2021 model year · Fourth generation (T1)

GMC Sierra 1500 towing capacity

Max towing, 202111,800 lb

Maker5,352 kg

The 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 tows up to 11,800 lb (Crew Cab Standard bed 6.2L EcoTec3 V8 4WD with the Max Trailering Package, per the 2021 GMC Trailering Guide).

The lowest rating is 7,400 lb, for the Double Cab Standard bed 4.3L EcoTec3 V6 4WD.

2021 GMC Trailering Guide (Sierra 1500 section)

Configurations: 31
Payload: 1,750–2,250 lb
GCWR: 12,800–17,800 lb

01 / Ratings

Every 2021 Sierra 1500 configuration

31 configurations GMC sells, each with the ratings GMC publishes for it. A package that changes a rating gets its own row.

Engine

Cab

Drive

Showing 38 of 38 rows

2021 GMC Sierra 1500

Gmc trim not specified

Makerin pounds

2021 GMC Sierra 1500 towing capacity, GCWR, payload and tongue weight by configuration, in pounds
Configuration	Max towing lb	GCWR lb	Max payload lb	GVWR lb	5th wheel lb	Axle ratio	Tow check
4.3L EcoTec3 V6
Regular Cab · Long bed · 2WD	7,800	12,800	2,250	6,800	7,800	3.42	Check load →
Regular Cab · Long bed · 4WD	7,600	12,800	2,130	6,900	7,500	3.42	Check load →
Double Cab · Standard bed · 2WD	7,600	12,800	2,040	6,800	7,600	3.42	Check load →
Double Cab · Standard bed · 4WD	7,400	12,800	2,020	7,000	7,300	3.42	Check load →
Crew Cab · Short bed · 2WD	7,600	12,800	2,040	6,800	7,500	3.42	Check load →
Crew Cab · Short bed · 4WD	7,400	12,800	2,010	7,000	7,300	3.42	Check load →
Crew Cab · Standard bed · 4WD	7,400	12,800	1,970	7,000	7,300	3.42	Check load →
2.7L Turbo I4
Double Cab · Standard bed · 2WD	9,200	14,500	2,060	6,800	9,100	3.42	Check load →
Double Cab · Standard bed · 4WD	9,000	14,500	2,050	7,000	8,700	3.42	Check load →
Crew Cab · Short bed · 2WD	9,100	14,500	2,060	6,800	9,000	3.42	Check load →
Crew Cab · Short bed · 4WD	8,900	14,500	2,040	7,000	8,400	3.42	Check load →
Crew Cab · Standard bed · 4WD	8,900	14,500	2,000	7,000	8,600	3.42	Check load →
5.3L EcoTec3 V8 (L82), base Sierra only
Regular Cab · Long bed · 2WD	9,900	15,000	2,180	6,800	9,800	3.42	Check load →
Regular Cab · Long bed · 4WD	9,700	15,000	2,070	6,900	9,600	3.42	Check load →
Double Cab · Standard bed · 2WD	9,700	15,000	1,970	6,800	9,600	3.42	Check load →
Double Cab · Standard bed · 4WD	9,400	15,000	1,950	7,000	9,100	3.42	Check load →
Crew Cab · Short bed · 2WD	9,700	15,000	2,060	6,900	9,600	3.42	Check load →
Crew Cab · Short bed · 4WD	9,400	15,000	2,050	7,100	8,900	3.42	Check load →
Crew Cab · Standard bed · 4WD	9,400	15,000	2,000	7,100	9,100	3.42	Check load →
5.3L EcoTec3 V8
Double Cab · Standard bed · 2WD	9,500	not in our data	not in our data	not in our data	8,600	3.23	Check load →
Double Cab · Standard bed · 2WDwith Max Trailering Package	11,300	16,800	2,170	7,100	10,200	3.42	Check load →
Double Cab · Standard bed · 4WD	9,200	not in our data	not in our data	not in our data	8,000	3.23	Check load →
Double Cab · Standard bed · 4WDwith Max Trailering Package	11,000	16,800	2,150	7,300	9,800	3.42	Check load →
Crew Cab · Short bed · 2WD	9,500	not in our data	not in our data	not in our data	8,900	3.23	Check load →
Crew Cab · Short bed · 2WDwith Max Trailering Package	11,200	16,800	2,140	7,100	9,600	3.42	Check load →
Crew Cab · Short bed · 4WD	9,200	not in our data	2,120	not in our data	7,800	3.23	Check load →
Crew Cab · Short bed · 4WDwith Max Trailering Package	10,900	16,800	2,120	7,300	9,300	3.42	Check load →
Crew Cab · Standard bed · 4WD	9,100	not in our data	not in our data	not in our data	7,600	3.23	Check load →
Crew Cab · Standard bed · 4WDwith Max Trailering Package	10,900	16,800	2,080	7,300	8,800	3.42	Check load →
6.2L EcoTec3 V8
Crew Cab · Short bed · 4WD	8,600	not in our data	not in our data	not in our data	7,100	3.23	Check load →
Crew Cab · Short bed · 4WDwith Max Trailering Package	11,700	17,800	2,000	7,300	8,900	3.42	Check load →
Crew Cab · Standard bed · 4WD	9,000	not in our data	not in our data	not in our data	6,800	3.23	Check load →
Crew Cab · Standard bed · 4WD Mostwith Max Trailering Package	11,800	17,800	1,960	7,300	8,400	3.42	Check load →
3.0L Duramax I6 turbo diesel
Double Cab · Standard bed · 2WD	9,300	15,000	1,760	6,900	7,800	3.23	Check load →
Double Cab · Standard bed · 4WD	9,000	15,000	1,750	7,100	7,100	3.23	Check load →
Crew Cab · Short bed · 2WD	9,200	15,000	1,830	7,000	7,600	3.23	Check load →
Crew Cab · Short bed · 4WD	8,500	15,000	1,810	7,200	7,000	3.23	Check load →
Crew Cab · Standard bed · 4WD	8,800	15,000	1,770	7,200	6,500	3.23	Check load →

