2021 GMC Sierra 3500HD towing capacity

Up to 20,000 lbs with a conventional ball hitch. That rating is for this configuration: 3500 SRW Crew 2WD Standard, 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8, 2WD. The lowest-rated configuration in the same tables is 14,500 lbs, so the answer for your vehicle depends on how it is equipped.

Highest published rating20,000 lbsConventional (ball hitch). Lowest in the same tables: 14,500 lbs.

The top figure belongs to one specific build. Find the row that matches your engine, cab, drive and axle, and check the label on your driver's door jamb. Passengers and cargo in the truck come off what you can tow.

2021 GMC Sierra 3500HD towing capacity by engine

The highest rating published for each engine. Pick a figure to see every configuration behind it.

Engine	Conventional	Fifth-wheel or gooseneck	Configurations
6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8	20,000 lbs	36,000 lbs	52
6.6L Gas V8	16,800 lbs	17,200 lbs	53

2021 GMC Sierra 3500HD towing capacity chart

All 105 configurations in the source, by hitch type and engine, highest rating first. Each row links to the page it is printed on.

Conventional (ball hitch)

2021 GMC Sierra 3500HD 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8 towing capacity, conventional hitch
Configuration	Drive	Max trailer	GCWR	Source
3500 SRW Crew 2WD Standard	2WD	20,000 lbs	29,700 lbs	p. 6
3500 SRW Crew 4WD Standardpayload printed with footnote 9	4WD	20,000 lbs	29,700 lbs	p. 6
3500 SRW Crew 2WD Long	2WD	20,000 lbs	29,700 lbs	p. 6
3500 SRW Crew 4WD Longpayload printed with footnote 11	4WD	20,000 lbs	29,700 lbs	p. 6
3500 DRW Regular 2WD Long	2WD	20,000 lbs	43,900 lbs	p. 6
3500 DRW Regular 4WD Long	4WD	20,000 lbs	40,000 lbs	p. 6
3500 DRW Double 2WD Long	2WD	20,000 lbs	40,000 lbs	p. 6
3500 DRW Double 4WD Long	4WD	20,000 lbs	40,000 lbs	p. 6
3500 DRW Crew 2WD Long	2WD	20,000 lbs	40,000 lbs	p. 6
3500 DRW Crew 4WD Longpayload printed with footnote 14	4WD	20,000 lbs	40,000 lbs	p. 6
3500 SRW Regular 2WD Long	2WD	14,500 lbs	29,700 lbs	p. 6
3500 SRW Regular 4WD Long	4WD	14,500 lbs	29,700 lbs	p. 6
3500 SRW Double 2WD Long	2WD	14,500 lbs	29,700 lbs	p. 6
3500 SRW Double 4WD Long	4WD	14,500 lbs	29,700 lbs	p. 6

2021 GMC Sierra 3500HD 6.6L Gas V8 towing capacity, conventional hitch
Configuration	Drive	Max trailer	GCWR	Source
3500 DRW Regular 2WD Long	2WD	16,800 lbs	24,000 lbs	p. 7
3500 DRW Regular 4WD Long	4WD	16,800 lbs	24,000 lbs	p. 7
3500 DRW Double 2WD Long	2WD	16,400 lbs	24,000 lbs	p. 7
3500 DRW Double 4WD Long	4WD	16,390 lbs	24,000 lbs	p. 7
3500 DRW Crew 2WD Long	2WD	16,300 lbs	24,000 lbs	p. 7
3500 DRW Crew 4WD Longpayload printed with footnote 15	4WD	16,240 lbs	24,000 lbs	p. 7
Denali, 3500 DRW Crew 4WD Longrating printed in footnote 13 ('Denali max rating is 16,010 lbs') for this cell	4WD	16,010 lbs		p. 7
3500 SRW Regular 2WD Long	2WD	14,500 lbs	24,000 lbs	p. 7
3500 SRW Regular 4WD Long	4WD	14,500 lbs	24,000 lbs	p. 7
3500 SRW Double 2WD Long	2WD	14,500 lbs	24,000 lbs	p. 7
3500 SRW Double 4WD Long	4WD	14,500 lbs	24,000 lbs	p. 7
3500 SRW Crew 2WD Standard	2WD	14,500 lbs	24,000 lbs	p. 7
3500 SRW Crew 4WD Standardpayload printed with footnote 10	4WD	14,500 lbs	24,000 lbs	p. 7
3500 SRW Crew 2WD Long	2WD	14,500 lbs	24,000 lbs	p. 7
3500 SRW Crew 4WD Longpayload printed with footnote 12	4WD	14,500 lbs	24,000 lbs	p. 7

