If you’re going through the trouble of locating and purchasing a pickup truck like the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, towing is a critical element in your final decision.
How much a truck can tow depends highly on how the truck is configured, what kind of engine it has, transmission type, and more. That means even a single nameplate can have a variety of different towing capacities.
The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is known as one of the toughest towers on the road today. Of course, maxing out your Silverado means having the perfect configuration. Of course, the right elements might mean an overall higher cost.
Here’s a breakdown of how different versions of the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 handles towing.
2021 Silverado 1500 – The King of Towing
If you want the absolute maximum towing configuration from the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, opt for the double-cab RST trim with four-wheel-drive containing the 6.2-liter V8 engine and the 6.5-foot bed. You’ll also need the Max Trailering Package that adds an automatic locking rear differential, larger springs, and more.
That’s quite a mouthful and will have a price tag north of $50,000. Of course, having a maximum towing capacity of 13,300 pounds is worth every penny of this top-rated pickup truck.
Towing By Engine Type
With so many different configuration options, trims, and engines available on the Chevy Silverado 1500, looking at every possible option becomes pretty complex. Since the powertrain is one of the most critical elements of towing capacity, it’s worth looking at the various choices you have on your next Silverado 1500.
Duramax 3.0-liter Turbo-Diesel I-6
- 277 horsepower
- 460 lb-ft of torque
- Max towing of 9,500 pounds
- Available on LT, RST, LTZ, and High Country models
6.2-liter EcoTec3 V8
- 420 horsepower
- 460 lb-ft of torque
- Max towing of 13,300 pounds
- Available on High Country, LTZ, LT Trail Boss, RST, and Custom Trail Boss models
5.3-liter EcoTec3 V8
- 355 horsepower
- 383 lb-ft of torque
- Max towing of 11,500 pounds
- Standard on LT Trail Boss, LTX, and High Country. Available on WT, Custom, and Custom Trail Boss models
4.3-liter EcoTec3 V6
- 285 horsepower
- 305 lb-ft of torque
- Max towing of 7,900 pounds
- Standard on WT, Custom, and Custom Trail Boss models
2.7-liter Turbocharged Four-Cylinder
- 310 horsepower
- 348 lb-ft of torque
- Max towing of 9,600 pounds
- Standard on LT and RST trims. Available on the Custom and WT models
Of course, the engine alone doesn’t determine the exact towing capacity. There are other factors that come into play and can raise or lower the maximum towing rating.
Towing By Cabin Style
The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 comes with three possible cabin configurations. The size of the cabin impacts the weight and layout of the truck, which can impact towing.
Regular Cab
The regular cab is available with the 2.7-l four-cylinder, 4.3-liter V6, and 5,3-liter V8 engines. Its highest towing rating is 10,000 pounds with the V8 engine.
Double Cab
The double cab is available with all of the engine options. When equipped with the 6.2-liter V8 engine, it can tow a max of 13,300 pounds.
Crew Cab
The crew cab is also available with each engine option. With the 62-liter V8, it can tow up to 11,900 pounds.
The Choice is Yours
Since the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 comes in so many different potential configurations, you can practically build the perfect truck for your needs. By combining different engines, powertrains, cabins, and other elements, you can design a truck that can tow and haul the appropriate amounts and still fits into your budget.
If you’re not sure where to start, stop by your local Chevrolet dealer and start playing around with various configurations and options. The perfect Silverado 1500 is out there; you just haven’t built it yet.
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