2500 and 3500 Dually Trims, Towing and Engine Comparison
Originally published February 17, 2026 · Updated September 20, 2026

2026 Silverado 3500 HD dually shown. The dually is a 3500 HD configuration.
The Short Version
- There is no Silverado 2500 dually. The dually, with four tires on the rear axle, is a Silverado 3500 HD configuration. The 2500HD has two rear tires, and the two trucks share the same engines.
- With the Duramax, the 2500HD tows up to 22,050 pounds on a gooseneck or fifth-wheel in a Crew Cab long bed and 20,000 pounds on a conventional hitch. A 3500 HD Crew Cab long bed dually tows up to 31,400 pounds on a gooseneck or fifth-wheel, and the Regular Cab long bed dually with the Max Trailering Package reaches 36,000 pounds on a gooseneck and 32,000 on a fifth-wheel.
- The 2026 2500HD starts at $45,900 in six trims. The 2026 3500 HD starts at $46,800 in four trims.
- Both trucks offer the 6.6L gas V8 with 401 horsepower and the Duramax diesel with 470 horsepower and 975 lb-ft. The 2027 HD trucks carry over with new engine codes and no released ratings.
If you searched for a 2500 dually, this is the answer: Chevrolet builds the dually on the Silverado 3500 HD, and the 2500HD is a single-rear-wheel truck. The two are close in price and share their engines, so the choice comes down to what you tow. This page lines them up on trims, towing and engines, using 2026 ratings because GM has not released 2027 ratings. Our 2026 Silverado 2500HD page and 3500HD page show each truck, and the 2500HD vs 3500HD comparison covers single-rear-wheel trucks side by side.
Silverado 2500HD vs 3500 HD dually at a glance
| Silverado 2500HD | Silverado 3500 HD dually | |
|---|---|---|
| Rear wheels | Two | Four (dual rear wheels) |
| 2026 starting price* | $45,900 | $46,800 |
| Trims | Work Truck, Custom, LT, LTZ, ZR2, High Country | Work Truck, LT, LTZ, High Country |
| Gas engine | 6.6L V8, 401 hp, 464 lb-ft | 6.6L V8, 401 hp, 464 lb-ft |
| Diesel engine | 6.6L Duramax, 470 hp, 975 lb-ft | 6.6L Duramax, 470 hp, 975 lb-ft |
| Transmission | 10-speed automatic (Allison on the Duramax) | 10-speed automatic (Allison on the Duramax) |
| Conventional towing, Duramax with Max Trailering Package | 20,000 lb (Crew Cab) | 20,000 lb (dually) |
| Gooseneck or fifth-wheel, Duramax, Crew Cab long bed | 22,050 lb | 31,400 lb (2WD), 31,000 lb (4x4) |
| Gooseneck, Duramax with Max Trailering Package, best case | 22,050 lb | 36,000 lb (Regular Cab long bed dually 2WD) |
| Fifth-wheel, Duramax with Max Trailering Package, best case | 22,050 lb | 32,000 lb (Regular Cab long bed dually 2WD) |
| Gas 6.6L V8, conventional | 16,000 lb | 18,700 lb (Regular Cab long bed 2WD dually) |
| Gas 6.6L V8, gooseneck | 18,700 lb (Regular Cab long bed 2WD) | 18,760 lb (Regular Cab long bed 2WD dually) |
| Gross combined weight rating, Duramax with Max Trailering Package | 30,000 lb | 43,900 lb |
| Payload | 3,926 lb in the Work Truck Regular Cab long bed RWD | Up to 7,234 lb depending on configuration |
*Chevrolet starting prices before destination. Towing and weight figures are the best case for each engine, cab and hitch and require the Max Trailering Package where noted. Diesel figures are Duramax with the Max Trailering Package. The 36,000-pound rating is a gooseneck rating.
The engines and the conventional rating are the same, which is why the dually is not a different engine, it is a different rear axle and a higher rating on the hitches that put weight over the axle. Our 2027 Silverado 3500 HD dually guide covers the hitch types in detail. The 2500HD specs page and the 2500HD towing and payload page list that truck’s figures.
