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

2023 GMC Sierra 3500 towing capacity

The 2023 GMC Sierra 3500 is published in 26 configurations, with tow ratings ranging from 14,500 to 20,000 lb depending on cab, bed, drivetrain, and hitch class. The peak figure (20,000 lb) sits in serious heavy-duty pickup territory.

The table below lists every trim of the 2023 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
Pro Pickup 2D 8 ft V8, 6.6 Liter 401 464 — 14,500 — 6,528 —
Pro Pickup 4D 8 ft V8, 6.6 Liter 401 464 — 14,500 — 6,971 —
Pro Pickup 4D 8 ft V8, 6.6 Liter 401 464 — 20,000 — 7,352 —
Pro Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V8, 6.6 Liter 401 464 — 20,000 — 6,947 —
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 —
SLE Pickup 4D 8 ft V8, Turbo Diesel, 6.6 Liter 445 910 — 20,000 — 7,352 —
SLE Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V8, Turbo Diesel, 6.6 Liter 445 910 — 20,000 — 6,947 —
AT4 Pickup 4D 8 ft V8, 6.6 Liter 401 464 — 20,000 — 7,064 —
Denali Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V8, 6.6 Liter 401 464 — 20,000 — 6,947 —
SLT Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V8, Turbo Diesel, 6.6 Liter 445 910 — 20,000 — 6,947 —
SLT Pickup 4D 8 ft V8, Turbo Diesel, 6.6 Liter 445 910 — 20,000 — 7,352 —
Denali Pickup 4D 8 ft V8, 6.6 Liter 401 464 — 20,000 — 7,064 —
AT4 Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V8, 6.6 Liter 401 464 — 20,000 — 6,947 —
Pro Pickup 4D 8 ft V8, 6.6 Liter 401 464 — 14,500 — 6,971 —
SLE Pickup 4D 8 ft V8, 6.6 Liter 401 464 — 14,500 — 6,971 —
Pro Pickup 4D 8 ft V8, 6.6 Liter 401 464 — 20,000 — 7,352 —
Pro Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V8, 6.6 Liter 401 464 — 20,000 — 6,947 —
SLE Pickup 4D 8 ft V8, Turbo Diesel, 6.6 Liter 445 910 — 20,000 — 7,352 —
SLE Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V8, Turbo Diesel, 6.6 Liter 445 910 — 20,000 — 6,947 —
AT4 Pickup 4D 8 ft V8, 6.6 Liter 401 464 — 20,000 — 7,064 —
Denali Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V8, 6.6 Liter 401 464 — 20,000 — 6,947 —
SLT Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V8, Turbo Diesel, 6.6 Liter 445 910 — 20,000 — 6,947 —
SLT Pickup 4D 8 ft V8, Turbo Diesel, 6.6 Liter 445 910 — 20,000 — 7,352 —
Denali Pickup 4D 8 ft V8, 6.6 Liter 401 464 — 20,000 — 7,064 —
AT4 Pickup 4D 6 1/2 ft V8, 6.6 Liter 401 464 — 20,000 — 6,947 —

How to interpret the headline tow figure

Tow figures this high require a gooseneck or fifth-wheel hitch installed in the bed of the truck, and a corresponding trailer setup. Conventional bumper-pull towing on the same vehicle is typically capped well below this number — usually under 15,000 lb. Always check the door-jamb sticker and owner's manual for the maximum permitted on each hitch class before hooking up.

How this year compares to 2022

The 2022 GMC Sierra 3500 carried a maximum tow rating of 21,210 lb. The 2023 model is rated 1,210 lb lower — sometimes a real spec change, sometimes a re-test under a stricter standard like SAE J2807. See the 2022 GMC Sierra 3500 page for the full per-trim breakdown of the prior year.

Other 2023 GMC models

The rest of GMC's 2023 lineup, ranked by maximum tow rating. Click through for the per-trim breakdown of any of these.

Model Max tow (lb)
2023 GMC Sierra 3500 HD Crew CAB 20,000
2023 GMC Sierra 2500 HD Crew CAB 18,500
2023 GMC Sierra 2500 18,500
2023 GMC Sierra 3500hd 16,000
2023 GMC Sierra 2500 HD Double CAB 14,500
2023 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.