GMC Sierra 1500 Towing Capacity Chart 2026: Full Guide
2026 GMC Sierra 1500 towing capacity chart: up to 13,300 lb (Duramax). Every engine, cab and bed, fifth-wheel ratings and GMC's footnotes explained.
The 2026 GMC Sierra 1500 tows up to 13,300 lb, according to GMC's 2026 Sierra 1500 Max Conventional Trailering chart. That rating applies to one build: a Double Cab standard bed 2WD with the Duramax 3.0L Turbo-Diesel, the Max Trailering Package and 20-inch wheels. Every other Sierra has its own number, and GMC's chart runs from 8,500 lb (a Duramax AT4X) to that 13,300 lb maximum.
This guide reproduces GMC's 2026 ratings for every engine, cab, bed and drivetrain, for both conventional and fifth-wheel/gooseneck trailers, together with the footnotes that decide which number applies. All figures are copied from GMC's chart; we have not calculated or estimated any rating.
Sierra 1500 towing capacity by engine
| Engine | Max conventional towing (lb) | Configuration (GMC chart) | GCWR (lb) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duramax 3.0L Turbo-Diesel | 13,300 | Double Cab std bed 2WD, Max Trailering Pkg, 20-in wheels | 19,000 |
| 6.2L V8 | 13,100 | Crew Cab short bed 4WD, Max Trailering Pkg, 20-in wheels | 19,100 |
| 5.3L V8 | 11,200 | Crew Cab short bed 2WD or Double Cab std bed 2WD, Max Trailering Pkg | 16,800 |
| TurboMax | 9,400 | Regular Cab long bed 2WD | 14,500 |
Source: GMC 2026 Sierra 1500 Max Conventional Trailering chart.
The engines are closer together than the headline numbers suggest. Without the Max Trailering Package, every Sierra 1500 engine is rated between 8,500 and 9,800 lb for conventional towing. The package is what moves a truck into the 10,800 to 13,300 lb range, and it is available only with the 5.3L V8, the 6.2L V8 and the Duramax diesel.
Full 2026 Sierra 1500 conventional towing chart
GMC's chart groups ratings by engine and Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR), then lists the maximum trailer weight for each cab, bed and drivetrain. A dash means GMC does not list that combination. The "Needs" column shows GMC's footnoted requirement for that row. For the bed lengths behind each column, see our GMC Sierra bed size chart.
| Engine | GCWR (lb) | Needs | Crew short 2WD | Crew short 4WD | Crew std 4WD | Double std 2WD | Double std 4WD | Reg std 2WD | Reg long 2WD | Reg std 4WD | Reg long 4WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TurboMax | 14,000 | — | – | – | – | – | – | 9,000 | – | 8,800 | – |
| TurboMax | 14,500 | — | 9,100 | 8,800 | 8,800 | 9,100 | 8,900 | – | 9,400 | – | 9,200 |
| TurboMax | 14,500 | MT tires | – | – | 8,900 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 5.3L V8 | 15,000 | — | 9,400 | 9,200 | 9,100 | 9,500 | 9,300 | – | 9,800 | – | 9,600 |
| 5.3L V8 | 15,000 | MT tires | – | 9,100 | 9,100 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 5.3L V8 | 15,000 | MI2 10-speed | – | 9,300 | 9,300 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 5.3L V8 | 15,000 | MT tires + MI2 | – | – | 9,200 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 5.3L V8 | 16,800 | Max Trailering Pkg | 11,200 | 10,800 | 10,800 | 11,200 | 11,000 | – | – | – | – |
| 6.2L V8 | 15,000 | — | – | 8,900 | 8,900 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 6.2L V8 | 15,000 | MT tires | – | 9,000 | 9,000 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 6.2L V8 | 15,000 | AT4X | – | 8,700 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 6.2L V8 | 17,800 | Max Trailering Pkg, 18-in | – | 11,800 | 11,700 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 6.2L V8 | 19,100 | Max Trailering Pkg, 20-in | – | 13,100 | 13,000 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Duramax 3.0L | 15,000 | — | 9,100 | 8,700 | 8,700 | 9,300 | 9,000 | – | – | – | – |
| Duramax 3.0L | 15,000 | AT4X / MT tires | – | 8,500 (AT4X) | 8,800 (MT) | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Duramax 3.0L | 15,000 | MT tires | – | 8,800 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Duramax 3.0L | 17,800 | Max Trailering Pkg, 18-in | 11,900 | 11,600 | 11,600 | 12,100 | 11,800 | – | – | – | – |
| Duramax 3.0L | 19,000 | Max Trailering Pkg, 20-in | 13,100 | 12,800 | 12,400 | 13,300 | 13,000 | – | – | – | – |
Source: GMC 2026 Sierra 1500 Max Conventional Trailering chart, max trailer weight in lb. – = not listed. MI2 = available 10-speed transmission.