Fifth-wheel or gooseneck

2021 GMC Sierra 3500HD 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8 towing capacity, fifth-wheel or gooseneck hitch
Configuration	Drive	Max trailer	GCWR	Needs	Source
3500 DRW Regular 2WD Long	2WD	36,000 lbs	43,900 lbs	Max Trailering Package and gooseneck hitch	p. 6
3500 DRW Regular 2WD Long	2WD	32,000 lbs	43,900 lbs		p. 6
3500 DRW Regular 4WD Long	4WD	31,760 lbs	40,000 lbs		p. 6
3500 DRW Regular 4WD Long	4WD	31,760 lbs	40,000 lbs		p. 6
3500 DRW Double 2WD Long	2WD	31,500 lbs	40,000 lbs		p. 6
3500 DRW Double 2WD Long	2WD	31,500 lbs	40,000 lbs		p. 6
3500 DRW Crew 2WD Long	2WD	31,400 lbs	40,000 lbs		p. 6
3500 DRW Crew 2WD Long	2WD	31,400 lbs	40,000 lbs		p. 6
3500 DRW Double 4WD Long	4WD	31,340 lbs	40,000 lbs		p. 6
3500 DRW Double 4WD Long	4WD	31,340 lbs	40,000 lbs		p. 6
3500 DRW Crew 4WD Longpayload printed with footnote 14	4WD	31,180 lbs	40,000 lbs		p. 6
3500 DRW Crew 4WD Longpayload printed with footnote 14	4WD	31,180 lbs	40,000 lbs		p. 6
Denali, 3500 DRW Crew 4WD Longrating printed in footnote 13 ('Denali max rating is 30,990 lbs') for this cell	4WD	30,990 lbs			p. 6
Denali, 3500 DRW Crew 4WD Longrating printed in footnote 13 ('Denali max rating is 30,990 lbs') for this cell	4WD	30,990 lbs			p. 6
3500 SRW Regular 2WD Long	2WD	21,500 lbs	29,700 lbs		p. 6
3500 SRW Regular 2WD Long	2WD	21,500 lbs	29,700 lbs		p. 6
3500 SRW Regular 4WD Long	4WD	21,500 lbs	29,700 lbs		p. 6
3500 SRW Regular 4WD Long	4WD	21,500 lbs	29,700 lbs		p. 6
3500 SRW Crew 2WD Standard	2WD	21,500 lbs	29,700 lbs		p. 6
3500 SRW Crew 2WD Standard	2WD	21,500 lbs	29,700 lbs		p. 6
3500 SRW Double 2WD Long	2WD	21,490 lbs	29,700 lbs		p. 6
3500 SRW Double 2WD Long	2WD	21,490 lbs	29,700 lbs		p. 6
3500 SRW Crew 2WD Long	2WD	21,330 lbs	29,700 lbs		p. 6
3500 SRW Crew 2WD Long	2WD	21,330 lbs	29,700 lbs		p. 6
3500 SRW Crew 4WD Standardpayload printed with footnote 9	4WD	21,300 lbs	29,700 lbs		p. 6
3500 SRW Crew 4WD Standardpayload printed with footnote 9	4WD	21,300 lbs	29,700 lbs		p. 6
3500 SRW Double 4WD Long	4WD	21,210 lbs	29,700 lbs		p. 6
3500 SRW Double 4WD Long	4WD	21,210 lbs	29,700 lbs		p. 6
AT4, 3500 SRW Crew 4WD Standardrating printed in footnote 8 ('AT4 max rating is 21,130 lbs') for this cell	4WD	21,130 lbs			p. 6
AT4, 3500 SRW Crew 4WD Standardrating printed in footnote 8 ('AT4 max rating is 21,130 lbs') for this cell	4WD	21,130 lbs			p. 6
3500 SRW Crew 4WD Longpayload printed with footnote 11	4WD	21,040 lbs	29,700 lbs		p. 6
3500 SRW Crew 4WD Longpayload printed with footnote 11	4WD	21,040 lbs	29,700 lbs		p. 6
Denali, 3500 SRW Crew 4WD Standardrating printed in footnote 8 ('Denali max rating is 21,010 lbs') for this cell	4WD	21,010 lbs			p. 6
Denali, 3500 SRW Crew 4WD Standardrating printed in footnote 8 ('Denali max rating is 21,010 lbs') for this cell	4WD	21,010 lbs			p. 6
AT4, 3500 SRW Crew 4WD Longrating printed in footnote 10 ('AT4 max rating is 21,010 lbs') for this cell	4WD	21,010 lbs			p. 6
AT4, 3500 SRW Crew 4WD Longrating printed in footnote 10 ('AT4 max rating is 21,010 lbs') for this cell	4WD	21,010 lbs			p. 6
Denali, 3500 SRW Crew 4WD Longrating printed in footnote 10 ('Denali max rating is 20,890 lbs') for this cell	4WD	20,890 lbs			p. 6
Denali, 3500 SRW Crew 4WD Longrating printed in footnote 10 ('Denali max rating is 20,890 lbs') for this cell	4WD	20,890 lbs			p. 6

