2027 GMC Sierra 1500 Towing Capacity: Every Engine, Payload and Trailering Tech

The Sierra 1500 is all-new for 2027, and the engine lineup changed more than anything else. The 5.3L and 6.2L V8s are gone, replaced by a new 5.7L and 6.6L from GM’s sixth-generation Small Block family. That means most of the towing numbers you may remember from earlier Sierras no longer apply. This guide collects every towing and payload figure GM has released so far, explains what each one depends on, and says plainly where GM has not published a number yet.

For pricing, trims and the full redesign, read our 2027 GMC Sierra 1500 guide. If you are cross-shopping Chevrolet, our 2027 Sierra 1500 vs Silverado 1500 comparison covers both trucks side by side.

How Much Can the 2027 GMC Sierra 1500 Tow?

Here is how the four 2027 engines compare, using the figures from GM’s September 17, 2026 Small Block V8 announcement:

Every engine is paired with a 10-speed automatic for 2027, including the 2.7L TurboMax, which moves to the 10-speed this year. All four maximums assume the right cab, bed, axle and equipment. Treat them as ceilings, not as the rating of every truck.

Which 2027 Sierra 1500 Engine Tows the Most?

The new 5.7L V8 carries the Sierra’s top rating at 13,500 pounds. It makes 402 horsepower and 428 lb-ft of torque, and GM builds it at Flint Engine Operations, with Tonawanda and St. Catharines planned as additional plants. Its maximum payload in GM’s table is 2,140 pounds. GMC’s September 22 spec table shows the 13,500-pound figure on a 4WD Double Cab with the NHT trailering package; the 4WD Crew Cab tops out at 13,300 pounds.

The 3.0L Duramax turbo-diesel sits second at 12,100 pounds. It has the most torque of any engine except the 6.6L, at 495 lb-ft, and it is the long-range choice. GM offers a new 34-gallon fuel tank on some configurations, and with the diesel it quotes more than 900 miles of highway range. For long-distance towing, where fuel stops add up, that range is the diesel’s biggest selling point.

The enhanced 2.7L TurboMax is rated at 9,400 pounds. It now makes 350 horsepower and 455 lb-ft, up 40 horsepower and 25 lb-ft, and GM calls that torque figure best-in-class for a standard engine. It also has the highest maximum payload in GM’s engine table, at 2,310 pounds, because it is the lightest engine.

What About the 6.6L V8’s Towing Rating?

This is the one number that needs care. GM’s engine table lists the 481 hp 6.6L V8 at 9,400 pounds of towing and 1,450 pounds of payload in the Sierra (and 9,700 and 1,510 pounds in the Silverado). Those figures are lower than the 5.7L’s, even though the 6.6L is the more powerful engine.

GM’s table reflects a specific vehicle configuration, and the table itself notes that towing varies by configuration, trim and packages. A low payload figure like 1,450 pounds is typical of a heavier, lifted or off-road focused setup, and GMC’s September 22, 2026 spec table answers the configuration question: it lists the 6.6L only in the 4WD Crew Cab, at 9,400 pounds of towing and 1,450 pounds of payload. That makes 9,400 pounds the 6.6L’s published maximum for now. Trim-specific ratings are still pending, and we will update this guide when GM publishes them.

How Much Payload Can the 2027 Sierra 1500 Carry?

The gmc.com Sierra 1500 page lists maximum payload by cab and bed. The top figure is up to 2,320 pounds on a Regular Cab RWD with the standard bed. GM’s engine announcement lists 2,310 pounds for the 2.7L TurboMax, so the two GM sources differ by 10 pounds. The gmc.com number is the one tied to a specific cab and bed, which is why we lead with it.

GMC says payload varies with optional equipment, accessories, engine, drive type (2WD vs. 4WD) and whether the suspension is lifted. Every option you add, and every passenger you carry, comes out of the payload number. Payload matters for towing too, because trailer tongue weight counts against it. A truck with a low payload rating can run out of payload before it reaches its tow rating.

Which Cab, Bed and Trim Combinations Are Offered?

Configuration is the biggest single factor in towing and payload, so it helps to know what GMC builds. According to gmc.com, the 2027 lineup looks like this:

The 2027 trims are Pro, Elevation, AT4, AT4X, Denali and Denali Ultimate. SLE and SLT do not appear on the 2027 gmc.com page. Overall length runs from 212.1 inches for a Regular Cab standard bed to 242.6 inches for a Crew Cab standard bed.

Does Towing Capacity Change by Trim?