How to read the footnotes
GMC's footnotes are where most Sierra towing confusion starts. Several rows share an engine and a GCWR but carry different ratings because of equipment that does not show up in the trim name:
- MT tires. Some 4WD ratings require available MT (mud-terrain) tires. On the 5.3L Crew Cab 4WD, for example, the row footnoted to MT tires lists 9,100 lb.
- MI2 10-speed transmission. Other 5.3L rows require the available MI2 10-speed transmission; the 5.3L Crew Cab 4WD row with that footnote lists 9,300 lb.
- Max Trailering Package. Required for the 16,800 lb, 17,800 lb and 19,000/19,100 lb GCWR rows.
- Wheel size. With the Max Trailering Package, the 6.2L and Duramax ratings depend on whether the truck has 18-inch or 20-inch wheels. The highest ratings require 20-inch wheels.
- AT4X. GMC lists separate "AT4X maximum trailer rating" rows: 8,700 lb for the 6.2L and 8,500 lb for the Duramax, both on the Crew Cab short bed 4WD.
Because these items are options, two Sierras with the same engine, cab and badge can carry different ratings. Our guide to getting a window sticker by VIN shows how to confirm the factory equipment of a specific truck, and our guide to telling what trim your car is explains why the badge is not proof of the build.
Fifth-wheel and gooseneck ratings
GMC publishes a separate Max 5th Wheel/Gooseneck Trailering chart, and its numbers are lower than the conventional ones in most rows. The highest fifth-wheel ratings by engine, from that chart:
| Engine | Max 5th-wheel/gooseneck (lb) | Configuration | GCWR (lb) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.3L V8 | 9,900 | Double Cab std bed 2WD or 4WD, Max Trailering Pkg | 16,800 |
| TurboMax | 9,300 | Regular Cab long bed 2WD | 14,500 |
| Duramax 3.0L Turbo-Diesel | 8,900 | Double Cab std bed 2WD, Max Trailering Pkg (18- or 20-in) | 17,800 / 19,000 |
| 6.2L V8 | 8,200 | Crew Cab short bed 4WD, Max Trailering Pkg (18- or 20-in) | 17,800 / 19,100 |
Source: GMC 2026 Sierra 1500 Max 5th Wheel/Gooseneck Trailering chart.
The pattern is the reverse of conventional towing. The Duramax and 6.2L V8 carry the top conventional ratings, but their fifth-wheel ratings top out at 8,900 lb and 8,200 lb, while the 5.3L V8 reaches 9,900 lb. Fifth-wheel and gooseneck trailers put more weight directly on the truck, so the truck's payload and rear axle limit the rating sooner, and heavier engines leave less of both. In the Duramax rows, GMC lists the same fifth-wheel ratings at the 17,800 lb and 19,000 lb GCWRs, so the 20-inch-wheel package does not raise the Duramax's fifth-wheel figure.
Tongue weight, payload and the Trailering Information Label
The 2026 Silverado/Sierra 1500 Trailer Towing Supplement, the owner's manual section that covers these trucks, sets the load rules:
- Tongue weight: 10 to 15 percent of the total loaded trailer weight for a conventional trailer, and 15 to 25 percent for a fifth-wheel or gooseneck.
