2026 Sierra 2500 HD AT4 vs Denali (and When the Denali Ultimate Makes Sense)

GMC has published the 2027 Sierra 2500 HD's equipment, and it has not published the 2027 engine output or trailer ratings. That puts anyone cross-shopping it against a Ford F-250 or a Ram 2500 this fall in an odd spot: two of the three trucks have full rating tables and the third has a parts list. We are not going to paper over that by pasting last year's GMC numbers into a new table. Short answer: on what is published, the 2027 Sierra 2500 HD holds its own. It offers a gas V8 and a B20-compatible Duramax turbo-diesel, both with an Allison 10-speed automatic, adaptive cruise control standard on every trim, ProGrade Trailering and the MultiPro tailgate from SLT up, and a top GVWR of 12,300 pounds. For the rated towing and payload comparison, the 2026 Sierra 2500 HD on our lot is fully rated, and our 2026 comparison post lays it out beside the F-250 and Ram 2500. This post is the equipment comparison, as of September 2026, for the truck you would order now. 2. TOP CTA View Sierra 2500 HD Inventory Get Pre-Qualified 3. ON THIS PAGE On This Page What we can compare today: engines and transmissions by name Standard driver assistance: adaptive cruise on every Sierra HD trim Trailering tech: ProGrade Trailering and MultiPro vs the Ford and Ram features Cabin and comfort for a long Dakota drive Ratings: what GMC has published for 2027 and where the rated numbers are How to trade a Ford or Ram in on a 2027 Sierra 2500 HD at Mobridge 4. CONTENT SECTIONS What Can We Actually Compare Today? Engines and Transmissions by Name All three trucks offer a gas V8 and a turbo-diesel with a towing-grade automatic behind them. For 2027 GMC lists a gas V8 with direct injection and variable valve timing and the Duramax turbo-diesel V8, B20-compatible, each paired with the Allison 10-speed automatic. Ford's published Super Duty lineup pairs the 6.7L Power Stroke diesel and the 6.8L and 7.3L gas V8s with the 10-speed TorqShift automatic. Ram pairs the 6.7L Cummins High-Output inline-six and the 6.4L HEMI V8 with an 8-speed automatic, the TorqueFlite HD behind the Cummins. Published equipment, as of September 2026 2027 GMC Sierra 2500 HD Ford F-250 Ram 2500 Diesel engine Duramax turbo-diesel V8, B20-compatible 6.7L Power Stroke V8 turbo-diesel 6.7L Cummins High-Output inline-six turbo-diesel Gas engine Gas V8 with direct injection and variable valve timing 6.8L gas V8 or 7.3L gas V8 6.4L HEMI V8 Transmission Allison 10-speed automatic, both engines 10-speed TorqShift automatic 8-speed automatic (TorqueFlite HD with the Cummins) Adaptive cruise control Standard on all seven trims for 2027 Check Ford's current equipment list Check Ram's current equipment list Trailering features named ProGrade Trailering (Hitch View, In-Vehicle Trailering App), integrated trailer brake controller, Hitch Guidance, MultiPro tailgate Pro Trailer Backup Assist, Onboard Scales Trailer Reverse Steering Control 2027 output and trailer ratings GVWR only (up to 12,300 lb); output and trailer ratings to be published See the rated 2026 comparison See the rated 2026 comparison Two things are specifically 2027 on the GMC side. First, the engine codes are new for both V8s, and GMC has not printed displacement, horsepower, or torque for either one yet. For reference, the 2026 Duramax on our lot is rated by GM at 470 horsepower and 975 lb-ft of torque, and the 2026 gas V8 at 401 horsepower and 464 lb-ft; the 2027 output will be published in the GM Trailering Guide. Second, the Allison name now sits on the gas truck's 10-speed as well as the diesel's. The Duramax still arrives with its winter kit included: engine block heater, exhaust brake, 220-amp alternator, and dual batteries, on a 3.42 axle. The gas V8 runs a 3.73 axle, and dual alternators are available on every trim for a plow or a service body. The what's new for 2027 post walks through every GMC change; the Ford and Ram engine names above come from each manufacturer's published 2026 material, and lineups change year to year, so confirm them on the window sticker of the truck you are comparing. Which Truck Comes With Adaptive Cruise Control Standard? The 2027 Sierra 2500 HD does, on every trim from the Pro work truck to the Denali Ultimate. That is new for 2027; on the 2026 truck it was standard only from the AT4 up and a package item on the SLE and SLT. For Ford and Ram, standard driver-assistance content changes by trim and model year and we have not verified the 2027 lists, so check each manufacturer's current equipment list before you count on a feature. Adaptive cruise on a work truck sounds like a comfort feature until you have driven US 12 to Aberdeen in a ground blizzard behind a grain truck you can barely see. Holding a following distance automatically, with a trailer on, earns its place here. Every 2027 Sierra HD also carries Sierra HD Pro Safety as standard: Forward Collision Alert, Following Distance Indicator, Front Pedestrian and Bicyclist Braking, IntelliBeam headlamps, Lane Departure Warning, Buckle to Drive, and Automatic Emergency Braking. Above that, the Pro can take a Pro Safety Plus package with park assist, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert. The SLE and SLT version adds Trailer Side Blind Zone Alert, and on Crew and Double Cabs the Bed View camera, HD Surround Vision, and accessory trailer camera provisions; that content is standard on the AT4 and up. Get the trim-by-trim answer on the Ford and the Ram in writing. How Does ProGrade Trailering Compare With the Ford and Ram Trailer Features? GMC's answer is cameras and a checklist; Ford and Ram lead with features that help steer the trailer. ProGrade Trailering is standard on the SLT and up and comes to the SLE with the Preferred Package. Ford names Pro Trailer Backup Assist and Onboard Scales on the F-250; Ram names Trailer Reverse Steering Control on the 2500. If backing a fifth-wheel into a slip at the Mobridge Marina is the hardest thing you do with a truck, try those on their lots before you decide. What every 2027 Sierra 2500 HD gets regardless of trim is the trailering package itself: a receiver hitch with 7-pin and 4-pin connectors, an integrated trailer brake controller, Hitch Guidance on the rear camera, trailer sway control, and the trailering information label in the driver door jamb that prints