The Best Trucks and SUVs for Towing a Boat at Cox Chevrolet
The Bradenton, Tampa, and Sarasota areas provide great opportunities for fishing. Fishing from a pier can be fun, but if you’re planning to go deep-sea fishing or really take advantage of the lakes and swamps that Florida has to offer, you’re going to need a boat. Of course, this means you’re going to need the right vehicle to tow your boat out to the water. Cox Chevrolet has the best trucks and SUVs for towing a boat in the area, and we’re happy to help you find the vehicle right for your boat.
What Size Boat Do You Have?
Are you a casual angler who takes a small boat out on the lake? You won’t need too much size or towing capacity. The typical 12-foot aluminum rowboat weighs about 200 pounds, and an attachable motor adds just about 60 pounds to the weight. However, even the roomiest Chevrolet is unlikely to have enough interior cargo space for a 12-foot rowboat with attached motor, so you’ll still need a vehicle that’s made to handle towing. Attaching a tow-behind or trailer hitch to a car that’s not designed to handle it can overstrain the motor or damage the suspension.
Serious fishermen might own a larger power boat for longer fishing trips or for handling rougher waters, like a large inland lake or the Gulf of Mexico. An average power fishing boat is going to weigh at least 2000 pounds and go up from there. These are not the heaviest boat on the market so you won’t need the most heavy-duty truck out there, but you’ll need a vehicle made for towing that can handle that weight.
If fishing is absolutely your passion or you take fishing-centered vacations, you might be lucky enough to own a serious deck vessel like the Glacier Bay 2680. This 26-footer weighs nearly 10,000 pounds when full of fuel. While many who own heavier deck boats are content to dock them, you may still need to move it from time to time. You’ll probably need a heavy duty truck for a boat of this size.
Other Towing Factors to Consider
Cox Chevrolet is proud to sell a wide selection of heavy-duty vehicles for your towing and hauling needs. Besides considering the basic weight of the vehicle, other factors to think about include the weight of the boat fully fueled, the weight of the trailer for the boat, and addition weight you may put on the boat like fishing equipment, food, and a cooler full of your favorite beer. In general, it’s always wise to have more towing capacity than you need just to be safe.
2015 Chevrolet Colorado
The 2015 Chevrolet Colorado is a midsize pickup, which can be purchased in a two-seat or four-seat extended cab style or a five-seat crew cab. This truck is smaller than the full-size Silverado or a Ram 1500 or Ford F-150, so it’s easier to handle and doesn’t suck up as much gas.
The standard engine for the Chevrolet is a 2.5L four-cylinder engine, producing 200 hp and 191 lb-feet of torque that can tow up to 3500 pounds. You can also purchase a 3.6L V6 engine, which produces 305 hp and 269 lb-feet of torque that tows up to 7000 pounds. Both should be fine for towing a power boat.
The base level model features a rearview camera that makes it easier to lineup the trailer hitch to your boat. Upgrade to the Work Truck trim, and you’ll have the option of purchasing Work Truck Convenience Package that adds an EZ-Lift tailgate, and options like an automatic locking rear differential, trailering package, and power-adjustable outside mirrors that have convex spotter mirrors.
2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
The 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is a full-sized pickup that’s bigger than the Colorado with increased towing capacity. The standard engine for the Silverado is a 4.3L V6 engine that produces 285 hp and 305 lb-feet of torque. It can tow anywhere from 5500 to 7600 pounds when equipped properly, depending on cab and body style.
The 5.3L V8 engine is standard on the LTZ trim produces 355 hp and 383 lb-feet of torque. This engine can tow anywhere from 6200 pounds to 11,500 pounds. The 6.2L V8 is optional on the LTZ and High Country trim levels, and puts out 420 hp and 460 lb-feet of torque. Properly equipped, this engine can tow 9100 to 12,000 pounds.
The Work Truck base level features keyless entry and 17-inch steel wheels, while the LT level adds a lower EZ-lift tailgate. The LTZ adds remote start and a rearview camera, while the High Country package adds front and rear parking sensors and tie-downs for cargo. The Z71 trim level provides special shock absorbers, hill descent control and underbody shields, and recovery hooks. You can also choose the Max Trailering package, which provides an integrated trailer-brake controller and high-capacity radiator, along with heavy-duty calibrated suspension.
If you have a really huge boat, we do carry the heavy duty 2015 Silverado 2500 and Silverado 3500. The latter model is capable of towing up to 23, 200 pounds.
2015 Chevrolet Suburban
The 2015 Chevrolet Suburban is a full-size SUV that’s good for boat towing and moving large families. Every 2015 Chevrolet Suburban offers a big 5.3L V8 engine that produces 355 hp and 383 lb-feet of torque. This four-wheel drive system comes standard with a single-speed, but the Max Trailering package comes with a two-speed transfer case and low-speed gearing. These vehicles can tow between 8300 and 8800 pounds.
The base LS comes with rear parking sensors and a rearview camera, as well as a Driver Alert optional package that includes safety features like power-adjustable pedals and forward collision alert. The LT level adds these features as standard, along with a power liftgate. Options for the LT include front parking sensors, and a blind-spot monitoring system equipped with rear cross-traffic alert. At the top of the line, the LTZ gets all of this plus an adaptive magnetic suspension.
All Suburban trim levels come pre-wired for towing with a two-inch receiver. You can also opt for a Max Trailering package, which adds tow-specific gearing as well as a trailer-brake controller. On the first two trim levels, you’ll also get air suspension that allows for increased load capacity and leveling.
2015 Chevrolet Tahoe
The 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe is another full-sized SUV, which is slightly smaller than the 2015 Suburban. The standard engine on the 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe is a 5.3L V8 engine, which produces 355 hp and 383 lb-feet of torque. It comes with a six-speed automatic transmission, and you can four-wheel drive; the four-wheel drive system has a two-speed transfer case and low-range gearing with a locking rear differential standard on the LT and LTZ and available on the LS. This SUV tows between 8400 and 8600 pounds.
The base Tahoe LS comes with rear parking sensors and a rearview camera. The LT level includes a locking rear differential and power liftgate, plus optional packages that include blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alerts. The LTZ adds adaptive magnetic shock absorbers. All of the 2015 Tahoe levels are prewired for towing with a two-inch receiver, and you can add the same Max Trailering package that’s available on the Suburban.
Take a Test Drive Today at Cox Chevrolet
Test drive any of these trucks and SUVs at Cox Chevrolet today! Visit our dealership at 2900 Cortez Road W. in Bradenton, where we’re just a short drive from the Tampa and Sarasota area. Let us know your boat towing needs, and we’ll help you find the right vehicle for you.
