Can a 2026 Ram 1500 tow a Grady-White 251 CE?
It depends on the engine
We estimate a loaded Grady-White 251 CE on its trailer at about 7,350 lb. 8 are borderline (caution). 1 is not rated for it.
Check your exact setup (add your door-sticker payload and real trailer weight)
Grady-White 251 CE loaded towing weight
| Weight (w/o engines) (Grady-White) | 4,050 lb |
| Engine: Yamaha 4.3L V6 F350 (heaviest listed variant), the heaviest Yamaha that covers the boat's 350 HP max | 653 lb |
| Fuel: 78 gal x 6.1 lb/gal (full tank) | 476 lb |
| Gear allowance: 10% (batteries, anchor, coolers, safety gear, T-top/options) | 518 lb |
| Trailer: ESTIMATE, 35% of boat + engine (no trailer weight published) | 1,650 lb |
| Estimated loaded trailer weight | 7,350 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 | FAIL | PASS | FAIL |
| 3.6L Pentastar eTorque V6, 3.55 axle | 7,340–8,130 | CAUTION | PASS | CAUTION |
| 3.0L Hurricane (SO), 3.21 axle | 8,320–8,510 | CAUTION | PASS | CAUTION |
| 3.0L Hurricane (SO), 3.55 axle | 8,100–8,270 | CAUTION | PASS | CAUTION |
| 3.0L Hurricane (SO), 3.92 axle | 11,200–11,610 | PASS | PASS | CAUTION |
| 5.7L HEMI V8, 3.21 axle | 8,220 | CAUTION | PASS | CAUTION |
| 5.7L HEMI V8, 3.55 axle | 7,640 | CAUTION | PASS | CAUTION |
| 5.7L HEMI V8, 3.92 axle | 9,590–11,320 | PASS | PASS | CAUTION |
| 3.0L Hurricane H.O. (RHO / Limited) | 8,360–10,000 | CAUTION | CAUTION | CAUTION |
"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 735–1,102 lb. That comes out of your truck's payload along with everyone in the cab, so with two adults (300 lb) you need roughly 1,035–1,402 lb of payload before any cargo in the bed.
3.6L Pentastar eTorque V6, 3.21 axle FAIL
FAIL 7,350 lb is over every published rating for this engine/package (max 6,570 lb).
PASS Needs about 1,035-1,402 lb of payload; the lowest published payload for this engine is 1,770 lb.
CAUTION 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 CAUTION
CAUTION 7,350 lb is over the lowest rating for this engine (7,340 lb). Only some cab/bed/drive/axle versions are rated up to 8,130 lb, so check your exact truck.
PASS Needs about 1,035-1,402 lb of payload; the lowest published payload for this engine is 1,770 lb.
CAUTION Max tongue weight for this truck/hitch is 1,100 lb.
Ram's sheet lists Tradesman figures.
3.0L Hurricane (SO), 3.21 axle CAUTION
CAUTION 7,350 lb is within the 8,320 lb rating but uses 88% of it, which leaves less than our 20% safety margin.
PASS Needs about 1,035-1,402 lb of payload; the lowest published payload for this engine is 1,730 lb.
CAUTION Max tongue weight for this truck/hitch is 1,100 lb.
Tradesman figures.
3.0L Hurricane (SO), 3.55 axle CAUTION
CAUTION 7,350 lb is within the 8,100 lb rating but uses 91% of it, which leaves less than our 20% safety margin.
PASS Needs about 1,035-1,402 lb of payload; the lowest published payload for this engine is 1,730 lb.
CAUTION Max tongue weight for this truck/hitch is 1,100 lb.
Tradesman figures.
3.0L Hurricane (SO), 3.92 axle CAUTION
PASS 7,350 lb is 66% of the lowest published rating (11,200 lb), inside a 20% safety margin.
PASS Needs about 1,035-1,402 lb of payload; the lowest published payload for this engine is 1,730 lb.
CAUTION Max tongue weight for this truck/hitch is 1,100 lb.
Tradesman figures.
5.7L HEMI V8, 3.21 axle CAUTION
CAUTION 7,350 lb is within the 8,220 lb rating but uses 89% of it, which leaves less than our 20% safety margin.
PASS Needs about 1,035-1,402 lb of payload; the lowest published payload for this engine is 1,630 lb.
CAUTION Max tongue weight for this truck/hitch is 1,100 lb.
5.7L HEMI V8, 3.55 axle CAUTION
CAUTION 7,350 lb is within the 7,640 lb rating but uses 96% of it, which leaves less than our 20% safety margin.
PASS Needs about 1,035-1,402 lb of payload; the lowest published payload for this engine is 1,630 lb.
CAUTION Max tongue weight for this truck/hitch is 1,100 lb.
5.7L HEMI V8, 3.92 axle CAUTION
PASS 7,350 lb is 77% of the lowest published rating (9,590 lb), inside a 20% safety margin.
PASS Needs about 1,035-1,402 lb of payload; the lowest published payload for this engine is 1,630 lb.
CAUTION Max tongue weight for this truck/hitch is 1,100 lb.
3.0L Hurricane H.O. (RHO / Limited) CAUTION
CAUTION 7,350 lb is within the 8,360 lb rating but uses 88% of it, which leaves less than our 20% safety margin.
CAUTION At 15% tongue weight you'd need 1,402 lb of payload vs 1,390 lb.
CAUTION 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
- Grady-White 251 CE: 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
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