the ratings for that specific truck. Gooseneck and fifth-wheel prep is available on all seven trims and included with the Max Trailering Package. What ProGrade Trailering actually includes Hitch View, a camera view of the ball that pans, zooms, and tilts so one person can hook a gooseneck without a spotter, and the In-Vehicle Trailering App, which runs a pre-departure checklist and a trailer light test from the driver seat, tracks maintenance for each trailer you save, and reads trailer tire pressure and temperature with the accessory sensor set, standard from the SLT up and available on the SLE with the Preferred Package. Then there is the tailgate. The MultiPro tailgate is standard on the SLT and up, and it is the thing our customers mention most after a year of ownership: the inner step for climbing in with a mineral tub, the load stop for a long piece of pipe, and the standing-height work surface. Open all three tailgates. The 2027 towing and Max Trailering post covers the package that changes the frame and springs underneath all of this. 5. IMAGE BREAK The job does not change with the model year: round bales on a gooseneck flatbed, a gravel section line, and a truck that has to do it again tomorrow. Which Cabin Handles a Long Dakota Drive Best? The one you can sit in for four hours to Bismarck on SD 1806 and step out of without a sore back, and that is a seat test, not a spec test. I can tell you exactly what is in the 2027 Sierra 2500 HD cab; for the Ford and the Ram, sit in the trim you would actually order. On the GMC, the Pro is the honest work truck: vinyl floor, a 7-inch screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 3.5-inch driver display. The SLE and up get the 13.4-inch screen with Google built-in and the 12.3-inch driver display, so navigation and voice work without a phone in the cupholder. SLT and above ride on leather, and the AT4X and Denali Ultimate add full-grain leather, 16-way massaging front seats, and the Bose 12-speaker system. The 2027 change worth knowing is that the Technology Package, a 15-inch head-up display and the Rear Camera Mirror that sees past a stock trailer, is now available on the SLT with the Preferred or Premium Package. In 2026 that was AT4 and Denali territory. For the SLE and SLT buyers who make up most of our Sierra HD sales, heated seats and a heated wheel come through the SLE Heated Package, and every Crew and Double Cab can take the power sliding rear window. What Has GMC Published for 2027, and Where Are the Rated Numbers? One number: GVWR. The 2027 Sierra 2500 HD carries a top GVWR of 12,300 pounds on a Crew Cab long bed 4WD Duramax with the Max Trailering Package, and the 2026 truck's top GVWR was 11,900 pounds. Everything else you would put in a towing comparison, output, conventional and gooseneck ratings, payload, and GCWR, will be published in the GM Trailering Guide for 2027, and until it is we will not print a guess. GVWR is the truck's own maximum loaded weight: truck, fuel, people, cargo, and the pin or tongue weight of the trailer, together. It is not the trailer rating and not the combined rating. A higher GVWR usually points toward more payload, but payload is GVWR minus curb weight, and GMC has not published 2027 curb weights either, so that arithmetic cannot be done honestly yet. The 2027 Sierra 2500 HD buyers guide lays out the full GVWR menu by cab, bed, and engine. If you need rated numbers this fall, use the rated truck. The 2026 Sierra 2500 HD on our lot is rated by GM at up to 20,000 pounds conventional and 22,390 pounds gooseneck, properly equipped, and the 2026 buyers guide has the configuration-by-configuration tables. The 2026 Sierra 2500 HD vs F-250 vs Ram 2500 comparison puts those ratings beside the Ford and Ram figures from their own published towing material, dated. Whichever truck you land on, the trailering information label in the driver door jamb is the final word on what it is rated to carry and pull. Why we are not printing 2027 numbers The 2027 engine codes are new for both V8s and the GVWR ceiling moved, and either normally moves trailer ratings. Carrying the 2026 figures forward would be a guess dressed up as a spec. If you see a 2027 Sierra 2500 HD towing number on another site, ask where it came from. HOW-TO How to Trade a Ford or Ram In on a 2027 Sierra 2500 HD at Mobridge We take F-250s and Ram 2500s in trade every month, and since Beadle Auto Group sells Ford trucks as well, we know what a clean Super Duty is worth. Here is how the swap goes at 2200 US Hwy 12. Bring the truck and its hardware: the gooseneck ball, the fifth-wheel hitch if it is removable, the second key, and the service records. A documented history appraises better. Decide between the rated 2026 on the lot and a 2027 order: if you need the truck before calving or a published tow rating today, a 2026 in the yard answers both. If you can wait, order the 2027 for the higher GVWR ceiling and standard adaptive cruise. Spec the order around the trailer: engine, cab and bed, the Max Trailering Package if a gooseneck is in the picture, Snow Plow Prep if a blade is, and dual alternators if the truck runs a service body. Get pre-qualified while the order is in: a pre-qualification now means the paperwork is done when the truck lands. Watch the window: an order placed this fall typically builds and ships over the winter; ask us for the current order-bank window rather than planning around a date nobody can promise. Read the label at delivery: before the first trip to the sale barn, compare the trailering information label in the driver door jamb to your loaded trailer and pin weight, as you would on any brand. QUICK OVERVIEW TABLE Is the 2027 Sierra 2500 HD the Right Order for You? Worth it if Skip it (buy the rated 2026, or look harder at the others) if You want the Allison 10-speed behind either engine and adaptive cruise standard on a work-truck trim ProGrade Trailering, Hitch View, and the MultiPro tailgate are features you would use every week You can wait for a winter build and a published 2027 rating before the trailer goes on You want the head-up display and Rear Camera Mirror on an SLT You need a published tow and payload rating in hand this fall You need the truck before the order bank can deliver it Ford's Pro Trailer Backup Assist or Ram's Trailer Reverse Steering Control is the one thing you will