Ruggedly luxurious and handsomely durable, the 2022 GMC Sierra 3500HD is a benchmark entry in the one-ton heavy-duty market that combines all of the functionality and expectations of a workhorse pickup with the definitive splendor and style that the Sierra is well known for. The 2022 model year, in particular, is elevated with a number of expected and unexpected features that help diversify and magnify the value of the pickup. In fact, this heavy-duty pickup never seemed so luxurious.
The 2022 GMC Sierra 3500HD is available in five different trims with four different drivetrain formats and two powertrain options. The base Pro trim gets you plenty of features and powerful performance, while the SLE and SLT provide additional features and available upgrades. For off-road enthusiasts, the AT4 is the perfect solution, but if you want maximum luxury, the Denali trim is the right choice for discerning shoppers. The trims are available in standard and long bed formats, as well as with a Regular Cab, Double Cab, or Crew Cab.
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Driven by efficiency and the will to dominate the road, the 2022 GMC Sierra 3500HD has two powerful engines ready to carry out its beck and call at the behest of the driver. These engines include the standard 6.6-liter V8 gasoline engine and the always reliable 6.6-liter V8 Duramax turbo-diesel. Both engines are designed for heavy-duty tasks. However, what you plan on using the Sierra 3500HD for will determine which engine is better suited for what task.
The 6.6-liter V8 gasoline engine produces up to 401 horsepower and 464 pound-feet of torque. This gives you plenty of under-the-hood power to handle many heavy-duty tasks, especially with the right drivetrain configuration. The 6.6-liter V8 gasoline engine is paired up with a 6-speed automatic transmission and comes with a 3.73:1 rear axle ratio.
The 6.6-liter V8 Duramax turbo-diesel offers up 445 horsepower and a very formidable 910 pound-feet of torque for the most hard-hitting heavy-duty tasks available for a one-ton truck. It also comes with a 3.42:1 rear axle ratio, an exhaust brake, and an engine block heater for those times when the weather is freezing cold. There is also an engine after-run feature to cool the engine after a tough job. Overall, the turbo-diesel is well situated for a number of different challenges, whether it's in blistering cold weather or searing heat.
The Duramax is also paired up with the always reputable Allison 10-speed automatic transmission, which features an available integrated power take-off and an electronically controlled overdrive. There's also the Tow/Haul mode that allows for better utilization of torque. The Allison will downshift as needed and induce engine braking to help slow the truck down when trailering heavy loads, which works quite well in downhill scenarios. This coincides well with the torque control available through the transfer case.
Select trims come equipped with an Autotrac two-speed transfer case, which features push-button controls for four different modes. These include Auto, 2WD, 4WD, and 4WD LO. The different modes are designed to make use of the GMC Sierra 3500HD's torque and StabiliTrak functionality for different kinds of driving scenarios. If you find yourself trudging through deep sand or mud, you can maximize the low-end torque through all four wheels of the truck with the 4WD LO mode. If you need to get through wet roads or dirt trails, the 4WD High mode is perfect. For standard highway travel and for a reduction in fuel consumption, the 2WD mode works well enough. Alternatively, you can set it to Auto, and the truck will shift between 2WD and 4WD as needed.
You also have many options when it comes to drivetrain capabilities. There is the base two-wheel rear-wheel drive configuration most people are used to, offering great towing and trailering capabilities. Then there is the four-wheel drive option, which is great for when you need a heavy-duty pickup for hauling and tackling heavy payloads in off-road conditions. Alternatively, you have the dual-rear-wheel setup, which features four wheels on the rear axle, raising the Sierra 3500HD's towing and trailering capabilities. Last but not least, you can combine 4WD with the dual-rear-wheel configuration. It's not only great for handling work in off-road conditions but also designed for towing and trailering extremely heavy loads as well.
The major reason most people are going to go with a 2022 GMC Sierra 3500HD over anything else is because of its high-end towing and trailering capabilities. At the top end of the towing chart, the 2022 3500HD is capable of trailering up to 36,000 pounds. The 3500HD is also capable of reaching a max payload capacity of 7,442 pounds.
