launching questions

[kenmyfam]

Re: launching questions

Should not be an issue in my opinion.

 

[billstoudt]

Re: launching questions

you guys rock thanks for all the info. be ready as the newbie boat owner throws every stupid question at you all .

 

[itsaboattime]

Re: launching questions

Hi Bill,

We were all newbie's once. Don't worry, the only dumb question is the one you don't ask.

Happy boating!!!

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: launching questions

you guys rock thanks for all the info. be ready as the newbie boat owner throws every stupid question at you all .

No such thing as a stupid question. Ask away and someone will be here to help out.

 

[180Fisherman]

Re: launching questions

Go find a steep hill. Stop on it. Then see if you can gain forward motion again. Do this on a rainy day or wet the pavement somehow to get closer to real world ramp conditions.

 

[Subliminal]

Re: launching questions

I think 2wd vs 4wd is the real question on yanking a boat out of the water.

At the ramp we go to, on the Deleware River, if the tide is down you have to pull the trailer in pretty far to get the boat on it, and sometimes the wheels will go over the lip at the end. With 2wd, I'd think it'd be damn near impossible to get the thing out of the water. But, the tongue weight on the back wheels would probably help...I just know I've had to put my buddies F250 into 4 to get the trailer out a few times.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: launching questions

If wheels go over the lip you have bigger problems, and should never pull out with the boat on it--and maybe not with the trailer alone. Really, the 4WD is good for slick ramps but otherwise 2wd and 4wd work about as well on haul-out.

Back to the question--you have to assume that the towing weights have a huge margin of error built in to them. So if you're close, you can do it. The real question, if you are close or slightly over, is based on your typical use. The hauling out 4 times a year; two miles to the ramp; flat-land towing can be handled by anything. If you haul up a steep ramp every weekend, travel long distances with a lot of stop and go, travel up and down steep hills, don't cut it close and think about your vehicle's wear and tear.
One function of capacity is the vehicle weight v. load weight for stopping. Therefore for "yard use" the numbers aren't as important as for traffic use, especially with speeds over 35. Ever see those little tractors they use around marinas? Likewise a short wheelbase can be dangerous on the road; jeeps, old bronco's and FJ40's can be a problem no matter how strong they are.

 

[Doryboy]

Re: launching questions

Just trow your truck in 2nd gear that gives you more power and you'll be fine.

If your truck has an automatic transmission, putting it in 2nd won't change a thing. It will still start off in first gear, but won't shift any higher than second. Hopefully you don't tow up the ramp fast enough to shift. If you have a manual transmission, putting it in second gear and then trying to tow a heavy boet up a ramp will play hell on your clutch, you will have to slip it a lot and probably end up burning it out. Easy on the fuel pedal is definitely the key if you have a traction problem, otherwise you should be good to go.

 

[indy440]

Re: launching questions

If your truck has an automatic transmission, putting it in 2nd won't change a thing. It will still start off in first gear, but won't shift any higher than second. .

This is accurate with many cars, but its not always true.

I used to tow with a CRV, if you put it in second you could put the pedal to the floor from a dead stop and it would stay in second (painfully slow to get moving obviously). I put it in second once by accident while retrieving and the car would barely inch or the ramp even with the pedal mashed. I quickly noticed my mistake, put it in drive, and pulled out easily (since it allowed it to shift into first)...

 

[204Angler]

Re: launching questions

Just trow your truck in 2nd gear that gives you more power and you'll be fine.

Why would second give it more power? More traction? When you place your gear shift selector to 1,2 or 3...that doesn't mean it drops it down to that gear. It just means that the transmission will not shift any higher than the selected gear. So you select 2nd gear...does not mean your transmission is locked in 2nd...it means that from 1st, it will shift to 2nd and stay in 2nd. Just like if you leave it in 1st..it will just run 1st gear up and not shift. Your Pathfinder will not leave first gear while pulling your boat out of the water. It doesnt matter what forward gear you place it in (automatic trans). Bayliners are very light boats...your Pathfinder will do fine, your neighbor doesn't know what he is talking about. Don't mess with the gears...just put it in D or 4 or whatever. It will be in 1st gear and unless you plan on blasting up the ramp it will not shift to 2nd.

