What truck do I need to tow a Carolina Skiff 23 LS?
A loaded Carolina Skiff 23 LS (skiff) weighs about 4,770 lb on its trailer by our conservative math, with a tongue weight of about 477–716 lb.
| Boat weight (Carolina Skiff) | 2,550 lb |
| Engine: Yamaha F200 (heaviest listed variant; also used for 175 HP), the heaviest Yamaha that covers the boat's 200 HP max | 568 lb |
| Fuel: 35 gal x 6.1 lb/gal (full tank) | 214 lb |
| Gear allowance: 10% (batteries, anchor, coolers, safety gear, T-top/options) | 333 lb |
| Trailer: ESTIMATE, 35% of boat + engine (no trailer weight published) | 1,100 lb |
| Estimated loaded trailer weight | 4,770 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 | It depends on the engine | 0✓ 3! 1✗ |
| 2025 Toyota Tacoma | It depends on the engine | 0✓ 3! 1✗ |
| 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
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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 23 LS: Carolina Skiff model page (Boat weight, fuel capacity, max HP), checked 2026-10-29
- Engine weight: Yamaha Outboards spec page (Yamaha F200 (heaviest listed variant; also used for 175 HP), 568 lb)
- Method and assumptions: How we calculate