A 2026 Chevy Silverado 1500 can tow up to 13,300 pounds, but only one build gets there: a two-wheel-drive Double Cab with the standard bed, the 3.0L Duramax diesel, the Max Trailering Package and 20-inch wheels. Without that package, no 2026 Silverado 1500 is rated above 9,900 pounds.
Chevy Silverado 1500 Towing Capacity by Year, Engine and Package
At a glance
- Most it can tow: 13,300 lb, on a Double Cab 2WD with the 3.0L Duramax, the Max Trailering Package and 20-inch wheels; without that package, 9,900 lb at most.
- With a camper, check payload too: 2026 trucks carry 2,030 to 2,380 lb at most, and the label in your driver's door jamb gives your own truck's payload and maximum tongue weight.
- Older Silverados: the top rating ran from 12,000 lb in 2014 to 13,400 lb in 2020, each year with its own required equipment; find your year below.
On this page (7)
How much can my Silverado 1500 tow? Year by year
Find your model year below. Each year's top figure needs the engine shown plus that year's best cab, bed and towing equipment, so most trucks of that year are rated lower.
| Model year | Most it can tow | Engine |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 12,000 lb | 6.2L V8 |
| 2015 | 12,000 lb | 6.2L V8 |
| 2016 | 12,000 lb | 6.2L V8 |
| 2017 | 12,500 lb | 6.2L V8 |
| 2018 | 12,500 lb | 6.2L V8 |
| 2019 | 12,200 lb | 6.2L V8 |
| 2020 | 13,400 lb | 6.2L V8 |
| 2021 | 13,300 lb | 6.2L V8 |
| 2022 | 13,300 lb | 3.0L Duramax or 6.2L V8 |
| 2023 | 13,300 lb | 3.0L Duramax or 6.2L V8 |
| 2024 | 13,300 lb | 3.0L Duramax |
| 2025 | 13,300 lb | 3.0L Duramax |
| 2026 | 13,300 lb | 3.0L Duramax |
For the full detail, the Chevrolet owner's manuals for 2014 to 2018 and the 2020 Silverado 1500 trailering chart list every cab, bed and engine combination for their years, and later Chevrolet trailering guides do the same. Ratings before 2016 used a different method, so compare them with care.
From 2019 the top figure also needs the Max Trailering Package, and from 2020 the 20-inch wheels too.
Older V6 and 5.3L trucks
Smaller engines are rated well below the table. The 4.3L V6 tops out at 8,000 lb. On 2014 to 2018 trucks the 5.3L V8 reaches 11,100 lb with the Enhanced Towing Package.
The coming 2027 model is announced at up to 13,700 lb; until its figures are out, use the 2026 ones.
Which 2026 Silverado 1500 tows the most? Every engine compared
Every rating above 9,900 lb needs the Max Trailering Package, which is why two half-ton pickups with the same badge can be rated thousands of pounds apart. The table gives each 2026 engine's best figure with and without it.
| Engine | Most it can tow | Without the package |
|---|---|---|
| TurboMax | 9,500 lb | 9,500 lb |
| 5.3L V8 | 11,300 lb | 9,900 lb |
| 6.2L V8 | 13,200 lb | 9,100 lb |
| 3.0L Duramax diesel | 13,300 lb | 9,300 lb |
Chevrolet's 2026 Trailering Guide lists every cab, bed and drivetrain combination. Chevrolet lists no Max Trailering Package version of the TurboMax, so its best figure is the same either way.
Each engine's top figure belongs to one build, and a different cab, bed or drivetrain may rate lower: the Duramax, for example, drops from 13,300 lb to 13,000 lb as a 4x4. The 6.2L comes only with four-wheel drive. The off-road ZR2 tows the least of any 2026 model, 8,700 lb with the Duramax. Chevrolet's 2026 guide, linked above, gives the figure for every build.
What the Max Trailering Package adds
Without the package, no 2026 truck tows more than 9,900 lb; with it, 11,000 lb and up. For 12,900 lb and above you also need 20-inch wheels. Chevrolet does not list what is in the package, so ask the dealer.
Can a Silverado 1500 pull a camper? Check payload first
With a travel trailer, payload usually runs out first: passengers, gear and the trailer's tongue weight all count against it. Your truck's own payload is on the door-jamb label.
A new Silverado 1500 can carry at most 2,030 to 2,380 lb of people, cargo and trailer tongue weight combined, depending on the cab and bed. Your own truck's figure is on the label in the driver's door jamb. GM's 2026 Fleet Guide lists the maximum for every cab and bed.
Tip: The 13,300 lb rating counts only a driver and one passenger. Every extra person and bag comes off it before the trailer is hitched.
Hitch, brakes and tongue weight
Near the limit, the hitch setup matters as much as the rating.
- Brakes: trailers over 2,000 lb need brakes on each axle, says GM's 2026 Silverado 1500 towing supplement.
- Hitch: a frame-mounted weight distribution hitch with sway control is required over 7,000 lb.
- Tongue weight: 10% to 15% of the loaded trailer, and no more than 10% at the maximum trailer weight.
- Fifth wheel or gooseneck: a 2026 truck can pull up to 10,300 lb, as a 5.3L Double Cab with the package. The hitch must bolt to the frame, so have it professionally fitted.
Older trucks had fixed tongue weight limits, at most 1,250 lb from 2014 to 2019. On 2014 to 2018 trucks, the top limit needed a weight distribution hitch; without one, it was 700 to 800 lb.
Where to find your own Silverado's figure
The label in the driver-side door jamb gives your truck's own limits, including payload and tongue weight. Match your year, cab, bed, engine and package to a row in that year's Chevrolet guide; if they disagree, go by the label. The towing capacity lookup guide shows how to read your build codes.
What the 13,300 lb maximum really means
The headline figure compares truck lines; it is not a promise about your truck. A heavier, well-optioned truck may need a lighter trailer to stay within its other limits. GM works it out with the SAE J2807 method, so use it to compare against the Ram 1500's published ratings.
Common questions
How much can a Chevy Silverado 1500 tow?
A 2026 model tows up to 13,300 lb, but only as a 2WD Double Cab with the Duramax, the Max Trailering Package and 20-inch wheels. Other builds are rated from 8,700 lb to 13,200 lb.
What is the towing capacity of the 5.3L V8 Silverado?
Up to 11,300 lb on a 2026 2WD Double Cab or Crew Cab Short Bed with the Max Trailering Package. Without the package, 9,900 lb at most.
What is the Silverado 1500 towing capacity by year?
Since 2014 the top rating has ranged from 12,000 to 13,400 lb, and it has been 13,300 lb since 2021. Each year's figure needs specific equipment; the year table above gives every year.
How much can the 3.0L Duramax Silverado tow?
Up to 13,300 lb on a 2026 2WD Double Cab with the Max Trailering Package and 20-inch wheels, and 13,000 lb as a 4x4. Without the package, 9,000 to 9,300 lb.
How do I find my Silverado's towing capacity?
Read the label in the driver-side door jamb, then match your year, cab, bed, engine and package to one row in that year's Chevrolet guide. Where they differ, use the label.