Index · GMC · Sierra 1500
2020 GMC Sierra 1500
The highest conventional-hitch rating for the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 is 12,100 lb, the top of 46 rows transcribed from GMC’s 2020 GMC Trailering Guide. That row is printed for the 6.2L EcoTec3 V8, Double Cab, Standard bed, 4WD, 3.42 axle, Max Trailering Package (per chart footnote). Most configurations are rated lower: 45 of the 46 transcribed conventional-hitch chart rows for 2020 are below 12,100 lb. Other cited maximums for the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 are 10,400 lb on a fifth-wheel hitch and 10,400 lb on a gooseneck hitch. Across 138 manufacturer chart rows for 2020, ratings run conventional 6,600 lb to 12,100 lb; fifth-wheel 6,500 lb to 10,400 lb; gooseneck 6,500 lb to 10,400 lb; the engine, cab, axle ratio and package on your truck decide its number.
The build table for 2020 is not transcribed. This page will not multiply trims, cabs, and engines into trucks the order guide did not list.
| Hitch | Cited maximum | Configuration | Source grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conventional | 12,100 lb | 6.2L EcoTec3 V8, Double Cab, Standard bed, 4WD, 3.42 axle, Max Trailering Package (per chart footnote). | OEM chart |
| Fifth-wheel | 10,400 lb | 5.3L EcoTec3 V8, Double Cab, Standard bed, 2WD, 3.42 axle, Max Trailering Package (per chart footnote). | OEM chart |
| Gooseneck | 10,400 lb | 5.3L EcoTec3 V8, Double Cab, Standard bed, 2WD, 3.42 axle, Max Trailering Package (per chart footnote). | OEM chart |
Highest rows among 138 transcribed chart configurations. Most trucks of this model year are rated lower; find your exact configuration in the table below.
Source: GMC, 2020 GMC Trailering Guide, Sierra HD specifications pp6-7; Sierra 1500 pp15-16; Canyon p21.
Spec sheet
8 of 25 fields cited; 1 estimate. Field index
Cited fields may cover selected trims or only part of a measurement. Read the configuration and source beside each value; a cited field does not mean every version is researched.
Towing
- Conventional maximum
- 12,100 lb. 6.2L EcoTec3 V8, Double Cab, Standard bed, 4WD, 3.42 axle, Max Trailering Package (per chart footnote).GMC source
- Gooseneck maximum
- 10,400 lb. 5.3L EcoTec3 V8, Double Cab, Standard bed, 2WD, 3.42 axle, Max Trailering Package (per chart footnote).GMC source
- Fifth-wheel maximum
- 10,400 lb. 5.3L EcoTec3 V8, Double Cab, Standard bed, 2WD, 3.42 axle, Max Trailering Package (per chart footnote).GMC source
- Tongue or pin load
- 1,210 lb tongue at the 12,100 lb conventional maximum. 1,560 lb pin at the 10,400 lb fifth-wheel maximum. 1,560 lb pin at the 10,400 lb gooseneck maximum. Illustration at 10 percent conventional and 15 percent in-bed, not a measured load or recommendation. Follow the trailer and vehicle instructions; actual load may be higher.Estimate
- Weight distribution
- Not transcribed for this model year.
- Trailer frontal area
- Not transcribed for this model year.
Weights
- Payload
- Not transcribed for this model year.
- GCWR
- 12,000–17,800 lb across 111 chart rows that print a GCWR (each row's GCWR is in the chart table and explorer)GMC source
- GVWR
- Not transcribed for this model year.
- Front GAWR
- Not transcribed for this model year.
- Rear GAWR
- Not transcribed for this model year.
- Curb weight
- Not transcribed for this model year.
Body
- Wheelbase
- Not transcribed for this model year.
- Bed length
- Standard, Short, LongGMC source
- Bed width and depth
- Not transcribed for this model year.
- Cab-to-axle
- Not transcribed for this model year.
- Overall length, width, height
- Not transcribed for this model year.
- Ground clearance and angles
- Not transcribed for this model year.
- Fifth-wheel clearance
- Not transcribed for this model year.
Power
- Engine, horsepower, torque
- Not transcribed for this model year.
- Transmission
- Not transcribed for this model year.
- Fuel type and tank
- Not transcribed for this model year.
