What you need to tow with a 2026 GMC Sierra 1500
The 2026 GMC Sierra 1500 is rated from 8,500 to 13,300 lb depending on engine, cab, bed and drivetrain — a 56% spread. Find your configuration below, then size the hitch to the trailer you are towing, not to the truck's maximum.
A single towing number for this truck would be a lie. 13,300 lb applies to one exact configuration when properly equipped. Same badge, different engine, cab, bed or drivetrain, and the real figure can be thousands of pounds lower. That is why every row below carries its configuration.
2026 GMC Sierra 1500 towing by configuration
| Engine | Cab | Bed | Drive | GCWR (lb) | Max trailer (lb) | Max 5th-wheel/gooseneck (lb) | Requires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duramax 3.0L Turbo-Diesel | Double Cab | Standard Bed | 2WD | 19,000 | 13,300 | 8,900 | Requires available Max Trailering Package and 20" wheels. |
| 6.2L V8 | Crew Cab | Short Bed | 4WD | 19,100 | 13,100 | 8,200 | Requires available Max Trailering Package and 20" wheels. |
| Duramax 3.0L Turbo-Diesel | Crew Cab | Short Bed | 2WD | 19,000 | 13,100 | 8,000 | Requires available Max Trailering Package and 20" wheels. |
| 6.2L V8 | Crew Cab | Standard Bed | 4WD | 19,100 | 13,000 | 7,800 | Requires available Max Trailering Package and 20" wheels. |
| Duramax 3.0L Turbo-Diesel | Double Cab | Standard Bed | 4WD | 19,000 | 13,000 | 8,800 | Requires available Max Trailering Package and 20" wheels. |
| Duramax 3.0L Turbo-Diesel | Crew Cab | Short Bed | 4WD | 19,000 | 12,800 | 7,200 | Requires available Max Trailering Package and 20" wheels. |
| Duramax 3.0L Turbo-Diesel | Crew Cab | Standard Bed | 4WD | 19,000 | 12,400 | 6,800 | Requires available Max Trailering Package and 20" wheels. |
| Duramax 3.0L Turbo-Diesel | Double Cab | Standard Bed | 2WD | 17,800 | 12,100 | 8,900 | Requires available Max Trailering Package and 18" wheels. |
| Duramax 3.0L Turbo-Diesel | Crew Cab | Short Bed | 2WD | 17,800 | 11,900 | 8,000 | Requires available Max Trailering Package and 18" wheels. |
| 6.2L V8 | Crew Cab | Short Bed | 4WD | 17,800 | 11,800 | 8,200 | Requires available Max Trailering Package and 18" wheels. |
| Duramax 3.0L Turbo-Diesel | Double Cab | Standard Bed | 4WD | 17,800 | 11,800 | 8,800 | Requires available Max Trailering Package and 18" wheels. |
| 6.2L V8 | Crew Cab | Standard Bed | 4WD | 17,800 | 11,700 | 7,800 | Requires available Max Trailering Package and 18" wheels. |
| Duramax 3.0L Turbo-Diesel | Crew Cab | Short Bed | 4WD | 17,800 | 11,600 | 7,200 | Requires available Max Trailering Package and 18" wheels. |
| Duramax 3.0L Turbo-Diesel | Crew Cab | Standard Bed | 4WD | 17,800 | 11,600 | 6,800 | Requires available Max Trailering Package and 18" wheels. |
| 5.3L V8 | Crew Cab | Short Bed | 2WD | 16,800 | 11,200 | 9,600 | Requires available Max Trailering Package. |
| 5.3L V8 | Double Cab | Standard Bed | 2WD | 16,800 | 11,200 | 9,900 | Requires available Max Trailering Package. |
| 5.3L V8 | Double Cab | Standard Bed | 4WD | 16,800 | 11,000 | 9,900 | Requires available Max Trailering Package. |
