Seven of the Best SUVs for Getting Your Boat to the River

There’s nothing quite like spending the day in your boat out on the river—whether you like the feel of the wind in your hair while zipping along in a motor boat or you prefer hours of fishing in a smaller jon or bass boat, it’s all the same to us. With slip fees being so high, it’s often easiest to keep your boat at home and get it to the river when you need it, so you need a trailer and a vehicle to haul your boat behind it. Trucks are a common choice for this kind of job, but there are plenty of SUVs that are also up to the task.

If you’re looking at cars for sale in Omaha with an eye toward choosing a crossover or SUV that can tow your small boat to the Missouri River on the weekend, then we’re here to help. One thing to note up front: the right choice for you depends largely on the kind of boat and trailer you have, so always start with figuring that out first. If you already own a boat that you need to tow, then this is easy, but if not, then start with that and then choose the right SUV. Let’s take a look at a few of our favorite choices for these SUVs.

First Things First; the Boat and Trailer

We touched on this slightly already, but we have to start by talking about the different kinds of small boats and the varying requirements for them. The right SUV for getting your boat to the river is one that, first and foremost, can handle the weight of your boat and trailer. This is why you need to start with knowing what boat you have or will have and the trailer you’ll use with it. There’s a big difference between a light jon boat weighing less than 1,000 lbs with a 300-lb trailer and towing a 3,000-lb motor boat or a large fishing boat with a trailer weighing another 500 lbs. Make sure you know the weight of your boat, its engine (that’s not always included in a boat’s weight), and the trailer you will use before choosing your next SUV.

The Chevy Tahoe/Suburban

Two of our favorite picks for a large, three-row SUV are the Chevy Tahoe and Suburban, which we’re combining here to keep things simple. Both of these models share many of the same features and are built on the same platform—the Suburban is longer and gives you more space inside for passengers to stretch out in and for loading up with stuff. Best of all, these two models can top out at more than 8,000 lbs of towing, making it easy to haul most boats behind you and bring along your friends and family for a day out on the river.

The GMC Yukon/Yukon XL

If you like the general style of the Suburban or Tahoe but want something more lavish and luxurious, you should check out these two models from GMC. The Yukon is essentially an upscale version of the Tahoe, while the Yukon XL is the Suburban with nicer features for getting around Omaha. Since they use the same platform, engines, and general underpinnings, the Yukon models have the same maximum towing capacities as the Chevy versions, giving you plenty of power for getting your boat to the river.

The Cadillac Escalade

For something even more luxurious, the full-size Cadillac Escalade is a great choice that has a spacious interior, gorgeous amenities, and plenty of muscle. The Escalade has slightly less maximum towing than the previous ones we looked at, but it can still handle more than 8,000 lbs, so it’s a great choice for just about any boat and trailer you could want. As a Cadillac, you’ll find incredible luxury features and technology packed into this SUV, providing a smooth ride, comfortable seating you can just about melt into, and amazing tech inside and out.

The Nissan Pathfinder

If these large models we’ve looked at so far are bigger than what you want, then the Nissan Pathfinder is a great option. This midsize SUV can fit into your life a bit more easily, but it still has plenty of muscle for getting your small boat to the river. Towing capacity with the Pathfinder tops out at 6,000 lbs—that’s clearly less than the larger models but still plenty for many boats and trailers. Its midsize design makes it great for getting around Omaha, while its rugged and adventurous engineering is perfect for camping, road trips, and much more.

The Ford Explorer

Right alongside the Pathfinder, the Ford Explorer is a great choice for another midsize option ideal for getting around the city and hauling your boat to the river. Despite its midsize design, you get three rows of seats in the Explorer, giving you room for lots of passengers to come along with you, and it tops out at 5,600 lbs of maximum towing. This is a great choice for bass boats, motorboats, canoes, kayaks, and much more. It’s not as large as some of the other three-row models we looked at, so it’s a good choice if you don’t have the room for one of them.

The Toyota RAV4

One of the most popular crossover SUVs on the market, the Toyota RAV4, is an amazing pick for a wide range of drivers and a great choice for getting around Omaha. This compact model with two rows of seating inside offers rugged, dependable performance, a sporty design, and fantastic features inside and out. When you see “compact crossover,” you probably assume it has terrible towing capacity—or none at all—but the RAV4 comes through with up to 3,500 lbs of maximum towing. That’s plenty of muscle for many small boats; just make sure you choose the right model, as some top out at about 1,500 lbs instead.

The Wagoneer

Although we already looked at some large SUVs with great towing capacity, we couldn’t help ourselves and had to mention just one more: the Wagoneer. Also available as a more luxurious Grand Wagoneer model, this is a stunning and innovative piece of machinery designed to take full-size SUVs to a whole new level. The Wagoneer tops out at an incredible 10,000 lbs of towing capacity, the highest in its class, giving it plenty of muscle to haul just about any kind of boat we can imagine. This is honestly a bit of overkill for the kinds of small boats that folks tend to have in and around Omaha, but we still had to point it out because it’s a fantastic SUV.

The Right SUV Makes Life Easier in Omaha

It’s easy to see that you have a wide range of options when shopping for an SUV to tow your boat, and it simply comes down to choosing what will work best for you. Starting with the boat, engine, and trailer weights gives you the goal you need for towing capacity, and then you can find plenty of great models to deliver what you’re looking for. Beyond that, however, be sure to choose the right model that will fit into the rest of your life and handle what you need; most of us don’t worry about towing a boat every day, so be sure to look beyond that. Remember to shop for comfortable interior features, impressive technology, and a great overall driving experience that makes your everyday life more enjoyable. Choosing an SUV that checks all those boxes is the best way to ensure you get the most from your vehicle.