What Boats Can a Dodge Durango Tow?

For all the proud owners of a Dodge Durango, it hardly comes as a surprise that this versatile SUV has some serious force. If you have recently bought a boat and are wondering if your vehicle has the towing capacity to handle the load, you will be delighted to read that the Durango is indeed quite efficient at towing boats or watercrafts. How Much Weight Can Dodge Durango Tow? The Dodge Durango is a multipurpose SUV that can tow between 6,200 and 8,700 pounds depending on the model you own. If your Dodge Durango is equipped with a 3.6L V6 engine, your towing load should not exceed 6,200 lb. If you have the model with the 5.7L V8 engine, your vehicle can handle up to 7,400 pounds. Finally, should you be the lucky owner of the most powerful version of the Dodge Durango, which comes with a 6.8L V8, you can tow an impressive weight of up to 8,700 pounds. Now you know the weight limit when it comes to your vehicle’s towing capacity, but that is not enough. You need to know whether your SUV can handle the load of your boat or watercraft. That is why this guide will help you figure out specifically what kinds of boats the Durango can tow. What Types of Boats Can a Dodge Durango Tow? At a maximum towing capacity of 8,700 pounds, the Dodge Durango allows you to tow a wide variety of boats. For an overview of the kinds of boats you can tow with this vehicle, take a look at the table below. It lists the type of boat the Durango can handle towing in the left column, and the average dry weight for each boat type on the right. Remember that you should not exceed the towing capacity of your vehicle at any time. When you calculate the weight of your entire load, you need to consider the weight of the trailer you use to tow the boat, as well as the boat itself. For instance, if your boat weights 8,500 pounds, and your trailer another 500 pounds, you would exceed the towing capacity by 300 pounds. Moreover, if you tow your boat after it has been on the water, remember that it will be heavier. Do some extra research on your boat’s wet weight before you load it on the trailer after a trip to the water. Taking these limitations into account, here is a list of boat types that your Dodge Durango can tow, along with their average dry weight. Type of Boat Average Dry Weight Jon Boat 450 pounds Personal Watercraft 750 pounds Bass Boat 1,700 pounds Jet Boat 2,300 pounds Ski Boat (Wake Boat) 3,500 pounds Bowrider Boats 4,200 pounds Speed Boat 8,000 pounds The above table names seven different boat types that your Dodge Durango may be able to tow. The weights listed here are averages, so you will need to check your individual boat’s weight before you load it on the boat trailer. Remember that your vehicle’s towing capacity depends on the model; for instance, if you have the V6 model, you may still be able to tow a Bay Boat, but you cannot tow a Speed Boat. If you have the 6.8L V8 model of the Dodge Durango, you can tow either of those boat types. Jon Boat Jon boats are flat-bottom boats designed for freshwater fishing. They are made from wood, fiberglass, or aluminum and have one to three built-in seating benches. These simple boats are easy to take care of and lightweight, so your Dodge Durango can effortlessly tow them. For example, your vehicle could tow any of the following Jon Boats: Tracker Topper 1236 - 126 poundsSmoker Craft 1436 – 182 poundsLowe Roughneck 2070 - 710 poundsG3 Boats Gator Tough – 1,065 pounds Personal Watercraft Personal watercrafts, often referred to by Kawasaki’s brand name Jet Ski, are recreational watercrafts that you can stand or sit on. Most riders enjoy their personal watercraft because of the speeds they can reach. You can think of them as the water-based equivalent of a motorcycle or snow mobile. These are some of the personal watercrafts you can tow with your Dodge Durango: Yamaha SUPERJET – 306 pounds Yamaha FX HO – 836 pounds Kawasaki ULTRA 310R – 1,047 pounds Bass Boat As the name suggests, bass boats are primarily built for fishing bass or similar fish. These small fishing boats work best in freshwater, including rivers and lakes. They are made from aluminum or fiber glass. A good bass boat comes with fishing-appropriate features such as swivel seats and a well for storing live fish. Some bass boats you can tow with