2021 GMC Sierra 3500HD 6.6L Gas V8 towing capacity, fifth-wheel or gooseneck hitch
Configuration	Drive	Max trailer	GCWR	Source
3500 SRW Regular 2WD Long	2WD	17,200 lbs	24,000 lbs	p. 7
3500 SRW Regular 2WD Long	2WD	17,200 lbs	24,000 lbs	p. 7
3500 SRW Regular 4WD Long	4WD	16,950 lbs	24,000 lbs	p. 7
3500 SRW Regular 4WD Long	4WD	16,950 lbs	24,000 lbs	p. 7
3500 DRW Regular 2WD Long	2WD	16,800 lbs	24,000 lbs	p. 7
3500 DRW Regular 2WD Long	2WD	16,800 lbs	24,000 lbs	p. 7
3500 DRW Regular 4WD Long	4WD	16,710 lbs	24,000 lbs	p. 7
3500 DRW Regular 4WD Long	4WD	16,710 lbs	24,000 lbs	p. 7
3500 SRW Double 2WD Long	2WD	16,700 lbs	24,000 lbs	p. 7
3500 SRW Double 2WD Long	2WD	16,700 lbs	24,000 lbs	p. 7
3500 SRW Crew 2WD Standard	2WD	16,700 lbs	24,000 lbs	p. 7
3500 SRW Crew 2WD Standard	2WD	16,700 lbs	24,000 lbs	p. 7
3500 SRW Crew 2WD Long	2WD	16,700 lbs	24,000 lbs	p. 7
3500 SRW Crew 2WD Long	2WD	16,700 lbs	24,000 lbs	p. 7
3500 SRW Crew 4WD Standardpayload printed with footnote 10	4WD	16,530 lbs	24,000 lbs	p. 7
3500 SRW Crew 4WD Standardpayload printed with footnote 10	4WD	16,530 lbs	24,000 lbs	p. 7
3500 SRW Double 4WD Long	4WD	16,500 lbs	24,000 lbs	p. 7
3500 SRW Double 4WD Long	4WD	16,500 lbs	24,000 lbs	p. 7
3500 SRW Crew 4WD Longpayload printed with footnote 12	4WD	16,410 lbs	24,000 lbs	p. 7
3500 SRW Crew 4WD Longpayload printed with footnote 12	4WD	16,410 lbs	24,000 lbs	p. 7
3500 DRW Double 2WD Long	2WD	16,400 lbs	24,000 lbs	p. 7
3500 DRW Double 2WD Long	2WD	16,400 lbs	24,000 lbs	p. 7
AT4, 3500 SRW Crew 4WD Standardrating printed in footnote 9 ('AT4 max rating is 16,330 lbs') for this cell	4WD	16,330 lbs		p. 7
AT4, 3500 SRW Crew 4WD Standardrating printed in footnote 9 ('AT4 max rating is 16,330 lbs') for this cell	4WD	16,330 lbs		p. 7
3500 DRW Double 4WD Long	4WD	16,270 lbs	24,000 lbs	p. 7
3500 DRW Double 4WD Long	4WD	16,270 lbs	24,000 lbs	p. 7
Denali, 3500 SRW Crew 4WD Standardrating printed in footnote 9 ('Denali max rating is 16,210 lbs') for this cell	4WD	16,210 lbs		p. 7
Denali, 3500 SRW Crew 4WD Standardrating printed in footnote 9 ('Denali max rating is 16,210 lbs') for this cell	4WD	16,210 lbs		p. 7
AT4, 3500 SRW Crew 4WD Longrating printed in footnote 11 ('AT4 max rating is 16,210 lbs') for this cell	4WD	16,210 lbs		p. 7
AT4, 3500 SRW Crew 4WD Longrating printed in footnote 11 ('AT4 max rating is 16,210 lbs') for this cell	4WD	16,210 lbs		p. 7
3500 DRW Crew 2WD Long	2WD	16,200 lbs	24,000 lbs	p. 7
3500 DRW Crew 2WD Long	2WD	16,200 lbs	24,000 lbs	p. 7
3500 DRW Crew 4WD Longpayload printed with footnote 15	4WD	16,120 lbs	24,000 lbs	p. 7
3500 DRW Crew 4WD Longpayload printed with footnote 15	4WD	16,120 lbs	24,000 lbs	p. 7
Denali, 3500 SRW Crew 4WD Longrating printed in footnote 11 ('Denali max rating is 16,090 lbs') for this cell	4WD	16,090 lbs		p. 7
Denali, 3500 SRW Crew 4WD Longrating printed in footnote 11 ('Denali max rating is 16,090 lbs') for this cell	4WD	16,090 lbs		p. 7
Denali, 3500 DRW Crew 4WD Longrating printed in footnote 14 ('Denali max rating is 15,890 lbs') for this cell	4WD	15,890 lbs		p. 7
Denali, 3500 DRW Crew 4WD Longrating printed in footnote 14 ('Denali max rating is 15,890 lbs') for this cell	4WD	15,890 lbs		p. 7

