Can a 2026 Ford F-150 tow a Grady-White Freedom 235?
It depends on the engine
We estimate a loaded Grady-White Freedom 235 on its trailer at about 8,060 lb. 5 of 9 F-150 engine/package options pass with a 20% margin (for example the 3.5L EcoBoost V6 (without Max Tow Axle)). 4 are borderline (caution). Payload still needs checking against your door-jamb sticker: tongue weight plus two adults is about 1,106-1,509 lb.
Check your exact setup (add your door-sticker payload and real trailer weight)
Grady-White Freedom 235 loaded towing weight
| Weight (w/o engines) (Grady-White) | 4,420 lb |
| Engine: Yamaha 4.3L V6 F350 (heaviest listed variant), the heaviest Yamaha that covers the boat's 350 HP max | 653 lb |
| Fuel: 100 gal x 6.1 lb/gal (full tank) | 610 lb |
| Gear allowance: 10% (batteries, anchor, coolers, safety gear, T-top/options) | 568 lb |
| Trailer: ESTIMATE, 35% of boat + engine (no trailer weight published) | 1,800 lb |
| Estimated loaded trailer weight | 8,060 lb |
2026 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) | 10,500–11,000 | PASS | CHECK | PASS |
| 3.5L EcoBoost V6 + Tow/Haul Pkg & Max Tow Axle | 13,100–13,500 | PASS | CHECK | PASS |
| 5.0L V8 (without Max Tow Axle) | 9,000–10,500 | CAUTION | CHECK | CAUTION |
| 5.0L V8 + Tow/Haul Pkg & Max Tow Axle | 12,300–12,800 | PASS | CHECK | PASS |
| 3.5L PowerBoost Hybrid (without Max Tow Axle) | 10,800–11,100 | PASS | CHECK | PASS |
| 3.5L PowerBoost Hybrid + Tow/Haul Pkg & Max Tow Axle | 11,500–12,400 | PASS | CHECK | PASS |
| Raptor 3.5L EcoBoost H.O. | 8,200 | CAUTION | CAUTION | CAUTION |
| Raptor R 5.2L Supercharged V8 | 8,700 | CAUTION | CAUTION | CAUTION |
"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 806–1,209 lb. That comes out of your truck's payload along with everyone in the cab, so with two adults (300 lb) you need roughly 1,106–1,509 lb of payload before any cargo in the bed.
2.7L EcoBoost V6 CAUTION
CAUTION 8,060 lb is over the lowest rating for this engine (7,400 lb). Only some cab/bed/drive/axle versions are rated up to 8,400 lb, so check your exact truck.
CHECK Needs about 1,106-1,509 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 8,060 lb is 77% of the lowest published rating (10,500 lb), inside a 20% safety margin.
CHECK Needs about 1,106-1,509 lb of payload. Ford only publishes a best-case max (2,440 lb); your door-jamb sticker is lower, so check it.
Includes Tremor (10,600 lb).
3.5L EcoBoost V6 + Tow/Haul Pkg & Max Tow Axle PASS
PASS 8,060 lb is 62% of the lowest published rating (13,100 lb), inside a 20% safety margin.
CHECK Needs about 1,106-1,509 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) CAUTION
CAUTION 8,060 lb is within the 9,000 lb rating but uses 90% of it, which leaves less than our 20% safety margin.
CHECK Needs about 1,106-1,509 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 8,060 lb is 66% of the lowest published rating (12,300 lb), inside a 20% safety margin.
CHECK Needs about 1,106-1,509 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 (without Max Tow Axle) PASS
PASS 8,060 lb is 75% of the lowest published rating (10,800 lb), inside a 20% safety margin.
CHECK Needs about 1,106-1,509 lb of payload. Ford only publishes a best-case max (1,750 lb); your door-jamb sticker is lower, so check it.
3.5L PowerBoost Hybrid + Tow/Haul Pkg & Max Tow Axle PASS
PASS 8,060 lb is 70% of the lowest published rating (11,500 lb), inside a 20% safety margin.
CHECK Needs about 1,106-1,509 lb of payload. Ford only publishes a best-case max (1,750 lb); your door-jamb sticker is lower, so check it.
18,400 lb GCWR rows.
Raptor 3.5L EcoBoost H.O. CAUTION
CAUTION 8,060 lb is within the 8,200 lb rating but uses 98% of it, which leaves less than our 20% safety margin.
CAUTION At 15% tongue weight you'd need 1,509 lb of payload vs 1,405 lb (best-case max; yours is lower).
Payload figure is with 37-in tires.
Raptor R 5.2L Supercharged V8 CAUTION
CAUTION 8,060 lb is within the 8,700 lb rating but uses 93% of it, which leaves less than our 20% safety margin.
CAUTION At 15% tongue weight you'd need 1,509 lb of payload vs 1,410 lb (best-case max; yours is lower).
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 Ford F-150: Ford 2026 F-150 Towing Guide / 2026 Ford RV & Trailer Towing Guide (F-150 conventional towing tables, pp. 14-16; performance table p. 12) (copy we read), checked 2026-10-29
- Grady-White Freedom 235: Grady-White model page (Weight (w/o engines), fuel capacity, max HP), checked 2026-10-29
- Engine weight: Yamaha Outboards spec page (Yamaha 4.3L V6 F350 (heaviest listed variant), 653 lb)
- Method and assumptions: How we calculate
Related checks
Other boats with a 2026 Ford F-150
- Tidewater 232 CC (~7,770 lb)
- Grady-White Fisherman 236 (~7,640 lb)
- Malibu Wakesetter 21 LX (~7,620 lb)
- MasterCraft XT22 (~8,520 lb)
- Malibu Wakesetter 23 LSV (~8,710 lb)
- Sportsman Open 232 (~7,380 lb)