Index · GMC · Sierra 2500HD
2021 GMC Sierra 2500HD
The highest fifth-wheel-hitch rating for the 2021 GMC Sierra 2500HD is 18,510 lb, the top of 38 rows transcribed from GMC’s 2021 GMC Trailering Guide. That row is printed for the 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8, Regular Cab, Long bed, 2WD. Most configurations are rated lower: 37 of the 38 transcribed fifth-wheel-hitch chart rows for 2021 are below 18,510 lb. Other cited maximums for the 2021 GMC Sierra 2500HD are 18,500 lb on a conventional hitch and 18,510 lb on a gooseneck hitch. Across 114 manufacturer chart rows for 2021, ratings run conventional 14,500 lb to 18,500 lb; fifth-wheel 10,240 lb to 18,510 lb; gooseneck 10,240 lb to 18,510 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 | 18,500 lb | 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8, Crew Cab, Standard bed, 2WD. | OEM chart |
| Fifth-wheel | 18,510 lb | 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8, Regular Cab, Long bed, 2WD. | OEM chart |
| Gooseneck | 18,510 lb | 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8, Regular Cab, Long bed, 2WD. | OEM chart |
Highest rows among 114 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
7 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
- 18,500 lb. 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8, Crew Cab, Standard bed, 2WD.GMC source
- Gooseneck maximum
- 18,510 lb. 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8, Regular Cab, Long bed, 2WD.GMC source
- Fifth-wheel maximum
- 18,510 lb. 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8, Regular Cab, Long bed, 2WD.GMC source
- Tongue or pin load
- 1,850 lb tongue at the 18,500 lb conventional maximum. 2,777 lb pin at the 18,510 lb fifth-wheel maximum. 2,777 lb pin at the 18,510 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
- 24,000–27,500 lb across 114 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
- Long, StandardGMC 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
- 2WD, 4WDGMC source
- Axle ratio
- Not transcribed for this model year.
- Tow package
- 18" or 20" wheels; 17" wheelsGMC 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 18,500 lb conventional maximum is 1,850 lb of tongue weight. This is not a measured load or recommended percentage; actual load may be higher.
- An illustrative 15 percent of the 18,510 lb fifth-wheel maximum is 2,777 lb of pin weight. This is not a measured load or recommended percentage; actual load may be higher.
- An illustrative 15 percent of the 18,510 lb gooseneck maximum is 2,777 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: 18,500 lb in 2020, 18,500 lb in 2021 (unchanged maximum, different source or equipment list).
- Fifth-wheel: 18,510 lb in 2020, 18,510 lb in 2021 (unchanged maximum, different source or equipment list).
- Gooseneck: 18,510 lb in 2020, 18,510 lb in 2021 (unchanged maximum, different source or equipment list).
Generation
T1XX HD
2021 is year 2 of this generation (2020–2026). Current Sierra 2500HD, the GMC twin of the Silverado 2500HD. Only GMC charts are stored on Sierra pages.
