Whether you’re hauling a fishing boat or a recreational watercraft, you’ll want to know the best trucks built to tow with confidence. There are a few things to keep in mind when exploring the best trucks for towing boats. We’ll take a look at towing assist features, the best tow capabilities, and other important tips.
How to Choose the Best Trucks for Towing Boats
For most needs, the best trucks for towing boats can be found among the usual suspects. The Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, and the Ram 1500 are arguably the most popular trucks in America. They’re also great for most boat towing needs. The GMC Sierra 1500 and the Toyota Tundra are also good choices. If you need to tow a larger boat or you tow a lot, you might consider moving up to the HD truck options, such as the Ford F-250 Super Duty. Let’s take a more detailed look.
Are Half-Ton Trucks Good for Towing Boats?
In most cases, half-ton trucks are good choices for towing boats. You can tow most average-sized boats with a half-ton truck such as the Ford F-150 or Ram 1500. The towing capacity for these trucks ranges between 12,000 and 14,000 pounds, depending on the equipment and powertrain. Most of these models also offer a trailering package with advanced towing aids.
The main pro of using a half-ton truck to tow a boat is that you still get a nice balance of fuel economy, towing capacity, and maneuverability. The con to using a half-ton truck is that it might not be enough to comfortably tow a very large boat.
Should You Get an HD Truck to Tow a Boat?
If you fall into the category of boaters who tow regularly or have a large boat to tow, you may want to consider an HD truck. Examples include the Ford F-250 Super Duty, the Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD, and the larger and more powerful 350 and 3500 trucks. The towing capacity of these trucks ranges between 16,000 to 37,000 pounds, depending on the model and configuration.
For example, the Ford F-250 and F-350 have the same engine options, but the F-350 is built more strongly to tow more. The pros of an HD truck include the huge towing capacity and more powerful engine options. However, HD trucks are also large, hard to maneuver, and offer less fuel economy than half-ton trucks.
What To Consider
Towing is hard on trucks, so if you tow often, you might want to consider an HD truck for more power and reliability. HD trucks have more powerful engines and chassis strength to deal with regular towing. On the other hand, if you’re on a budget, half-ton trucks cost quite a bit less than HD trucks.
The main factor in your decision will be the size of your boat. If you have an average-sized boat and don’t tow all that frequently, a half-ton truck is a better all-around choice. Half-ton trucks deliver better fuel economy, are easier to maneuver, and you probably can fit one in your garage. However, if you have a large boat and tow frequently, you should opt for an HD truck.
Must-Know Tips
It’s important to remember the 80/20 rule when considering a truck to tow your boat. It’s safer to stay below 80% of your truck’s maximum towing capacity. Remember, this doesn’t just include the weight of the boat, but also the trailer and all the gear you’ll be carrying. Once you figure out this number, you can match it up with various towing capacities.
If you don’t have much experience towing, it’s a good idea to look at trucks that have plenty of advanced towing aids. For example, 360-degree cameras make hooking up your trailer and backing up a lot easier than if you don’t have one.