| 5.3L V8 | Crew Cab | Short Bed | 4WD | 16,800 | 10,800 | 8,700 | Requires available Max Trailering Package. |
| 5.3L V8 | Crew Cab | Standard Bed | 4WD | 16,800 | 10,800 | 8,300 | Requires available Max Trailering Package. |
| 5.3L V8 | Regular Cab | Long Bed | 2WD | 15,000 | 9,800 | 9,700 | — |
| 5.3L V8 | Regular Cab | Long Bed | 4WD | 15,000 | 9,600 | 9,400 | — |
| 5.3L V8 | Double Cab | Standard Bed | 2WD | 15,000 | 9,500 | 8,400 | — |
| TurboMax | Regular Cab | Long Bed | 2WD | 14,500 | 9,400 | 9,300 | — |
| 5.3L V8 | Crew Cab | Short Bed | 2WD | 15,000 | 9,400 | 8,500 | — |
| 5.3L V8 | Double Cab | Standard Bed | 4WD | 15,000 | 9,300 | 8,600 | — |
| 5.3L V8 | Crew Cab | Short Bed | 4WD | 15,000 | 9,300 | 8,600 | Requires available MI2 10-speed transmission. |
| 5.3L V8 | Crew Cab | Standard Bed | 4WD | 15,000 | 9,300 | 8,800 | Requires available MI2 10-speed transmission. |
| Duramax 3.0L Turbo-Diesel | Double Cab | Standard Bed | 2WD | 15,000 | 9,300 | 7,900 | — |
| TurboMax | Regular Cab | Long Bed | 4WD | 14,500 | 9,200 | 9,100 | — |
| 5.3L V8 | Crew Cab | Short Bed | 4WD | 15,000 | 9,200 | 8,400 | — |
| 5.3L V8 | Crew Cab | Standard Bed | 4WD | 15,000 | 9,200 | 8,700 | Requires available MT tires and MI2 10-speed transmission. |
| TurboMax | Crew Cab | Short Bed | 2WD | 14,500 | 9,100 | 8,700 | — |
| TurboMax | Double Cab | Standard Bed | 2WD | 14,500 | 9,100 | 8,800 | — |
| 5.3L V8 | Crew Cab | Standard Bed | 4WD | 15,000 | 9,100 | 7,700 | — |
| 5.3L V8 | Crew Cab | Short Bed | 4WD | 15,000 | 9,100 | 8,000 | Requires available MT tires. |
| 5.3L V8 | Crew Cab | Standard Bed | 4WD | 15,000 | 9,100 | 7,600 | Requires available MT tires. |
| Duramax 3.0L Turbo-Diesel | Crew Cab | Short Bed | 2WD | 15,000 | 9,100 | 7,300 | — |
| TurboMax | Regular Cab | Standard Bed | 2WD | 14,000 | 9,000 | 8,900 | — |
| 6.2L V8 | Crew Cab | Short Bed | 4WD | 15,000 | 9,000 | 7,100 | Requires available MT tires. |
| 6.2L V8 | Crew Cab | Standard Bed | 4WD | 15,000 | 9,000 | 6,800 | Requires available MT tires. |
| Duramax 3.0L Turbo-Diesel | Double Cab | Standard Bed | 4WD | 15,000 | 9,000 | 7,300 | — |
| TurboMax | Double Cab | Standard Bed | 4WD | 14,500 | 8,900 | 8,900 | — |
| TurboMax | Crew Cab | Standard Bed | 4WD | 14,500 | 8,900 | 8,800 | Requires available MT tires. |
| 6.2L V8 | Crew Cab | Short Bed | 4WD | 15,000 | 8,900 | 6,600 | — |
| 6.2L V8 | Crew Cab | Standard Bed | 4WD | 15,000 | 8,900 | 6,300 | — |
| TurboMax | Regular Cab | Standard Bed | 4WD | 14,000 | 8,800 | 8,700 | — |
| TurboMax | Crew Cab | Short Bed | 4WD | 14,500 | 8,800 | 8,200 | — |
| TurboMax | Crew Cab | Standard Bed | 4WD | 14,500 | 8,800 | 8,400 | — |
| Duramax 3.0L Turbo-Diesel | Crew Cab | Standard Bed | 4WD | 15,000 | 8,800 | 6,400 | Requires available MT tires. |
| Duramax 3.0L Turbo-Diesel | Crew Cab | Short Bed | 4WD | 15,000 | 8,800 | 6,700 | Requires available MT tires. |
| 6.2L V8 | Crew Cab | Short Bed | 4WD | 15,000 | 8,700 | 5,000 | AT4X maximum trailer rating. |
| Duramax 3.0L Turbo-Diesel | Crew Cab | Short Bed | 4WD | 15,000 | 8,700 | 6,700 | — |
