Index · GMC · Sierra 3500HD
2021 GMC Sierra 3500HD
The highest fifth-wheel-hitch rating for the 2021 GMC Sierra 3500HD is 32,000 lb, the top of 24 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, DRW. Most configurations are rated lower: 23 of the 24 transcribed fifth-wheel-hitch chart rows for 2021 are below 32,000 lb. Other cited maximums for the 2021 GMC Sierra 3500HD are 20,000 lb on a conventional hitch and 31,760 lb on a gooseneck hitch. Across 74 manufacturer chart rows for 2021, ratings run conventional 14,500 lb to 20,000 lb; fifth-wheel 16,200 lb to 32,000 lb; gooseneck 16,200 lb to 31,760 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 | 20,000 lb | 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8, Crew Cab, Standard bed, 2WD, SRW. | OEM chart |
| Fifth-wheel | 32,000 lb | 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8, Regular Cab, Long bed, 2WD, DRW. | OEM chart |
| Gooseneck | 31,760 lb | 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8, Regular Cab, Long bed, 4WD, DRW. | OEM chart |
Highest rows among 74 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
- 20,000 lb. 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8, Crew Cab, Standard bed, 2WD, SRW.GMC source
- Gooseneck maximum
- 31,760 lb. 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8, Regular Cab, Long bed, 4WD, DRW.GMC source
- Fifth-wheel maximum
- 32,000 lb. 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8, Regular Cab, Long bed, 2WD, DRW.GMC source
- Tongue or pin load
- 2,000 lb tongue at the 20,000 lb conventional maximum. 4,800 lb pin at the 32,000 lb fifth-wheel maximum. 4,764 lb pin at the 31,760 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
- 24,000–43,900 lb across 74 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
- DRW; SRWGMC 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 20,000 lb conventional maximum is 2,000 lb of tongue weight. This is not a measured load or recommended percentage; actual load may be higher.
- An illustrative 15 percent of the 32,000 lb fifth-wheel maximum is 4,800 lb of pin weight. This is not a measured load or recommended percentage; actual load may be higher.
- An illustrative 15 percent of the 31,760 lb gooseneck maximum is 4,764 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: 20,000 lb in 2020, 20,000 lb in 2021 (unchanged maximum, different source or equipment list).
- Fifth-wheel: 32,000 lb in 2020, 32,000 lb in 2021 (unchanged maximum, different source or equipment list).
- Gooseneck: 35,500 lb in 2020, 31,760 lb in 2021 (-3,740 lb).
Generation
T1XX HD
2021 is year 2 of this generation (2020–2026). Current Sierra 3500HD, including dual-rear-wheel trucks. The 2025 page holds the cited conventional and gooseneck maxima.
2021 towing by engine
Lowest to highest printed rating for each engine across 74 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 | 14,500–20,000 lb | 21,210–32,000 lb | 21,210–31,760 lb | 37 |
| 6.6L Gas V8 | 14,500–16,800 lb | 16,200–17,200 lb | 16,200–17,200 lb | 37 |
Highest-rated configurations
| Trailer | Engine | Cab / bed | Drive | Axle / package | GCWR | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32,000 lb Fifth-wheel | 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8 | Regular Cab, Long | 2WD | DRWnote 1 | 43,900 lb | Page 6, Sierra HD trailering capability specifications, row 3500 DRW Regular 2WD Long / 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8 |
| 31,760 lb Fifth-wheel | 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8 | Regular Cab, Long | 4WD | DRWnote 1 | 40,000 lb | Page 6, Sierra HD trailering capability specifications, row 3500 DRW Regular 4WD Long / 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8 |
| 31,760 lb Gooseneck | 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8 | Regular Cab, Long | 4WD | DRWnote 1 | 40,000 lb | Page 6, Sierra HD trailering capability specifications, row 3500 DRW Regular 4WD Long / 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8 |
| 31,500 lb Fifth-wheel | 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8 | Double Cab, Long | 2WD | DRWnote 1 | 40,000 lb | Page 6, Sierra HD trailering capability specifications, row 3500 DRW Double 2WD Long / 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8 |
| 31,500 lb Gooseneck | 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8 | Double Cab, Long | 2WD | DRWnote 1 | 40,000 lb | Page 6, Sierra HD trailering capability specifications, row 3500 DRW Double 2WD Long / 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8 |
| 31,400 lb Fifth-wheel | 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8 | Crew Cab, Long | 2WD | DRWnote 1 | 40,000 lb | Page 6, Sierra HD trailering capability specifications, row 3500 DRW Crew 2WD Long / 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8 |
| 31,400 lb Gooseneck | 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8 | Crew Cab, Long | 2WD | DRWnote 1 | 40,000 lb | Page 6, Sierra HD trailering capability specifications, row 3500 DRW Crew 2WD Long / 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8 |
| 31,340 lb Fifth-wheel | 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8 | Double Cab, Long | 4WD | DRWnote 1 | 40,000 lb | Page 6, Sierra HD trailering capability specifications, row 3500 DRW Double 4WD Long / 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8 |
| 31,340 lb Gooseneck | 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8 | Double Cab, Long | 4WD | DRWnote 1 | 40,000 lb | Page 6, Sierra HD trailering capability specifications, row 3500 DRW Double 4WD Long / 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8 |
| 21,500 lb Fifth-wheel | 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8 | Regular Cab, Long | 2WD | SRWnote 2 | 29,700 lb | Page 6, Sierra HD trailering capability specifications, row 3500 SRW Regular 2WD Long / 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8 |
| 21,500 lb Gooseneck | 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8 | Regular Cab, Long | 2WD | SRWnote 2 | 29,700 lb | Page 6, Sierra HD trailering capability specifications, row 3500 SRW Regular 2WD Long / 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8 |
| 21,500 lb Fifth-wheel | 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8 | Regular Cab, Long | 4WD | SRWnote 3 | 29,700 lb | Page 6, Sierra HD trailering capability specifications, row 3500 SRW Regular 4WD Long / 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8 |
- GVWR 14,000 lbs as printed.
- GVWR 11,500 lbs as printed.
- GVWR 11,800 lbs as printed.
Chart source: GMC, 2021 GMC Trailering Guide. The evidence column gives each row’s page and table.
Find your exact configuration (74 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 3500HD tow?
- The highest fifth-wheel-hitch rating for the 2021 GMC Sierra 3500HD is 32,000 lb, the top of 24 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, DRW. Most configurations are rated lower: 23 of the 24 transcribed fifth-wheel-hitch chart rows for 2021 are below 32,000 lb. Other cited maximums for the 2021 GMC Sierra 3500HD are 20,000 lb on a conventional hitch and 31,760 lb on a gooseneck hitch.
- Did Sierra 3500HD 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 32,000 lb fifth-wheel maximum is printed for the 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8, Regular Cab, Long bed, 2WD, DRW.
- What tongue weight should I plan for a 2021 Sierra 3500HD?
- At the cited 20,000 lb conventional maximum, an illustrative 10% assumption produces 2,000 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 32,000 lb fifth-wheel maximum, an illustrative 15% assumption produces 4,800 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 31,760 lb gooseneck maximum, an illustrative 15% assumption produces 4,764 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 3500HD years