not give up Your trailer already sits at the top of the three-quarter-ton class and the 3500 HD is the safer answer KEY TAKEAWAYS Key Takeaways The 2027 Sierra 2500 HD offers a gas V8 with direct injection and variable valve timing and a B20-compatible Duramax turbo-diesel V8, each with the Allison 10-speed automatic; Ford uses the 10-speed TorqShift, Ram an 8-speed. Adaptive cruise control is standard on all seven 2027 Sierra HD trims; for the F-250 and Ram 2500, check each manufacturer's current equipment list. ProGrade Trailering and the MultiPro tailgate are standard from the SLT up; Ford's Pro Trailer Backup Assist and Onboard Scales and Ram's Trailer Reverse Steering Control are the features to try on their lots. GMC has published one 2027 capability number, a top GVWR of 12,300 pounds; output, towing, payload, and GCWR are still to be published, and the rated comparison lives on the 2026 truck. Whatever you buy, the trailering information label in the driver door jamb is the rating that counts, and every published rating assumes a properly equipped truck. FAQ Frequently Asked Questions Does the 2027 Sierra 2500 HD use an Allison transmission with both engines? Yes. For 2027 GMC lists the Allison 10-speed automatic with both the gas V8 and the Duramax turbo-diesel V8, and the Pro and SLE can be ordered with an Allison 10-speed with an integrated power take-off when paired with the Duramax and 4WD. Ford's F-250 uses the 10-speed TorqShift, and the Ram 2500 uses an 8-speed automatic. Is adaptive cruise control standard on the 2027 GMC Sierra 2500 HD? Yes, on every trim, Pro through Denali Ultimate, for 2027. On the 2026 truck it was standard from the AT4 up and a package item on the SLE and SLT. We have not verified what Ford or Ram include as standard for 2027, so check each manufacturer's current equipment list. How much can the 2027 Sierra 2500 HD tow compared with the F-250 and Ram 2500? GMC has not published 2027 towing or payload ratings; the only 2027 capability number is a top GVWR of 12,300 pounds. The 2026 Sierra 2500 HD on our lot is rated by GM at up to 20,000 pounds conventional and 22,390 pounds gooseneck, properly equipped, and our 2026 comparison post sets those beside the F-250 and Ram 2500 figures. We will update this post when the 2027 GM Trailering Guide is released. Will Beadle Chevrolet GMC take a Ford F-250 or Ram 2500 in trade on a Sierra 2500 HD? Yes. We appraise any brand of heavy-duty pickup at 2200 US Hwy 12 in Mobridge, and a well-kept F-250 or Ram 2500 with service records is an easy truck for us to resell. Bring it by, or call or text 605-845-7277 for a number to plan around before you order. MY TAKE My Take on the 2027 Sierra 2500 HD Against the F-250 and Ram 2500 I sell GMC trucks, and Beadle Auto Group sells Ford trucks, so I have sat in all three of these cabs more than most people, and there is no bad truck in this comparison. The Ford and the Ram each have a trailer feature the GMC does not, and the GMC has an Allison behind both engines, adaptive cruise on the work-truck trim, and a tailgate I would not want to give up. On equipment, the 2027 Sierra 2500 HD stands beside either of them without apologizing. What I will not do is tell you what it tows before GMC does. If you need that number to buy, the rated 2026 truck is on our lot with every rating on the label in the door. If you can order and wait, the 2027 brings a higher GVWR ceiling and a better standard-equipment list, and the ratings will follow. Either way, bring your trailer weight and your trade, and we will work it through at the desk instead of guessing on a web page. The full 2027 equipment, trims, packages, and GVWR menu are in the 2027 GMC Sierra 2500 HD buyers guide. Or stop at Beadle Chevrolet GMC at 2200 US Hwy 12 in Mobridge, or call or text 605-845-7277, and we will put a Sierra HD next to what you drive now. BOTTOM CTA View Sierra 2500 HD Inventory Get Pre-Qualified Contact Beadle Chevrolet GMC ABOUT THE AUTHOR (LOCKED) About the Author Lexy Tabbert — Beadle Chevrolet, Mobridge, SD Lexy Tabbert is the Director of Sales and Marketing at Beadle Chevrolet in Mobridge, South Dakota. She covers Chevrolet and GMC vehicles, trim comparisons, and buyer guidance — helping families, ranchers, and ag operators across the region find the right truck and configuration for their needs. Learn more about Lexy.

If you came here for a 2027 GMC Sierra 2500 HD towing number, here is the honest answer first: GM has not published one. The 2027 ordering information we work from has no trailer ratings, no payload, and no GCWR; those will come in the 2027 GM Trailering Guide. What it does publish is the GVWR menu, and that menu moved: the top rating is now 12,300 pounds on a Crew Cab long bed 4WD Duramax with the Max Trailering Package, up from 11,900 pounds on the 2026 truck. It also confirms that the package itself is unchanged and that every 2027 truck already wears the 18-inch-or-larger wheels the package requires. This post covers what that GVWR number does and does not tell a rancher, what the Max Trailering Package still requires, and how to write a 2027 order so the rating lands where you need it. For the truck with numbers on it today, the rated 2026 truck on our lot is the one to plan a trailer around, and the 2026 gooseneck stock-trailer post works the math in full. 2. TOP CTA View Sierra 2500 HD Inventory Get Pre-Qualified 3. ON THIS PAGE On This Page Straight answer: 2027 trailer ratings are not published yet What is published: GVWR from 10,000 to 12,300 pounds GVWR vs GCWR vs trailer rating, with a stock-trailer example Max Trailering for 2027: same hardware, same rules The 18-inch rule Standard trailering gear on every 2027 trim How to spec a 2027 order so the rating lands where you need it 4. CONTENT SECTIONS How Much Can the 2027 Sierra 2500 HD Tow? Nobody can tell you yet, and anyone who prints a 2027 figure this fall is guessing. The 2027 ordering information lists the trims, engines, packages, wheels, and GVWR codes, and stops there; the trailering and specifications pages that carried the 2026 ratings are not in it. GM publishes trailer ratings in its Trailering Guide, and the 2027 edition has not been released. Two things make us unwilling to assume the 2026 numbers carry over. The engine codes changed, from L8T to L8S on the gas V8 with direct injection