- Drivetrain
- 4WD, 2WDGMC source
- Axle ratio
- 3.42, 3.23GMC source
- Tow package
- Max Trailering Package (per chart footnote); Base Sierra trim onlyGMC source
Bed, tongue weight, and wheelbase
The trailer rating is one limit. The bed has to fit the load, the tongue or pin has to fit in payload, and the wheelbase is the column the chart uses.
- An illustrative 10 percent of the 12,100 lb conventional maximum is 1,210 lb of tongue weight. This is not a measured load or recommended percentage; actual load may be higher.
- An illustrative 15 percent of the 10,400 lb fifth-wheel maximum is 1,560 lb of pin weight. This is not a measured load or recommended percentage; actual load may be higher.
- An illustrative 15 percent of the 10,400 lb gooseneck maximum is 1,560 lb of pin weight. This is not a measured load or recommended percentage; actual load may be higher.
Bed capacity · Tongue and pin weight · Wheelbase · GCWR, GVWR, and GAWR. Wheelbase is not transcribed for this year. See the spec sheet for the sourced GCWR and its configuration.
Estimate payload margin and bed volume · How these limits work together
Change from 2019
- Conventional: 12,200 lb in 2019, 12,100 lb in 2020 (-100 lb).
- Fifth-wheel is cited for 2020 and was not cited for 2019.
- Gooseneck is cited for 2020 and was not cited for 2019.
Generation
T1XX
2020 is year 2 of this generation (2019–2026). Current Sierra 1500. Chevrolet charts for the twin Silverado are not stored as Sierra numbers.
2020 towing by engine
Lowest to highest printed rating for each engine across 138 transcribed chart rows. A missing hitch means the chart did not print one for that engine, not that it is zero.
| Engine | Conventional | Fifth-wheel | Gooseneck | Chart rows |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.2L EcoTec3 V8 | 8,800–12,100 lb | 7,000–10,000 lb | 7,000–10,000 lb | 18 |
| 5.3L EcoTec3 V8 | 9,200–11,300 lb | 7,800–10,400 lb | 7,800–10,400 lb | 60 |
| Duramax 3.0L Turbo Diesel I6 | 7,300–9,100 lb | 6,900–7,300 lb | 6,900–7,300 lb | 18 |
| 4.3L EcoTec3 V6 | 7,400–7,900 lb | 7,300–7,800 lb | 7,300–7,800 lb | 24 |
| 2.7L Turbo | 6,600–6,900 lb | 6,500–6,800 lb | 6,500–6,800 lb | 18 |
Highest-rated configurations
| Trailer | Engine | Cab / bed | Drive | Axle / package | GCWR | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12,100 lb Conventional | 6.2L EcoTec3 V8 | Double Cab, Standard | 4WD | 3.42 · Max Trailering Package (per chart footnote)note 1 | 17,800 lb | Page 16, Sierra 1500 trailering capability specifications, row Double 4WD Standard / 6.2L EcoTec3 V8 |
| 12,000 lb Conventional | 6.2L EcoTec3 V8 | Crew Cab, Short | 4WD | 3.42 · Max Trailering Package (per chart footnote)note 1 | 17,800 lb | Page 16, Sierra 1500 trailering capability specifications, row Crew 4WD Short / 6.2L EcoTec3 V8 |
| 12,000 lb Conventional | 6.2L EcoTec3 V8 | Crew Cab, Standard | 4WD | 3.42 · Max Trailering Package (per chart footnote)note 1 | 17,800 lb | Page 16, Sierra 1500 trailering capability specifications, row Crew 4WD Standard / 6.2L EcoTec3 V8 |
| 11,300 lb Conventional | 5.3L EcoTec3 V8 | Crew Cab, Short | 2WD | 3.42 · Max Trailering Package (per chart footnote)note 2 | 16,800 lb | Page 16, Sierra 1500 trailering capability specifications, row Crew 2WD Short / 5.3L EcoTec3 V8 |
| 11,300 lb Conventional | 5.3L EcoTec3 V8 | Crew Cab, Standard | 2WD | 3.42 · Max Trailering Package (per chart footnote)note 2 | 16,800 lb | Page 16, Sierra 1500 trailering capability specifications, row Crew 2WD Standard / 5.3L EcoTec3 V8 |
| 11,300 lb Conventional | 5.3L EcoTec3 V8 | Double Cab, Standard | 2WD | 3.42 · Max Trailering Package (per chart footnote)note 2 | 16,800 lb | Page 16, Sierra 1500 trailering capability specifications, row Double 2WD Standard / 5.3L EcoTec3 V8 |
