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You can’t go wrong when towing boats behind these 2025 full-size pickups
Four-door half-ton pickups are great vehicles for towing boats when equipped with the optional factory towing package. Photo: Ford
Pickups have been the most popular vehicle to tow boats since not long after Henry Ford rolled out the Model T pickup in 1925. Little did the 45-year-old inventor know at the time that those 1,300-pound Model T Runabouts, which sold for $281 and were powered by a 20-horsepower 2.9L four-cylinder, would morph into an entire automotive segment that can cost more than $100,000 for the nicest models. Ford was a boat owner, too, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to learn he towed one of his Chris-Craft speedboats behind a Model T pickup.
Pickups rule when it comes to hauling heavier loads and towing larger boats when trailered loads head north of 5,000 pounds. Half-ton pickups are by far the tow rig of choice for many boaters because they have maximum towing capacities that easily accommodate most of the largest recreational boats.
For example, the popular 2025 Ford F-150 Super Crew 4x4 in mid-level Lariat trim powered by either a 400-hp 3.5L EcoBoost V-6 or 5.0L V-8 has a conventional towing capacity of 10,600 pounds, while those powered by the smaller 325-hp 2.7L EcoBoost V-6 is 8,000 pounds. Likewise, Chevrolet/GMC full-size pickups can tow anywhere between 8,700 pounds to 13,300 pounds depending on the model, type of engine (gas or turbo diesel), and tow package.
Choosing the best pickup for towing
Really the only thing one needs to know when it comes time to choose a full-size pickup (or SUV) to get a boat to the water is if it’s “properly equipped” for towing, and whether or not it’s a two-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive model. Properly-equipped just means it comes from the factory with a receiver hitch plus other special features installed by the factory that improve that specific vehicle’s overall performance and safety when pulling a trailer.
As for the drive mode, you can tow a boat just as easily with a rear-wheel-drive model (2WD) as with a 4WD or all-wheel-drive (AWD) version. The difference is the latter can provide the additional traction needed to get back up a wet boat ramp once the boat is snugged tight to the bow stop. If you do choose 2WD, it’s smart to make sure the pickup comes with a locking rear differential, a mechanical component that forces both wheels to turn in unison for better traction.
Editor's Picks: Best 2025 Half-Ton Pickups
Henry Ford would be left speechless if he walked into a pickup dealership today. Not only are there dozens and dozens of choices sitting on the lot, the level of sophistication within the safety and electronic features in today’s half-tons is enough to boggle the mind of the savviest of modern pickup buyers. Between the cab configurations, bed lengths, trims, and engine choices there are literally thousands of possible combos for buyers to customize a pickup to their liking, wallet, and needs.
Ford, GMC, Chevrolet, Ram Truck, and Toyota are all players in this market with tow capacities north of 10,000 pounds. Electric vehicle maker Rivian is also in the mix. What’s great about nearly all of these 2025 models is they have a “towing package” option that has some form of trailer sway control, trailer backup assist system, blind spot monitors, trailer light check, and other features that make hitching up and towing trailers of all types safer and easier.
That said, here are 2025 pickups that pique our interest because of configuration, price, and features that would make taking the family along on trips and towing a boat, or other water toys, to the ramp sweet drives. Note, too, that there is a lot of “carryover” in 2025, so it might pay to shop for 2024 models.
Photo: Ford
2025 Ford F-150 Lariat Crew Cab 4x4 3.5L
Ford did a major refresh on the F-150 in 2024, so the 2025 model is nearly identical except for minor improvements in the electronics packages and drive features, which include Ford BlueCruise hands-free highway driving. All models now have a 12-inch infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Lariat interior trim is very nice without busting the bank, and it has a long list of premium features.
As for towing, the F-150 SuperCrew model with the 3.5-liter gas V-6 (optional), 4x4, and 6.5-foot bed has 13,500 pounds of towing capacity. This model is mid-priced with MSRP around $67,000.
Photo: GMC
2025 GMC Sierra 1500 SLT Crew Cab 4x4 3.0L
The SLT trim in the 2025 GMC Sierra 1500 3.0L Duramax turbodiesel gives the buyer a nice mix of class-leading fuel economy, luxury, performance, roominess, electronics, and safety features that make towing a boat long distances quite enjoyable. The baby inline-six Duramax delivers 305 hp and 495 pounds per foot of torque. Big torque is what’s needed for towing. And for towing numbers, the turbodiesel outperforms the 5.3L V-8 with a huge 13,000-pound capacity. GMC has several option packages boaters would like when it comes to towing, safety, and comfort. Base MSRP will be in the low $60,000 range.
