towing boat in pickup truck bed 2025

texaslawdog reply :

Does anybody tow their boat in the bed of their pickup? How big and what weight is too much for this? I am thinking that with supports it could be done like with a support in the rear coming out of the hitch. Any other innovations to help with this?

MN Fisher reply :

What type of boat are you talking about?

My first year back fishing, I carted my canoe in the back of my Silverado with a bed-extender...but quickly came to the conclusion that launching/landing was a pain. So got a PWC trailer, modded it and now I trailer my canoe...much easier.

texaslawdog reply :

I don't have a boat yet so I'm just seeing if a trailer is not necessary with its upkeep and cost of licensing. And, if you can launch your boat without having to use a launch ramp it could allow you to fish where other boats might not be able to have access?

I watched a video of Roland Martin where he hauled a 15 ft boat weighing over 200 lbs in the back of his truck and he just put it in from shore at a place where he said other boats can't access because they are trailered and are too heavy and too big.

MN Fisher reply :

On 1/27/2020 at 12:36 PM, texaslawdog said:

I don't have a boat yet so I'm just seeing if a trailer is not necessary with its upkeep and cost of licensing.

Long as you do regular maintenance, that cost is minimal

I don't know about MD, but here in MN we can get a lifetime tag for any trailer rated under 3000# capacity. Cost me about $50...never have to buy tags again.

Bluebasser86 reply :

I've done that with 2 man boats and johnboats up to 14', but it gets to be difficult when they're that size if you're by yourself.

Some of the lakes here we're also not allowed to launch from anywhere other than designated boat launches or risk a ticket, so it kind of defeats the purpose. Trailers can be a headache, but being able to hookup to it, and then just dump it when you get to the lake is sure nice.

texaslawdog reply :

Hey Blue, thanks for the input and you make a good point I will take into consideration before I decide.

Thank you MN F, I'm not sure about trailering so I will have to look into that.

Dirtyeggroll reply :

A kayak is probably a better option for toting around.

lo n slo reply :

On 1/27/2020 at 12:36 PM, texaslawdog said:

I don't have a boat yet so I'm just seeing if a trailer is not necessary with its upkeep and cost of licensing. And, if you can launch your boat without having to use a launch ramp it could allow you to fish where other boats might not be able to have access?

I watched a video of Roland Martin where he hauled a 15 ft boat weighing over 200 lbs in the back of his truck and he just put it in from shore at a place where he said other boats can't access because they are trailered and are too heavy and too big.

i did that for a few years when i was a younger man. a 12’ johnny, clamp-on trolling motor, and a battery fit perfectly in the bed of my 66 Chevy pick up truck. i slid the boat in transom first with all the gear detached, secured the boat with a rope tied to the handle on the front and the rest is history. i stowed the boat upside down on two saw bucks at the house, flipped it over, and it slid perfectly in and out of the truck. git r done ????

PourMyOwn reply :

I still toss a 10 and a 12 foot jon boat in the back of my truck for really small ponds. It isn't ideal, but it works. I don't know that I'd want to do that with a 15' like ol Roland, but if you really don't want to trailer, I think you'll be fine.

Goldstar225 reply :

Back in the 60's and early 70's I never saw anyone down home with a boat trailer. Everyone hauled their 12'-14' jon boats in the back of their trucks that had 8' beds. It was a pain to drag it out, load the motors and gear then reverse the process. There's a good reason to trailer your boat if you have a launch site were you can launch from a trailer.

texaslawdog reply :

Thank you MN F, I'm not sure about trailering so I will have to look into that.

Hey PMO, thanks for the pep talk, appreciate it. And yeah, Roland did this by himself. Then he said because he is able to launch where other boats can't, he catches some hawgs noone else even knows about!!!

texaslawdog reply :

On 1/27/2020 at 8:59 PM, Goldstar225 said:

Back in the 60's and early 70's I never saw anyone down home with a boat trailer. Everyone hauled their 12'-14' jon boats in the back of their trucks that had 8' beds. It was a pain to drag it out, load the motors and gear then reverse the process. There's a good reason to trailer your boat if you have a launch site were you can launch from a trailer.

to Gs225, I agree with your post but I don't have a problem with loading your gear in and out each time you take the boat fishing. Maybe in time it might be more of a problem, who knows.

