2021 GMC Sierra 3500hd towing capacity
The 2021 GMC Sierra 3500hd is published in 39 configurations, with tow ratings ranging from 14,000 to 16,000 lb depending on cab, bed, drivetrain, and hitch class. The peak figure (16,000 lb) sits in serious heavy-duty pickup territory.
The table below lists every trim of the 2021 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 8 ft. box 141.6 in. WB SRW | — | — | — | — | 14,000 | 10,750 | 6,231 | 4,519 |
| Base 4x2 Regular Cab 8 ft. box 141.6 in. WB DRW | — | — | — | — | 16,000 | 14,000 | 6,520 | 7,480 |
| Base 4x4 Regular Cab 8 ft. box 141.6 in. WB SRW | — | — | — | — | 14,000 | 11,100 | 6,528 | 4,572 |
| Base 4x2 Double Cab 8 ft. box 162.5 in. WB SRW | — | — | — | — | 14,000 | 11,100 | 6,689 | 4,411 |
| Base 4x2 Double Cab 8 ft. box 162.5 in. WB DRW | — | — | — | — | 16,000 | 14,000 | 6,977 | 7,023 |
| Base 4x4 Regular Cab 8 ft. box 141.6 in. WB DRW | — | — | — | — | 16,000 | 14,000 | 6,817 | 7,183 |
| Base 4x2 Crew Cab 6.75 ft. box 158.9 in. WB SRW | — | — | — | — | 14,000 | 11,000 | 6,647 | 4,353 |
| Base 4x2 Crew Cab 8 ft. box 172 in. WB SRW | — | — | — | — | 14,000 | 11,150 | 6,779 | 4,371 |
| Base 4x4 Double Cab 8 ft. box 162.5 in. WB SRW | — | — | — | — | 14,000 | 11,400 | 6,971 | 4,429 |
| Base 4x2 Crew Cab 8 ft. box 172 in. WB DRW | — | — | — | — | 16,000 | 14,000 | 7,068 | 6,932 |
| Base 4x4 Double Cab 8 ft. box 162.5 in. WB DRW | — | — | — | — | 16,000 | 14,000 | 7,259 | 6,741 |
| Base 4x4 Crew Cab 6.75 ft. box 158.9 in. WB SRW | — | — | — | — | 14,000 | 11,350 | 6,947 | 4,403 |
| Base 4x4 Crew Cab 8 ft. box 172 in. WB SRW | — | — | — | — | 14,000 | 11,500 | 7,059 | 4,441 |
| Base 4x4 Crew Cab 8 ft. box 172 in. WB DRW | — | — | — | — | 16,000 | 14,000 | 7,352 | 6,648 |
| SLE 4x2 Regular Cab 8 ft. box 141.6 in. WB SRW | — | — | — | — | 14,000 | 10,750 | 6,231 | 4,519 |
| SLE 4x2 Regular Cab 8 ft. box 141.6 in. WB DRW | — | — | — | — | 16,000 | 14,000 | 6,520 | 7,480 |
| SLE 4x2 Double Cab 8 ft. box 162.5 in. WB SRW | — | — | — | — | 14,000 | 11,100 | 6,689 | 4,411 |
| SLE 4x4 Regular Cab 8 ft. box 141.6 in. WB SRW | — | — | — | — | 14,000 | 11,100 | 6,528 | 4,572 |
| SLE 4x2 Double Cab 8 ft. box 162.5 in. WB DRW | — | — | — | — | 16,000 | 14,000 | 6,977 | 7,023 |
| SLE 4x2 Crew Cab 6.75 ft. box 158.9 in. WB SRW | — | — | — | — | 14,000 | 11,000 | 6,647 | 4,353 |
| SLE 4x4 Regular Cab 8 ft. box 141.6 in. WB DRW | — | — | — | — | 16,000 | 14,000 | 6,817 | 7,183 |
| SLE 4x2 Crew Cab 8 ft. box 172 in. WB SRW | — | — | — | — | 14,000 | 11,150 | 6,779 | 4,371 |
| SLE 4x4 Double Cab 8 ft. box 162.5 in. WB SRW | — | — | — | — | 14,000 | 11,400 | 6,971 | 4,429 |
| SLE 4x2 Crew Cab 8 ft. box 172 in. WB DRW | — | — | — | — | 16,000 | 14,000 | 7,068 | 6,932 |
| SLE 4x4 Double Cab 8 ft. box 162.5 in. WB DRW | — | — | — | — | 16,000 | 14,000 | 7,259 | 6,741 |
| SLE 4x4 Crew Cab 6.75 ft. box 158.9 in. WB SRW | — | — | — | — | 14,000 | 11,350 | 6,947 | 4,403 |
| SLE 4x4 Crew Cab 8 ft. box 172 in. WB SRW | — | — | — | — | 14,000 | 11,500 | 7,059 | 4,441 |
| SLE 4x4 Crew Cab 8 ft. box 172 in. WB DRW | — | — | — | — | 16,000 | 14,000 | 7,352 | 6,648 |
| SLT 4x2 Crew Cab 6.75 ft. box 158.9 in. WB SRW | — | — | — | — | 14,000 | 11,000 | 6,647 | 4,353 |
| SLT 4x2 Crew Cab 8 ft. box 172 in. WB SRW | — | — | — | — | 14,000 | 11,150 | 6,779 | 4,371 |
| SLT 4x2 Crew Cab 8 ft. box 172 in. WB DRW | — | — | — | — | 16,000 | 14,000 | 7,068 | 6,932 |
| SLT 4x4 Crew Cab 6.75 ft. box 158.9 in. WB SRW | — | — | — | — | 14,000 | 11,350 | 6,947 | 4,403 |
| SLT 4x4 Crew Cab 8 ft. box 172 in. WB SRW | — | — | — | — | 14,000 | 11,500 | 7,059 | 4,441 |
| SLT 4x4 Crew Cab 8 ft. box 172 in. WB DRW | — | — | — | — | 16,000 | 14,000 | 7,352 | 6,648 |
| AT4 4x4 Crew Cab 6.75 ft. box 158.9 in. WB SRW | — | — | — | — | 14,000 | 11,350 | 6,947 | 4,403 |
| AT4 4x4 Crew Cab 8 ft. box 172 in. WB SRW | — | — | — | — | 14,000 | 11,500 | 7,059 | 4,441 |
| Denali 4x4 Crew Cab 6.75 ft. box 158.9 in. WB SRW | — | — | — | — | 14,000 | 11,350 | 6,947 | 4,403 |
| Denali 4x4 Crew Cab 8 ft. box 172 in. WB SRW | — | — | — | — | 14,000 | 11,500 | 7,059 | 4,441 |
| Denali 4x4 Crew Cab 8 ft. box 172 in. WB DRW | — | — | — | — | 16,000 | 14,000 | 7,352 | 6,648 |
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 3500hd carried a maximum tow rating of 16,000 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 3500hd 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 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.