- It counts against the truck: trailer tongue weight contributes to the Gross Vehicle Weight. Vehicle options, passengers, cargo and equipment reduce the maximum allowable tongue weight, which also reduces the maximum allowable trailer weight.
- Maximum Trailer Tongue Weight Rating: shown on the Trailering Information Label, separately for conventional and fifth-wheel/gooseneck hitches. GMC notes that it may be necessary to reduce the overall trailer weight to stay within it.
- All ratings at once: the combined weight of the vehicle, its contents, the trailer and the trailer's contents must stay below the GCWR, GVWR, maximum trailer weight rating, maximum tongue weight rating and rear Gross Axle Weight Rating.
The supplement says a Trailering Information Label on the driver-side center pillar (B-pillar) shows the tow rating information for the specific vehicle, and that the only way to be sure the ratings are not exceeded is to verify with a scale. The tire and loading label on the same door frame gives the truck's payload. Our guides to the door-jamb sticker and the tire and loading information placard explain those labels.
Checking your GCWR, step by step
GMC's supplement gives a simple procedure for checking that a truck and trailer stay within the GCWR:
- Start with the curb weight from the Trailering Information Label.
- Add the weight of the trailer, loaded with cargo and ready for the trip.
- Add the weight of all passengers.
- Add the weight of all cargo in the vehicle.
- Add the weight of hitch hardware such as a draw bar, ball, load equalizer bars or sway bars.
- Add the weight of any accessories or aftermarket equipment added to the vehicle.
The result cannot exceed the GCWR on the label. GMC adds that the GCWR can also be confirmed by weighing the loaded truck and trailer on a public scale. The procedure matters because GMC's chart ratings already assume a lightly loaded truck: GMC's footnote says the weight of passengers, cargo and options or accessories may reduce the amount you can trailer.
When a weight-distributing hitch is required
The supplement gives a clear threshold for the 1500 series. A weight-distributing hitch is optional for trailers up to 7,000 lb and required for trailers over 7,000 lb, with a 50 percent hitch distribution in both cases. Since most Sierra 1500 ratings are above 8,500 lb, any trailer near the truck's rating will need one. The supplement also describes a load balance check: weigh the trailer and the tongue separately, divide the tongue weight by the total trailer weight, and rearrange cargo if the result falls outside the recommended range.
Driving a Sierra with a trailer
The ratings tell you what the truck may pull. The supplement also covers how to drive with the trailer attached, and several of its points apply directly to a truck towing near its rating:
- Following distance. Stay at least twice as far behind the vehicle ahead as you would without a trailer, to avoid heavy braking and sudden turns.
- Passing. The combination accelerates more slowly and is much longer than the truck alone, so you need to go much farther past the passed vehicle before returning to the lane. GMC advises passing on level roads and avoiding hills.
- Downhill grades. Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before descending a long or steep grade; if the transmission is not downshifted, the brakes may overheat.
- Tow/Haul Mode. If the transmission shifts too often under heavy loads or in hilly conditions, GMC suggests a lower gear or, if equipped, Tow/Haul Mode.
- High altitude. Coolant boils at a lower temperature at altitude. After towing up steep grades at high elevation, let the engine run in Park for a few minutes before shutting it off; for the Duramax, the supplement says at least five minutes with the parking brake applied.
- Safety chains. Always cross the chains under the trailer tongue, never let them drag, and leave just enough slack for the combination to turn.
- Trailer tire speed. Follow the trailer tires' maximum speed rating, which may be much lower than the truck's. If none is shown, the supplement gives a default trailer tire speed rating of 65 mph (105 km/h).
None of these change the published ratings, but they explain why a truck towing at 90 percent of its rating needs more room, more time and more care than the same truck empty.
