The GMC Sierra 2500 pickup truck is designed and built for serious work. Its stout fully-boxed frame, beefy axles, muscular powertrains, and integrated towing tech give it the strength and smarts to confidently haul big loads. If you routinely need to tow heavy trailers, RVs, equipment or large cargo, the Sierra 2500 should be on your radar.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll break down the impressive 2022 Sierra 2500 towing capacities across all powertrain configurations. Whether you’re looking to pull 5th wheels, horse trailers, or a fully loaded car trailer, the Sierra 2500 provides the torque and control you need. Let’s check out the specs!
Gas and Diesel Engine Options
The 2022 GMC Sierra 2500 offers two robust engine choices:
- 6.6L V8 Gas – 401hp, 464 lb-ft
- 6.6L V8 Turbo Diesel – 445hp, 910 lb-ft
The gas V8 provides abundant torque across a wide RPM range, great for quick acceleration whether loaded or unloaded. It utilizes Dynamic Fuel Management to optimize efficiency.
The available Duramax turbo diesel takes torque numbers to another level with 910 lb-ft on tap. This enables incredible towing stamina especially at highway speeds and mountain grades. It’s the engine of choice for frequent heavy towing.
Both engines utilize a 6-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel-drive or available 4-wheel-drive. Maximum trailering packages are offered to enhance towing performance.
Max Conventional Towing Capacity
Now let’s look at conventional towing limits which apply to bumper pull trailers:
Gas Engine Max Towing
- RWD Regular Cab: 14,500 lbs
- 4WD Regular Cab: 14,300 lbs
- RWD Double Cab: 13,500 lbs
- 4WD Double Cab: 13,300 lbs
- RWD Crew Cab: 13,500 lbs
- 4WD Crew Cab: 13,300 lbs
Diesel Engine Max Towing
- RWD Regular Cab: 18,510 lbs
- 4WD Regular Cab: 18,410 lbs
- RWD Double Cab: 18,510 lbs
- 4WD Double Cab: 18,410 lbs
- RWD Crew Cab: 18,510 lbs
- 4WD Crew Cab: 18,410 lbs
As you can see, the Duramax diesel provides significantly greater towing muscle. But even the gas V8 packs impressive conventional towing capacity over 13,000 lbs for most configurations.
Max 5th-Wheel/Gooseneck Towing
For heavier 5th-wheel and gooseneck trailers, the Sierra 2500 also delivers fantastic towing capacity:
Gas Engine Max Towing
- RWD Regular Cab: 14,500 lbs
- 4WD Regular Cab: 14,300 lbs
- RWD Double Cab: 13,500 lbs
- 4WD Double Cab: 13,300 lbs
- RWD Crew Cab: 13,500 lbs
- 4WD Crew Cab: 13,300 lbs
Diesel Engine Max Towing
- RWD Regular Cab: 18,510 lbs
- 4WD Regular Cab: 18,410 lbs
- RWD Double Cab: 18,510 lbs
- 4WD Double Cab: 18,410 lbs
- RWD Crew Cab: 18,510 lbs
- 4WD Crew Cab: 18,410 lbs
The gooseneck/5th wheel towing mirrors the conventional towing specs above. Again, the Duramax diesel provides incredible max capacity up to 18,510 lbs for hauling the very biggest trailers.
Real-World Towing Performance
On paper the tow ratings look impressive, but how does the 2022 Sierra 2500 actually perform on the road?
Owners report excellent towing experiences with both the gas and diesel engines. The Duramax is favored for frequent heavy towing thanks to its incredible diesel torque. But the gas V8 still provides plenty of muscle for mid-size loads.
Here are some real-world towing reviews:
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“I tow a 16,000 lb 5th wheel all over with the 6.6L gas engine. Does great through the mountains fully loaded.”
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“Pulled a 9,000 lb dump trailer full of gravel with ease. Diesel torque is amazing.”
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“It has hauled my 30 ft travel trailer for years without issue. Very stable and the power is great.”
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“I towed my 20 ft car trailer stacked with vehicles. Handled the 10k lbs load really well.”
Overall, owners praise the stability, power and confidence the Sierra 2500 provides while towing at max capacity weights. The integrated trailering tech adds extra control and ease as well.
Towing Features and Tech
To provide towing confidence, the 2022 Sierra 2500 offers great standard and available features:
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**Hitch Guidance:**Provides direction when backing up to hitch a trailer
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**Hitch View:**Uses camera to give you a top-down view of hitch and connector
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**Jack-Knife Alert:**Warns if trailer is angling dangerously while turning
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**Hill Start Assist:**Prevents rollback when starting on an incline
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**Trailer Sway Control:**Automatically brakes individual wheels to reduce trailer sway
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**Auto Electric Park Brake:**Simplifies activating brakes when hitching/unhitching
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**Integrated Brake Controller:**Makes it easy to brake your trailer
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**Diesel Exhaust Braking:**Uses engine compression to help slow vehicle
This excellent suite of trailering tech takes a lot of the stress out of towing big loads. Hitting the road while pulling heavy cargo is made much simpler.
Sierra 2500 Towing Configurations
Within cab configurations, the Sierra 2500 is available in several models that fine-tune towing performance:
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**Sierra HD Pro:**Ideal for commercial-grade towing. Includes integrated brake controller.
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**SLE:**Provides heavy-duty trailering with great value and amenities.
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SLT: The premium trim enhances towing tech and ride comfort.
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**AT4:**Offers rugged styling and off-road enhancements.
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Denali: The top-tier luxury trim with maximum capability and refinement.
Work-focused models like the Pro and SLE provide incredible towing muscle, while the SLT, AT4 and Denali add more premium features and tech.
Towing Packages Available
To boost towing performance, the Sierra 2500 also offers some great towing package upgrades:
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Max Trailering Package: Includes enhanced cooling, integrated brake controller, and requiring towing equipment. Increases conventional towing on diesel models.
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Gooseneck/5th Wheel Package: Adds an in-bed hitch system plus the needed connectors and wiring.
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Trailering Package: Provides a trailer hitch, 7-pin and 4-pin connectors, and required cooling upgrades.
These excellent towing packages provide significant upgrades making it easy to hitch up and tow heavy loads. The trailering package is a must for maxing our your Sierra 2500’s towing muscle.
Take Control With the Sierra 2500
If you have serious cargo hauling needs requiring a pickup with towing capacity exceeding 13,000 pounds, the GMC Sierra 2500 is purpose-built for you. Its heavy-duty foundations, high-torque engines, and integrated towing tech supply incredible power and confidence for tackling big loads. Whether you’re towing a 30 ft RV up mountain grades or pulling an equipment trailer to work sites, the Sierra 2500 has the muscle and smarts to take control of the toughest jobs. Stop by your GMC dealer and test drive one today to experience that heavy-duty capability first-hand.