Trims: 2500HD and 3500 HD dually
| 2026 Silverado 2500HD | Starting price* | What it brings |
|---|---|---|
| Work Truck | $45,900 | 6.6L gas V8, Durabed, available Max Trailering Package |
| Custom | $49,200 | 20-inch machined aluminum wheels with Grazen Metallic accents, cloth seats |
| LT | $52,600 | 13.4-inch touchscreen with Google built-in, integrated trailer brake controller, EZ Lift tailgate |
| LTZ | $63,300 | Perforated leather, In-Vehicle Trailering App, animated LED projector headlamps, power-folding trailering mirrors |
| ZR2 | $73,200 | HD Surround Vision, Autotrac two-speed transfer case, 1.5-inch factory lift, Multimatic DSSV dampers, rear electronic locking differential |
| High Country | $73,600 | Top of the lineup; Super Cruise is available |
*Chevrolet starting prices before destination. On the 2500HD the LT and above are 4WD only.
The 2500HD trim levels page, the 2500HD for sale page and the 2500HD LTZ long bed page cover the six 2500HD trims. The 3500 HD comes in four trims: Work Truck, LT, LTZ and High Country, and the 3500 HD Work Truck starts at $46,800. The ZR2 is a 2500HD trim and is not offered on the 3500 HD. The 3500 HD Work Truck has a 7-inch touchscreen, and the LT and above have a 13.4-inch touchscreen with a 12.3-inch driver display. The Work Truck and LT come in Regular, Double or Crew Cab, and the LTZ and High Country come in Crew Cab. Trail Boss is available on the LT and LTZ. Our 3500HD LTZ review walks through the LTZ, and the 3500 DRW page shows the dually trucks. The 1500 vs 2500HD comparison and the 1500 vs 2500 vs 3500 guide cover the rest of the lineup.
Towing and payload: which Silverado HD fits your load
Both HD trucks tow up to 20,000 pounds on a conventional hitch when equipped with the Duramax and Max Trailering Package, which covers most bumper-pull trailers. The difference shows up on a gooseneck or fifth-wheel. The 2500HD is rated to 22,050 pounds in a Crew Cab long bed, a Crew Cab long bed 3500 HD dually reaches 31,400 pounds, and the Regular Cab long bed dually with the Max Trailering Package reaches 36,000 pounds on a gooseneck and 32,000 pounds on a fifth-wheel. Payload also rises, from 3,926 pounds in the 2500HD Work Truck Regular Cab long bed with rear-wheel drive to up to 7,234 pounds on the 3500 HD, and the gross combined weight rating rises from 30,000 to 43,900 pounds. Payload changes with cab, bed and options, so ask us for the number on the exact truck. Choose the 2500HD when your trailer fits inside its ratings, and the 3500 HD dually when it does not. The 2500HD towing and payload page has that truck’s ratings and the 3500 chassis cab page covers work-body builds.
Gas or Duramax in a Silverado HD
Both trucks offer the same two engines. The 6.6L gas V8 makes 401 horsepower and 464 lb-ft and tops out at 16,000 pounds conventional on the 2500HD and 18,700 pounds conventional on a 3500 HD dually; on a gooseneck the two are within 60 pounds of each other, 18,700 for the 2500HD and 18,760 for the dually. The Duramax makes 470 horsepower and 975 lb-ft with the Allison 10-speed and carries the top ratings on both trucks. The Duramax powertrain warranty is 5 years or 100,000 miles, and the diesel uses diesel exhaust fluid, which you keep topped up. For 2027 the gas engine is coded L8S and the Duramax L6P, replacing the L8T and L5P, and GM has not released horsepower, torque or towing. Our 2027 Duramax guide and the 2027 2500HD guide cover what is and is not released.