and variable valve timing and from L5P to L6P on the Duramax turbo-diesel V8, B20-compatible, with the Allison 10-speed automatic behind each. And the GVWR ceiling moved up. Either one can shift a trailer rating, so until GM prints the 2027 tables, the 2027 truck is unrated in our showroom; the what's new for 2027 post covers the engine-code change. The rated truck is the 2026. For the 2026 model year GM rates the Sierra 2500 HD at up to 20,000 pounds conventional and 22,390 pounds gooseneck, properly equipped, and the 2026 Crew Cab long bed 4WD Duramax most ranchers here order is rated at 19,000 pounds gooseneck, or 21,500 pounds with the Max Trailering Package. Those 2026 figures, by configuration, are in the 2026 buyers guide linked above, and the trailering information label in the driver door jamb of any truck, 2026 or 2027, is the final word for that specific unit. What Does the 2027 Guide Actually Publish? The GVWR Menu GVWR, from 10,000 to 12,300 pounds, is the one 2027 capability number GM has printed. The rating rises with cab, drive, engine, and the Max Trailering Package, and the three highest codes, 12,000, 12,150, and 12,300 pounds, are new for 2027 and belong to diesel Crew Cabs. The table lists the 4WD configurations our buyers order plus the Regular Cab; the 2027 Sierra 2500 HD buyers guide carries the full menu. 2027 Sierra 2500 HD configuration GVWR, gas V8 GVWR, Duramax GVWR, Duramax + Max Trailering Crew Cab long bed 4WD 11,350 lb 12,000 lb 12,300 lb (2027 maximum) Crew Cab standard bed 4WD 10,900 lb 11,600 lb 12,150 lb AT4X (Crew Cab standard bed 4WD) 11,150 lb 11,750 lb not offered Double Cab long bed 4WD 11,200 lb 11,900 lb not offered Double Cab standard bed 4WD 10,900 lb 11,600 lb not offered Regular Cab long bed 4WD 10,950 lb 11,400 lb 11,900 lb Regular Cab long bed 2WD 10,650 lb 11,200 lb 11,600 lb The 2WD Crew and Double Cab gas trucks sit lower, 10,850 pounds for a Crew Cab standard bed, 11,000 for a Crew Cab long bed, 10,750 and 10,900 for the Double Cabs, and the lowered 10,000-pound GVWR option is still available on every trim except the AT4 and AT4X for buyers who need to stay under a licensing threshold; it reduces towing and payload, so ask us before ordering it. The AT4X moves up too: 11,150 gas and 11,750 diesel, against 11,025 and 11,350 on the 2026 AT4X. Read the table for what it is. A higher GVWR usually means more room for payload, but payload is GVWR minus curb weight, and 2027 curb weights are not published either. We will not subtract a 2026 curb weight from a 2027 GVWR and call the result a payload. GVWR vs GCWR vs Trailer Rating: What Does Each One Limit? Three ratings, three different scales. GVWR is the most the truck itself may weigh, loaded: truck, fuel, people, gear in the bed, and the pin weight the trailer puts on it. GCWR is the most the truck and loaded trailer may weigh together. The trailer rating, conventional or gooseneck, is the most the trailer alone may weigh. A load is safe only when it clears all three, and on a three-quarter-ton with a stock trailer, the one you hit first is almost always GVWR, through payload. A stock-trailer example, for illustration, on the rated 2026 truck. Take a 28-foot aluminum gooseneck at 7,000 pounds empty with eight cows at 1,300 pounds, 17,400 pounds behind the truck, and a pin weight around 20 percent, about 3,480 pounds. On the 2026 Crew Cab long bed 4WD Duramax, GM's published 2026 figures are 19,000 pounds gooseneck without the package and 21,500 with it, 3,566 pounds of payload, a 2026 GVWR of up to 11,900 pounds with the package, and a 2026 GCWR of 30,000 pounds with the package. The trailer clears the 2026 tow rating with room, but the pin alone uses nearly all of the 2026 payload before the driver climbs in. That is the pattern every gooseneck buyer here runs into, and the 2026 stock-trailer post linked above works two full examples. Now the 2027 version of that example, honestly: the same Crew Cab long bed 4WD Duramax with the package carries a 12,300-pound GVWR code, 400 pounds above the 2026 code. We cannot tell you what that does to payload, because the 2027 curb weight is unpublished, and we cannot tell you the 2027 GCWR or trailer rating, because neither is published. What we can say is that the truck's own loaded ceiling went up, and that when the 2027 tables land, look at payload first, not the headline tow number. Numbers to replace with your own The trailer, cow, and pin weights above are illustrations. Weigh your loaded trailer and your pin at the elevator scale, then compare both to the trailering information label in the driver door jamb of the truck you are buying. Every rating on that label is for that truck, properly equipped, and it beats anything on this page. 5. IMAGE BREAK The gooseneck and fifth-wheel prep that comes with the Max Trailering Package is unchanged for 2027: hitch tray, stamped and capped bed holes, and the 7-pin connector in the bed wall. What Is in the 2027 Max Trailering Package, and Who Can Order It? The same hardware as 2026, under the same code, with the same rules. The Max Trailering Package puts the 3500 HD frame, 3500 HD rear leaf springs and shock package, and the 12-inch rear axle under a 2500 HD, and adds the spray-on bedliner and the gooseneck and fifth-wheel prep with the hitch platform, stamped and capped bed holes, and bed-mounted 7-pin connector. It is the reason the 2500 HD's highest GVWR codes exist. It requires the Duramax and 18-inch or 20-inch wheels, and it is available on the Pro, SLE, SLT, AT4, Denali, and Denali Ultimate. It is not offered on the AT4X, on any Double Cab, with the lowered 10,000-pound GVWR option, with the bed delete, or with the extra trailering wiring harness at the rear of the bed. If you want it on a Regular Cab, it is there; if you want it on a gas truck, it is not, and that is the trade the 2026 Max Trailering Package post lays out. One practical change for a 2027 order: the base all-season 18-inch tire on the Pro and SLE is not offered with the package, so a Pro or SLE with Max Trailering will carry the all-terrain tire instead. Ask us to confirm the tire on your build; it is an easy footnote to miss. Why Does the 18-Inch Rule Matter Less on a 2027? Because there is no longer a wheel that fails it. The Max Trailering Package has always required 18-inch or larger wheels; on the 2026 truck