2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Towing Capacity

by George Kennedy

Modern trucks are asked to do a lot. They are called upon to do many of the things that you might ask of a minivan or SUV, and as a result, have spacious interiors with LATCH child-seat-ready rear seats, as well as plenty of storage solutions. Big trucks like the 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 are asked to do all this while also being capable of everything that a truck is truly designed for. This means towing and hauling heavy loads.

When properly equipped, the 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 can tow up to 13,300 pounds, making it one of the most capable light-duty pickup trucks from the 2023 model year. In fact, the Silverado 1500 is only outdone in this regard by the 2023 Ford F-150, which has a towing capacity of up to 14,000 pounds. It’s important to note that not all versions of the Silverado 1500 are able to achieve this top tow rating. It requires a specific configuration. In the following article, we break down the max tow ratings for the ’23 Silverado 1500 by features such as powertrain and bed/cab configuration.

What is the Towing Capacity of a 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500?

2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Review Performance

Which 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Can Tow the Most?

According to Chevrolet, three versions of the 2023 Silverado 1500 can hit the max tow rating. The only configuration with the 6.2-liter gas-fueled V8 engine is the double cab, standard bed, and four-wheel drive. If you want the 3.0-liter Duramax diesel inline-6, you can either select the double cab, standard bed, and rear-wheel drive or crew cab, short bed, and rear-wheel drive.

All three of these versions require 20-inch wheels and the Max Trailering Package to achieve this top tow rating. The Max Trailering Package includes a more powerful alternator, larger radiator, integrated trailer brake controller, revised rear axle ratio and retuned shocks and suspension.

How Much Can a Rear-Wheel-Drive Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Max Tow?

The rear-wheel-drive (RWD) versions of the 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 offers a range of towing capacities depending on the engine:

  • 2.7L Turbo: Up to 9,500 pounds
  • 5.3L V8: Up to 11,300 pounds
  • 6.2L V8: N/A
  • Duramax 3.0L I-6: Up to 13,300 pounds

How Much Can a Four-Wheel-Drive Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Max Tow?

For the four-wheel-drive (4WD) Silverado 1500, the towing capacities also vary by engine:

  • 2.7L Turbo: Up to 9,300 pounds
  • 5.3L V8: Up to 11,100 pounds
  • 6.2L V8: Up to 13,300 pounds
  • Duramax 3.0L I-6: Up to 13,000 pounds

2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Review Thumbnail

Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Max Towing Capacity by Body Style

Crew Cab

  • 2.7L Turbo: 9,200 pounds (RWD) | 9,000 pounds (4WD)
  • 5.3L V8: 11,300 pounds (RWD) | 11,000 pounds (4WD)
  • 6.2L V8: N/A (RWD) | 13,200 pounds (4WD)
  • Duramax 3.0L I-6: 13,300 pounds (RWD) | 13,000 pounds (4WD)

Double Cab

  • 2.7L Turbo: 9,200 pounds (RWD) | 9,000 pounds (4WD)
  • 5.3L V8: 11,300 pounds (RWD) | 11,000 pounds (4WD)
  • 6.2L V8: N/A (RWD) | 13,300 pounds (4WD)
  • Duramax 3.0L I-6: 13,300 pounds (RWD) | 13,100 pounds (4WD)

Regular Cab

  • 2.7L Turbo: 9,500 pounds (RWD) | 9,300 pounds (4WD)
  • 5.3L V8: 9,900 pounds (RWD) | 9,600 pounds (4WD)

What is the Max Towing Capacity for the 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 ZR2?

Not all versions of the Silverado are optimized for towing. Some are designed for off-roading, and the same features that make a truck ideally suited for the trail may detract from its ability to tow a trailer. The ZR2 features 33-inch all-terrain tires, Multimatic performance dampers, electronically locking front and rear differentials, and a 2-inch suspension lift. The ZR2 is offered exclusively in the crew cab model with the short bed with the 6.2-liter V8 engine and four-wheel drive. It is capable of towing up to 8,800 pounds.

2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

Does the 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 have any special towing features?

The 2023 Chevrolet Silverado comes equipped with several advanced towing features to enhance safety and convenience, including:

Trailer Sway Control: Assists in stabilizing the trailer while towing to maintain control.
Hill Start Assist: Stops the vehicle from rolling back when starting on a hill.
Trailer Brake Controller: Offers built-in control over the trailer's braking system.
Advanced Trailering System: A suite of towing aids that includes features like pre-departure checklists and trailer tire pressure monitoring.

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From open-wheel racecars to specialty off-road vehicles, George Kennedy has driven it all. A career automotive journalist, George has been a contributor, editor, and/or producer at some of the most respected publications and outlets, including Consumer Reports, the Boston Globe, Boston Magazine, Autoblog.com, Hemmings Classic Wheels, BoldRide.com, the Providence Journal, and WheelsTV.

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