What Boats Can a Ford Raptor Tow? [23 Examples]
If you bit the bullet and purchased Ford’s newest pickup truck model, the Ford Raptor, then you know how remarkable the vehicle already is. But, if you’re also an avid outdoorsman that enjoys boating and fishing, you’ll be surprised to learn about the towing capacity of your Raptor and which boats and watercraft it can tow easily.
How Much Weight Can a Ford Raptor Tow?
How Much Weight Can a Ford Raptor Tow? The Ford Raptor provides a towing capacity of 6,000 to 8,000 pounds and can also support a load up to 1,200 pounds in its bed as well. With this towing capacity and load capabilities, you’ll be able to tow a large range of boats relatively simply.
It’s important to know what your vehicle’s towing capacity is, but there’s much more information you need to know before finally purchasing the boat of your dreams. Given the towing capacity of your truck, you also need to know what types of boats have an average weight within that towing capacity and specific models you should consider.
What Types of Boats Can a Ford Raptor Tow?
Boasting a towing capacity of up to 8,000 pounds, you have quite the selection when it comes to the type of boat you can tow with your Raptor. In the table below, we will briefly introduce different types of boats that your Ford Raptor can tow and the average weight of each type based on the average dry weight.
Also important to remember when considering the towing capacity of your vehicle is the weight of the trailer you plan to use to tow your boat. Failure to do so can severely impact your vehicle’s engine, performance, and transmission.
In the case of a Ford Raptor, your towing capacity maxes out at 8,000 pounds. If you’ve found a boat that you actually are interested in buying that weighs about 7,500 pounds, the maximum weight of your trailer would have to be 500 pounds or less. With that said, it’s potentially harmful to your vehicle to max out the towing capacity and you should select a boat that’s well within your vehicle’s capacity.
After considering this data, take a look at the chart below to view the types of boats that your Ford Raptor can tow and the average dry weight of each of these types.
| Type of Boat | Average Dry Weight |
| Jon Boat | 450 pounds |
| Personal Watercraft | 850 pounds |
| Bass Boat | 1,700 pounds |
| Pontoon Boat?”>Pontoon Boat | 3,100 pounds |
| Ski Boat | 3,500 pounds |
| Center Console Boat | 5,000 pounds |
In the table above, we briefly went over six different types of boats that you can expect your Ford Raptor to be able to tow. Keep in mind that the actual number values in the table are estimates and averages, which means there are going to be boats in each category well above and below the weight depicted in the table.
Jon Boat
Jon boats are some of the most simple fishing boats that you can purchase. With a small size and lightweight construction (usually aluminum), these are also the easiest boats to tow with almost any vehicle. The boats have a flatter bottom and contain benches for occupant seating.
Here are some models of this type of boat that your vehicle should be able to tow easily.
- Crestliner 1600 – 275 pounds
- Crestliner 1800 – 475 pounds
- Lowe Roughneck 2070 – 710 pounds
- Tracker Grizzly 1860 – 794 pounds
Personal Watercraft
Personal watercraft are also known as PWCs, but are more commonly known as Jet Skis. With the option between sit-down and stand-up models, you can easily glide across the surface of the water at a high speed in a design most suitable to you. These provide an exhilarating experience and intense ride.
Here are some specific models that are reasonably within your vehicle’s towing limit.
- Kawasaki SX-R – 551 pounds
- Sea-Doo Wake 155 – 718 pounds
- Sea-Doo RXP-X 300 – 847 pounds
- Kawasaki ULTRA 310X SE – 1,052 pounds
Bass Boat
Bass boats are the perfect fishing boat for small bodies of freshwater. This type of boat is motorized and capable of seating several people with the addition of comfortable seats and chairs.
Here are some specific models that are reasonably within your vehicle’s towing limit.
- Tracker Boats Pro Team 190 TX – 1,048 pounds
- Lowe 18′ Catfish – 1,327 pounds
- Ranger Boats Z521L – 1,925 pounds
- Ranger Boats 1880MS – 2,290 pounds
Pontoon Boat
Pontoon boats are most easily recognized by their use on lakes and other freshwater sources for social gatherings and parties. With a substantially larger deck than most boat types, you can seat sometimes a dozen people while also being able to participate in activities like fishing or water tubing while spending time on the lake
Here are some specific models that are reasonably within your vehicle’s towing limit.
- Sweetwater SW 2086 22′ – 1,773 pounds
- Lowe SS210 20′ – 1,860 pounds
- Avalon Catalina DRL 24′ – 2,050 pounds
BONUS TIPS: 25 Pontoon Boat Accessories You’ll Be Sorry You Don’t Have!
Ski Boat
Ski boats are the perfect boat if you consider yourself to be a fan of watersports. With a construction that’s conducive to developing waves at the rear of the boat, ski boats allow you to participate in activities like water skiing, wakeboarding, and water tubing. They are pretty fun to drive and are high-speed.
Here are some specific models that are reasonably within your vehicle’s towing limit.
- Moomba Outback 2013 – 2,800 pounds
- Malibu TXi MO – 3,100 pounds
- Tigé RZX3 2019 – 6,000 pounds
- MasterCraft X26 2019 – 6,700 pounds
Center Console Boat
Center console boats are any variation of boat that has a console in the center, exactly as the name implies. These boats are perfect for fishing given the impressive amount of deck space they provide and their durability in rougher water conditions.
Here are some specific models that are reasonably within your vehicle’s towing limit.
- Boston Whaler 210 Montauk – 2,500 pounds
- Open 232 Center Console – 2,750 pounds
- EdgeWater 388 CC – 4,300 pounds
- Century 2600 – 5,800 pounds
More Information
Purchasing the boat was the easy part. Making sure you set up your vehicle and trailer to tow your new boat is a bit more difficult and extensive. In this section, we will include some information on setting up your trailer and actually driving your vehicle with a trailer.
Setting Up Your Trailer
The most important thing you can do before loading your boat onto its trailer is to make sure that the trailer is level with the ground. This will prevent your trailer from disconnecting from the hitch while driving and will prevent fishtailing and other dangerous situations. In terms of security, you also need to guarantee that you tightened the nuts and bolts of your hitch and trailer and secured the connection with safety chains.
Driving with a Trailer
Driving with a boat trailer is nowhere near the same as driving your Raptor on its own because of the added length and weight. It requires much more focus and attention to detail to drive with a boat trailer safely, but it’s completely doable. Here are some tips you should follow when driving with a boat trailer.
- Keep a safe following distance in case the person in front of you stops short. The added weight to your vehicle will make it harder to stop quickly.
- Stay in the right lane as much as possible. It’s difficult to judge how long your vehicle is now that you’ve added 20 feet or more to the end of it, which makes merging and lane changes difficult.
- Take into account the added length. When making turns, make them wider than you normally would to prevent hitting curbs or other vehicles in the road.
- When reversing your vehicle with a trailer, use the assistance of another person to guide you.
- If something seems wrong with your vehicle, trailer, or boat while you’re driving, pull over immediately and assess the situation.
Closing Thoughts
In this article, we thoroughly reviewed the towing capacity of the Ford Raptor and what this means for a person interested in boating or fishing. We also provided six types of boats that the Ford Raptor can tow and 23 total examples of specific models your Raptor can tow for you. Ideally, this helped you narrow down your list of potential boats or even helped you to make a purchase decision.
If you don’t own a Ford Raptor and you’re just looking for a vehicle that can tow the boats you currently own, there are plenty of other options for reasonable vehicles. If you’re looking for a vehicle capable of towing an impressive weight that also has plenty of features that you might be looking for, check out our full section on towing capacity by vehicle!