a Pro or SLE on the standard 17-inch wheel had to step up to qualify. For 2027 the 17-inch wheel and tire are gone from the lineup. The 18-inch machined aluminum wheel is the base retail wheel on the Pro, SLE, and SLT, the fleet steel wheel is 18 inches, the AT4X rides on 18s, and everything from the AT4 up is on 20s. Two consequences. First, the package decision on a 2027 comes down to the Duramax, because the wheel prerequisite is already met on every truck we can order. Second, the 2026 GVWR and payload rows for 17-inch trucks no longer apply to anything, which is why the 2027 GVWR menu is shorter and starts higher: the 2026 floor above the lowered option was 10,050 pounds, and the 2027 floor is 10,650. This is also the clearest reason the 2027 ratings will not simply copy the 2026 ones. Wheel and tire size feed the axle ratings that feed GVWR and payload, and the base tire changed. That is not a reason to worry; it is a reason to wait for the table. If you are deciding between a rated 2026 on the lot and a 2027 order, the buy now or order a 2027 post is written for that call. What Trailering Gear Is Standard on Every 2027 Trim? The same standard set as 2026, on all seven trims: the receiver hitch with 7-pin and 4-pin connectors, the integrated trailer brake controller, Hitch Guidance on the rear camera, trailer sway control and hill start assist through StabiliTrak, the auxiliary transmission and engine oil coolers, and the trailering information label in the driver door jamb. A Pro work truck tows with the same controller as a Denali Ultimate. ProGrade Trailering, Hitch View plus the In-Vehicle Trailering App with its light test, checklist, maintenance reminders, and trailer tire pressure module, is standard on the SLT and up and comes to the SLE with the Preferred Package; the trailer tire pressure sensor set, four sensors for up to six trailer wheels, is available with it. Pro Safety Plus on the SLE and SLT adds Trailer Side Blind Zone Alert, the Bed View camera for lining up a gooseneck alone, HD Surround Vision, and provisions for the accessory rear trailer camera, all standard content on the AT4 and up. New for 2027 and useful behind a trailer: adaptive cruise control is standard on every trim, so a Pro or SLE pulling a flatbed down US 83 to Pierre holds its gap without a package. The Technology Package with the Rear Camera Mirror, which shows the road behind a stock trailer instead of the trailer nose, is now available on the SLT as well. The gooseneck ball and chain kit is a dealer-installed accessory we can add before delivery on any truck with the prep. HOW-TO How to Spec a 2027 Sierra 2500 HD Order So the Rating Lands Where You Need It Six steps, in the order we use at the desk; the last one is the one that matters. Weigh the trailer first: loaded the way you haul, at the elevator scale, with the pin weight measured separately. Order to the trailer you own, not the one you might buy. Pick the Duramax if a gooseneck is the job: the Max Trailering Package requires it, and the highest GVWR codes only exist with it. Choose the cab and bed for the code you want: Crew Cab long bed 4WD Duramax with the package is the 12,300-pound GVWR truck; the standard bed with the package is 12,150; a Double Cab or an AT4X cannot take the package at all. Skip the lowered GVWR option: unless licensing requires it, because it reduces both towing and payload and blocks the package. Add the trailering visibility: Pro Safety Plus on an SLE or SLT for the blind-zone alert and Bed View camera, or the Preferred Package on an SLE for Hitch View and the Trailering App. Read the label at delivery: the trailering information label in the driver door jamb of your 2027 carries its conventional, gooseneck, payload, and GCWR figures. Compare your scale ticket to that label, not to this page. QUICK OVERVIEW TABLE Should You Order a 2027 With the Max Trailering Package? Worth it if Skip it if You pull a gooseneck stock trailer or hay flatbed and were ordering the Duramax anyway You want the highest 2027 GVWR code for your cab and bed You want the gooseneck prep and bedliner included You can wait for the 2027 ratings before buying a bigger trailer You want the gas V8, a Double Cab, or an AT4X, none of which take it Your trailer is a bumper-pull the standard hitch handles You need a rated truck this month, which means the 2026 on the lot You need the lowered 10,000-pound GVWR for licensing KEY TAKEAWAYS Key Takeaways 2027 towing, payload, and GCWR are not published; they will appear in the 2027 GM Trailering Guide, and the rated truck today is the 2026 on our lot. GVWR is the one 2027 number GM has printed: 10,000 to 12,300 pounds, with the maximum on a Crew Cab long bed 4WD Duramax with the Max Trailering Package. A higher GVWR is a signal for payload, not a payload figure, because 2027 curb weights are unpublished. The Max Trailering Package is unchanged: Duramax required, 18-inch or 20-inch wheels, not on the AT4X or Double Cab. Every 2027 truck already wears 18-inch or larger wheels, so the package decision is the engine decision. FAQ Frequently Asked Questions What is the 2027 Sierra 2500 HD towing capacity? GM has not published 2027 trailer ratings; they will be released in the 2027 GM Trailering Guide, and the label in the driver door jamb of each truck carries the final figure. For the 2026 model year, GM rates the Sierra 2500 HD at up to 20,000 pounds conventional and 22,390 pounds gooseneck, properly equipped, and those 2026 figures are the ones to plan a trailer around today. What is the highest GVWR on a 2027 Sierra 2500 HD? 12,300 pounds, on a Crew Cab long bed 4WD with the Duramax and the Max Trailering Package. The Crew Cab standard bed with the same engine and package is coded at 12,150 pounds. The 2026 maximum was 11,900 pounds. GVWR is the loaded weight limit of the truck itself, not a trailer rating. Does the 2027 Max Trailering Package still require the Duramax? Yes. It requires the Duramax turbo-diesel V8 and 18-inch or 20-inch wheels, and it is available on the Pro, SLE, SLT, AT4, Denali, and Denali Ultimate. It is not offered on the AT4X, on Double Cab models, with the lowered 10,000-pound GVWR option, or with the bed delete. Does a higher GVWR mean the 2027 has more payload? Usually, but not by a number anyone can state yet. Payload is GVWR minus curb weight, and GM has