If you're crossing the Hathaway Bridge with a loaded trailer, the truck underneath you earns its keep in ways the smooth deck hides. The Hathaway Bridge carries US 98 nearly 1.6 miles over St. Andrew Bay, sits 65 feet above the water at its peak, and runs through an active construction zone with a posted 35 mph speed limit as of this summer. Bay crosswinds push hard at that elevation, and a trailer that's undermatched to its tow vehicle gets tough to manage up there. So you want a true heavy-duty truck, meaning a 3/4-ton or 1-ton platform, not a half-ton pushed to its limit.
A used Ram 2500 is the truck we point to first when a buyer walks in and tells us they pull a boat to St. Andrews State Park or haul equipment between Panama City and the beach. We'll walk through why, and how a few other solid used HD options stack up for exactly this route.
What's the Plan at a Glance?
| Stop / Segment | What to Know | Best Time | Parking / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panama City side (US 98 approach) | Merge point; lane shifts in construction zone | Any, avoid peak beach traffic | Street parking near approach |
| Hathaway Bridge crossing | 1.6 mi, 65-ft peak clearance, 35 mph work zone, open bay crosswinds | Weekday mornings | No stopping on bridge |
| Carl Grey Park (base of bridge) | Kayak launch, fishing access, trailered boat put-in nearby | Early morning for fishing | Paved lot, boat trailer-friendly |
| Panama City Beach side (US 98) | Beach-bound commercial traffic, wide lanes resume | Midday or early evening | Ample beach-access lots |
Crossing That Bridge With a Trailer Is Its Own Skill Set
Driving the Hathaway Bridge itself isn't technically difficult, since it's four lanes of fixed-span deck with no drawbridge delays and a smooth surface, but adding a loaded trailer behind a truck towing near its rated limit changes the whole feel once the open bay goes to work on you. Put 18,000 pounds of boat and trailer back there and the crosswinds load the trailer, the trailer tugs the hitch, and an underpowered or loosely sprung truck starts to feel every bit of it.
Those generic "best HD truck" lists skip that part entirely. They publish max tow ratings and move on. We pay attention to how these trucks actually feel on a loaded bridge crossing, not just what the ratings sheet promises.
The 2022-2024 Ram 2500 equipped with the 6.7L Cummins turbo diesel is rated at up to 20,000 lbs of towing capacity. The gas 6.4L HEMI version tops out closer to 17,540 lbs. Both numbers are more than enough for a typical bay boat and trailer (most center consoles in the 22-24 foot range weigh 6,000-8,500 lbs loaded). The diesel produces 975 lb-ft of torque, so it barely notices the grade change at the bridge's apex, and that apex is exactly where amateur towers feel trailer push the most.
The used Ford F-250 is the other truck that earns genuine respect here. The 2022-2024 F-250 with the 6.7L Power Stroke diesel is rated up to 22,000 lbs of conventional towing (up to 23,000 lbs fifth-wheel/gooseneck). It runs wider and longer than the Ram, which matters when you're threading a boat trailer through Panama City Beach traffic after the crossing. Capable truck. The feel on the road is just different.
The Route Itself (and What the Construction Zone Actually Means)
The approach from Panama City on US 98 flows fine right up until you reach the work zone, where FDOT reduced the bridge's speed limit to 35 mph as part of a widening project tied to a broader US 98 corridor improvement, and that slower pace works in your favor when you're towing. The reduced speed means less wind buffeting at the apex and more time to settle the rig through any lane shifts.
A used Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD handles this stretch with composure. The 2024 Silverado 2500 HD with the 6.6L Duramax diesel is rated at up to 22,500 lbs of towing, and the Allison-derived 10-speed automatic manages trailer weight smoothly through the deceleration into the construction zone. On the Panama City Beach side, the lanes widen back out and you're clear for wherever US 98 takes you next.
Keep one thing in mind here. All three of these trucks are large vehicles, and the Silverado and the F-250/F-350 run particularly wide in Crew Cab configuration. If your daily driving is mostly beach-side parking and tight Panama City streets, that width is a real consideration. The Ram 2500 is slightly narrower in its standard footprint, which some buyers in our market prefer for exactly that reason.
Why the 2022-2024 Model Years Are the Used Sweet Spot
Three to four years old is where used HD trucks make the most financial sense, and this generation of the Ram 2500, Ford F-250, and Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD has a track record we can point to.
Browse our pre-owned HD truck inventory to see what's currently available, and the team runs the same checklist when one of these comes through.
- Ram 2500 (2022-2024): The current-generation Ram HD has been in production since 2019 with running updates. Verified towing capacity holds at 20,000 lbs for the diesel across 2022-2024 model years. Watch the 2019-2020 models for early air suspension issues on higher-trim Limiteds (NHTSA complaint history). The 2022 and later models addressed most of those.
- Ford F-250 (2022-2024): The 14th-gen Super Duty covers 2017 to present. The 2022-2024 F-250 diesel is rated at up to 22,000 lbs conventional and benefits from Ford's integrated trailer brake controller, which is genuinely useful on a long bay crossing with a heavy load. Verified max gooseneck rating: 23,000 lbs.
- Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD (2022-2024): The 2020-generation Silverado HD with the Duramax diesel is rated at up to 22,500 lbs (2024). The 6.6L gas version is capped around 18,700 lbs. Strong platform; the Duramax version is the one to prioritize if towing is the main job.
There's a tradeoff across all three. Diesel examples hold their value, so they cost more used. If your towing needs stay under 14,000 lbs (more than enough for most bay boats and trailers in this market), a gas-engine HD can be a smarter buy on a pre-owned lot. You pay less and you're still running a true heavy-duty platform.
Check the frame, the wheel wells, and the trailer hitch receiver on any used HD truck that's spent time near salt water. Coastal corrosion shows up there first, so that's where our team goes straight when one comes in off the Gulf Coast. Worth asking about on any used truck you're considering in Bay County.
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Matching the Truck to the Bridge (and the Life Beyond It)
The Hathaway Bridge is a daily reality for plenty of Panama City buyers, from contractors moving equipment between the mainland and beach-side job sites to boat owners running to the public launch at St. Andrews or pulling out of the marina on the bay side, plus folks who just need to get to Panama City Beach and back without thinking twice.
A used GMC Sierra 3500 HD steps in when you genuinely need more. The 2024 Sierra 3500 HD with the Duramax diesel is rated up to 36,000 lbs gooseneck. Think fifth-wheel campers, heavy equipment trailers, and commercial loads. Day-to-day bridge crossing in this market rarely calls for that much, but if your load does, it's the truck.
For most of what crosses this bridge, the 2022-2024 Ram 2500 diesel is our easiest recommendation in this market. It brings proven capacity numbers, a frame that handles the bay grade and crosswinds without drama, and strong used availability in the Panhandle. The F-250 diesel is a legitimate alternative with slightly higher conventional tow ratings. A capable Silverado 2500 HD rounds out the three with the Duramax option.
Come see us on West 15th Street. The Hathaway Bridge is only a few miles away, and we think you should cross it in something that fits the job.