2021 GMC Sierra 1500 towing capacity
Max tow rating
11,800lb
- SLT Crew Cab LB 4WD, 5.3L 8cyl.
- Base trim: 9,900 lb.
- Top 16% of 13 trucks (2021).
Trailer check
Yes. 9,400 lb is within 80% of the rating.
- Tow rating
- 11,800 lb
- 80% rule
- Up to 9,440 lb
- Margin
- 2,400 lb (20%)
- Hitch class needed
- IV, up to 10,000 lb
- Share of curb weight
- 193% of 4,867 lb
Over the 85% curb weight guideline.
Expect 20-40% lower mpg when towing: 10-13 mpg.
What it can pull
Rule: keep the trailer at 80% of the rating or less.
- Max tow rating
- 11,800 lb
- 80% of the rating
- 9,440 lb
- Hitch class at max
- V, over 10,000 lb
| Trailer | Loaded weight | Fits |
|---|---|---|
| Teardrop camper | 1,000 to 2,500 lb | Yes |
| Utility trailer | 1,000 to 3,000 lb | Yes |
| Pop-up camper | 1,500 to 3,000 lb | Yes |
| Boat on a trailer | 2,000 to 6,000 lb | Yes |
| Small travel trailer | 3,000 to 5,000 lb | Yes |
| Mid-size travel trailer | 5,000 to 7,500 lb | Yes |
| Car on a car hauler | 5,500 to 7,500 lb | Yes |
| Large travel trailer | 7,500 to 10,000 lb | Some, up to 9,440 lb |
| Fifth wheel | 10,000 to 16,000 lb | No |
Trailer weights are typical loaded weights.
Tow rating by trim
Cheapest at 11,800 lb: SLT Crew Cab LB 4WD, $51,100.
| Trim | Engine | Drivetrain | Tow rating | Payload | GVWR | Curb weight | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SLT Crew Cab LB 4WD | 5.3L 8cyl | 4WD | 11,800 lb | 1,980 lb to 2,233 lb | 7,100 lb | 4,867 lb | $51,100 |
| SLT Crew Cab 4WD | 5.3L 8cyl | 4WD | 11,700 lb | 2,030 lb to 2,285 lb | 7,100 lb | 4,815 lb | $50,800 |
| SLE Double Cab RWD | 2.7L | RWD | 11,200 lb | 2,201 lb | 6,800 lb | 4,599 lb | $41,400 |
| Elevation Double Cab RWD | 2.7L | RWD | 11,200 lb | 2,201 lb | 6,800 lb | 4,599 lb | $43,100 |
| SLE Crew Cab RWD | 2.7L | RWD | 11,200 lb | 2,198 lb | 6,800 lb | 4,602 lb | $43,800 |
| Elevation Crew Cab RWD | 2.7L | RWD | 11,200 lb | 2,198 lb | 6,800 lb | 4,602 lb | $45,700 |
| SLT Crew Cab RWD | 5.3L | RWD | 11,200 lb | 2,298 lb | 6,900 lb | 4,602 lb | $47,500 |
| 4WD Double Cab 147" Elevation w/3VL | 2.7L | 4WD | 11,000 lb | 2,185 lb | 7,000 lb | 4,815 lb | $44,600 |
| SLE Double Cab 4WD | 2.7L | 4WD | 11,000 lb | 2,050 lb to 2,185 lb | 7,000 lb | 4,888 lb | $44,700 |
| Elevation Double Cab 4WD | 5.3L 8cyl | 4WD | 11,000 lb | 2,050 lb | 6,970 lb | 4,920 lb | $46,400 |
| 4WD Double Cab 147" Elevation w/3SB | 2.7L 4cyl | 4WD | 11,000 lb | 2,185 lb | 7,000 lb | 4,815 lb | $46,400 |
| SLE Crew Cab 4WD | 2.7L 4cyl | 4WD | 10,900 lb | 2,040 lb to 2,185 lb | 7,000 lb | 4,888 lb | $47,100 |
| 4WD Crew Cab 147" Elevation w/3VL | 2.7L | 4WD | 10,900 lb | 2,185 lb | 7,000 lb | 4,815 lb | $47,200 |
| SLE Crew Cab LB 4WD | 2.7L 4cyl | 4WD | 10,900 lb | 2,000 lb to 2,133 lb | 7,000 lb | 4,888 lb | $47,400 |
| Elevation Crew Cab 4WD | 2.7L 4cyl | 4WD | 10,900 lb | 2,040 lb | 6,960 lb | 4,920 lb | $49,000 |
| 4WD Crew Cab 147" Elevation w/3SB | 2.7L 4cyl | 4WD | 10,900 lb | 2,185 lb | 7,000 lb | 4,815 lb | $49,000 |