not published 2027 curb weights. The 2027 GVWR ceiling is 400 pounds above the 2026 ceiling on the same configuration, which points in the right direction; the actual payload will be on the trailering information label in the door jamb of the delivered truck. MY TAKE My Take on 2027 Sierra 2500 HD Towing I would rather tell you we do not have a number than hand you one that came off a listing site. What we do have is enough to write a good 2027 order: the Max Trailering Package is the same package, it still needs the Duramax, every truck already has the wheels for it, and the Crew Cab long bed with the package carries the highest GVWR code GM has ever put on a 2500 HD. If your outfit hauls a gooseneck, that is the truck to order, and the 2027 ratings will land on its door label before it lands in your yard. If you need the rated truck now, for a stock trailer you are already pulling or a fifth-wheel you have already bought, buy the 2026. It has published numbers, it is in stock, and the honest math on it is in the 2026 posts linked through this one. Either way, weigh the trailer and the pin once, and compare to the label. That step never changes. The full 2027 GVWR menu, packages, and trims are in the 2027 GMC Sierra 2500 HD buyers guide. Or bring your scale ticket to Beadle Chevrolet GMC at 2200 US Hwy 12 in Mobridge, or call or text 605-845-7277, and we will write the order around it. BOTTOM CTA View Sierra 2500 HD Inventory Get Pre-Qualified Contact Beadle Chevrolet GMC ABOUT THE AUTHOR (LOCKED) About the Author Lexy Tabbert — Beadle Chevrolet, Mobridge, SD Lexy Tabbert is the Director of Sales and Marketing at Beadle Chevrolet in Mobridge, South Dakota. She covers Chevrolet and GMC vehicles, trim comparisons, and buyer guidance — helping families, ranchers, and ag operators across the region find the right truck and configuration for their needs. Learn more about Lexy.

The 2027 GMC Sierra 2500 HD keeps all seven trims, Pro through Denali Ultimate, and at first glance the ladder looks like the truck on our lot today. Look closer and four things are specific to the new year: the AT4X wears a new 18-inch wheel code and moves to higher GVWR codes, the Denali Ultimate stays diesel-only behind the new L6P Duramax, the SLT can now be ordered with the Technology Package that used to stop at the AT4, and every trim, even the Pro, comes with adaptive cruise control and 18-inch-or-larger wheels from the factory. Short answer for the buyer who runs gravel section lines all week and pulls a fifth-wheel to Indian Creek on weekends: the AT4 or the Denali with the Max Trailering Package is still the order, the AT4X still cannot take that package, and the Denali Ultimate is the one where everything is already standard. The 2027 trailer ratings are not published yet, so this post covers the verified equipment and sends you to the 2026 AT4 vs Denali comparison for the rated numbers on the 2026 truck in the yard. 2. TOP CTA View Sierra 2500 HD Inventory Get Pre-Qualified 3. ON THIS PAGE On This Page The seven-trim ladder for 2027 and what changed on each AT4X for 2027: new wheel code, 35-inch tires, and higher GVWR Denali Ultimate for 2027: Duramax standard and everything else too SLT for 2027: the Technology Package is finally on the menu Standard on every trim now Which one to order for gravel roads plus a fifth-wheel How to pick your 2027 trim in six steps 4. CONTENT SECTIONS What Are the Seven 2027 Sierra 2500 HD Trims, and What Changed on Each? Same seven trims, same cab and drive rules. Pro comes as a Regular, Double, or Crew Cab in 2WD or 4WD; SLE is the same three cabs in 4WD only; SLT and up are Crew Cab 4WD only, and the AT4X is standard bed only. What moved for 2027 is the equipment under each name; the table is the short version of the 2027 Sierra 2500 HD buyers guide trim section. 2027 trim Cab and drive Standard wheel What is specifically 2027 Pro Regular, Double, Crew; 2WD or 4WD 18-inch PXD aluminum retail (18-inch steel fleet only) 17-inch wheels gone; adaptive cruise standard; E85 capability dropped SLE Regular, Double, Crew; 4WD only 18-inch PXD aluminum 18-inch all-season base tire; adaptive cruise standard SLT Crew Cab 4WD 18-inch PXD on all-terrain tires Technology Package (15-inch HUD and Rear Camera Mirror) now available AT4 Crew Cab 4WD 20-inch gloss black (Q7N) Carryover content; adaptive cruise was already standard here AT4X Crew Cab 4WD, standard bed only New 18-inch wheel code (RB1) on 35-inch mud-terrains New wheel and spare codes; GVWR codes rise to 11,150 gas / 11,750 diesel Denali Crew Cab 4WD 20-inch ultra-bright, chrome inserts (Q7F) Carryover content; eligible for the new 12,000 to 12,300 GVWR codes with the Duramax Denali Ultimate Crew Cab 4WD 20-inch ultra-bright, gloss black inserts (Q7H) Duramax only, now the new L6P; HUD, massage seats, Bose 12 all standard Two engines run under all of that: the gas V8 with direct injection and variable valve timing, standard Pro through Denali, and the Duramax turbo-diesel V8, B20-compatible, available Pro through Denali and standard on the Denali Ultimate, each with the Allison 10-speed automatic. GM has not published 2027 output for either; the what's new for 2027 post covers the engine-code change and why we are not guessing. What Does the AT4X Get for 2027? The AT4X keeps every piece of hardware that made it the pasture truck of the lineup and picks up a new 18-inch wheel code, a new spare code, and two higher GVWR codes. The ZRX suspension with its 1.5-inch lift and Multimatic DSSV dampers carries over, so do the 35-inch LT305/70R18 mud-terrain tires, the driver-selectable rear e-locker, the aluminum front and steel transfer-case skid plates, and the red recovery hooks. The wheel is the odd one. GM's 2027 ordering information lists the AT4X wheel under a new code, RB1, with no description beyond the 18-inch size, so we cannot tell you yet whether it is a new design or a re-coded version of the 2026 gloss-black-accent wheel. If the look matters, ask us before you sign. Inside, nothing changed: Obsidian Rush full-grain leather, 16-way massage seats, Bose 12-speaker audio, and the 15-inch head-up display, all standard. The GVWR story is the part a Walworth County buyer should notice. For 2027 the AT4X carries an 11,150-pound GVWR code with the gas V8 and 11,750 pounds with the Duramax; the 2026 AT4X on our