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

2021 GMC Sierra 3500 towing capacity

The 2021 GMC Sierra 3500 is published in 26 configurations, with tow ratings ranging from 14,500 to 16,300 lb depending on cab, bed, drivetrain, and hitch class. The peak figure (16,300 lb) sits in serious heavy-duty pickup territory.

The table below lists every trim of the 2021 GMC Sierra 3500 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 V8, 6.6 Liter 401 464 — 14,500 — 6,528 —
Pickup 4D 8 ft V8, 6.6 Liter 401 464 — 16,300 — 7,352 —
SLE Pickup 2D 8 ft V8, 6.6 Liter 401 464 — 14,500 — 6,528 —
SLE Pickup 4D 8 ft V8, 6.6 Liter 401 464 — 14,500 — 6,971 —
Pickup 4D 8 ft V8, 6.6 Liter 401 464 — 14,500 — 6,971 —
Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V8, 6.6 Liter 401 464 — 14,500 — 6,947 —
SLE Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V8, Turbo Diesel, 6.6 Liter 445 910 — 14,500 — 6,947 —
AT4 Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V8, 6.6 Liter 401 464 — 14,500 — 6,947 —
AT4 Pickup 4D 8 ft V8, 6.6 Liter 401 464 — 14,500 — 7,064 —
SLE Pickup 4D 8 ft V8, Turbo Diesel, 6.6 Liter 445 910 — 16,300 — 7,352 —
Denali Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V8, 6.6 Liter 401 464 — 14,500 — 6,947 —
Denali Pickup 4D 8 ft V8, 6.6 Liter 401 464 — 14,500 — 7,064 —
SLT Pickup 4D 8 ft V8, Turbo Diesel, 6.6 Liter 445 910 — 16,300 — 7,352 —
SLT Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V8, Turbo Diesel, 6.6 Liter 445 910 — 14,500 — 6,947 —
Pickup 4D 8 ft V8, 6.6 Liter 401 464 — 16,300 — 7,352 —
Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V8, 6.6 Liter 401 464 — 14,500 — 6,947 —
SLE Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V8, Turbo Diesel, 6.6 Liter 445 910 — 14,500 — 6,947 —
AT4 Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V8, 6.6 Liter 401 464 — 14,500 — 6,947 —
AT4 Pickup 4D 8 ft V8, 6.6 Liter 401 464 — 14,500 — 7,064 —
SLE Pickup 4D 8 ft V8, Turbo Diesel, 6.6 Liter 445 910 — 16,300 — 7,352 —
Denali Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V8, 6.6 Liter 401 464 — 14,500 — 6,947 —
Denali Pickup 4D 8 ft V8, 6.6 Liter 401 464 — 14,500 — 7,064 —
SLT Pickup 4D 8 ft V8, Turbo Diesel, 6.6 Liter 445 910 — 16,300 — 7,352 —
SLT Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V8, Turbo Diesel, 6.6 Liter 445 910 — 14,500 — 6,947 —
SLE Pickup 4D 8 ft V8, 6.6 Liter 401 464 — 14,500 — 6,971 —
Pickup 4D 8 ft V8, 6.6 Liter 401 464 — 14,500 — 6,971 —

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 3500 carried a maximum tow rating of 16,300 lb. The 2021 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 2020 GMC Sierra 3500 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 3500hd 16,000
2021 GMC Sierra 2500 HD Crew CAB 14,500
2021 GMC Sierra 2500 HD Regular 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.