Get What You Need and Want

Finding your perfect tow vehicle takes research, soul searching, calculation and negotiation.

By Mike Milne

Trailer boaters can easily determine their basic needs in a tow vehicle. It must have a towing capacity that exceeds the maximum weight of the boat, motor, trailer, fuel and gear to be towed; enough horsepower to easily pull that load at highway speeds; and a limited slip differential and/or four-wheel drive to handle rough or slippery launch ramps. Like horsepower, torque and tow ratings, storage space in the trunk, cab or truck bed is easy to measure and compare.

But those are just numbers. What you really want in a tow vehicle is another matter. Beyond the basics, boaters must carefully analyze their desires then balance them against their budget.

A wide variety of cars, SUVs and trucks can meet lightweight towing needs. But only a truck, with long wheelbase and ladder frame, can potentially meet all trailer boating needs. A closer look at the RAM 1500, which I tested recently, is a great example of how to get what you need and want without breaking the bank.

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