Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Towing Capacity (Full Guide)

With many available drivetrain, powertrain, cab, and bed configurations, buying your desired Chevrolet Silverado 1500 can be challenging.

And as of today, Chevrolet has constantly been improving its vehicle lineups to offer more efficient engines without compromising power delivery. 

But one important question on most drivers’ minds is just how much can the Chevy Silverado 1500 tow? Does it have a trailering package?

Depending on what type of Chevrolet Silverado 1500 you own, they can tow anywhere from 8,900 to 13,300 pounds.

What’s the best configuration for maximum towing?

Here, we’ll be delving into the specifics of the Chevrolet Silverado and the maximum towing ratings of each engine and cab configuration.

Let’s get rolling. 

Towing Capacity for Each Engine

Power and torque are two features of the Chevy Silverado trucks, as their powertrains, drivetrains, suspensions, chassis, etc., are for towing and carrying cargo.

And across its lineup, the Silverado has four main engine options, three transmissions, and several bed configurations. 

The three determine your truck’s towing and payload capacity, with the 2.7-liter Turbo high-output engine coming as a standard on the Custom Trail Boss, LT, WT, Custom, RST Double Cab, and LT Trail Boss trims. 

Here’s a look at the towing capacities of each engine configuration. 

The 2.7-liter Turbo High-Output Engine

The standard 2.7-liter four-cylinder Turbo DOHC gasoline engine with Active Fuel Management and Stop/Start comes with a Hydra-Matic 8-speed automatic transmission. 

The engine is the smallest available and generates a respectable 310 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque.

Additionally, the dual volute turbocharger has priority cooling and oiling to ensure that your Chevy truck handles the most demanding jobs without overheating. 

Pairing a 2.7-liter Chevrolet Silverado engine with a two-wheel-drive or a four-wheel-drive varies the truck’s payload and towing capacity. 

Let’s look at the various drivetrain, body style configurations, and towing capacities. 

• The 2WD long box Regular Cab – 9,500 pounds
  
• The 4WD long box Regular Cab – 9,300 pounds
  
• The 2WD Double Cab – 9,200 pounds
  
• The 4WD Double Cab – 9,000 pounds
  
• The 2WD short box Crew Cab – 9,200 pounds
  
• The 4WD short box Crew Cab – 9,000 pounds
  
• The 2WD standard box Crew Cab – 9,200 pounds
  
• The 4WD standard box Crew Cab – 8,900 pounds

As we’ve seen, the highest towing capacity with the Chevy 2.7-liter engine is achieved by going with a 2WD long box Regular Cab configuration.

The 5.3-liter EcoTec3 V8 (L84) Engine

The second available engine is the 5.3-liter V8 having Dynamic Fuel Management.

The engine is paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and boasts 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque.

This amount of power and torque gives your Chevy Silverado 1500 the capability to tow as much as 11,200 pounds with the right trailering package. 

Additionally, Dynamic Fuel Management is available on select trims and raises the truck’s towing capacity to 11,600 pounds with an appropriate towing package.

Here, let’s look at the towing capacities of the various available configurations.

• The 2WD long box Regular Cab – 9,900 pounds
  
• The 4WD long box Regular Cab – 9,700 pounds
  
• The 2WD Double Cab – 9,500 pounds
  
• The 2WD Double Cab with NHT – 11,200 pounds
  
• The 4WD Double Cab – 9,300 pounds
  
• The 4WD Double Cab with NHT – 11,000 pounds
  
• The 2WD short box Crew Cab – 9,500 pounds
  
• The 2WD short box Crew Cab with NHT – 11,200 pounds
  
• The 2WD standard box Crew Cab with NHT – 11,100 pounds
  
• The 4WD standard box Crew Cab with NHT – 10,900 pounds

Here, you’ll get the highest towing capacity with the Chevy 5.3-liter engine by going with a 2WD Double Cab with NHT configuration. 

