May 19th, 2010 by Ross Edwards
GM has released the towing and payload ratings for the new 2011 Chevy Silverado HD and 2011 GMC Sierra HD. The 2011 Silverado and Sierra 3500 HD models powered by the Duramax diesel engine will be able to tow 21,700 pounds and come with a 6,635-pound payload rating, according to GM.
The 2011 Chevy Silverado HD’s 21,700-pound towing rating beats both the Ford F-350 and Dodge Ram 3500, though the F-350 is only 100 pounds behind. The Dodge Ram 3500 can only tow 18,500 pounds.
GM’s 1-ton Silverado and Sierra have the highest payload capacity in the class too, but once again the Ford F-350 is right behind. The Sierra and Silverado 3500 can haul 6,635 pounds while the F-350 can haul 6,520. The Dodge Ram 3500 has a payload rating of just 5,130.
The new 2011 GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado 3500 HD models are technically the winners in the towing and hauling war, but because the tests that determine those ratings were performed by GM engineers, the results should be taken with a grain of salt. That’s not to say that the Sierra and Silverado HD aren’t very capable towers and haulers, but the slim margin the trucks beat the Ford F-350 by seems a little bit convenient. The bottom line is that the Silverado, Sierra and F-350 all beat the Dodge Ram 3500 by a long shot. So if you do a lot of towing or hauling, you might be able to eliminate the Dodge from your list of trucks to consider.
Protect your vehicle with an extended warranty! Get a fast free quote on affordable extended warranties for used and new cars here! 
Don't forget to factor insurance costs into your research. Get accurate insurance rate information on any vehicle and shop for the best deal.
Get real price quotes from local dealerships. Don't buy a car without checking the price first! Pit dealers against each other to get the best deal possible!
{/literal}