Towing a Boat with a Mid-Size SUV
Towing a 5,500 lb boat with an SUV rated for 7,500 lbs uses about 73% of its tow capacity — safe but check tongue weight too.
How to use this tool
- Enter the fully loaded trailer weight in pounds.
- Enter your vehicle's tow capacity from the owner's manual.
- Enter the tongue weight and your vehicle's tongue weight limit.
- Stay under 80% capacity for safe towing; 100%+ is over the limit.
Taking your boat to the lake? Check whether your SUV's tow rating is safe for your boat and trailer's combined weight before you go.
Frequently asked questions
- What percentage of tow capacity is safe?
- Stay under 80% of your vehicle's maximum tow rating for a comfortable safety margin. At 90–100% the vehicle is stressed and braking distance increases significantly.
- What is tongue weight?
- Tongue weight is the downward force the trailer coupler exerts on the hitch ball. It should be 10–15% of gross trailer weight. Too little causes trailer sway; too much stresses the vehicle's rear suspension.