Way2slow reply :

I have a 12 foot jon that weighs 88 pounds I use for small ponds and places it would be almost impossible to get a trailer into just for that purpose. I tried using my 1436 Lowe and at 140 pounds, add battery, TM and tackle, it was way too heave for one old fart to drag and load. I could do it, but though of doing it made me not want to go. Even with two people it got old real quick. I found this old used jon and it's perfect, still stable with two people and gear, and easy to drag and load.

I guess I should have mentioned, I use a 6 1/2' short bed pickup and even with a 14', if you throw the battery in the back of the boat, (naturally the back is going to be up toward the cab) TM near the back and the rest of your gear in the middle but toward the back of the boat, one rope around the front to keep it from sliding and it hauls fine. However, you will find after doing this a while, it gets very old handling all the gear several times and lugging that battery in and out and carrying it. You will find yourself looking for a trailer to use other than those places where you can't get a trailer in. Then again, you will find yourself backing a trailer into places you would have never dreamed you would after you get tired of handling that stuff.

the reel ess reply :

On 1/27/2020 at 9:23 PM, Way2slow said:

I have a 12 foot jon that weighs 88 pounds I use for small ponds and places it would be almost impossible to get a trailer into just for that purpose. I tried using my 1436 Lowe and at 140 pounds, add battery, TM and tackle, it was way too heave for one old fart to drag and load. I could do it, but though of doing it made me not want to go. Even with two people it got old real quick. I found this old used jon and it's perfect, still stable with two people and gear, and easy to drag and load.

Your 12 footer weighs less than my big kayak. But I also have a trolling motor and batter on it.

gimruis reply :

I have a 12 foot aluminum jon boat that goes in the bed of the truck when we use it for floating the river and duck hunting. Its a 2 man job. Like others have mentioned, it gets me on smaller waters that normal size rigs can't access. We use it to float a small river for smallmouths regularly in the summer.

texaslawdog reply :

Hey, all great info that I will remember, I guess as I get further along with this, it should all come together.

Wow gimruis! For a largemouth guy that's one awesome Smallie!

gnappi reply :

My bed is short at 6' and my 10' Lowe is light and short enough to bring where only a yak could generally go... no ramp needed.

texaslawdog reply :

On 1/30/2020 at 11:23 AM, gnappi said:

My bed is short at 6' and my 10' Lowe is light and short enough to bring where only a yak could generally go... no ramp needed.

Now that's what I'm looking for! I'm looking at a 14' Lowe V1458. It's a bit longer but with a support fitting in the rear hitch I think it will work. I just don't like the idea of using a trailer when I can slide it right out the truck bed and with a set of wheels take it right down to the water(putting equipment right inside the boat as I wheel it to the water while not having to make several more trips back to the truck for equipment. It will take up less space for storing fitting in the garage where it won't fit if on a trailer.

gnappi reply :

On 1/30/2020 at 12:12 PM, texaslawdog said:

Now that's what I'm looking for! I'm looking at a 14' Lowe V1458. It's a bit longer but with a support fitting in the rear hitch I think it will work. I just don't like the idea of using a trailer when I can slide it right out the truck bed and with a set of wheels take it right down to the water(putting equipment right inside the boat as I wheel it to the water while not having to make several more trips back to the truck for equipment. It will take up less space for storing fitting in the garage where it won't fit if on a trailer.

My cables go to the bed tie downs and the boat rear handles have motorcycle tie down straps with winching type tie down straps to secure it. Good for a flat nose Jon, not so good for a deep V.

Just bear in mind that all states have overhang limits and if you go beyond them, supplemental lighting and flags are required. There are also max overhang limits where you cannot overhang at all and you need a trailer.

