What truck do I need to tow a Key West 189 FS?
A loaded Key West 189 FS (center console) weighs about 3,480 lb on its trailer by our conservative math, with a tongue weight of about 348–522 lb.
| Weight (Key West) | 1,650 lb |
| Engine: Yamaha F150 (heaviest listed variant), the heaviest Yamaha that covers the boat's 150 HP max | 566 lb |
| Fuel: 35 gal x 6.1 lb/gal (full tank) | 214 lb |
| Gear allowance: 10% (batteries, anchor, coolers, safety gear, T-top/options) | 243 lb |
| Trailer: ESTIMATE, 35% of boat + engine (no trailer weight published) | 800 lb |
| Estimated loaded trailer weight | 3,480 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 | 3✓ 1! 0✗ |
| 2025 Toyota Tacoma | It depends on the engine | 3✓ 1! 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
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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
- Key West 189 FS: Key West model page (Weight, fuel capacity, max HP), checked 2026-10-29
- Engine weight: Yamaha Outboards spec page (Yamaha F150 (heaviest listed variant), 566 lb)
- Method and assumptions: How we calculate