Determine Towing Capacity
Trailering a boat gives you the freedom to boat just about anywhere, and it’s a great way to explore different waterways in your state or region. If you've never trailered a boat before, there are several things you need to consider first.
Steps
- You can find this information in your vehicle's owner's manual.
- Your boat's owner's manual will list the "dry weight" of your boat. That's the weight of the boat, less fuel and gear. When assessing your vehicle's towing capacity, be sure to add several hundred pounds to the dry weight of the boat to account for the added weight of fuel and gear.
- Have the right vehicle.
- Small family sedans are not suitable for towing, although a small, aluminum fishing boat may not present a problem, provided you have appropriate towing equipment installed on the car.
- Most standard pick-up trucks and SUVs can trailer boats up to {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}}, but again, consult your vehicle owner's manual for limitations.
- As your boat gets larger, adjust your vehicle accordingly. As the weight, length and width (beam) of a given boat increase, so does the muscle power needed to launch and retrieve it. A small boat may be easy for one person to handle at the ramp, but boats generally more than {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} may require additional hands.
Related Articles
References
- Shared with permission by Discover Boating
