What truck do I need to tow a Carolina Skiff 178 JLS?
A loaded Carolina Skiff 178 JLS (skiff) weighs about 2,760 lb on its trailer by our conservative math, with a tongue weight of about 276–414 lb.
| Boat weight (Carolina Skiff) | 1,400 lb |
| Engine: Yamaha F115, the heaviest Yamaha that covers the boat's 115 HP max | 386 lb |
| Fuel: 21 gal x 6.1 lb/gal (full tank) | 128 lb |
| Gear allowance: 10% (batteries, anchor, coolers, safety gear, T-top/options) | 191 lb |
| Trailer: ESTIMATE, 35% of boat + engine (no trailer weight published) | 650 lb |
| Estimated loaded trailer weight | 2,760 lb |
Truck by truck
| Truck | Answer | Engines |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Ford F-150 | Yes | 9✓ 0! 0✗ |
| 2025 Ford F-150 | Yes | 9✓ 0! 0✗ |
| 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | Yes | 8✓ 0! 0✗ |
| 2025 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | Yes | 8✓ 0! 0✗ |
| 2026 GMC Sierra 1500 | Yes | 8✓ 0! 0✗ |
| 2026 Ram 1500 | Yes | 9✓ 0! 0✗ |
| 2025 Ram 1500 | Yes | 6✓ 0! 0✗ |
| 2026 Toyota Tacoma | Yes | 4✓ 0! 0✗ |
| 2025 Toyota Tacoma | Yes | 4✓ 0! 0✗ |
| 2026 Toyota Tundra | Yes | 4✓ 0! 0✗ |
| 2025 Toyota Tundra | Yes | 4✓ 0! 0✗ |
Confirm with your door-jamb sticker and owner's manual. Your exact truck's rating depends on cab, bed, drive, axle ratio, options and tires, and your boat's real weight depends on its engine, options, fuel and gear. When in doubt, weigh the rig at a CAT scale.
Gear you may need
Placeholder links (not affiliate links yet). Disclosure.
Trailer brake controller
Boat trailers over about 3,000 lb usually need working trailer brakes (check your state's law); an electric-over-hydraulic or electric setup needs a controller in the truck.
Class IV receiver hitch & ball mount
Match the ball mount drop to your trailer so the boat rides level; the hitch rating must cover the full loaded trailer.
Sources
- Carolina Skiff 178 JLS: Carolina Skiff model page (Boat weight, fuel capacity, max HP), checked 2026-10-29
- Engine weight: Yamaha Outboards spec page (Yamaha F115, 386 lb)
- Method and assumptions: How we calculate