My boat is just under four feet overhang and in Florida I do not need lighting or flags. I've considered making up a pair of lights that I can connect to my trailer light coupling just so some texting yahoo can't say they did not see the boat.

Anyway:

Under the Federal Size Regulations law, the DOT allows trucks to overhang a cargo by:

3 feet in front
4 feet in the rear
4 inches by the sides

texaslawdog reply :

On 1/30/2020 at 6:23 PM, gnappi said:

My cables go to the bed tie downs and the boat rear handles have motorcycle tie down straps with winching type tie down straps to secure it. Good for a flat nose Jon, not so good for a deep V.

Just bear in mind that all states have overhang limits and if you go beyond them, supplemental lighting and flags are required. There are also max overhang limits where you cannot overhang at all and you need a trailer.

My boat is just under four feet overhang and in Florida I do not need lighting or flags. I've considered making up a pair of lights that I can connect to my trailer light coupling just so some texting yahoo can't say they did not see the boat.

Anyway:

Under the Federal Size Regulations law, the DOT allows trucks to overhang a cargo by:

3 feet in front
4 feet in the rear
4 inches by the sides

Hey gnappi, great info there, I'll have to look at regs concerning all that, thanks! I found this: Laws applying to commercial motor vehicles also apply to passenger vehicles, including pickup trucks. If a load overhangs the front of your truck by 3 feet, the side by 4 inches or the rear by 4 feet, you will need to properly mark the overhang at its maximum width and length with warning flags, reflectors and lights for driving after dark. Dec 9 2018

NELABassguy reply :

Just from my personal experience, I found 12' to be the max length to haul comfortably in the back of my 6.5' bed. I have hauled 14' jons back there, but it sticks way out. I rarely do it anymore though, because I got tired of having to lug the battery and trolling motor to and from the water to the truck. Now if its a real small pond, a naked jon boat with a skulling paddle is pretty handy or a jointed kayak paddle that you can take down to use as a skulling paddle and make whole for "running" from one end to the other.

texaslawdog reply :

On 2/1/2020 at 12:27 AM, NELABassguy said:

Just from my personal experience, I found 12' to be the max length to haul comfortably in the back of my 6.5' bed. I have hauled 14' jons back there, but it sticks way out. I rarely do it anymore though, because I got tired of having to lug the battery and trolling motor to and from the water to the truck. Now if its a real small pond, a naked jon boat with a skulling paddle is pretty handy or a jointed kayak paddle that you can take down to use as a skulling paddle and make whole for "running" from one end to the other.

Hey NBguy, I'm ok with an overhang-it will be sturdy with support slid into the receiver hitch. I am just anti-trailer at this point. I am going to get a set of wheels to attach on and off the boat in order to put all equipment in the boat after sliding it out of the truck thus eliminating separate trips for equipment and such. Now, time will tell if this method is going to be doable, maybe at some point I will change up. But till then, not having to use a trailer is more desireable to me.

kjfishman reply :

If you decide to go with hauling in your truck bed with a bed extender you can easily add lights to the bed extender. I have hauled my old 14 foot yak on a 5' 3" bed and and never pulled over for having a load extending to far out

texaslawdog reply :

On 2/1/2020 at 7:15 AM, kjfishman said:

If you decide to go with hauling in your truck bed with a bed extender you can easily add lights to the bed extender. I have hauled my old 14 foot yak on a 5' 3" bed and and never pulled over for having a load extending to far out

Wow, that is something like what I'm considering. And yes it looks easy to attach lights. Thanks for the pic, helps me visualize mine!

NELABassguy reply :

On 2/1/2020 at 7:15 AM, kjfishman said:

If you decide to go with hauling in your truck bed with a bed extender you can easily add lights to the bed extender. I have hauled my old 14 foot yak on a 5' 3" bed and and never pulled over for having a load extending to far out

Nice setup.

kjfishman reply :

On 2/1/2020 at 9:29 AM, texaslawdog said:

Wow, that is something like what I'm considering. And yes it looks easy to attach lights. Thanks for the pic, helps me visualize mine!

