | 9,000 | 6,800 | 4,700 | 2,100 |
| SLE 4x4 Double Cab 6.6 ft. box 147.4 in. WB | — | 310 | 348 | 3.42 | 9,000 | 7,000 | 4,920 | 2,080 |
| SLE 4x4 Crew Cab 5.75 ft. box 147.4 in. WB | — | 310 | 348 | 3.42 | 8,000 | 7,000 | 4,920 | 2,080 |
| SLE 4x4 Crew Cab 6.6 ft. box 157 in. WB | — | 310 | 348 | 3.42 | 8,000 | 7,000 | 4,970 | 2,030 |
| Elevation 4x2 Double Cab 6.6 ft. box 147.4 in. WB | — | 310 | 348 | 3.42 | 9,000 | 6,800 | 4,700 | 2,100 |
| Elevation 4x2 Crew Cab 5.75 ft. box 147.4 in. WB | — | 310 | 348 | 3.42 | 9,000 | 6,800 | 4,700 | 2,100 |
| Elevation 4x4 Double Cab 6.6 ft. box 147.4 in. WB | — | 310 | 348 | 3.42 | 9,000 | 7,000 | 4,920 | 2,080 |
| Elevation 4x4 Crew Cab 5.75 ft. box 147.4 in. WB | — | 310 | 348 | 3.42 | 8,000 | 7,000 | 4,920 | 2,080 |
| Elevation 4x4 Crew Cab 6.6 ft. box 157 in. WB | — | 310 | 348 | 3.42 | 8,000 | 7,000 | 4,970 | 2,030 |
| SLT 4x2 Crew Cab 5.75 ft. box 147.4 in. WB | — | 355 | 383 | 3.23 | 9,000 | 6,900 | 4,820 | 2,080 |
| SLT 4x4 Crew Cab 5.75 ft. box 147.4 in. WB | — | 355 | 383 | 3.23 | 9,000 | 7,100 | 5,040 | 2,060 |
| SLT 4x4 Crew Cab 6.6 ft. box 157 in. WB | — | 355 | 383 | 3.23 | 9,000 | 7,100 | 5,080 | 2,020 |
| AT4 4x4 Crew Cab 5.75 ft. box 147.4 in. WB | — | 355 | 383 | 3.23 | 9,000 | 7,000 | 5,140 | 1,860 |
| AT4 4x4 Crew Cab 6.6 ft. box 157 in. WB | — | 277 | 460 | 3.23 | 8,000 | 7,100 | 5,530 | 1,570 |
| Denali 4x2 Crew Cab 5.75 ft. box 147.4 in. WB | — | 355 | 383 | 3.23 | 9,000 | 6,900 | 4,820 | 2,080 |
| Denali 4x4 Crew Cab 5.75 ft. box 147.4 in. WB | — | 355 | 383 | 3.23 | 9,000 | 7,100 | 5,040 | 2,060 |
| Denali 4x4 Crew Cab 6.6 ft. box 157 in. WB | — | 355 | 383 | 3.23 | 9,000 | 7,100 | 5,080 | 2,020 |
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 2020
The 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 carried a maximum tow rating of 11,300 lb. The 2021 model adds 500 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 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 page for the full per-trim breakdown of the prior year.
Other 2021 GMC models
The rest of GMC's 2021 lineup, ranked by maximum tow rating. Click through for the per-trim breakdown of any of these.
| Model | Max tow (lb) |
|---|---|
| 2021 GMC Sierra 2500 HD Double CAB | 17,890 |
| 2021 GMC Sierra 2500 | 17,890 |
| 2021 GMC Sierra 3500 HD Crew CAB | 16,300 |
| 2021 GMC Sierra 3500 | 16,300 |
| 2021 GMC Sierra 3500hd | 16,000 |
| 2021 GMC Sierra 2500 HD Crew CAB | 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.