Sierra 1500 vs Silverado 1500 and F-150
The Sierra 1500 shares its platform and engines with the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, and the two have the same 13,300 lb top rating in their 2026 charts. The individual rows are not identical, though. GMC's chart lists, for example, 12,400 lb for a Duramax Crew Cab standard bed 4WD with the Max Trailering Package and 20-inch wheels, and a 19,000 lb GCWR for its top Duramax rows. Use the GMC chart for a Sierra rather than assuming the Chevrolet figure carries over. Chevrolet's figures are in our Chevy Silverado 1500 towing capacity chart.
Ford's top 2026 F-150 rating is 13,500 lb with the 3.5L EcoBoost, the Tow/Haul Package and the Max Tow Axle. As with the Sierra, that is one configuration. Our Ford F-150 towing capacity chart lists Ford's ratings by engine and configuration, which makes a like-for-like comparison possible.
Tires and towing
GMC's chart ties several Sierra ratings to specific tires and wheels, which shows how much they matter. If you replace tires on a Sierra that tows, match or exceed the original load rating. Our guide to load range vs load index explains how to compare them. The supplement also says tires must be properly inflated to support the load when towing; the correct pressures are on the tire and loading label.
Choosing a Sierra for towing
If you are buying a Sierra to tow a specific trailer, start from the trailer, not the brochure. Weigh the trailer loaded the way you will use it, then find the rows in GMC's chart that clear that weight with margin, and only then look at engines and trims. For a conventional trailer under about 9,000 lb, GMC's chart shows that every engine has at least one configuration rated above it without the Max Trailering Package. Above roughly 10,000 lb, only Max Trailering Package rows qualify. For a fifth-wheel, the 5.3L V8 rows carry the highest ratings, so a diesel is not automatically the better choice. In every case, confirm the specific truck's label before you hitch up.
Common Sierra towing mistakes
- Quoting 13,300 lb for any Sierra 1500. GMC lists that figure for one Duramax configuration with the Max Trailering Package and 20-inch wheels.
- Using a conventional rating for a fifth-wheel. GMC's fifth-wheel ratings are separate and usually lower, sometimes by several thousand pounds.
- Ignoring the footnotes. MT tires, the MI2 10-speed and wheel size each change specific ratings.
- Assuming the AT4X tows like the AT4. GMC lists separate, lower AT4X ratings.
- Skipping the weight-distributing hitch. GMC requires one above 7,000 lb.
- Forgetting the people in the cab. Passengers and cargo reduce the maximum tongue weight and the maximum trailer weight.
Frequently asked questions
What is the max towing capacity of a 2026 GMC Sierra 1500?
13,300 lb, for a Double Cab standard bed 2WD with the Duramax 3.0L Turbo-Diesel, Max Trailering Package and 20-inch wheels, per GMC's 2026 chart.
How much can a Sierra 1500 with the 5.3L V8 tow?
9,100 to 9,800 lb without the Max Trailering Package and 10,800 to 11,200 lb with it, depending on cab, bed and drivetrain.
How much can a Sierra 1500 with the 6.2L V8 tow?
Up to 13,100 lb on a Crew Cab short bed 4WD with the Max Trailering Package and 20-inch wheels. GMC lists 8,700 lb for the 6.2L AT4X.
How much can the TurboMax Sierra 1500 tow?
Up to 9,400 lb on a Regular Cab long bed 2WD; other TurboMax configurations are rated 8,800 to 9,200 lb.
What is the AT4X towing capacity?
GMC lists 8,700 lb for the 6.2L V8 AT4X and 8,500 lb for the Duramax AT4X.
What is the Sierra 1500 fifth-wheel towing capacity?
Up to 9,900 lb with the 5.3L V8 and Max Trailering Package on a Double Cab. The Duramax tops out at 8,900 lb and the 6.2L at 8,200 lb.
What tongue weight does GMC recommend?
10 to 15 percent of the loaded trailer weight for conventional trailers and 15 to 25 percent for fifth-wheel or gooseneck trailers.
Do I need a weight-distributing hitch on a Sierra 1500?
GMC's supplement makes it optional up to 7,000 lb and required above 7,000 lb.
Where is my Sierra's towing capacity listed?
On the Trailering Information Label on the driver-side center pillar (B-pillar), according to GM's trailer towing supplement.