NHT Max Trailering Package is a Silverado suspension system allowing maximum towing capacities.

It includes 17-inch wheels, off-road tires, monotube rear shocks, and high-capacity rear springs. 

The 6.2-Liter EcoTec V8 Engine

The 6.2-liter EcoTec engine is a big powerhouse that delivers an impressive 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque, enough to cater to most towing duties.

When properly equipped and paired with this engine, the Silverado 1500 has a maximum towing capacity of 13,300 pounds.

Additionally, you’ll have an option to pair it with either a 10-speed or 8-speed automatic transmission. 

Here, let’s look at the towing capacities of the various available configurations.

• The 4WD Double Cab – 9,200 pounds
  
• The 4WD Double Cab with NHT – 13,300 pounds
  
• The 4WD short box Crew Cab – 9,100 pounds
  
• The 4WD short box Crew Cab with NHT – 13,200 pounds
  
• The 4WD standard box Crew Cab – 9,000 pounds

Here, you can achieve the highest possible towing capacity of 13,300 pounds by pairing the 6.2-liter engine with a 4WD, 20” wheels, and NHT on a Double Cab body.

DuraMax 3.0-Liter Turbo-Diesel I-6 Engine

Many people who prefer low-end torques will generally love this engine.

The Duramax 3.0-liter is the only available diesel engine in the lineup and is available on the Custom Trail Boss, LT, RST, LTZ, High Country, and LT Trail Boss trims. 

It’s competent and produces 277 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. As a result, the engine has a maximum towing capacity of 13,300 pounds. 

Here, let’s look at the towing capacities of the various available configurations.

• The 2WD Double Cab – 9,300 pounds
  
• The 2WD Double Cab with NHT – 13,300 pounds
  
• The 2WD short box Crew Cab – 9,300 pounds
  
• The 2WD short box Crew Cab with NHT – 13,200 pounds
  
• The 4WD short box Crew Cab – 9,000 pounds
  
• The 4WD short box Crew Cab with NHT – 12,900 pounds
  
• The 4WD standard box Crew Cab with NHT – 12,900 pounds

Here, you can achieve the highest possible towing capacity by pairing the Duramax 3.0-liter engine with a 2WD, 20” wheels, and NHT on a Double Cab body.

Maximum Towing Capacities by Cab 

Chevrolet Silverado comes in either regular, double, or crew cab configurations.

The regular cab is available only with the 2.7-liter and 5.3-liter engine configurations, whereas the double and crew cab configurations are available across all engine options. 

Here are the maximum towing capacities per cab configuration. 

Regular Cab

The regular cab has a maximum towing rating of 9,900 pounds when paired with the 5.7-liter engine, 2WD, and a long box. 

Double Cab

With the double cab, the highest towing capacity of 13,300 pounds comes with the 6.2-liter engine, 4WD, NHT package, and 20” wheels.

Additionally, you can opt for a 3.0-liter turbo-diesel engine, 2WD, NHT package, and 20” wheels and achieve the same towing rating. 

Crew Cab

With the crew cab, the highest towing capacity of 13,200 pounds comes with the 6.2-liter engine, 4WD short box, NHT package, and 20” wheels.

The Takeaway on the Towing Capacity of a Chevrolet Silverado

The Chevrolet Silverado is a very capable truck made with high-strength material for towing.

Additionally, the truck has excellent towing features to ensure that you don’t strain it or have difficulties while towing. 

These include the In-Vehicle Trailering System and the Towing Performance Tech.

The In-Vehicle Trailering System has trailer light diagnostics, pre-departure checklists, and trailer temperature and tire pressure diagnostics. 

The Towing Performance Tech has Hill Start Assist, Auto Grade Braking, and Trailer Sway Control for a smoother towing experience.

And in conclusion, the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is an excellent truck with solid handling, strong engines, decent towing, and premium interiors. 

If you need a pickup truck for light-duty towing, then the Silverado 1500 suits you.