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2022 GMC Sierra 3500HD towing capacity

The 2022 GMC Sierra 3500HD tows 14,500 lbs to 20,000 lbs depending on how it's built. The top number needs the 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8.

✓ From Sierra HD Models 2022 Features, Specs and Options, p. 10 ↗Checked 2026-09-27202620242023202220212020

GMC Sierra 3500HD
Photo: HJUdall, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
20,000
Max towing, lbs
14,500
Lowest rating, lbs
28
Configurations
36,000
5th-wheel max, lbs

Try it

Will it pull your trailer?

Use the trailer's GVWR (on its VIN sticker) if you don't know what it weighs loaded — the dry weight leaves out water, propane and gear.

Yes, in every configuration

Across all 28 configurations in the maker's guide.

▲ top rating 20,000 lbs

  • Tongue weight ≈ 1,100 lbs — 10% of the loaded trailer, the figure Ford's towing guide uses (no more than 200 lbs up to 2,000 lbs). It counts against your payload, together with passengers and cargo.
  • ✓ up to 90% of the rating · ! 90–100% (little room for cargo, hills, wind — common advice, not a GMC rule) · ✕ over the rating.

Read this before you buy

Why the numbers differ

  • Engine choice moves the top rating from 16,800 lbs (6.6L Gasoline V8) to 20,000 lbs (6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8).

  • The body style counts too: Crew Cab Standard Bed SRW is rated 5,500 lbs higher than Regular Cab Long Bed SRW with everything else the same (6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8 · Crew Cab Standard Bed SRW · 2WD). p. 10 ↗

  • Same top rating as the 2021 model (20,000 lbs).

In real life

What 20,000 lbs means in trailers

Ford's towing guide sorts trailers into four weight classes; the classes describe the trailer, so they apply to any tow vehicle. With the right configuration the Sierra 3500HD reaches:

  1. Class I✓ Yes

    up to 2,000 lbs

    Small folding camping trailers and trailers for small boats, motorcycles and snowmobiles.

    2026 Ford RV & Trailer Towing Guide, p. 4 ↗

  2. Class II✓ Yes

    2,001–3,500 lbs

    Large folding camping trailers, single-axle, small- to medium-length (up to 18-ft.) trailers.

    2026 Ford RV & Trailer Towing Guide, p. 4 ↗

  3. Class III✓ Yes

    3,501–5,000 lbs

    Dual-axle or large single-axle travel trailers.

    2026 Ford RV & Trailer Towing Guide, p. 4 ↗

  4. Class IVUp to 20,000

    over 5,000 lbs

    Largest travel and 5th-wheel trailers made for recreation.

    2026 Ford RV & Trailer Towing Guide, p. 4 ↗

Real trailers

Can the Sierra 3500HD pull these?

Weights are what each trailer maker publishes (retrieved 2026-09-27). We compare the trailer's GVWR — the most it may weigh loaded — with each Sierra 3500HD configuration's rating, and never a dry weight when a GVWR exists.

Compare

Towing capacity by engine

6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V814,500 – 20,000 lbs

14 configurations

6.6L Gasoline V814,500 – 16,800 lbs

14 configurations

Orange = the range across that engine's configurations. Bars start at zero.

Fine print, made plain

What the rating assumes

Every rating assumes a 150-lb driver and passenger and no other cargo. Add people, gear or accessories and the trailer you can tow goes down by the same amount.

New to towing?

The five weights, in one picture

Tongue weightLoaded trailer weightPayloadGVWR: the loaded truckGCWR: truck + trailer together
Loaded trailer weight — must stay under the towing rating
The rating “It assumes a towing vehicle with any mandatory options, no cargo, tongue load of 10% (conventional trailer) or king pin weight of 15% (5th-wheel trailer), and driver and passenger (150 lbs. each).” Weight of additional options, passengers, cargo and hitch must be deducted from this weight. p. 7 ↗
Tongue weight — the part of the trailer pressing on the hitch
“For trailers up to 2,000 lbs., tongue load not to exceed 200 lbs. For conventional trailers over 2,000 lbs., tongue load is 10% of loaded trailer weight. For 5th-wheel trailers, king pin weight is 15% of loaded trailer weight.” p. 7 ↗
Payload — people and cargo the truck can carry
“Payload is the combined maximum allowable weight of cargo and passengers that the vehicle is designed to carry. It is the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating minus the Base Curb Weight.” And: “When towing, trailer tongue load or king pin weight is also part of the Cargo Weight.” p. 6 ↗
GVWR and GCWR — the two ceilings
“Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) is the maximum allowable weight of the fully-loaded vehicle (including passengers and cargo).” “Gross Vehicle Weight PLUS Loaded Trailer Weight EQUALS Gross Combination Weight (GCW) GCW must not exceed GCWR.” Your GVWR is on the label on the driver's door jamb. p. 6 ↗

Towing it behind a motorhome?