your Dodge Durango include: 2018 Tracker Pro 170 – 878 poundsLowe 18' Catfish - 1,327 poundsNITRO Z21 - 2,150 poundsSkeeter FX211 LE – 2,175 pounds Jet Boat A jetboat propels itself by drawing water from underneath the boat and ejecting it as a jet stream. Jetboats are known for flexible maneuvers like spinning or going from full speed to reverse. These boats are useful for coast guard and water police but are also popular for fishing and pleasure boating. These are some jet boat models your vehicle could tow. Scarab 165 G –1,600 poundsYamaha AR195 – 2,500 poundsVortex 2430 VRX – 4,100 pounds Ski Boat Ski boats, or wake boats, are specifically designed for sports such as water skiing, wakeboarding, or tubing. They are built to create certain types of “wakes,” or wave patterns, as they drive. This ensures that the skier or boarder can enter and ride the water in optimal conditions. These are some ski boats that your vehicle can tow. Malibu TXi MO – 3,100 poundsSuper Air Nautique 230 - 4,650 poundsMalibu Wakesetter 24MXZ – 4,800 pounds Bowrider Boats A bowrider boat, characterized by the offset helm, is a popular in pleasure or sports boating. It holds groups of six to ten people and is best suited for inland water due to the heavy spray these boats create on open water. You can use a bowrider for water skiing, tubing, or snorkeling expeditions. Below are a few examples of bowrider models that your Dodge Durango can tow. Bayliner 170 OB – 1,752 poundsCampion Alante 595i – BR – 3,400 poundsBaja 247 Islander – 4,299 pounds Speed Boat Speed boats are engine-powered boats that are built – you guessed it – for the purpose of being fast. There are different types of motor configurations for speed boads, including inboard and outboard engines. Depending on your type of speed boat, you can use it for racing, pleasure boating, or fishing. These are some examples of some speed boats which your vehicle can tow. Yamaha 275SE – 5,300 pounds32 Thunder Cat - 5,400 poundsDCB M35 - 9,250 pounds Further Information Before you haul your new boat on a boat trailer and tow it to the ocean with your Dodge Durango, there are a few more things you need to consider. For example, you need to set up your hitch and trailer safely and correctly. Selecting a Hitch To get your Dodge Durango ready to for towing your boat, you need to select and mount an appropriate hitch. What hitch you need depends on the vehicle’s towing capacity and the tongue weight. Tongue weight is the weight that bears down on your hitch while your boat trailer is attached. It is roughly 10% of your gross trailer weight (which includes the weight of your trailer plus boat). There are five classes of hitches, but for an SUV like the Dodge Durango, you really only need to consider the first three classes. For more information on selecting the right hitch, check out this guide. 2020 Dodge Durango Pictured Boat Trailering Tips We have compiled a few boat trailering tips for you to follow. However, if you are new to boat trailering, be sure to do some research on safety before you head out. Always stay focused while driving with a trailer. If anything feels off, pull over to the side and check on your boat and trailer. When driving with a trailer, you should go much slower than when driving without. Stay in the right lane if possible, and don’t engage in any unnecessary overtaking maneuvers. Remember that, with extra weight, it takes your car longer to brake and come to a stop. Keep a greater distance between yourself and the vehicle in front of you than you normally would. With a trailer, your vehicle is much longer, so make sure you account for that whenever you take turns. Closing Thoughts Looking back at what we’ve discussed in this article, the Dodge Durango is a powerful SUV that is well suited to tow small to medium-weight boats. Its towing capacity ranges from 6,200 to 8,700 pounds. Remember to check which model you are driving, because the Dodge Durango comes with three different types of engines. The more powerful your engine, the greater your vehicle’s towing capacity. If you are looking to tow heavier boats, such as a cabin cruiser, an SUV is not suitable for the task. You might want to consider purchasing a powerful truck like the Chevy Silverado, which can tow up to 14,500 pounds. What Boats Can a Dodge Durango Tow?