2012 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD WT Max Towing Capacity & Payload
Max Towing Capacity
13,000 lbs
Safe limit: 10,400 lbs (80% rule)
Max Payload
3,473 lbs
Often the real limiting factor
Fuel Economy
11.2 mpg
10 city / 13 hwy (EPA Est.)
The 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD WT is rated to tow up to 13,000 lbs powered by the 6.0L. For real-world towing, the practical limit is 10,400 lbs — that's 80% of max, giving you margin for hills, headwinds, and load variation. The payload rating of 3,473 lbs is the number to watch closely — once you add passengers, hitch weight, and gear, it fills faster than most people expect. With this setup, you're looking at a great selection of travel trailers, toy haulers, and many fifth wheels.
Recommended Equipment
Towing Gear for This Truck
Matched to this trim's Class IV hitch class and 13,000 lb tow rating
Class IV Hitch Receiver
Required for towing. 2" receiver is standard on tow-equipped models.
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Trailer Wiring Adapter
7-pin to 4-pin adapters for trailer brake lights and signals.
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Brake Controller
Required by law in most states for trailers over 3,000 lbs.
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Weight Distribution Hitch
Strongly recommended for trailers over 6,000 lbs to level the load and reduce sway.
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Full Data
Specifications
Towing & Capacity
Engine & Performance
Dimensions
SpecificationValueShopLearn More
Towing
Payload & Weight
Curb Weight
6,027 lbs
SpecificationValueShopLearn More
Engine
Engine
6.0L
Horsepower
360 HP @ 5400 rpm
Torque
380 lb-ft @ 4200 rpm
Transmission
6-speed shiftable automatic
Drive Type
Rear Wheel Drive
Fuel Type
Flex-fuel (unleaded/E85)
Fuel Tank
36.0 gallons
Fuel Economy (EPA)
City10 mpg
Highway13 mpg
Combined11 mpg
Real-World (Fuelly, 81 owners)11.2 mpg
SpecificationValueShopLearn More
Dimensions
Overall Length230.6"
Overall Width80.0"
Height77.9"
Cab Typeextended
What Can I Tow?
RV Class Compatibility
Based on a safe tow limit of 10,400 lbs and 3,473 lb payload. Shows what % of each RV class in our database you can tow.
RV Type
Weight Range
Coverage
Status
Toy Haulers
5th / Bumper
1,300 – 112,250 lbs
Limited
Fifth Wheels
5th Wheel
1,176 – 24,000 lbs
Limited
Destination Trailers
Bumper Pull
9,800 – 16,500 lbs
Limited
⚠ Vehicle capacity only — does not include passengers, gear, or tongue weight. Run the full calculator →
Compare Configurations
Other 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD Trims
| Configuration | Max Towing | MPG | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD WT 4WD | 20,000 lbs | 12.3 mpg | View → |
| 2025 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD WT 4WD | 20,000 lbs | 12.3 mpg | View → |
| 2025 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD WT RWD | 20,000 lbs | 12.3 mpg | View → |
| 2025 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD WT RWD | 20,000 lbs | 12.3 mpg | View → |
| 2025 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD Custom RWD | 18,500 lbs | 12.3 mpg | View → |
| 2025 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD Custom RWD | 18,500 lbs | 12.3 mpg | View → |
| 2025 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD Custom 4WD | 18,500 lbs | 12.3 mpg | View → |
| 2025 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD High Country 4WD | 18,500 lbs | 12.3 mpg | View → |
| 2025 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD High Country 4WD | 18,500 lbs | 12.3 mpg | View → |
| 2025 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD LT RWD | 18,500 lbs | 12.3 mpg | View → |
Questions & Answers
Common Questions
How much can I actually tow with my 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD WT?
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The 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD WT is rated at 13,000 lbs maximum — but the real-world best practice is the 80% rule: target 10,400 lbs as your practical limit. This gives you margin for hills, headwinds, braking distance, and real-world load variance. More critically, check your payload first — the door sticker tells you your specific truck's limit, and payload may be your actual binding constraint.
What about payload — how much stuff can I put in the truck?
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You have 3,473 lbs of payload capacity — that's everything going IN the truck: passengers (~150 lbs each), camping gear, coolers, and critically the tongue weight from your trailer. For bumper pull trailers, tongue weight is typically 10–15% of the trailer's loaded weight. It fills up faster than most people expect, especially on longer trips.
What kind of hitch do I need?
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For the 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD WT, you need a Class IV receiver hitch rated for 13,000 lbs. Don't skimp here — the hitch is the critical link between truck and trailer. For fifth wheel towing, you'll need a dedicated kingpin-style fifth wheel hitch mounted in the truck bed.
What types of RVs will work with my truck?
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With your 10,400 lb safe towing capacity, you're looking at a great selection of travel trailers, toy haulers, and many fifth wheels. The compatibility chart above shows what percentage of each RV class in our database you can handle. Use the Tow Calculator to check a specific RV including gear, water, and passengers.
What does GVWR mean and why should I care?
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GVWR is Gross Vehicle Weight Rating — the maximum your truck can weigh when fully loaded with people, gear, and fuel. Your truck's GVWR is 9,500 lbs. Exceed it and you're over-stressing brakes, suspension, and tires. This is different from towing capacity — it's about what the truck itself can carry.
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