| Elevation Crew Cab LB 4WD | 2.7L 4cyl | 4WD | 10,900 lb | 2,000 lb to 2,133 lb | 7,000 lb | 4,888 lb | $49,300 |
| 2WD Reg Cab 140" | 4.3L 6cyl | 2WD | 9,900 lb | 2,250 lb to 2,431 lb | 6,800 lb | 4,520 lb | $30,100 |
| Double Cab RWD | 4.3L | RWD | 9,700 lb | 2,201 lb | 6,800 lb | 4,599 lb | $34,000 |
| 4WD Reg Cab 140" | 4.3L | 4WD | 9,700 lb | 2,318 lb | 6,900 lb | 4,582 lb | $34,700 |
| Crew Cab RWD | 4.3L | RWD | 9,700 lb | 2,198 lb | 6,800 lb | 4,602 lb | $36,400 |
| Denali Crew Cab RWD | 5.3L | RWD | 9,500 lb | 2,298 lb | 6,900 lb | 4,602 lb | $55,800 |
| Double Cab 4WD | 4.3L | 4WD | 9,400 lb | 2,020 lb to 2,185 lb | 7,000 lb | 4,888 lb | $37,300 |
| Crew Cab 4WD | 4.3L | 4WD | 9,400 lb | 2,010 lb to 2,185 lb | 7,000 lb | 4,888 lb | $39,700 |
| Crew Cab LB 4WD | 4.3L | 4WD | 9,400 lb | 2,020 lb to 2,133 lb | 7,000 lb | 4,867 lb | $40,000 |
| AT4 Crew Cab 4WD | 5.3L 8cyl | 4WD | 9,200 lb | 2,030 lb to 2,185 lb | 7,000 lb | 4,815 lb | $54,700 |
| Denali Crew Cab 4WD | 5.3L 8cyl | 4WD | 9,200 lb | 2,030 lb to 2,285 lb | 7,100 lb | 4,815 lb | $59,300 |
| Denali Crew Cab LB 4WD | 5.3L 8cyl | 4WD | 9,100 lb | 1,980 lb to 2,233 lb | 7,100 lb | 4,867 lb | $59,600 |
| AT4 Crew Cab LB 4WD | 3.0L 6cyl | 4WD | 9,000 lb to 9,100 lb | 1,770 lb to 2,233 lb | 7,100 lb | 4,867 lb | $55,900 |
No rating listed: 4 trims.
Max rating by year
- Changed in 2011: 10,600 lb to 10,700 lb.
- Changed in 2013: 10,700 lb to 10,400 lb.
- Changed in 2014: 10,400 lb to 11,500 lb.
- Changed in 2015: 11,500 lb to 12,000 lb.
- Changed in 2018: 12,000 lb to 12,500 lb.
- Changed in 2019: 12,500 lb to 12,200 lb.
- Changed in 2020: 12,200 lb to 11,300 lb.
- Changed in 2021: 11,300 lb to 11,800 lb.
- Changed in 2022: 11,800 lb to 13,200 lb.
- Changed in 2024: 13,200 lb to 13,100 lb.
- Changed in 2025: 13,100 lb to 13,200 lb.
- Changed in 2026: 13,200 lb to 13,300 lb.
Rivals: max tow rating
| Model | Max tow rating | Cheapest trim at max | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | 11,900 lb | RST Crew Cab 4WD | $47,200 |
| GMC Sierra 1500 (this car) | 11,800 lb | SLT Crew Cab LB 4WD | $51,100 |
| RAM 1500 | 11,340 lb | Crew Cab Laramie Longhorn 5 1/2 ft 4WD | N/A |
| Ford F-150 | 11,200 lb | Limited SuperCrew RWD | $73,105 |
| Toyota Tundra | 10,200 lb | SR Double Cab RWD | $34,125 |
| GMC Canyon | 7,700 lb | Elevation Crew Cab RWD | $32,200 |
| Nissan Frontier | 6,720 lb | S King Cab 4WD | $30,080 |
Lists by trailer weight
Other models rated for these weights.
- What can tow 1,500 lb? 173 models (2026)
- What can tow 2,000 lb? 155 models (2026)
- What can tow 3,500 lb? 135 models (2026)
- What can tow 5,000 lb? 92 models (2026)
- What can tow 7,500 lb? 47 models (2026)
- What can tow 10,000 lb? 12 models (2026)
What this cannot tell you
Ratings need the right hitch and tow package.
Passengers and cargo count against the payload.
- 2 or more sources
- 1 source
- Model-level, rule or estimate
- Sources disagree