Here are the Payload Capacities for Sierra 1500 by Configuration

September 10th, 2025 by

The Sierra 1500 model line can serve many purposes. The crew cab makes a spacious family vehicle. It’s effective for towing your RV, boat, or motorized ground and water toys. Or, the Sierra 1500 can be that off-road vehicle, especially with the AT4X trim and its package upgrades, ready to take you where the pavement doesn’t reach. Meanwhile, the Denali trim offers luxury transportation. In all its configurations, there’s always that big, wide-open bed at the back, ready to carry loads, making it a pickup truck. For all its other uses, the Sierra 1500 primarily exists to carry cargo. How much cargo? The Sierra 1500’s payload capacity depends on its configuration, and this Valley GMC post covers them all. 

GMC Sierra 1500 Truck Towing Camper

It is easy to assume that the bigger and brawnier the Sierra 1500 configuration, the higher the payload, but actually, the opposite is true. The modest regular cab, standard bed Sierra 1500 with 2WD has the highest payload of 2,230 pounds. Conversely, the lowest payload of 1,350 pounds is found on the Crew Cab, AT4X, with its standard 4WD and powered by the 6.2-liter V8. This is because payload has an inverse relationship with the vehicle’s weight. Yes, a more powerful engine will move the load more easily, but it still must stay within the payload limit because the load on the chassis and suspension are the most significant factors.  

GMC Sierra 1500 Truck Driver's Side View

 The GM-focused site GM Authority has helpfully gathered all the figures in between, which are as follows: 

Payload (lb.) 
Configuration  Drivetrain  2.7L
Turbo I4
L3B		 5.3L
V8
L844 		 6.2L
V8
L87		 3.0L Turbo-
Diesel I6
LZ0
Regular Cab Standard Bed  2WD  2230  2150  –  – 
Regular Cab Standard Bed  4WD  2110  2030  –  – 
Regular Cab Long Bed  2WD  2230  2120  –  – 
Regular Cab Long Bed  4WD  2090  1970  –  – 
Double Cab Standard Bed  2WD  2020  1890  –  1760 
Double Cab Standard Bed  4WD  2010  1890  –  1720 
Double Cab Standard Bed with NHT*  2WD  –  2040  –  1880 
Double Cab Standard Bed with NHT*  4WD  –  2030  –  1870 
Crew Cab Short Bed  2WD  2000  1980  –  1840 
Crew Cab Short Bed with NHT*  2WD  –  2020  –  1860 
Crew Cab Short Bed  4WD  1980  1960  1710  1790 
Crew Cab Short Bed with NHT*  4WD  –  2000  1870  1850 
Crew Cab Short Bed Lifted  4WD  –  –  1660  1670 
Crew Cab Short Bed AT4X  4WD  –  –  1350  1380 
Crew Cab Standard Bed  4WD  1930  1916  1660  1740 
Crew Cab Standard Bed with NHT*  4WD  –  1950  1830  1800 
Crew Cab Standard Bed Lifted  4WD  –  –  1610  1620 

* Includes optional Max Trailering Package (option code: NHT) 

Keep in mind that the payload also includes the driver and passengers. So, if you have five passengers with an average weight of 175, that is 875 less cargo you should load in the back in addition to anything else you always carry in the truck. 

2022 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4X Tailgate Open

Of course, you don’t weigh everyone before they get in the cabin, and you are unlikely to know the weight of every item you put in the truck. But you should do some educated guessing if you plan to load the vehicle anywhere near its full capacity. And if you tow, remember that the tongue weight on the hitch is also considered part of the payload. It is typically around 10–15% of the trailer’s weight, at least when it is empty. 

If you have additional questions about the payload of a Sierra 1500 you are interested in, please don’t hesitate to ask one of the Valley GMC sales professionals, and our Valley RV Supercenter staff can help you with towing questions.  

Posted in GMC, GMC Sierra 1500, Information, Lifestyle, Specs