Index · GMC · Sierra 1500
2021 GMC Sierra 1500
The highest conventional-hitch rating for the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 is 11,800 lb, the top of 37 rows transcribed from GMC’s 2021 GMC Trailering Guide. That row is printed for the 6.2L V8, Crew Cab, Standard bed, 4WD, 3.42 axle, Max Trailering Package (per chart footnote). Most configurations are rated lower: 36 of the 37 transcribed conventional-hitch chart rows for 2021 are below 11,800 lb. Other cited maximums for the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 are 10,200 lb on a fifth-wheel hitch and 10,200 lb on a gooseneck hitch. Across 111 manufacturer chart rows for 2021, ratings run conventional 7,400 lb to 11,800 lb; fifth-wheel 6,800 lb to 10,200 lb; gooseneck 6,800 lb to 10,200 lb; the engine, cab, axle ratio and package on your truck decide its number.
The build table for 2021 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 | 11,800 lb | 6.2L V8, Crew Cab, Standard bed, 4WD, 3.42 axle, Max Trailering Package (per chart footnote). | OEM chart |
| Fifth-wheel | 10,200 lb | 5.3L V8 (L84) and 5.3L V8 (L84/YK9), Double Cab, Standard bed, 2WD, 3.42 axle, Max Trailering Package (per chart footnote). | OEM chart |
| Gooseneck | 10,200 lb | 5.3L V8 (L84) and 5.3L V8 (L84/YK9), Double Cab, Standard bed, 2WD, 3.42 axle, Max Trailering Package (per chart footnote). | OEM chart |
Highest rows among 111 transcribed chart configurations. Most trucks of this model year are rated lower; find your exact configuration in the table below.
Source: GMC, 2021 GMC Trailering Guide, Sierra HD Duramax p6, gas p7, 10,000-lb GVWR p8; Sierra 1500 pp16-17; Canyon p22.
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
- 11,800 lb. 6.2L V8, Crew Cab, Standard bed, 4WD, 3.42 axle, Max Trailering Package (per chart footnote).GMC source
- Gooseneck maximum
- 10,200 lb. 5.3L V8 (L84) and 5.3L V8 (L84/YK9), Double Cab, Standard bed, 2WD, 3.42 axle, Max Trailering Package (per chart footnote).GMC source
- Fifth-wheel maximum
- 10,200 lb. 5.3L V8 (L84) and 5.3L V8 (L84/YK9), Double Cab, Standard bed, 2WD, 3.42 axle, Max Trailering Package (per chart footnote).GMC source
- Tongue or pin load
- 1,180 lb tongue at the 11,800 lb conventional maximum. 1,530 lb pin at the 10,200 lb fifth-wheel maximum. 1,530 lb pin at the 10,200 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
- 12,800–17,800 lb across 90 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 11,800 lb conventional maximum is 1,180 lb of tongue weight. This is not a measured load or recommended percentage; actual load may be higher.
- An illustrative 15 percent of the 10,200 lb fifth-wheel maximum is 1,530 lb of pin weight. This is not a measured load or recommended percentage; actual load may be higher.
- An illustrative 15 percent of the 10,200 lb gooseneck maximum is 1,530 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 2020
- Conventional: 12,100 lb in 2020, 11,800 lb in 2021 (-300 lb).
- Fifth-wheel: 10,400 lb in 2020, 10,200 lb in 2021 (-200 lb).
- Gooseneck: 10,400 lb in 2020, 10,200 lb in 2021 (-200 lb).
Generation
T1XX
2021 is year 3 of this generation (2019–2026). Current Sierra 1500. Chevrolet charts for the twin Silverado are not stored as Sierra numbers.
2021 towing by engine
Lowest to highest printed rating for each engine across 111 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 V8 | 8,600–11,800 lb | 6,800–8,900 lb | 6,800–8,900 lb | 12 |
| 5.3L V8 (L84) and 5.3L V8 (L84/YK9) | 9,100–11,300 lb | 7,600–10,200 lb | 7,600–10,200 lb | 30 |
| 5.3L V8 (L82) and 5.3L V8 (L82/YK9) | 9,400–9,900 lb | 8,900–9,800 lb | 8,900–9,800 lb | 21 |
| 3.0L Duramax I6 Turbo Diesel | 8,800–9,300 lb | 7,000–7,800 lb | 7,000–7,800 lb | 12 |
| 2.7L Turbo | 8,900–9,200 lb | 8,400–9,100 lb | 8,400–9,100 lb | 15 |
| 4.3L V6 | 7,400–7,800 lb | 7,300–7,800 lb | 7,300–7,800 lb | 21 |
Highest-rated configurations
| Trailer | Engine | Cab / bed | Drive | Axle / package | GCWR | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11,800 lb Conventional | 6.2L V8 | Crew Cab, Standard | 4WD | 3.42 · Max Trailering Package (per chart footnote)note 1 | 17,800 lb | Page 17, Sierra 1500 trailering capability specifications, row Crew 4WD Standard / 6.2L V8 |
| 11,700 lb Conventional | 6.2L V8 | Crew Cab, Short | 4WD | 3.42 · Max Trailering Package (per chart footnote)note 1 | 17,800 lb | Page 17, Sierra 1500 trailering capability specifications, row Crew 4WD Short / 6.2L V8 |
