Can a 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 tow a Sun Tracker Party Barge 20 DLX?
Yes
We estimate a loaded Sun Tracker Party Barge 20 DLX on its trailer at about 4,210 lb. 8 of 8 Silverado 1500 engine/package options pass with a 20% margin (for example the 2.7L TurboMax). Payload still needs checking against your door-jamb sticker: tongue weight plus two adults is about 721-932 lb.
Check your exact setup (add your door-sticker payload and real trailer weight)
Sun Tracker Party Barge 20 DLX loaded towing weight
| Published average package (boat + motor + trailer), Sun Tracker | 3,745 lb |
| Fuel: 32.1 gal x 6.1 lb | 196 lb |
| Gear allowance: 10% of boat + 115 HP engine + fuel | 266 lb |
| Estimated loaded trailer weight | 4,210 lb |
We also computed boat (2,080 lb) + heaviest 115 HP-class engine (386 lb) + estimated trailer (900 lb) and kept whichever total was higher.
2026 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 towing ratings vs this boat
| Engine / package | Published rating (lb) | Tow | Payload | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.7L TurboMax | 8,900–9,500 | PASS | CHECK | PASS |
| 5.3L V8 | 9,200–9,900 | PASS | CHECK | PASS |
| 5.3L V8 + Max Trailering Package | 11,000–11,300 | PASS | CHECK | PASS |
| 6.2L V8 (not ZR2) | 9,100 | PASS | CHECK | PASS |
| 6.2L V8 + Max Trailering Package | 11,900–13,200 | PASS | CHECK | PASS |
| 3.0L Duramax diesel | 9,000–9,300 | PASS | CHECK | PASS |
| 3.0L Duramax + Max Trailering Package | 11,700–13,300 | PASS | CHECK | PASS |
| ZR2 (6.2L V8 or 3.0L Duramax) | 8,700–8,800 | PASS | CHECK | PASS |
"Published rating" is the lowest–highest conventional (ball-hitch) rating Chevrolet 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. Chevrolet: tongue weight should be 10-15% of loaded trailer weight and must not exceed rear axle rating, GVWR or max tongue load.
Tongue weight vs payload
Tongue weight should be 10–15% of the loaded trailer: about 421–632 lb. That comes out of your truck's payload along with everyone in the cab, so with two adults (300 lb) you need roughly 721–932 lb of payload before any cargo in the bed.
2.7L TurboMax PASS
PASS 4,210 lb is 47% of the lowest published rating (8,900 lb), inside a 20% safety margin.
CHECK Payload isn't published in the maker's towing chart for this truck. Use the payload on your door-jamb sticker.
5.3L V8 PASS
PASS 4,210 lb is 46% of the lowest published rating (9,200 lb), inside a 20% safety margin.
CHECK Payload isn't published in the maker's towing chart for this truck. Use the payload on your door-jamb sticker.
5.3L V8 + Max Trailering Package PASS
PASS 4,210 lb is 38% of the lowest published rating (11,000 lb), inside a 20% safety margin.
CHECK Payload isn't published in the maker's towing chart for this truck. Use the payload on your door-jamb sticker.
6.2L V8 (not ZR2) PASS
PASS 4,210 lb is 46% of the lowest published rating (9,100 lb), inside a 20% safety margin.
CHECK Payload isn't published in the maker's towing chart for this truck. Use the payload on your door-jamb sticker.
6.2L V8 + Max Trailering Package PASS
PASS 4,210 lb is 35% of the lowest published rating (11,900 lb), inside a 20% safety margin.
CHECK Payload isn't published in the maker's towing chart for this truck. Use the payload on your door-jamb sticker.
13,200 lb needs 20-in wheels.
3.0L Duramax diesel PASS
PASS 4,210 lb is 47% of the lowest published rating (9,000 lb), inside a 20% safety margin.
CHECK Payload isn't published in the maker's towing chart for this truck. Use the payload on your door-jamb sticker.
3.0L Duramax + Max Trailering Package PASS
PASS 4,210 lb is 36% of the lowest published rating (11,700 lb), inside a 20% safety margin.
CHECK Payload isn't published in the maker's towing chart for this truck. Use the payload on your door-jamb sticker.
13,000-13,300 lb needs 20-in wheels.
ZR2 (6.2L V8 or 3.0L Duramax) PASS
PASS 4,210 lb is 48% of the lowest published rating (8,700 lb), inside a 20% safety margin.
CHECK Payload isn't published in the maker's towing chart for this truck. Use the payload on your door-jamb sticker.
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
- 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 1500: Chevrolet 2026 Trailering Guide, Silverado 1500 conventional trailer weight ratings (pp. 26-27), checked 2026-10-29
- Sun Tracker Party Barge 20 DLX: Sun Tracker model page (Average dry weight, fuel capacity, max HP, average package weight), checked 2026-10-29
- Engine weight: Yamaha Outboards spec page (Yamaha F115, 386 lb)
- Method and assumptions: How we calculate
Related checks
Other boats with a 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
- Carolina Skiff 19 Ultra Elite (~4,320 lb)
- Tidewater 198 CC (~4,100 lb)
- Carolina Skiff 21 LS (~4,090 lb)
- NauticStar 203 DC (~4,340 lb)
- Grady-White Fisherman 180 (~4,350 lb)
- Sun Tracker Fishin' Barge 22 DLX (~4,360 lb)