Common questions

Which 2021 GMC Sierra 3500HD engine tows the most?

6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8, at up to 20,000 lbs. Next is 6.6L Gas V8 at up to 16,800 lbs.

Can a 2021 GMC Sierra 3500HD tow a fifth-wheel or gooseneck trailer?

The manufacturer publishes fifth-wheel or gooseneck ratings for it, up to 36,000 lbs. They are listed by configuration above.

Where do these numbers come from?

From 2021 GMC Trailering Guide. Each row in the tables above links to the document and gives the page the figure is printed on.

Towing equipment for the 2021 GMC Sierra 3500HD

The manufacturer's tables name this equipment for some 2021 GMC Sierra 3500HD configurations. Equipment does not raise a rating. Check the Needs column for your own build before buying anything.

Gooseneck hitch, listed for 1 of 105 configurations. See on Amazon (paid link)

Parts sold to fit this vehicle. Fitting one does not raise a rating, and the tables above say what each rating needs.

Trailer wiring harness for the 2021 GMC Sierra 3500HD. See on Amazon (paid link)
Trailer hitch receiver for the 2021 GMC Sierra 3500HD. See on Amazon (paid link)

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. The ratings on this page come only from the documents cited.

Where these numbers come from

2021 GMC Trailering Guide, GMC. Manufacturer towing guide. Retrieved October 3, 2026.

Page numbers count pages in the linked file, which can differ from the number printed in the corner. Report a number that looks wrong.

Related ratings

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