Can you flat tow a 2022 GMC Sierra 3500HD? Some versions

GMC allows it for: 4WD with 2-speed transfer case.

Steps and conditions →

From the maker's table

All 57 configurations

Conventional towing:
EngineBodyDriveMax trailerGCWRSource
6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8Crew Cab Standard Bed SRW2WD20,00029,700p. 10 ↗
6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8Crew Cab Standard Bed SRW4WD20,00029,700p. 10 ↗
6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8Crew Cab Long Bed SRW2WD20,00029,700p. 10 ↗
6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8Crew Cab Long Bed SRW4WD20,00029,700p. 10 ↗
6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8Regular Cab Long Bed DRW2WD20,00043,900p. 10 ↗
6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8Regular Cab Long Bed DRW4WD20,00040,000p. 10 ↗
6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8Double Cab Long Bed DRW2WD20,00040,000p. 10 ↗
6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8Double Cab Long Bed DRW4WD20,00040,000p. 10 ↗
6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8Crew Cab Long Bed DRW2WD20,00040,000p. 10 ↗
6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8Crew Cab Long Bed DRW4WD20,00040,000p. 10 ↗
6.6L Gasoline V8Regular Cab Long Bed DRW2WD16,80024,000p. 11 ↗
6.6L Gasoline V8Regular Cab Long Bed DRW4WD16,80024,000p. 11 ↗
  1. Denali max rating is 16,010 lbs.

Weights in lbs. “Not listed” means the maker printed no GCWR for that configuration — we don't estimate one.

5th-wheel / gooseneck:
EngineBodyDriveMax trailerGCWRSource
6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8Regular Cab Long Bed DRW2WD36,0004543,900p. 10 ↗
6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8Regular Cab Long Bed DRW2WD32,000343,900p. 10 ↗
6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8Regular Cab Long Bed DRW4WD31,76040,000p. 10 ↗
6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8Double Cab Long Bed DRW2WD31,50040,000p. 10 ↗
6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8Crew Cab Long Bed DRW2WD31,40040,000p. 10 ↗
6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8Double Cab Long Bed DRW4WD31,34040,000p. 10 ↗
6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8Crew Cab Long Bed DRW4WD31,180640,000p. 10 ↗
6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8Regular Cab Long Bed SRW2WD21,50029,700p. 10 ↗
6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8Regular Cab Long Bed SRW4WD21,50029,700p. 10 ↗
6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8Crew Cab Standard Bed SRW2WD21,50029,700p. 10 ↗
6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8Double Cab Long Bed SRW2WD21,49029,700p. 10 ↗
6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8Crew Cab Long Bed SRW2WD21,33029,700p. 10 ↗
  1. AT4 max rating is 21,130 lbs. Denali max rating is 21,010 lbs.
  2. AT4 max rating is 21,010 lbs. Denali max rating is 20,890 lbs.
  3. Fifth-wheel hitch (the gooseneck hitch is rated differently).
  4. Requires available Max Trailering Package and gooseneck hitch.
  5. Gooseneck hitch (the fifth-wheel hitch is rated differently).
  6. Denali max rating is 30,990 lbs.
  7. AT4 max rating is 16,330 lbs. Denali max rating is 16,210 lbs.
  8. AT4 max rating is 16,210 lbs. Denali max rating is 16,090 lbs.
  9. Denali max rating is 15,890 lbs.

Weights in lbs. “Not listed” means the maker printed no GCWR for that configuration — we don't estimate one.

More GMC towing capacities

Questions people ask

What is the towing capacity of the 2022 GMC Sierra 3500HD?

From 14,500 lbs to 20,000 lbs, depending on engine, axle ratio, body and drive. The 20,000 lbs top rating is for the 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel V8 · Crew Cab Standard Bed SRW · 2WD.

Does the 2022 GMC Sierra 3500HD need a tow package?

GMC's guide lists no separate package requirement for this model.

How much tongue weight can the 2022 GMC Sierra 3500HD handle?

Not listed in the maker's guide.

Can you flat tow a 2022 GMC Sierra 3500HD?

Only some versions: 4WD with 2-speed transfer case.

Citing these numbers?

Can Tow That. "2022 GMC Sierra 3500HD Towing Capacity." From Sierra HD Models 2022 Features, Specs and Options, PDF modified 2022-04-06. https://cantowthat.com/gmc/sierra-3500hd/2022

Source: Sierra HD Models 2022 Features, Specs and Options (General Motors (GMC), PDF modified 2022-04-06; retrieved 2026-09-27). Page links open the PDF at the page each number is printed on.

57 ratings checked against the PDFHow we verify