I have since taken them apart and bolted them to the bar.

texaslawdog reply :

On 2/2/2020 at 8:46 AM, kjfishman said:

I have since taken them apart and bolted them to the bar.

Oh I see, you mean instead of using the plastic ties. Good move!

texaslawdog reply :

On 2/2/2020 at 8:46 AM, kjfishman said:

I have since taken them apart and bolted them to the bar.

Where did you get the tailgate support bar?

WRB reply :

Look at boat carriers for pickup trucks; 4boys mfg for example.

Tom

kjfishman reply :

On 2/3/2020 at 9:07 PM, texaslawdog said:

Where did you get the tailgate support bar?

I got mine at Harbor Freight. E-trailer has a nice one for $64.95 https://www.etrailer.com/Bed-Extender/MaxxTow/MT70231.html?feed=npn&msclkid=669981ff1853131bfd96dfc7d161de3b&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Bing | Shop - Bed Extender&utm_term=4577473066785624&utm_content=Bed Extender

texaslawdog reply :

On 2/4/2020 at 12:43 AM, WRB said:

Look at boat carriers for pickup trucks; 4boys mfg for example.

Tom

Will do Tom, 15+ huh? WOW!!! makes my 4.5 look like a minnow. And thanks!!!

On 2/4/2020 at 9:33 AM, kjfishman said:

I got mine at Harbor Freight. E-trailer has a nice one for $64.95 https://www.etrailer.com/Bed-Extender/MaxxTow/MT70231.html?feed=npn&msclkid=669981ff1853131bfd96dfc7d161de3b&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Bing | Shop - Bed Extender&utm_term=4577473066785624&utm_content=Bed Extender

hey kjfm, really appreciate your help. I have to say, with everybody's help, I'm really getting into this and definitely putting a pretty good plan together here!!! Because I hate trailers!!!

Michigander reply :

I lived the johnboat in the truck bed life for years. It is fine but sucks if you don't have a fishing buddy available when you wanna hit the water. I have a kayak now and would never go back though.

texaslawdog reply :

On 2/6/2020 at 7:16 AM, Michigander said:

I lived the johnboat in the truck bed life for years. It is fine but sucks if you don't have a fishing buddy available when you wanna hit the water. I have a kayak now and would never go back though.

I hear ya and I agree it would not be as good if you had to do it all by yourself, but I have 2 or 3 guys that will probably go with me on most trips. Even so, I don't think it would be extremely uncomfortable to do it by yourself, we'll see! Thanks for the input!

michaelb reply :

I don't have one, and so not saying this is worth the money or a good idea, but the t-bone is curved to avoid bottoming out the bed extender on rough ground.

https://boonedoxusa.com/collections/vehicle-accessories-1/products/t-bone-bed-extender

I end up at put-ins that are rough enough for this to make sense.

Bankbeater reply :

Back in the 70's we use to haul my Dad's 12' aluminum V around upside down in the truck's 8' bed. We would tie a red rag on the end of the boat for safety reasons. Most of the places we fished were trolling motor only so it worked out pretty good.

Ratherbefishing75 reply :

I tow my canoe it’s a 16.5 assend square back I have it loaded with everything and it is much easer then trying to lift it into the bed or o. Top of my truck if I’m going somewhere where I cans launch it off the trailer I have a smaller pack Canoe that old as that come but light enough to toss in the bed and carry to the water

texaslawdog reply :

On 2/8/2020 at 8:59 PM, Bankbeater said:

Back in the 70's we use to haul my Dad's 12' aluminum V around upside down in the truck's 8' bed. We would tie a red rag on the end of the boat for safety reasons. Most of the places we fished were trolling motor only so it worked out pretty good.

Hey Bb, thanks for the info, I'm taking in all the posts here and have been given some great info!!!

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