Can a 2026 Ram 1500 tow a Tidewater 216 CC?
It depends on the engine
We estimate a loaded Tidewater 216 CC on its trailer at about 5,560 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)
Tidewater 216 CC loaded towing weight
| Weight w/out engines (Tidewater) | 3,000 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: 56 gal x 6.1 lb/gal (full tank) | 342 lb |
| Gear allowance: 10% (batteries, anchor, coolers, safety gear, T-top/options) | 391 lb |
| Trailer: ESTIMATE, 35% of boat + engine (no trailer weight published) | 1,250 lb |
| Estimated loaded trailer weight | 5,560 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 556–834 lb. That comes out of your truck's payload along with everyone in the cab, so with two adults (300 lb) you need roughly 856–1,134 lb of payload before any cargo in the bed.
3.6L Pentastar eTorque V6, 3.21 axle CAUTION
CAUTION 5,560 lb is within the 6,340 lb rating but uses 88% of it, which leaves less than our 20% safety margin.
PASS Needs about 856-1,134 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 5,560 lb is 76% of the lowest published rating (7,340 lb), inside a 20% safety margin.
PASS Needs about 856-1,134 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 5,560 lb is 67% of the lowest published rating (8,320 lb), inside a 20% safety margin.
PASS Needs about 856-1,134 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 5,560 lb is 69% of the lowest published rating (8,100 lb), inside a 20% safety margin.
PASS Needs about 856-1,134 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 5,560 lb is 50% of the lowest published rating (11,200 lb), inside a 20% safety margin.
PASS Needs about 856-1,134 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 5,560 lb is 68% of the lowest published rating (8,220 lb), inside a 20% safety margin.
PASS Needs about 856-1,134 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 5,560 lb is 73% of the lowest published rating (7,640 lb), inside a 20% safety margin.
PASS Needs about 856-1,134 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 5,560 lb is 58% of the lowest published rating (9,590 lb), inside a 20% safety margin.
PASS Needs about 856-1,134 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 5,560 lb is 67% of the lowest published rating (8,360 lb), inside a 20% safety margin.
PASS Needs about 856-1,134 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
- Tidewater 216 CC: Tidewater model page (Weight w/out engines, 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
- Sea Hunt Ultra 234 (~5,580 lb)
- Yamaha AR220 (~5,600 lb)
- Yamaha SX220 (~5,510 lb)
- Key West 239 FS (~5,490 lb)
- Carolina Skiff 22 Ultra Elite (~5,690 lb)
- Yamaha 222 FSH Sport (~5,690 lb)