lot was coded at 11,025 gas and 11,350 diesel. GVWR is the truck's own loaded maximum, not a trailer rating, and because 2027 curb weights are unpublished we cannot turn that increase into a payload number. The trailering information label in the driver door jamb of the delivered truck is where the real figure lives. The AEV Edition carries over: AEV stamped-steel bumpers with cast recovery points, 18-inch AEV Salta wheels, three stamped-steel skid plates, AEV headrests and liners. It requires the block heater, deletes the red hooks, and, as in 2026, it is the AT4X that tows a little less because of the weight it carries in armor. The 2027 colors legal on an AT4X are Coastal Dune, Onyx Black, Summit White, Sterling Metallic, Volcanic Red Tintcoat, and Titanium Rush Metallic; the 2027 colors post has the full trim-by-trim matrix. The AT4X and trailers, still The Max Trailering Package is not offered on the 2027 AT4X, same as 2026, and neither is the lowered 10,000-pound GVWR option. The AT4X does take the gooseneck and fifth-wheel prep package and has the standard hitch, brake controller, and Hitch Guidance, so it will pull a trailer; it just will not pull the biggest one in the lineup. What Does the Denali Ultimate Get for 2027? The Denali Ultimate is the one trim where the engine decision is made for you: the Duramax turbo-diesel V8, B20-compatible, is standard and the gas V8 is not offered, which for 2027 means the new L6P code with the Allison 10-speed automatic. The block heater, exhaust brake, 220-amp alternator, and dual batteries come with it, and the winter grille cover is on the option list because it is only sold with the diesel. The rest is the same argument it was last year: nothing left to add. Vader chrome grille with the gloss-black surround, 20-inch ultra-bright wheels with gloss black inserts, Alpine Umber full-grain leather, 16-way massage seats, Bose 12-speaker audio, the 15-inch head-up display, and the Rear Camera Mirror are all standard, and the dealer-installed Illumination Package lights the front emblem, sills, and puddle lamps for the buyer who wants it noticed at the Mobridge Marina after dark. On capability, the Denali Ultimate takes the Max Trailering Package, and as a Crew Cab long bed it is eligible for the 12,300-pound GVWR code, the highest in the 2027 lineup; the standard bed with the package is coded at 12,150. Those are GVWR codes, not trailer ratings, and the 2027 ratings are still to come. For what a rated Denali Ultimate actually pulls, the 2026 comparison linked above walks through the 2026 numbers trim by trim. 5. IMAGE BREAK New for 2027: the SLT can be ordered with the Technology Package, which adds the 15-inch multicolor head-up display and the Rear Camera Mirror that were AT4-and-up equipment in 2026. Why Did the SLT Just Get More Interesting? Because the Technology Package, the 15-inch multicolor head-up display plus the Rear Camera Mirror, is available on the SLT for the first time. In 2026 that package stopped at the AT4. For 2027 an SLT ordered with the Preferred or Premium Package can add it, which puts the speed and the adaptive cruise gap on the windshield of the truck most of our ranch and lake buyers actually choose. The Rear Camera Mirror matters more with a trailer than without one. With a stock trailer or fifth-wheel behind you the inside mirror shows the trailer nose and nothing else; the camera mirror shows the road behind the trailer instead. Pair it with the Trailer Side Blind Zone Alert, Bed View camera, and HD Surround Vision in the Pro Safety Plus package, which the SLT Preferred Package requires, and the SLT becomes a well-equipped towing cab for less than a Denali. The rest of the 2027 SLT is the carryover we already liked: 18-inch aluminum wheels on all-terrain tires, leather, the MultiPro tailgate, ProGrade Trailering with Hitch View and the Trailering App, and the Autotrac transfer case for a Highway 12 morning that turns to glaze halfway to Selby. The Max Trailering Package is available with the Duramax. What Is Standard on Every 2027 Trim Now? Three things a Pro or SLE buyer paid extra for in 2026 are on every 2027 Sierra 2500 HD: adaptive cruise control, Front Pedestrian and Bicyclist Braking inside the standard Sierra HD Pro Safety group, and 18-inch-or-larger wheels because the 17-inch wheel and tire have been dropped entirely. Adaptive cruise is the practical one. In 2026 the Pro, SLE, and SLT came with conventional cruise, and the adaptive version was a package item or an AT4-and-up feature. For 2027 it is standard on all seven, which on a long pull to Pierre behind a grain truck means the Sierra holds its following distance without you riding the brake. The rest of the Pro Safety group, Forward Collision Alert, Lane Departure Warning, IntelliBeam, and Automatic Emergency Braking among it, carries over. The 18-inch floor has a towing consequence: the Max Trailering Package has always required 18-inch or larger wheels, and every 2027 truck already meets that, so the package comes down to whether the Duramax is in the truck. Standard trailering gear is unchanged on all seven, the receiver hitch with 7-pin and 4-pin connectors, the integrated trailer brake controller, Hitch Guidance, and trailer sway control. What is not published is a 2027 trailer rating; GM will release those in the 2027 Trailering Guide, and until then the rated truck is the 2026 Sierra 2500 HD on our lot, which GM rates at up to 20,000 pounds conventional and 22,390 pounds gooseneck, properly equipped, for the 2026 model year. Which One Should You Order for Gravel Roads Plus a Fifth-Wheel? Order the AT4 or the Denali with the Duramax and the Max Trailering Package, and spend the AT4X money only if the two-track matters more than the trailer. Nothing in the 2027 equipment changes that advice: the AT4X still cannot take the package, the Denali Ultimate is a Denali with everything already included, and the SLT with the new Technology Package is the value play if you can live without 20-inch wheels and the Denali grille. The AT4 gives you the X31 content, skid plates, twin-tube shocks, and Hill Descent Control, on 20-inch wheels with all-terrain tires, plus the KO3 tire option if the road to the pasture is more rock than gravel. The Denali trades the off-road suspension for 20-inch chrome-insert wheels, Forge leather, and the Denali