• The GMC Sierra is a light-duty pickup truck produced by General Motors. Like its clone, the Chevrolet Silverado, it features the half-ton model badged the 1500, the 3/4-ton 2500HD (Heavy Duty) and the 1-ton 3500HD. The pickups come in regular cab, extended cab and crew cab styles. GM offers several engine options for various models, including hybrid and diesel power. Sierra models are the base Work Truck, the SL, mid-range SLE and the upper trim SLT.
  
  

Power

• Six engine options and the hybrid are available on the 2011 GMC Sierra pickup depending on the model. The base engine for the Work Truck is the Vortec 4.3-liter V6 generating 195 horsepower and 260 ft.-lbs. of torque. The torque gives the Sierra its hauling power. The 4.3-liter is not available on any other model. Optional engines start with the 4.8-liter V8 providing 302 horsepower and 305 ft.-lbs. of torque. It's capable of running on 85 percent ethanol. The 5.3-liter V8 offers 315 horsepower and 335 ft.-lbs. of torque and can run on 85 percent ethanol. The 6.2-liter V8 is available on the SLE and SLT models. It generates 403 horsepower and 417 ft.-lbs. of torque. The 2500HD and 3500HD models feature a 6-liter V8 generating 360 horsepower and 380 ft.-lbs. of torque or the Duramax 6.6-liter V8 turbodiesel providing 397 horsepower and 765 ft.-lbs. of torque. The hybrid version employs the 6-liter V8 tuned to generate 332 horsepower and 267 ft.-lbs. of torque complementing a two-mode hybrid propulsion system.
  
  

Dimensions

• The Sierra 1500, 2500HD and 3500HD comes in numerous sizes based on the regular cab, extended cab and crew cab configurations with the standard cargo box (60.7 cubic feet of space), long box (75.5 cubic feet) and short box (53.2 cubic feet). Wheelbases on the 1500 series are 119, 133, 143.5 and 157.7 inches. Overall lengths for the 1500 start at 205.6 inches and stretch to 249.2 inches. The 2500HD and 3500HD models feature wheelbases of 133.7, 144.2, 158.2, 153.7 and 167.7 inches long. The overall length of the Heavy Duty models range from 225 to 259.1 inches.
  
  

Capacities

• The 1500's standard payloads, which includes the cab's occupants and the goods hauled in the cargo box, range from 1,705 lbs. to 1,937 lbs. for the two-wheel drive models and from 1,693 lbs. to 1,733 lbs. for four-wheel drives. Payload and towing capacities also depend on whether the pickup is equipped with a 3.08, 3.23, 3.73, 3.42 or 4.10:1 rear axle ratio. The maximum trailer capacity for a 4.3-liter V6-powered 1500 model is 4,400 lbs. with the maximum towing capability reaching 10,700 lbs. for the 6.2-liter V8-powered 1500. The towing capacity for the 6.2-liter V8-powered 2500HD and 2500HD models range from 9,300 lbs. to 13,000 lbs. Payload capacities range from 3,126 lbs. to 4,192 lbs. The 2500HD and 3500HD models equipped with a fifth wheel towing package can haul up to 17,800 lbs.
  
  

Chassis

• All GMC Sierras feature independent front torsion bar suspension with rear multi-leaf springs. The braking system consists of all-wheel ventilated disc brakes. A four-speed or six-speed automatic transmission is available.