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I've seen quite a few posts here and other places about vehicles to tow boats. It looks like in general a 3/4 ton or 1 ton truck is the gold standard, but there have been suggestions that 1/2 ton or even some SUVs are adequate to tow.

I have a 2024 R8 with the trailer and I believe the dry weights are 6400lb and 1600lb respectively. I would assume that full load approaches 9000lbs (give or take). There are a few SUVs that are rated over 9000lb (Hummer at 10,000, Expedition at 9,600, Sequoia at 9,520). I know that there are other factors involved other than towing capacity, but I'm not sure if people have real world experience using these vehicles to tow a boat that heavy. Are these cutting it too close, or do I just need to get a 3/4 ton truck. I'm hoping for an SUV, as I will use that more in general than a truck.

Thanks for the help.

You need a 3/4 or 1 ton. I pulled my R7 for a year with a 1/2 ton Yukon Denali. Plenty of power. Upgraded (Brembo) brakes helped. But the few times I had to stop harder than I wished, I could tell that, even with good trailer brakes, the boat was pushing the rear around - not a great feeling. Pulling with a 3/4 diesel has been so much safer and easier. Even with full luggage in the bed, full fuel in the boat, fresh water, gear, etc. I tow for multiple hours at a time, often.

You're looking at 6500lb for the boat, 80 gal of gas is another 500lb, plus figure a couple hundred pounds of stuff in the boat. Add 1500lb for a trailer, and you're at 8500-9000lb. It feels like 3/4 ton territory to me, and your mileage will be a lot better with a diesel. I'd also look at electric over hydraulic brakes on the trailer (too heavy for surge brakes, in my opinion) and a good brake controller for comfortable towing.

9,000 lbs with 10% on the tongue is 900 lbs on the receiver hitch. RAM trucks recommends a weight distributing hitch for anything over 5,000 lbs and says the max tongue weight on a Class IV receiver is 1,100 lbs. I'd get a 3/4T truck to pull your boat. PS I hope your user name isn't related to a condition you have

jhnmdahl wrote: Tue May 12, 2026 1:42 pm I'd also look at electric over hydraulic brakes on the trailer (too heavy for surge brakes, in my opinion) and a good brake controller for comfortable towing.

+1

EOH brakes are game-changing.

How far and how often? I tow our R5 occasionally with a 20 Ram 1500 ecodiesel when we take our boat to a different lake or bring it home for service but my boat mainly stays at the marina minus 2-4 trips out a year (<200 miles Pennsylvania/MD Hills). Truck has similar tow capacity to the vehicles you mention on paper. I have extensive experience towing all types of equipment and trailers with different vehicles-for reference. While I do not have any issues with my setup, fully loaded (coolers, kids, boat full of fuel, water tank, floats, rods etc etc) i wouldn't want to be doing it constantly. Power isn't a big problem (even with the anemic ecodiesel)... stopping isn't really an issue either my trailer is hyd surge- not the best or smoothest as others mentioned but it works OK. The big thing that brakes and HP dont account for -is the weight vs aerodynamics with that size boat behind you. You know its there for sure, especially passing tractor trailers or in a crosswind and my boat/trailer is probably 1/2 ton lighter than yours and several feet of wind resistance less. 3/4 ton all day for capacity, comfort and safety. If you're towing 50 miles twice a year you will probably get away with it and be OK.

Maybe try and rent one of those vehicles before buying and go for a spin?
Safe travels & good luck!!!