| 11,100 lb Conventional | 5.3L EcoTec3 V8 | Crew Cab, Short | 4WD | 3.42 · Max Trailering Package (per chart footnote)note 1 | 16,800 lb | Page 16, Sierra 1500 trailering capability specifications, row Crew 4WD Short / 5.3L EcoTec3 V8 |
| 11,100 lb Conventional | 5.3L EcoTec3 V8 | Double Cab, Standard | 4WD | 3.42 · Max Trailering Package (per chart footnote)note 1 | 16,800 lb | Page 16, Sierra 1500 trailering capability specifications, row Double 4WD Standard / 5.3L EcoTec3 V8 |
| 11,000 lb Conventional | 5.3L EcoTec3 V8 | Crew Cab, Standard | 4WD | 3.42 · Max Trailering Package (per chart footnote)note 1 | 16,800 lb | Page 16, Sierra 1500 trailering capability specifications, row Crew 4WD Standard / 5.3L EcoTec3 V8 |
| 10,400 lb Fifth-wheel | 5.3L EcoTec3 V8 | Double Cab, Standard | 2WD | 3.42 · Max Trailering Package (per chart footnote)note 2 | 16,800 lb | Page 16, Sierra 1500 trailering capability specifications, row Double 2WD Standard / 5.3L EcoTec3 V8 |
| 10,400 lb Gooseneck | 5.3L EcoTec3 V8 | Double Cab, Standard | 2WD | 3.42 · Max Trailering Package (per chart footnote)note 2 | 16,800 lb | Page 16, Sierra 1500 trailering capability specifications, row Double 2WD Standard / 5.3L EcoTec3 V8 |
| 10,200 lb Fifth-wheel | 5.3L EcoTec3 V8 | Crew Cab, Short | 2WD | 3.42 · Max Trailering Package (per chart footnote)note 2 | 16,800 lb | Page 16, Sierra 1500 trailering capability specifications, row Crew 2WD Short / 5.3L EcoTec3 V8 |
- GVWR 7,300 lbs as printed.
- GVWR 7,100 lbs as printed.
Chart source: GMC, 2020 GMC Trailering Guide. The evidence column gives each row’s page and table.
Find your exact configuration (138 rows) →Download 2020 rows as CSV ↓
What changes the number
- Engine and transmission
- Cab, bed, and wheelbase
- Two-wheel drive, four-wheel drive, or all-wheel drive
- Axle ratio and tow package
- Conventional hitch versus fifth-wheel versus gooseneck
- People, options, and cargo, which spend payload the chart assumed was empty
Questions
- How much can a 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 tow?
- The highest conventional-hitch rating for the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 is 12,100 lb, the top of 46 rows transcribed from GMC’s 2020 GMC Trailering Guide. That row is printed for the 6.2L EcoTec3 V8, Double Cab, Standard bed, 4WD, 3.42 axle, Max Trailering Package (per chart footnote). Most configurations are rated lower: 45 of the 46 transcribed conventional-hitch chart rows for 2020 are below 12,100 lb. Other cited maximums for the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 are 10,400 lb on a fifth-wheel hitch and 10,400 lb on a gooseneck hitch.
- Did Sierra 1500 towing change for 2020?
- Compare the cited 2020 figures on this page with the 2019 record. They are stored separately.
- Which configuration hits the maximum?
- The 12,100 lb conventional maximum is printed for the 6.2L EcoTec3 V8, Double Cab, Standard bed, 4WD, 3.42 axle, Max Trailering Package (per chart footnote).
- What tongue weight should I plan for a 2020 Sierra 1500?
- At the cited 12,100 lb conventional maximum, an illustrative 10% assumption produces 1,210 lb of tongue weight. This is not a recommended percentage or a measurement; follow your trailer and vehicle instructions and measure the actual load. At the cited 10,400 lb fifth-wheel maximum, an illustrative 15% assumption produces 1,560 lb of pin weight. This is not a recommended percentage or a measurement; follow your trailer and vehicle instructions and measure the actual load. At the cited 10,400 lb gooseneck maximum, an illustrative 15% assumption produces 1,560 lb of pin weight. This is not a recommended percentage or a measurement; follow your trailer and vehicle instructions and measure the actual load. That load counts against payload and the rear axle rating.
Compare with
2018 · 2019 · 2021 · 2022 · All Sierra 1500 years