Can a 2025 Ford F-150 tow a Carolina Skiff 24 Ultra Elite?
It depends on the engine
We estimate a loaded Carolina Skiff 24 Ultra Elite on its trailer at about 6,180 lb. 8 of 9 F-150 engine/package options pass with a 20% margin (for example the 3.5L EcoBoost V6 (without Max Tow Axle)). 1 is borderline (caution). Payload still needs checking against your door-jamb sticker: tongue weight plus two adults is about 918-1,227 lb.
Check your exact setup (add your door-sticker payload and real trailer weight)
Carolina Skiff 24 Ultra Elite loaded towing weight
| Boat weight (Carolina Skiff) | 3,277 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: 78 gal x 6.1 lb/gal (full tank) | 476 lb |
| Gear allowance: 10% (batteries, anchor, coolers, safety gear, T-top/options) | 434 lb |
| Trailer: ESTIMATE, 35% of boat + engine (no trailer weight published) | 1,400 lb |
| Estimated loaded trailer weight | 6,180 lb |
2025 Ford F-150 towing ratings vs this boat
| Engine / package | Published rating (lb) | Tow | Payload | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.7L EcoBoost V6 | 7,400–8,400 | CAUTION | CHECK | CAUTION |
| 3.5L EcoBoost V6 (without Max Tow Axle) | 10,200–11,000 | PASS | CHECK | PASS |
| 3.5L EcoBoost V6 + Tow/Haul Pkg & Max Tow Axle | 12,800–13,500 | PASS | CHECK | PASS |
| 5.0L V8 (without Max Tow Axle) | 9,000–10,400 | PASS | CHECK | PASS |
| 5.0L V8 + Tow/Haul Pkg & Max Tow Axle | 12,200–12,900 | PASS | CHECK | PASS |
| 3.5L PowerBoost Hybrid (17,100 lb GCWR) | 10,800 | PASS | CHECK | PASS |
| 3.5L PowerBoost Hybrid + Tow/Haul Pkg & Max Tow Axle | 11,000–11,200 | PASS | CHECK | PASS |
| Raptor 3.5L EcoBoost H.O. | 8,200 | PASS | CHECK | PASS |
| Raptor R 5.2L Supercharged V8 | 8,700 | PASS | CHECK | PASS |
"Published rating" is the lowest–highest conventional (ball-hitch) rating Ford prints for that engine/package across cab, bed, drive and axle choices. PASS means the loaded trailer is at or under 80% of the lowest rating. Ford: do not exceed 5,000 lb without a weight-distribution system; tongue load should be 10% of loaded trailer weight.
Tongue weight vs payload
Tongue weight should be 10–15% of the loaded trailer: about 618–927 lb. That comes out of your truck's payload along with everyone in the cab, so with two adults (300 lb) you need roughly 918–1,227 lb of payload before any cargo in the bed.
2.7L EcoBoost V6 CAUTION
CAUTION 6,180 lb is within the 7,400 lb rating but uses 84% of it, which leaves less than our 20% safety margin.
CHECK Needs about 918-1,227 lb of payload. Ford only publishes a best-case max (1,775 lb); your door-jamb sticker is lower, so check it.
3.5L EcoBoost V6 (without Max Tow Axle) PASS
PASS 6,180 lb is 61% of the lowest published rating (10,200 lb), inside a 20% safety margin.
CHECK Needs about 918-1,227 lb of payload. Ford only publishes a best-case max (2,440 lb); your door-jamb sticker is lower, so check it.
Includes Tremor (10,200 lb).
3.5L EcoBoost V6 + Tow/Haul Pkg & Max Tow Axle PASS
PASS 6,180 lb is 48% of the lowest published rating (12,800 lb), inside a 20% safety margin.
CHECK Needs about 918-1,227 lb of payload. Ford only publishes a best-case max (2,440 lb); your door-jamb sticker is lower, so check it.
Requires Tow/Haul Package (53T) and optional Max Tow Axle.
5.0L V8 (without Max Tow Axle) PASS
PASS 6,180 lb is 69% of the lowest published rating (9,000 lb), inside a 20% safety margin.
CHECK Needs about 918-1,227 lb of payload. Ford only publishes a best-case max (2,225 lb); your door-jamb sticker is lower, so check it.
Includes Tremor.
5.0L V8 + Tow/Haul Pkg & Max Tow Axle PASS
PASS 6,180 lb is 51% of the lowest published rating (12,200 lb), inside a 20% safety margin.
CHECK Needs about 918-1,227 lb of payload. Ford only publishes a best-case max (2,225 lb); your door-jamb sticker is lower, so check it.
Requires Tow/Haul Package (53T) and optional Max Tow Axle.
3.5L PowerBoost Hybrid (17,100 lb GCWR) PASS
PASS 6,180 lb is 57% of the lowest published rating (10,800 lb), inside a 20% safety margin.
CHECK Needs about 918-1,227 lb of payload. Ford only publishes a best-case max (1,815 lb); your door-jamb sticker is lower, so check it.
3.5L PowerBoost Hybrid + Tow/Haul Pkg & Max Tow Axle PASS
PASS 6,180 lb is 56% of the lowest published rating (11,000 lb), inside a 20% safety margin.
CHECK Needs about 918-1,227 lb of payload. Ford only publishes a best-case max (1,815 lb); your door-jamb sticker is lower, so check it.
Raptor 3.5L EcoBoost H.O. PASS
PASS 6,180 lb is 75% of the lowest published rating (8,200 lb), inside a 20% safety margin.
CHECK Needs about 918-1,227 lb of payload. Ford only publishes a best-case max (1,405 lb); your door-jamb sticker is lower, so check it.
Payload figure is with 37-in tires.
Raptor R 5.2L Supercharged V8 PASS
PASS 6,180 lb is 71% of the lowest published rating (8,700 lb), inside a 20% safety margin.
CHECK Needs about 918-1,227 lb of payload. Ford only publishes a best-case max (1,410 lb); your door-jamb sticker is lower, so check it.
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.
Tongue weight scale
The only way to know your real tongue weight (10-15% of the loaded trailer) before it eats your payload.
Sources
- 2025 Ford F-150: Ford 2025 F-150 Towing Guide (conventional towing tables; performance/payload table), checked 2026-10-29
- Carolina Skiff 24 Ultra Elite: Carolina Skiff model page (Boat 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
Related checks
Other boats with a 2025 Ford F-150
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- Tidewater 2410 BM (~6,310 lb)
- Grady-White Freedom 215 (~6,000 lb)
- Tidewater 2300 CB (~5,970 lb)