Sierra 1500 Versus Sierra HD: Which Is Best for You?

When considering a pickup truck, you have choices. Lots of them. To choose the right one, consider the tasks you have in mind—not just job requirements, but life requirements, too. GMC offers a wide variety of pickup trucks under the Sierra name. They range from the work-duty Sierra 1500 Pro to the big, powerful, and elegant Sierra 3500HD Denali Ultimate.  

How do you choose which GMC pickup truck is right for you between the 1500, 2500HD, and 3500HD? We always talk about numbers, especially when it pertains to what you do with your pickup truck. Simply put, you want to determine the type of pickup truck to choose based on your needs.  

The numbers to look at are payload, maximum tow rating, gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR), and gross combined vehicle weight rating (GCWR). You can also drill down to look at axle weight ratings, especially when the work requires strong axles for specific purposes.  

For a quick overview, the Sierra 1500 is available with payloads up to 2,240 pounds and maximum towing capabilities up to 13,200 pounds. The next step up is the Sierra 2500HD, where payloads can go up to 3,850 pounds and maximum tow ratings up to 22,500 pounds using a gooseneck/fifth-wheel connection. For maximum capability, there is the Sierra 3500HD. When you step up to our largest capacity pickup truck, it can haul up to 7,290 pounds of payload and tow up to 36,000 pounds. The latter figure is based on using a fifth-wheel/gooseneck connection.  

These numbers alone usually indicate which Sierra pickup truck you should select. However, all three lines offer more than just capability. Across the entire lineup, you get the latest technology, driver assistance features, safety, and creature comforts that you expect in a GMC.  

In addition, all three Sierra lines offer a selection of trim levels that match your personality. For great value in a pickup truck, all three offer the SLE and SLT trims, complete with a large list of standard features and available packages to add more content to your pickup truck. The off-road ready AT4 is also available across all three Sierra models, with greater capabilities over tougher terrain. Lastly, no Sierra pickup truck is complete without the luxurious line of Denali and Denali Ultimate models. You get the highest specification for the maximum experience. 

When you need more performance for towing and hauling, all Sierras offer a Duramax turbocharged diesel engine. On the Sierra 1500, the inline six-cylinder 3.0-liter Duramax puts down 495 pound-feet of torque, while the Sierra HD’s V8 6.6-liter turbodiesel lays down 975 pound-feet of torque. These numbers do make a difference in what you do with your pickup truck.  

Here’s something to think about. Overall price is sometimes not the best determining factor when it comes to choosing which truck to buy. On some trim levels, the price difference between the Sierra 1500, 2500HD, and 3500HD could be just a few dollars.  

You have a choice to make. Valley GMC can help you make that choice. Contact us to see if we can find the right pickup truck for your needs soon.