Almost certainly, but GM has not published per-trim towing figures for 2027. What we can say is how the trims differ in ways that usually affect ratings. The AT4X, for example, has a 2-inch factory lift, 35-inch mud-terrain tires, Multimatic Jounce Control Dampers and a Baja drive mode. GMC’s own payload note says a lifted suspension changes payload, and off-road hardware adds weight, so expect the AT4X to be rated below the maximum figures above.

Until GMC releases the full 2027 specifications, the reliable way to get a specific truck’s rating is the Trailering Information label on the driver’s door jamb and the window sticker, or a GMC dealer quoting from the official guide.

What Trailering Tech Does the 2027 Sierra 1500 Have?

GMC lists several towing-related features on the 2027 Sierra 1500 page:

• Super Cruise with trailering capability: hands-free driver assistance on compatible roads while towing. It is available on Elevation Crew Cab and standard on AT4, AT4X, Denali and Denali Ultimate, with a 3-year OnStar One plan.
• Up to 19 camera views: including front and rear underbody cameras, useful for hitching and checking a trailer.
• Tow/Haul mode: one of up to six drive modes.
• Trailering Package: listed in the gmc.com specifications, though its contents have not been published.
• 34-gallon fuel tank: available on some configurations for longer range between fill-ups.

GM has not yet described the 2027 Max Trailering Package contents, and it has not confirmed whether the Transparent Trailer camera view or the ProGrade Trailering System name carries over for 2027. On the 2026 Sierra, the ProGrade Trailering System was listed.

How Does the 2027 Sierra Compare With the 2026 Model?

The 2026 Sierra 1500 is the latest model year with fully published trailering figures, so it is a useful reference. These are 2026 model-year numbers from GMC’s previous-year page and do not apply to the 2027 truck:

So the 2027 top rating is 200 pounds higher than 2026, and the top engine for towing has shifted from the diesel to the new 5.7L V8. The 2.7L TurboMax gains power but keeps the same 9,400-pound rating.

What Hitch Do You Need for Heavy Trailers?

GMC’s guidance for the 2026 Sierra 1500 is that trailers over 7,000 pounds should use a weight-distributing hitch instead of a weight-carrying hitch. A weight-distributing hitch spreads tongue weight across the truck’s front and rear axles and the trailer, which helps keep steering and braking stable. GM has not published separate hitch guidance for 2027 yet, so follow the owner’s manual for your truck once it is available.

Safety note: never exceed the lowest of your truck’s tow rating, payload rating, axle ratings or hitch rating. Check the door-jamb labels, load the trailer so tongue weight is in the range your owner’s manual specifies, and use a weight-distributing hitch as GMC recommends for trailers over 7,000 pounds.

Sierra 1500 vs Silverado 1500: Which Tows More?

The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 shares the Sierra’s four engines for 2027, and GM rates it slightly higher. The Silverado with the 5.7L V8 is rated at 13,700 pounds, which GM calls the best-in-class maximum available tow rating. The Sierra’s best is 13,500 pounds. With the 6.6L in the specific configuration GM lists, the Silverado shows 9,700 pounds against the Sierra’s 9,400. The gap is small, and the right configuration of either truck will handle the same trailers. See our Sierra vs Silverado comparison for prices and trims.

What Has GM Not Published Yet?

Several numbers towing buyers usually want are not public for the 2027 Sierra 1500 as of late September 2026:

• Per-trim towing ratings for Pro, Elevation, AT4, AT4X, Denali and Denali Ultimate
• Trim-specific 6.6L V8 ratings (GMC lists the 6.6L only for the 4WD Crew Cab)
• Gross combined weight ratings (GCWR)
• Maximum tongue weight and fifth-wheel/gooseneck ratings
• The contents of the 2027 Max Trailering Package
• The 2027 GMC trailering guide

GM says full specifications will be shared in future updates, and the truck reaches dealers later this year. Until then, rely on the door-jamb label and the window sticker for any specific truck.

Photo credits: 2027 GMC Sierra 1500 images courtesy of General Motors / GMC. Preproduction models shown; production models may vary. Charts: NextCarReview, based on GM figures.

Related guides: more truck reviews and guides and NHTSA Issues Recall on 2025 Ford F-150: What Owners Must Do.

Every 2027 model in one place: 2027 New Cars guide.

Morgan Reyes

Morgan Reyes is the founder and editor-in-chief of NextCarReview, which Morgan launched in August 2024. A 2022 graduate of Columbia University, Morgan is based in New York and writes and edits the site’s reviews, comparisons and buying guides. Morgan does not road-test vehicles. Every article is built from published primary data: EPA FuelEconomy.gov ratings, NHTSA crash ratings, recalls and owner complaints, IIHS results, and manufacturer specifications and pricing, with each figure cited and checked before publication. Contact: admin@nextcarreview.com

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