What truck do I need to tow a Sportsman Open 212?
A loaded Sportsman Open 212 (center console) weighs about 6,600 lb on its trailer by our conservative math, with a tongue weight of about 660–990 lb.
| Approx. dry weight (Sportsman) | 3,618 lb |
| Engine: Yamaha 4.2L V6 F225-F300 (heaviest listed variant), the heaviest Yamaha that covers the boat's 250 HP max | 588 lb |
| Fuel: 70 gal x 6.1 lb/gal (full tank) | 427 lb |
| Gear allowance: 10% (batteries, anchor, coolers, safety gear, T-top/options) | 463 lb |
| Trailer: ESTIMATE, 35% of boat + engine (no trailer weight published) | 1,500 lb |
| Estimated loaded trailer weight | 6,600 lb |
Sportsman's model page lists 60 gal and its compare tool lists 70 gal; we use the larger figure.
Truck by truck
| Truck | Answer | Engines |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Ford F-150 | It depends on the engine | 7✓ 2! 0✗ |
| 2025 Ford F-150 | It depends on the engine | 7✓ 2! 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 | It depends on the engine | 4✓ 4! 1✗ |
| 2025 Ram 1500 | It depends on the engine | 3✓ 3! 0✗ |
| 2026 Toyota Tacoma | No | 0✓ 0! 4✗ |
| 2025 Toyota Tacoma | No | 0✓ 0! 4✗ |
| 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
- Sportsman Open 212: Sportsman model page (Approx. dry weight, fuel capacity, max HP), checked 2026-10-29
- Engine weight: Yamaha Outboards spec page (Yamaha 4.2L V6 F225-F300 (heaviest listed variant), 588 lb)
- Method and assumptions: How we calculate