 

[204Angler]

Re: launching questions

This is accurate with many cars, but its not always true.

I used to tow with a CRV, if you put it in second you could put the pedal to the floor from a dead stop and it would stay in second (painfully slow to get moving obviously). I put it in second once by accident while retrieving and the car would barely inch or the ramp even with the pedal mashed. I quickly noticed my mistake, put it in drive, and pulled out easily (since it allowed it to shift into first)...

Not true. No auto manufacturer makes an automatic transmission that will allow the driver to select what gear it STARTS in. You can only select which gear it will STAY in. Newer vehicles even have a idiot proof transmission that will shift beyond the selected gear if the RPM's are getting too high. Your CRV had a faulty trans. The only transmission that was ever close to that was in the late 70's some Honda Accords came with the 2 speed "honda-matic" much like the Powerglide tranny from Chevy except you had to manually select the gear. That hasn't been around for almost 30 years

 

[ezmobee]

Re: launching questions

I had a Honda that would start out in 2nd if your put it in 2nd.....

 

[QC]

Re: launching questions

Trust me, most modern SUV and P/U transmissions (cars too) when the gear selector is put in 2nd, if it is stopped or comes to a stop, the vehicle will start in 2nd gear. It is not about power, it is intended to REDUCE power to the wheels to avoid slippage, it forces the torque converter to slip as opposed to the tires. The only way to know for sure is to try it or read the manual, or post your model here. This feature was true for me in two Suburbans, an Expedition and an Isuzu Trooper . . . Sometimes even called "Winter Mode"

 

[Bronc Rider]

Re: launching questions

As some have noted, some cars will start in second gear. Some of the Pontiac Grand Prix from the 1990's had a button that read "second gear start". like QC said, it was to aid traction on slippery roads.
I would not use second gear to pull out a boat. To me its easy enough to modulate the gas to prevent wheel spin. Easy does it.

 

[QC]

Re: launching questions

I would not use second gear to pull out a boat. To me its easy enough to modulate the gas to prevent wheel spin. Easy does it.

Yeah, I "two foot" when I retrieve and when I pull out the trailer after launching. By keeping my foot on the brake I can make sure that I don't break loose no matter what I do with the throttle. Annnnnd . . . it also prevents the ultimate in retrieving nightmares, starting to pull out while in reverse when you forgot to shift back to D . . .

 

[skargo]

Re: launching questions

Y'all just need a REAL tow vehicle, My Cummins powered Ram, with a built race trans makes so much torque, I put it in 4wd and let it idle right up the ramp. Sometimes it needs a tap of the skinny pedal, but no issues

 

[QC]

Re: launching questions

I used to idle up a ramp with my '85 2.8 liter Bronco II in 4WD low and a manual tranny . . . There are a lot of misconceptions about gearing, torque, power, load, traction, etc. At some marinas they use a farm tractor for launching customer boats. Those may have significantly less than 100 hp.

Launching and retrieving at 2 MPH is one thing, on-highway tow ratings are another . . .

 

[skargo]

Re: launching questions

I used to idle up a ramp with my '85 2.8 liter Bronco II in 4WD low and a manual tranny . . . There are a lot of misconceptions about gearing, torque, power, load, traction, etc. At some marinas they use a farm tractor for launching customer boats. Those may have significantly less than 100 hp.

Launching and retrieving at 2 MPH is one thing, on-highway tow ratings are another . . .

I hear you, but my truck puts out 1100 lb/ft of torque and 550hp at the wheels, no misconception there, backed up by a dyno.

I was just kidding about getting a real truck, I tow a lot of different trailers besides my boat, and have done some truck pulls as well.

 

[QC]

Re: launching questions

Roger . . . just trying to help the OP determine if his neighbor is full of carp.

 

[skargo]

Re: launching questions

I think he may in fact, be full of it, an armchair boater possibly?