Photo: Dodge
2025 Ram 1500 Rebel
One of the best pickups for towing boats, motorized outdoor toys, or RVs is the all-new 2025 Ram 1500 Rebel. This model only comes as a 4x4 short bed powered by the new 420-hp Hurricane twin-turbo inline-six that replaced the Hemi V-8s. Among a long list of trailering features include a sweet Trailer Reverse Steering and Brake Control, Trailer Light Check, and an LED Trailer Hitch Light that come together to help hitch-and-go with ease. The optional 360-degree Surround View Cameras and telescoping Trailer Tow Mirrors add excellent visibility to the mix. The optional air suspension gives it one of the best rides in the full-size pickup market, and five drive modes let the driver select how it rides and handles on or off pavement. Base MSRP is $65,435.
Photo: Chevrolet
2025 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 High Country Crew Cab 4x4
This is the last year before a big refresh of the Silverado. Chevrolet Silverado has multiple engine choices from a 310-hp 2.7L inline-four gas turbo to a 420-hp 6.2L gas V-8. In between is the 305-hp 3.0L Duramax turbo diesel, which has a 13,000-pound tow rating, and the 355hp 5.3L gas V-8. Our pick is the latter in a short-bed Silverado Crew Cab 4x4 with High Country trim. The High Country trim provides a luxurious interior, a nice trailering package that includes hitch guidance, automatic emergency braking, and many other safety features. The standard 5.3L V-8 has a towing capacity of 9,300 pounds on the factory receiver hitch and 11,000 pounds when equipped with the optional Max Trailering Package. The 10-speed automatic is nicely suited to towing. Base MSRP is $68,195.
Tip
Don’t push the limit
When it comes time to choose a tow vehicle for your boat, it’s prudent for its towing capacity to be 20% to 30% greater than the trailered weight of the boat/trailer combo. This offers a little leeway so you don’t exceed the vehicle’s GCWR (the combined weight of the vehicle, passengers, cargo, fuel, and trailer) that might come into play during an outing. — B.W.S.
Photo: Chevrolet
Photo: Toyota
2025 Toyota Tundra Platinum CrewMax 4x4
Among the powerhouse of boat-towing full-size pickups are the Toyota Tundras running the 3.4L 437-hp twin-turbo’d V-6 i-FORCE MAX that uses a 48-hp electric motor between the engine and transmission to give it that extra oomph. The V-6 engine’s 583-pound-foot torque at 2,400 rpm is nothing short of amazing when it comes to getting a load moving. It’s far better than the V-8 it replaced. The short bed 4x4 model Limited and higher-trim TRD Pro top out at 11,175 pounds towing capacity, while the 2WD models can lug about 300 more pounds to the water. Toyota’s 10-speed automatic helps in towing with uphill/downhill shift logic to help control the towed load. Base MSRP TRD Pro trim starts at $73,000, while the Platinum base is near $70,000.
Photo: Rivian
2025 Rivian R1T Adventure
If you are an EV aficionado the second generation Rivian R1T should amp up your heart rate. The 2025 R1T is much more refined in ride than the previous model: It’s lighter, faster, and it’s the most powerful offering in half-ton pickups with up to 1,025 horsepower while delivering 1,198 pound-foot of torque in the Ascend Quad-Max version. Oh, and the 11,000-pound tow rating across three models is nothing to sneeze at. Our pick would be the Dual-Motor AWD Adventure model with the standard Dual Large motors (533 hp/610 pound-foot). It has an estimated range of 330 miles on the basic battery pack. Depending on the weight of the boat/trailer, expect a reduction in the driving range to less than 150 miles. The Adventure base MSRP is $76,900.
Photo: GMC, Nissan
Great midsize pickups
Midsize pickups are a popular choice among those who don’t need the massive tow/haul capabilities of a full-size pickup but still need the ability to take care of similar tasks with a smaller, less expensive pickup. Midsize pickups also fit into single-car garages and are more maneuverable than their bigger counterparts. Great 2024-2025 choices for towing boats and PWCs, when equipped with the factory towing packages, are the GMC Canyon Elevation 4x4 (7,700 lbs.), Chevrolet Colorado Z71 (7,700), Ford Ranger XLT 2.7L 4x4 (7,500), Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport (6,400), and Nissan Frontier King Cab S (6,640).
Photo: Equalizer Hitch
Trailer sway control
When the boat/trailer combo is near the max capacity of a full-size pickup, it’s prudent to install an aftermarket trailer sway control device. Boat trailers are inherently tail heavy, which promotes trailer sway. They also typically use surge brakes, so when the tow vehicle slows down, the trailer brakes are applied as the trailer tongue slides forward to apply pressure to the brake cylinder inside the tongue. Boat trailers rarely need weight-distribution hitches, plus such hitches inhibit the forward movement needed to activate the surge brake. The Original Equal-i-zer Sway Control Hitch (prices start around $850) is about the only choice because its spring arms slide back and forth freely so that they don’t interfere with the function of the surge brake mechanism.