Can a 2026 Ram 1500 tow a Carolina Skiff 22 Ultra Elite?
It depends on the engine
We estimate a loaded Carolina Skiff 22 Ultra Elite on its trailer at about 5,690 lb. 8 of 9 1500 engine/package options pass with a 20% margin (for example the 3.6L Pentastar eTorque V6, 3.55 axle). 1 is borderline (caution).
Check your exact setup (add your door-sticker payload and real trailer weight)
Carolina Skiff 22 Ultra Elite loaded towing weight
| Boat weight (Carolina Skiff) | 3,100 lb |
| Engine: Yamaha F200 (heaviest listed variant; also used for 175 HP), the heaviest Yamaha that covers the boat's 200 HP max | 568 lb |
| Fuel: 52 gal x 6.1 lb/gal (full tank) | 317 lb |
| Gear allowance: 10% (batteries, anchor, coolers, safety gear, T-top/options) | 398 lb |
| Trailer: ESTIMATE, 35% of boat + engine (no trailer weight published) | 1,300 lb |
| Estimated loaded trailer weight | 5,690 lb |
2026 Ram 1500 towing ratings vs this boat
| Engine / package | Published rating (lb) | Tow | Payload | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.6L Pentastar eTorque V6, 3.21 axle | 6,340–6,570 | CAUTION | PASS | CAUTION |
| 3.6L Pentastar eTorque V6, 3.55 axle | 7,340–8,130 | PASS | PASS | PASS |
| 3.0L Hurricane (SO), 3.21 axle | 8,320–8,510 | PASS | PASS | PASS |
| 3.0L Hurricane (SO), 3.55 axle | 8,100–8,270 | PASS | PASS | PASS |
| 3.0L Hurricane (SO), 3.92 axle | 11,200–11,610 | PASS | PASS | PASS |
| 5.7L HEMI V8, 3.21 axle | 8,220 | PASS | PASS | PASS |
| 5.7L HEMI V8, 3.55 axle | 7,640 | PASS | PASS | PASS |
| 5.7L HEMI V8, 3.92 axle | 9,590–11,320 | PASS | PASS | PASS |
| 3.0L Hurricane H.O. (RHO / Limited) | 8,360–10,000 | PASS | PASS | PASS |
"Published rating" is the lowest–highest conventional (ball-hitch) rating Ram 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. Ram: ratings include 300 lb of passengers; trailer weight and payload ratings are mutually exclusive; weight distribution recommended over 5,000 lb; Class IV receiver tongue limit 1,100 lb.
Tongue weight vs payload
Tongue weight should be 10–15% of the loaded trailer: about 569–854 lb. That comes out of your truck's payload along with everyone in the cab, so with two adults (300 lb) you need roughly 869–1,154 lb of payload before any cargo in the bed.
3.6L Pentastar eTorque V6, 3.21 axle CAUTION
CAUTION 5,690 lb is within the 6,340 lb rating but uses 90% of it, which leaves less than our 20% safety margin.
PASS Needs about 869-1,154 lb of payload; the lowest published payload for this engine is 1,770 lb.
PASS Max tongue weight for this truck/hitch is 1,100 lb.
Ram's sheet lists Tradesman figures; payload range is for the 3.6L across cabs/beds.
3.6L Pentastar eTorque V6, 3.55 axle PASS
PASS 5,690 lb is 78% of the lowest published rating (7,340 lb), inside a 20% safety margin.
PASS Needs about 869-1,154 lb of payload; the lowest published payload for this engine is 1,770 lb.
PASS Max tongue weight for this truck/hitch is 1,100 lb.
Ram's sheet lists Tradesman figures.
3.0L Hurricane (SO), 3.21 axle PASS
PASS 5,690 lb is 68% of the lowest published rating (8,320 lb), inside a 20% safety margin.
PASS Needs about 869-1,154 lb of payload; the lowest published payload for this engine is 1,730 lb.
PASS Max tongue weight for this truck/hitch is 1,100 lb.
Tradesman figures.
3.0L Hurricane (SO), 3.55 axle PASS
PASS 5,690 lb is 70% of the lowest published rating (8,100 lb), inside a 20% safety margin.
PASS Needs about 869-1,154 lb of payload; the lowest published payload for this engine is 1,730 lb.
PASS Max tongue weight for this truck/hitch is 1,100 lb.
Tradesman figures.
3.0L Hurricane (SO), 3.92 axle PASS
PASS 5,690 lb is 51% of the lowest published rating (11,200 lb), inside a 20% safety margin.
PASS Needs about 869-1,154 lb of payload; the lowest published payload for this engine is 1,730 lb.
PASS Max tongue weight for this truck/hitch is 1,100 lb.
Tradesman figures.
5.7L HEMI V8, 3.21 axle PASS
PASS 5,690 lb is 69% of the lowest published rating (8,220 lb), inside a 20% safety margin.
PASS Needs about 869-1,154 lb of payload; the lowest published payload for this engine is 1,630 lb.
PASS Max tongue weight for this truck/hitch is 1,100 lb.
5.7L HEMI V8, 3.55 axle PASS
PASS 5,690 lb is 74% of the lowest published rating (7,640 lb), inside a 20% safety margin.
PASS Needs about 869-1,154 lb of payload; the lowest published payload for this engine is 1,630 lb.
PASS Max tongue weight for this truck/hitch is 1,100 lb.
5.7L HEMI V8, 3.92 axle PASS
PASS 5,690 lb is 59% of the lowest published rating (9,590 lb), inside a 20% safety margin.
PASS Needs about 869-1,154 lb of payload; the lowest published payload for this engine is 1,630 lb.
PASS Max tongue weight for this truck/hitch is 1,100 lb.
3.0L Hurricane H.O. (RHO / Limited) PASS
PASS 5,690 lb is 68% of the lowest published rating (8,360 lb), inside a 20% safety margin.
PASS Needs about 869-1,154 lb of payload; the lowest published payload for this engine is 1,390 lb.
PASS Max tongue weight for this truck/hitch is 1,100 lb.
RHO 8,360 lb; Limited 9,240-10,000 lb.
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 Ram 1500: Ram 2026 Ram 1500 Payload & Towing Weight Capacities sheet (SAE J2807), checked 2026-10-29
- Carolina Skiff 22 Ultra Elite: Carolina Skiff model page (Boat weight, fuel capacity, max HP), checked 2026-10-29
- Engine weight: Yamaha Outboards spec page (Yamaha F200 (heaviest listed variant; also used for 175 HP), 568 lb)
- Method and assumptions: How we calculate
Related checks
Other boats with a 2026 Ram 1500
- Yamaha 222 FSH Sport (~5,690 lb)
- Yamaha AR220 (~5,600 lb)
- Sea Hunt Ultra 234 (~5,580 lb)
- Carolina Skiff 23 Ultra Elite (~5,820 lb)
- Tidewater 216 CC (~5,560 lb)
- Yamaha SX220 (~5,510 lb)