Depending on the powertrain and drivetrain configuration will determine what the maximum payload and trailering capabilities are. For basic towing and trailering, you can opt for the gasoline V8, which will provide you with up to 17,200 pounds worth of trailering with a basic rear-wheel drive setup. You also have access to just under 4,500 pounds worth of payload.
For improved payload, you can go with the dual-rear-wheel configuration. The dual-rear-wheel configuration allows for much higher payload capacities, which can top out at the 7,400-pound mark for the gasoline V8 engine. This engine option is more than capable for most heavy-duty tasks, whether you need it in two-wheel drive, four-wheel drive, or as a dualie in either format.
The Duramax turbo-diesel V8 offers higher towing capacities, especially in the dualie format, where you can expect anywhere up to 36,000 pounds worth of trailering capacity. Thanks to the reinforced three-stage multi-leaf spring rear suspension and upgraded front suspension, the diesel 2022 GMC Sierra 3500HD is designed to withstand some of the most arduous conditions that a heavy-duty truck can be put under.
With the GMC MultiPro Tailgate, the Sierra is also designed to make hauling easier and more efficient than ever before. This includes six different tailgate functions for improved loading and unloading, as well as new ways to access bed cargo. The basic pull-down feature is still present, but with an additional load-stop that can lift out of the gate while it's down, so you can load items into the bed that are longer than the bed itself. You can also lower the gate further and turn it into a step for the bed, perfect when carrying heavy loads into the back of the truck. You also have access to an inner gate and an inner gate-load stop for even more functionality.
Trailering also benefits from the automatic locking rear differential, which helps reduce wheel slippage, and maintains stability while on the road. Heavy-duty air filters and an integrated trailer brake controller are also necessary features to make trailering safe and utilitarian. The integrated trailer brake controller is attached to the anti-lock brake system and features sensors that can feed necessary information back to the driver via the Driver Information Center located in the cabin.
If you need to use the 2022 GMC Sierra 3500HD for campers, trailers, or other heavy attachments that require a hitch, trailer wiring provisions are available for attaching a 5th-wheel or gooseneck trailer with a 7-way wiring harness. Certain trims also come standard with the ProGrade Trailering System, which integrates the ability for hitch guidance into a hitch view using the infotainment trailering app.
The 2022 GMC Sierra 3500HD is powered by a lot of important technology in order to satisfy the expectations of heavy-duty truckers. This includes air filtration monitoring, keeping the cabin clean and free of as much particulate matter as possible. A safety system with numerous airbags, hill descent control, and available driver assists such as lane change alert, side blind zone alert, and rear cross traffic alert, makes the 3500HD an easy option for those who value safety from their heavy-duty trucks.
HD Surround Vision is available for auxiliary camera views of the truck. It's not only useful for guided displays for what's in front, behind, or on the sides of the truck, but it's also useful for hitch guidance and trailering. It works in conjunction with the HD rear vision camera, which gives you a high-definition display of what's directly behind the Sierra without any obstructions.
Inside the 3500HD, there are available 10-way power driver and passenger seats with power lumbar support for the driver side. Trims like the AT4 and the Denali also come standard with heated and ventilated seats, along with a heated steering wheel. The infotainment is also completely robust, including up to an 8-inch diagonal color Driver Information Center and a separate 8-inch diagonal GMC Infotainment System.
With the infotainment system, you have access to Bluetooth wireless support, wireless integration for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as voice-activated controls and navigation. A separate 15-inch available heads-up display projects necessary telematics onto the windshield for the driver, so you never have to take your eyes off the road. The upper trims also feature an available Bose premium surround sound system featuring 7-speakers and a Richbass subwoofer. With multiple USB ports, available wireless charging, and Wi-Fi hotspot capabilities, you're always plugged into the world of technology, even when you're far removed from the modern world and traversing into the great wilderness.