Like the chicken or the egg question, we must ask: which came first, your truck or boat? If you purchased a boat before buying a truck, you know exactly how much weight you need to tow and can base your truck search on that figure. However, if you own a truck and now want to buy a boat, you must check your owner's manual to see how much weight your truck can tow. So for the purposes of this blog post, let's assume you bought a boat and now need a truck. We asked our towing experts at Gibson Truck World in Sanford, Florida, to list their favorite trucks for towing. Here's what they said.
Ford F-Series Heavy-Duty Pickups
Ford has long led the Super Duty truck segment in producing quality pickups that can handle just about any towing job. The lineup includes F-250, F-350-, and F-450 series trucks; as you might imagine, capability increases as you move up a series. In addition, you can find many of these late-model trucks in various trim levels, from the basic XL and XLT models to the Platinum and Limited trims, which are loaded with premium features.In recent years, Ford has offered four engines in their Super Duty pickups: two turbodiesel engines and two gas-powered ones. A flex-fuel 6.2L gas engine has given impressive power numbers for a while, coming in at over 400 horsepower and lb-ft of torque. And new models now have a 6.7L variant. The other gas engine, a 7.3L V-8, pumps out 430 horsepower and 485 lb-ft of torque. Unfortunately, the lowest tow rating sits north of 12,000 pounds with these engines.
Then there's the 6.7L Power Stroke V-8 turbodiesel engine that makes 475 horsepower and 1,050 lb-ft of torque. Or you can choose the high-output version in newer models, which boosts your numbers to 500 horsepower and 1,200 lb-ft of torque. This engine tops out at 30,000 pounds of conventional towing capacity, making it the best in its class. With a gooseneck setup, you can tow up to 40,000 pounds. With this configuration, you'll likely be able to tow three or four boats.
In addition to these powerful engines, Ford has various towing systems and technology features to make the job easy. For example, you can opt for trailer camera systems and add a blind-spot monitor that covers your trailer. Ford also makes pro-hitch and trailer backup assist systems that let you turn a dial in the direction you want your hitch or trailer to go based on a live video feed sent to your infotainment screen.
Chevrolet Silverado HD-Series Pickups
Chevy makes two heavy-duty series pickups, the Silverado 2500 HD and Silverado 3500 HD. The 2500 HD has two engine options. The first, a 6.6L gas V-8, puts out 401 horsepower and 464 lb-ft of torque. The second, a Duramax 6.6L turbodiesel, makes 445 horsepower and 910 lb-ft of torque. Maximum conventional towing capacity tops out at 14,500 pounds or 18,500 pounds with a gooseneck configuration.
Silverado 3500 HD trucks have the same two engines and optimized steering and suspension systems to enhance their towing capabilities. The gas V-8 variant tows between 14,500 and 16,800 pounds, while the turbodiesel with a dual rear wheel axle tops out at 20,000 pounds conventional towing. In addition, the 3500 HD can tow up to 36,000 pounds using a gooseneck configuration. Chevy also has an available camera system that covers the trailer, making hitching and towing easier.
GMC Sierra HD-Series Pickups
As the sister company of Chevy, it's no surprise that the Sierra HD lineup matches up with the Silverado regarding towing capacities. You have the same engines and similar towing options. Minor variances exist in equipment, but the performance is virtually the same. Opting for a Sierra over a Silverado comes down to your tastes in exterior design and interior comfort.
Ram HD-Series Pickups
Like Chevy and GMC, Ram makes a 2500 and 3500 series heavy-duty pickup. The Ram 2500 has the legendary HEMI 6.4L V-8 engine, producing 410 horsepower and 429 lb-ft of torque. This powertrain can tow up to 17,540 pounds when properly equipped. In addition, Ram offers a 6.7L Cummins turbodiesel inline six-cylinder engine capable of 370 horsepower, 850 lb-ft of torque, and a 20,000 lb towing capacity.Â
Ram 3500 pickups have three engine options. You have the same HEMI V-8 and the 6.7L I-6 Cummins turbodiesel engines found in the 2500 series, but you also have a high-output turbodiesel option. Cummins optimized the high-output engine to produce 420 horsepower and 1,075 horsepower. As a result, this powertrain can tow up to 37,090 pounds.Â
Half-Ton Pickup Trucks
While the heavy-duty trucks can tow just about any boat, Ford, Chevrolet, GMC, and Ram all make half-ton pickups ideally suited for midsized towing needs. For example, Ford's F-150 offers an expansive list of trims and engines to suit any need. The F-150 can tow up to 14,000 pounds depending on equipment, making it powerful enough for most boats.
Chevy's Silverado 1500 lines up similarly to the F-150, offering multiple trims and engines. Silverado 1500's towing capacity tops out at 13,300 pounds. So too does the GMC Sierra 1500, achieving a 13,200 lb maximum towing capacity.
Ram 1500 trucks have more engine options, from the 3.6L Pentastar V-6 to the HEMI V-8 and a 3.0L turbodiesel. The Pentastar V-6 puts out a modest 269 horsepower and 305 lb-ft of torque to achieve a 7,730 lb towing capacity. The turbodiesel powertrain can tow up to 12,560 pounds, and the 5.7L HEMI V-8 tops out at 12,750 pounds towing.
Quarter-Ton Pickup Trucks
Like the half-ton versions, the above manufacturers make quarter-ton pickups suitable for lesser towing needs. Ford has the Ranger, Chevy has the Colorado, and GMC has the Canyon. Ram is the only automaker in this group not to have an entry in this segment.Â
Test Drive a Pickup in Sanford, Florida
If you need a reliable pickup to tow your new boat, Gibson Truck World in Sanford, Florida, has the region's most expansive inventory of trucks. You'll find trucks of all sizes and powertrain configurations ready to tow your new boat wherever you want. We recommend you browse our inventory online to begin. Then, once you've identified a few trucks to take a closer look at, you can visit our dealership and speak with one of our truck consultants. They'll answer all your questions and let you take your favorite out for a test drive.