2021 towing by engine
Lowest to highest printed rating for each engine across 114 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8 | 14,500–18,500 lb | 17,750–18,510 lb | 17,750–18,510 lb | 30 |
| 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8 Engine | 14,500–17,970 lb | 10,240–12,610 lb | 10,240–12,610 lb | 24 |
| 6.6L Gas V8 | 14,500 lb | 16,550–17,370 lb | 16,550–17,370 lb | 30 |
| 6.6L Gas V8 Engine | 14,500 lb | 16,550–17,370 lb | 16,550–17,370 lb | 30 |
Highest-rated configurations
| Trailer | Engine | Cab / bed | Drive | Axle / package | GCWR | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18,510 lb Fifth-wheel | 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8 | Regular Cab, Long | 2WD | —note 1 | 26,000 lb | Page 6, Sierra HD trailering capability specifications, row 2500 Regular 2WD Long / 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8 |
| 18,510 lb Gooseneck | 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8 | Regular Cab, Long | 2WD | —note 1 | 26,000 lb | Page 6, Sierra HD trailering capability specifications, row 2500 Regular 2WD Long / 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8 |
| 18,500 lb Conventional | 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8 | Crew Cab, Standard | 2WD | —note 2 | 27,500 lb | Page 6, Sierra HD trailering capability specifications, row 2500 Crew 2WD Standard / 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8 |
| 18,500 lb Fifth-wheel | 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8 | Crew Cab, Standard | 2WD | —note 2 | 27,500 lb | Page 6, Sierra HD trailering capability specifications, row 2500 Crew 2WD Standard / 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8 |
| 18,500 lb Gooseneck | 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8 | Crew Cab, Standard | 2WD | —note 2 | 27,500 lb | Page 6, Sierra HD trailering capability specifications, row 2500 Crew 2WD Standard / 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8 |
| 18,500 lb Conventional | 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8 | Crew Cab, Standard | 4WD | —note 3 | 27,500 lb | Page 6, Sierra HD trailering capability specifications, row 2500 Crew 4WD Standard / 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8 |
| 18,500 lb Fifth-wheel | 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8 | Crew Cab, Standard | 4WD | —note 3 | 27,500 lb | Page 6, Sierra HD trailering capability specifications, row 2500 Crew 4WD Standard / 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8 |
| 18,500 lb Gooseneck | 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8 | Crew Cab, Standard | 4WD | —note 3 | 27,500 lb | Page 6, Sierra HD trailering capability specifications, row 2500 Crew 4WD Standard / 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8 |
| 18,500 lb Conventional | 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8 | Crew Cab, Long | 2WD | —note 4 | 27,500 lb | Page 6, Sierra HD trailering capability specifications, row 2500 Crew 2WD Long / 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8 |
| 18,500 lb Fifth-wheel | 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8 | Crew Cab, Long | 2WD | —note 4 | 27,500 lb | Page 6, Sierra HD trailering capability specifications, row 2500 Crew 2WD Long / 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8 |
| 18,500 lb Gooseneck | 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8 | Crew Cab, Long | 2WD | —note 4 | 27,500 lb | Page 6, Sierra HD trailering capability specifications, row 2500 Crew 2WD Long / 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8 |
| 18,500 lb Conventional | 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8 | Crew Cab, Long | 4WD | —note 5 | 27,500 lb | Page 6, Sierra HD trailering capability specifications, row 2500 Crew 4WD Long / 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8 |
- GVWR 10,750 lbs as printed.
- GVWR 11,050 lbs as printed.
- GVWR 11,350 lbs as printed.
- GVWR 11,200 lbs as printed.
- GVWR 11,550 lbs as printed.
Chart source: GMC, 2021 GMC Trailering Guide. The evidence column gives each row’s page and table.
Find your exact configuration (114 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 2500HD tow?
- The highest fifth-wheel-hitch rating for the 2021 GMC Sierra 2500HD is 18,510 lb, the top of 38 rows transcribed from GMC’s 2021 GMC Trailering Guide. That row is printed for the 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8, Regular Cab, Long bed, 2WD. Most configurations are rated lower: 37 of the 38 transcribed fifth-wheel-hitch chart rows for 2021 are below 18,510 lb. Other cited maximums for the 2021 GMC Sierra 2500HD are 18,500 lb on a conventional hitch and 18,510 lb on a gooseneck hitch.
- Did Sierra 2500HD 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 18,510 lb fifth-wheel maximum is printed for the 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8, Regular Cab, Long bed, 2WD.
- What tongue weight should I plan for a 2021 Sierra 2500HD?
- At the cited 18,500 lb conventional maximum, an illustrative 10% assumption produces 1,850 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 18,510 lb fifth-wheel maximum, an illustrative 15% assumption produces 2,777 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 18,510 lb gooseneck maximum, an illustrative 15% assumption produces 2,777 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 2500HD years