| Duramax 3.0L Turbo-Diesel | Crew Cab | Standard Bed | 4WD | 15,000 | 8,700 | 5,800 | — |
| Duramax 3.0L Turbo-Diesel | Crew Cab | Short Bed | 4WD | 15,000 | 8,500 | 5,200 | AT4X maximum trailer rating. |
Source: 2026 GMC Sierra 1500 manufacturer trailering chart · last verified 2026-08-29
The kit for this truck
Towing hardware is sized to the trailer. Pick the weight you are actually pulling:
Tow 5,000 lb with a Sierra 1500Tow 6,000 lb with a Sierra 1500Tow 7,000 lb with a Sierra 1500Tow 8,000 lb with a Sierra 1500Tow 9,000 lb with a Sierra 1500Tow 10,000 lb with a Sierra 1500Tow 11,000 lb with a Sierra 1500Tow 12,000 lb with a Sierra 1500
One part is chosen by the truck, not by the trailer. Everything in those kits is sized to the trailer you are pulling — hitch class, ball, ball mount, brakes. The receiver that bolts to the vehicle is the exception: it is a vehicle-specific part, sold by year, make and model, and a receiver built for one vehicle does not fit another even at the same class. Fit the receiver to your 2026 GMC Sierra 1500, size everything that hangs off it to the trailer, and never fit a receiver rated below the trailer you intend to pull.
Hitches that fit a 2026 GMC Sierra 1500 →Affiliate link — as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.At this truck's ceiling (13,300 lb) you would be in Class 5 XD hardware with a weight-distributing hitch and a brake controller. See the 12,000 lb kit for this vehicle →
Before you trust any of these numbers
- Your payload governs. Addition of trailer hitch weight cannot cause vehicle weights to exceed Rear Gross Axle Weight Rating (RGAWR) or Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). These ratings can be found on the certification label located on the driver door or doorframe.
- Tongue weight is not free. 10–15% of the trailer sits on your rear axle and comes out of payload, not out of tow rating.
- Engines in this chart: TurboMax · 5.3L V8 · 6.2L V8 · Duramax 3.0L Turbo-Diesel. If yours is not listed, this chart does not cover your configuration.
Common questions
How much can a 2026 GMC Sierra 1500 tow?
Between 8,500 and 13,300 lb depending on the exact configuration — that is a 56% spread, so a single headline number is misleading. The 13,300 lb figure requires one specific combination of engine, cab, bed and drivetrain. Look up your own configuration in the table on this page.
What hitch do I need for a 2026 GMC Sierra 1500?
Size the hitch to the trailer, not the truck. For a trailer up to 10,000 lb you need Class 4 hardware with a 2 in receiver, plus a weight-distributing hitch with sway control. The truck's rating is a ceiling you must stay under, not the thing you buy for.
Why is there no payload number on this page?
Because payload is specific to your individual vehicle, not to the model. It is printed on the certification label in your driver's door jamb. Published sources disagree with manufacturers in both directions on payload, so stating one per model would be wrong for most trucks. Your tongue weight counts against payload, which is why it matters.