Chris Auffenberg

Categories: Tips and Tricks

What towing capacity do I need to haul a boat?

Summer is the perfect time to enjoy a camping trip with friends or a weekend at the lake with the whole family. To make outdoor outings possible, most people will be turning to their truck and SUV models to tow boats, campers, and trailers to their destinations. Choosing the right vehicle for the job is extremely important and we often get asked questions like “what towing capacity do I need to haul a boat”? Unfortunately, the answer isn’t simple and requires knowing and understanding towing capacity, payload capacity and weight and how they all work together.

How to Calculate Your Towing Capacity

First, you will need to find out what the max towing capacity of your specific model is. You should be able to find this information in your owner’s manual or possible on the information sticker on your door or door jamb that also houses your VIN. It’s important to note that this is the maximum amount of weight your vehicle can tow in perfect conditions without a bunch of weight added to your vehicle in the form of cargo or passengers. The weight limit of cargo and passengers in your vehicle is known as the payload capacity. The closer you are to reaching your payload capacity, the less your vehicle will be able to tow overall. Driving conditions can also affect your vehicle’s ability to tow safely. If you are planning on doing any driving on steep or heavily curved roads like ones found in mountain driving, you will need to decrease the weights you are towing.

For specific information regarding the towing ability of your model, visit one of the Chris Auffenberg family of dealerships throughout Missouri and Illinois.

Shop the Chris Auffenberg Truck and SUV Lineup

Whether you need a light-duty truck or SUV model to tow small trailers or campers or a heavy-duty workhorse for larger jobs, you can find what you need at the Chris Auffenberg family of dealerships throughout Missouri and Illinois. Check out our selection of truck and SUV models via our online inventory tool or stop by your nearest Chris Auffenberg dealership location and our staff will make sure your new ride has the power you need to fuel whatever weekend adventures you have in mind.

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