“Not published”: the maker doesn’t print it. —: not in the documents we hold yet. Scroll the table sideways for every rating.

SourceMakerEvery figure above is GMC’s, from this document.

2021 GMC Trailering Guide (Sierra 1500 section) · General Motors (GMC)

How GMC rates towing: maximum conventional trailer weight rating; properly equipped, for comparison.

Documents last checked Oct 12, 2026. How we read them and what the marks mean: how we source the numbers. A figure doesn’t match its document? Report a wrong number.

2021 GMC Sierra 1500 specs: payload, dimensions, ground clearance and weight beside the towing ratings.

The Sierra 1500, generation by generation: clearance, angles, weights and every configuration.

GMC Sierra 1500 T1 (2019–present): full specs

02 / Why

Which one tows the most, and why

Each figure below is the gap between two of GMC’s own ratings for configurations that differ in one thing only.

What moves the rating

Maker

Tows the most: 11,800 lb

Crew Cab Standard bed 6.2L EcoTec3 V8 4WD with the Max Trailering Package. Without it the same configuration is rated 9,000 lb.

Package
Max Trailering Package
+1,700 to +3,100 lb
Same configuration otherwise · 7 pairs in the table
Build
2WD instead of 4WD
+200 to +700 lb
Same configuration otherwise · 10 pairs in the table
Build
Regular Cab instead of Crew Cab
+200 to +300 lb
Same configuration otherwise · 4 pairs in the table
Build
Regular Cab instead of Double Cab
+200 to +300 lb
Same configuration otherwise · 4 pairs in the table

Best rating by engine

6.2L EcoTec3 V811,800 lb
5.3L EcoTec3 V811,300 lb
5.3L EcoTec3 V8 (L82), base Sierra only9,900 lb
3.0L Duramax I6 turbo diesel9,300 lb
2.7L Turbo I49,200 lb
4.3L EcoTec3 V67,800 lb

The line is the highest rating on this page. Each bar is that engine’s best configuration.

03 / By year

Sierra 1500 towing by model year

The highest rating each model year, from that year’s documents. Years rated the same in every configuration share one page.

04 / Next

Check it against your load

Towing calculatorPut your trailer and cargo against a 2021 Sierra 1500’s ratings and see what’s left.Check my load GVWR, GCWR & payloadWhat each rating limits, and why the trailer number alone isn’t the answer.Read the guide Sierra 1500 specsClearance, angles, weights and the rig builder for every configuration.Open the spec plate All towing capacitiesEvery truck and SUV we cover, side by side, sortable.Compare vehicles

05 / FAQ

Questions people ask

Which 2021 Sierra 1500 configuration tows the most?

The Crew Cab Standard bed 6.2L EcoTec3 V8 4WD with the Max Trailering Package, at 11,800 lb.

Which package unlocks the 2021 Sierra 1500’s 11,800 lb rating?

The Max Trailering Package: GMC rates the Crew Cab Standard bed 6.2L EcoTec3 V8 4WD at 11,800 lb so equipped. Without it the same configuration is rated 9,000 lb.

What is the GCWR of the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500?

12,800–17,800 lb by configuration; the most is 17,800 lb, for the Crew Cab Short bed 6.2L EcoTec3 V8 4WD with the Max Trailering Package. GCWR is the most the loaded vehicle and its loaded trailer may weigh together.

Has the GMC Sierra 1500’s towing capacity changed by year?

Highest rating by model year: 2021, 11,800 lb; 2020, 12,100 lb.

Does four-wheel drive change the 2021 Sierra 1500’s towing capacity?

Yes: 2WD instead of 4WD is rated +200 to +700 lb on otherwise identical configurations (10 pairs in GMC’s table).

Does the engine change the 2021 Sierra 1500’s towing capacity?

Yes. Best rating by engine: 6.2L EcoTec3 V8, 11,800 lb; 5.3L EcoTec3 V8, 11,300 lb; 5.3L EcoTec3 V8 (L82), base Sierra only, 9,900 lb; 3.0L Duramax I6 turbo diesel, 9,300 lb; 2.7L Turbo I4, 9,200 lb; 4.3L EcoTec3 V6, 7,800 lb.

These are GMC’s published ratings, not a weighbridge. Your own vehicle’s GVWR and axle ratings are on its certification label, and only a scale tells you what your loaded rig weighs. Found a figure that doesn’t match the document? Tell us.