| 11,300 lb Conventional | 5.3L V8 (L84) and 5.3L V8 (L84/YK9) | Double Cab, Standard | 2WD | 3.42 · Max Trailering Package (per chart footnote)note 2 | 16,800 lb | Page 17, Sierra 1500 trailering capability specifications, row Double 2WD Standard / 5.3L V8 (L84) and 5.3L V8 (L84/YK9) |
| 11,200 lb Conventional | 5.3L V8 (L84) and 5.3L V8 (L84/YK9) | Crew Cab, Short | 2WD | 3.42 · Max Trailering Package (per chart footnote)note 2 | 16,800 lb | Page 17, Sierra 1500 trailering capability specifications, row Crew 2WD Short / 5.3L V8 (L84) and 5.3L V8 (L84/YK9) |
| 11,000 lb Conventional | 5.3L V8 (L84) and 5.3L V8 (L84/YK9) | Double Cab, Standard | 4WD | 3.42 · Max Trailering Package (per chart footnote)note 1 | 16,800 lb | Page 17, Sierra 1500 trailering capability specifications, row Double 4WD Standard / 5.3L V8 (L84) and 5.3L V8 (L84/YK9) |
| 10,900 lb Conventional | 5.3L V8 (L84) and 5.3L V8 (L84/YK9) | Crew Cab, Short | 4WD | 3.42 · Max Trailering Package (per chart footnote)note 1 | 16,800 lb | Page 17, Sierra 1500 trailering capability specifications, row Crew 4WD Short / 5.3L V8 (L84) and 5.3L V8 (L84/YK9) |
| 10,900 lb Conventional | 5.3L V8 (L84) and 5.3L V8 (L84/YK9) | Crew Cab, Standard | 4WD | 3.42 · Max Trailering Package (per chart footnote)note 1 | 16,800 lb | Page 17, Sierra 1500 trailering capability specifications, row Crew 4WD Standard / 5.3L V8 (L84) and 5.3L V8 (L84/YK9) |
| 10,200 lb Fifth-wheel | 5.3L V8 (L84) and 5.3L V8 (L84/YK9) | Double Cab, Standard | 2WD | 3.42 · Max Trailering Package (per chart footnote)note 2 | 16,800 lb | Page 17, Sierra 1500 trailering capability specifications, row Double 2WD Standard / 5.3L V8 (L84) and 5.3L V8 (L84/YK9) |
| 10,200 lb Gooseneck | 5.3L V8 (L84) and 5.3L V8 (L84/YK9) | Double Cab, Standard | 2WD | 3.42 · Max Trailering Package (per chart footnote)note 2 | 16,800 lb | Page 17, Sierra 1500 trailering capability specifications, row Double 2WD Standard / 5.3L V8 (L84) and 5.3L V8 (L84/YK9) |
| 9,900 lb Conventional | 5.3L V8 (L82) and 5.3L V8 (L82/YK9) | Regular Cab, Long | 2WD | 3.42 · Base Sierra Trim Onlynote 3 | 15,000 lb | Page 16, Sierra 1500 trailering capability specifications, row Regular 2WD Long / 5.3L V8 (L82) and 5.3L V8 (L82/YK9) |
| 9,800 lb Fifth-wheel | 5.3L V8 (L82) and 5.3L V8 (L82/YK9) | Regular Cab, Long | 2WD | 3.42 · Base Sierra Trim Onlynote 3 | 15,000 lb | Page 16, Sierra 1500 trailering capability specifications, row Regular 2WD Long / 5.3L V8 (L82) and 5.3L V8 (L82/YK9) |
| 9,800 lb Gooseneck | 5.3L V8 (L82) and 5.3L V8 (L82/YK9) | Regular Cab, Long | 2WD | 3.42 · Base Sierra Trim Onlynote 3 | 15,000 lb | Page 16, Sierra 1500 trailering capability specifications, row Regular 2WD Long / 5.3L V8 (L82) and 5.3L V8 (L82/YK9) |
- GVWR 7,300 lbs as printed.
- GVWR 7,100 lbs as printed.
- GVWR 6,800 lbs as printed.
Chart source: GMC, 2021 GMC Trailering Guide. The evidence column gives each row’s page and table.
Find your exact configuration (111 rows) →Download 2021 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 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 tow?
- The highest conventional-hitch rating for the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 is 11,800 lb, the top of 37 rows transcribed from GMC’s 2021 GMC Trailering Guide. That row is printed for the 6.2L V8, Crew Cab, Standard bed, 4WD, 3.42 axle, Max Trailering Package (per chart footnote). Most configurations are rated lower: 36 of the 37 transcribed conventional-hitch chart rows for 2021 are below 11,800 lb. Other cited maximums for the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 are 10,200 lb on a fifth-wheel hitch and 10,200 lb on a gooseneck hitch.
- Did Sierra 1500 towing change for 2021?
- Compare the cited 2021 figures on this page with the 2020 record. They are stored separately.
- Which configuration hits the maximum?
- The 11,800 lb conventional maximum is printed for the 6.2L V8, Crew Cab, Standard bed, 4WD, 3.42 axle, Max Trailering Package (per chart footnote).
- What tongue weight should I plan for a 2021 Sierra 1500?
- At the cited 11,800 lb conventional maximum, an illustrative 10% assumption produces 1,180 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 10,200 lb fifth-wheel maximum, an illustrative 15% assumption produces 1,530 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 10,200 lb gooseneck maximum, an illustrative 15% assumption produces 1,530 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
2019 · 2020 · 2022 · 2023 · All Sierra 1500 years