Reserve Package with the sunroof and Technology Package. Both take the Max Trailering Package with the Duramax, and both are eligible for the 12,150 and 12,300-pound GVWR codes on a 2027 order. What we cannot do yet is put a 2027 towing number next to either one. The 2026 AT4 vs Denali post has the rated 2026 figures for both trims with and without the package, and those are the numbers to plan a trailer around until the 2027 guide lands. HOW-TO How to Pick Your 2027 Sierra 2500 HD Trim Six steps, in the order we walk through them at the desk. Start with the trailer: if you need the Max Trailering Package, cross off the AT4X and the Double Cab, and plan on the Duramax because the package requires it. Pick the cab: Regular and Double Cab are Pro and SLE only. SLT and up is Crew Cab, and the AT4X is Crew Cab standard bed, period. Decide on the screen and seats: Pro is the 7-inch screen and vinyl or cloth; SLE and up get the 13.4-inch screen; SLT and up get leather and the MultiPro tailgate. Choose gravel or chrome: AT4 for the off-road suspension and skid plates, Denali for the chrome and Forge leather, AT4X only if the lift and 35-inch tires earn their keep. Add the packages: SLT Preferred or Premium plus the Technology Package; AT4 Premium Plus; Denali Reserve. Snow Plow Prep on any 4WD truck that will push snow. Confirm the label at delivery: the trailering information label in the driver door jamb carries the 2027 ratings for the exact truck. Read it before you buy a trailer to match it. QUICK OVERVIEW TABLE Which 2027 Sierra 2500 HD Trim Is Worth It for You? Trim Worth it if Skip it if SLT with Technology Package You want the HUD and camera mirror without the Denali grille You tow and value the trailer camera set 18-inch all-terrain wheels suit your gravel You want massage seats or Bose 12-speaker audio You want 20-inch wheels standard AT4X The two-track to the far pasture is the daily commute You want the lift, DSSV dampers, e-locker, and 35-inch tires from the factory Your trailer is a bumper-pull or a modest gooseneck You need the Max Trailering Package You want a long bed You want to see the new wheel before ordering Denali Ultimate You want the Duramax anyway and nothing left to add You want the Max Trailering Package in the nicest cab in the lineup The truck is the lake truck as much as the ranch truck You wanted the gas V8 (not offered here) Coastal Dune or Volcanic Red is your color (neither is offered on this trim) KEY TAKEAWAYS Key Takeaways All seven trims carry into 2027 with the same cab and drive rules; the AT4X is still Crew Cab standard bed only and the Denali Ultimate is still Duramax only. The AT4X gets a new 18-inch wheel code with no published description yet, plus GVWR codes of 11,150 pounds gas and 11,750 diesel. The Technology Package, 15-inch HUD and Rear Camera Mirror, is available on the SLT for the first time. Adaptive cruise control, Front Pedestrian and Bicyclist Braking, and 18-inch-or-larger wheels are standard on every 2027 trim, Pro included. 2027 trailer ratings are not published; plan a trailer around the rated 2026 truck and confirm the 2027 label in the driver door jamb at delivery. FAQ Frequently Asked Questions Can the 2027 AT4X be ordered with the Max Trailering Package? No. The Max Trailering Package is available on the Pro, SLE, SLT, AT4, Denali, and Denali Ultimate with the Duramax, and not on the AT4X or any Double Cab. The AT4X does take the gooseneck and fifth-wheel prep package. Does the 2027 Denali Ultimate come with the gas V8? No. The Denali Ultimate is Duramax only for 2027, the same as 2026. The gas V8 with direct injection and variable valve timing is standard on Pro through Denali; the Duramax turbo-diesel V8, B20-compatible, is available there and standard on the Denali Ultimate, each with the Allison 10-speed automatic. What does the Technology Package add to a 2027 SLT? The 15-inch multicolor head-up display and the Rear Camera Mirror. On the SLT it requires the SLT Preferred Package or the SLT Premium Package. The same package is included in the AT4 Premium Plus Package and the Denali Reserve Package, and it is standard on the AT4X and Denali Ultimate. How much can each 2027 Sierra 2500 HD trim tow? GM has not published 2027 trailer ratings yet; they will appear in the 2027 GM Trailering Guide, and the label in the driver door jamb of each truck carries the final figure. For planning, the 2026 Sierra 2500 HD on our lot is rated by GM at up to 20,000 pounds conventional and 22,390 pounds gooseneck, properly equipped, and the 2026 AT4 vs Denali post lists the 2026 figures by trim. MY TAKE My Take on the 2027 Sierra 2500 HD Trims The trim I would point most 2027 orders toward is the one that changed the least on paper and the most in practice: the SLT. Adaptive cruise and the 18-inch all-terrain wheel are standard now, and with the Preferred Package plus the Technology Package it has the head-up display, camera mirror, trailer blind-zone alert, and surround cameras that used to require an AT4 or a Denali. For a Crew Cab that pulls a stock trailer in April and a camper to West Whitlock in July, that is a lot of truck without the chrome. The AT4X is a truck I love to drive and rarely recommend for a gooseneck outfit, and 2027 does not change that. The Denali Ultimate is the easy answer for the buyer who wants the Duramax, the Max Trailering Package, and no option sheet to think about. What I will not do is put a 2027 towing number on this page before GM publishes one; the rated truck is the 2026 in our yard, and a trailer you are buying this fall should be planned around that one. Every trim, package, color, and the full GVWR menu for the new year is in the 2027 GMC Sierra 2500 HD buyers guide. Or stop at Beadle Chevrolet GMC at 2200 US Hwy 12 in Mobridge, or call or text 605-845-7277, and we will build the order sheet together. BOTTOM CTA View Sierra 2500 HD Inventory Get Pre-Qualified Contact Beadle Chevrolet GMC ABOUT THE AUTHOR (LOCKED) About the Author Lexy Tabbert — Beadle Chevrolet, Mobridge, SD Lexy Tabbert is the Director of Sales and Marketing at Beadle Chevrolet in Mobridge, South Dakota. She covers Chevrolet and GMC vehicles, trim comparisons, and buyer guidance — helping families, ranchers, and ag operators across the region find the right truck and configuration for their needs. Learn more about Lexy.