re: Towing a boat with 1/2 ton truck.

Towing generally not the issue with weight. Stopping is normally the concern. 1/2 ton generally is not equipped for this (rotors, breaks) but if you don't haul arse around with the boat in tow you should be fine.

Be prepared to warp your rotors and then upgrade them when you replace.

Edit... just read through thread and multiple responses about stopping the load. Plenty of people "in the know" in this thread.

FYI….Enterprise Truck Rentals has 3/4 and 1 ton vehicles and allows towing.

Regular car rentals place have 1/2 tons and don’t allow towing.

I agree with 3/4 ton or heavier. Even then, trailer brakes and something to stop max 75% towing capacity max. I pulled a dry weight 8300 lb camper with a 3/4 ton rated 10,000 lb towing cap last yr and so we were probably 9500 loaded and it was white knuckle down the interstate. Never again

Upgrade your brakes and use tow assist bars and you'll be fine.

OP be aware it's possible your insurance company may not cover you in an accident if you are over your weight limits and max capacity isn't a number they consider. If you are towing near max cap. you are more than likely exceeding another weight limit.

In the RV old school world there was a 80% rule. Only tow a travel trailer that weights 80% or less than your max towing capacity.

I would posit it would be fine every day of the year for a short trip but anything more than about 10 or so miles you are going to cause the transmission to run hotter than designed and it is going to fail prematurely as a result even with regular fluid changes. Even on flat highways there are hills and heat builds up....and heat crystalizes hydraulic fluid which exacerbates the heating issue which in turn exacerbates the crystallization. The engine temp is not the issue....the transmission is cooled by the same radiator but the water exchange is such that the volume will make the engine temp appear slightly higher than normal while the transmission temp is significantly higher than normal. As the issue gets worse it will cause the engine temp to rise also but by the time it shows up on the temp gauge its usually too late for the transmission. Transmissions are cheaper than trucks though.....

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a $200K boat

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I was going to try and help but this is way out of my league. When a storm comes we usually just loosen the rope a little.

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You make a good point. Cruise was set at 62. The 18 wheelers sway it when they fly by. The pull home on a Sunday wasnt as bad but you never really know the conditions with traffic and wind until you are in it

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Ha well 62 isn't bad. I've just been around more than 1 guy that thinks he's a nascar driver pulling a boat and can go 85 swerving around traffic.

Air bags will be your downfall...........