Choosing between the 2500HD and the 3500 HD dually
- 2500HD: the fit for gooseneck and fifth-wheel trailers up to 22,050 pounds, camper and horse-trailer work, and drivers who want the widest choice of trims, including the ZR2 and the Custom. It is also the narrower truck for tight lots and farm gates around Siloam Springs and Lowell.
- 3500 HD dually: the fit for the heaviest gooseneck and fifth-wheel loads, up to 36,000 pounds on a gooseneck, equipment haulers and large livestock trailers, and buyers who want the payload of up to 7,234 pounds.
Not sure where your trailer falls? Bring its loaded weight and hitch type and we will match it to a truck. The payment calculator and pre-approval show you the numbers first, and the trade-in form values your current truck. There are 2500HD pages for Bentonville, Springdale and Fayetteville and a Spanish 2500HD page. Browse new Silverado 2500HD and new Silverado 3500HD inventory, or see the Bentonville, Springdale and Fayetteville pages.
Service and warranty
Both trucks carry Chevrolet’s 3-year, 36,000-mile basic warranty, a 5-year, 60,000-mile powertrain warranty and 6-year, 100,000-mile rust-through coverage, and the Duramax is covered for 5 years or 100,000 miles. The GM Engine Oil Life System sets each oil change, and you can schedule a service visit online. The 2500HD maintenance schedule and 2500HD FAQ cover the routine service and the questions we hear most.
Common questions about the Silverado 2500HD and 3500 HD dually
Is there a Silverado 2500 dually?
No. The dually, with four tires on the rear axle, is a Silverado 3500 HD configuration. The Silverado 2500HD has two rear tires.
What is the difference between the Silverado 2500HD and the 3500 HD dually?
They share the 6.6L gas V8 and the Duramax diesel. The 3500 HD dually adds the second pair of rear tires and higher ratings on the hitches that carry weight over the axle: with the Duramax, up to 31,400 pounds on a gooseneck or fifth-wheel in a Crew Cab long bed and up to 36,000 pounds on a gooseneck in a Regular Cab long bed with the Max Trailering Package, against 22,050 pounds for the 2500HD. Payload reaches 7,234 pounds on the 3500 HD.
How much can a Silverado 2500HD tow?
With the Duramax, the 2026 2500HD tows up to 20,000 pounds on a conventional hitch with the Max Trailering Package and up to 22,050 pounds on a gooseneck or fifth-wheel in a Crew Cab long bed. The gas engine tows up to 16,000 pounds on a conventional hitch.
How much can a Silverado 3500 HD dually tow?
With the Duramax, the 2026 3500 HD Crew Cab long bed dually tows up to 31,400 pounds on a gooseneck or fifth-wheel, and the Regular Cab long bed dually with the Max Trailering Package tows up to 36,000 pounds on a gooseneck and 32,000 pounds on a fifth-wheel. Conventional towing is 20,000 pounds. The gas engine tops out at 18,760 pounds on a gooseneck in the dually.
What trims does the Silverado 3500 HD dually come in?
Work Truck, LT, LTZ and High Country. The ZR2 is offered on the 2500HD only.
What engines do the 2500HD and 3500 HD share?
A 6.6L gas V8 with 401 horsepower and 464 lb-ft of torque, and a 6.6L Duramax turbo-diesel V8 with 470 horsepower and 975 lb-ft of torque, both with a 10-speed automatic.
Do the 2027 Silverado HD trucks change?
The 2027 Silverado 2500HD and 3500 HD carry over the current truck with new engine codes, L8S for the gas V8 and L6P for the Duramax. GM has not released 2027 towing, payload, horsepower, torque or pricing.
What does the Silverado 3500 HD warranty cover?
The 3-year, 36,000-mile basic warranty and the 5-year, 60,000-mile powertrain warranty, with the Duramax covered for 5 years or 100,000 miles. Our service department can schedule your visits.
Tell us what you tow and how heavy it is, and we will match it to a Silverado HD. Visit George Nunnally Chevrolet at 2700 SE Moberly Ln in Bentonville, call (479) 319-2494 or contact us.