Spinning tires at the launch, take two...

[hrdwrkingacguy]

I have a 21' glastron deckboat that is around 3600# + gas + 1100# ez loader trailer...I go to saguaro lake with my boat and my 1/2 ton silverado 2wd with 4.10 gears and a positrac with nitto terra grappler tires that are 4000 miles old...

I can lift the front of my boat basically with one arm...Granted its heavy and I am a brick $'house that used to dead lift 685# in high school...I haven't "yet" weighed it...But I think its less then 250# tongue weight...

Would I benefit from moving the boat forward a couple inches, and is my class 3 universal hitch even big enough for what I have???It says 5000#/500#...

PS...For the forum police out there, I have asked a similar question but the circumstances are different, and i have made changes to my truck...I hope they can let it slide...

 

[sw33ttooth]

Re: Spinning tires at the launch, take two...

you really spin your tires? maybe your trying to pull out to fast i never spin my tires 95 f150 with a 5k lbs boat and 1200 lbs trailer. i use normal tires and i dont have posi's. i dont think it would hurt anything to move it forward maybe 3-4 inches at a time till you think its right.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Spinning tires at the launch, take two...

Those tires aren't helping you, but i'm guessing you aren't planning on swapping those out any time soon! Tires that are good for off road are marginal on pavement. (the more rubber touching the pavement, the better for on road. Hence road racing tires have very little tread and lots of rubber. Offroad tires have lots of open space and big knobbies.)

Anyway, you are WAY too light on tongue weight. So lets say your boat does weight 5000#, you should be at or very close to 10% on the tongue. A little less is fine if its a tandem trailer, which I'm assuming it is, but you are under 5% tongue weight. Other than that, throw some weight in the back of the truck. A couple sandbags, maybe 150 pounds, will make a big difference.

Is the trailer level? Not having the correct hitch and having the front of the trailer too high also screws with your traction/tongue weight.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Spinning tires at the launch, take two...

Do you have a "lead foot"? Just a little too much gas on the 4:10 will break traction. I have no idea why they equip 1/2 tons with 4:10's, you can't tow or haul anything heavy enough to justify it.

Moving your boat forward 4-6" may help put enought weight on the tongue for the traction you need.

A narrower tire will also help get a better bite, something to keep in mind the next time you buy.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: Spinning tires at the launch, take two...

An old timer trick that may work for you. Keep some light pressure on the brake pedal and gently ease on the gas. The power of the engine and the 4.10s will overcome the brake, but the brake drag can stop or minimize the spinning. Try it. That's how it was done before posi and when cars and trucks were lighter.

 

[hrdwrkingacguy]

Re: Spinning tires at the launch, take two...

No lead foot here...I do about 12 - 1500rpm in second gear and crawl out...I put in the posi and the 4.10 gears recently...The 4.10's are because my transmission was shifting like crazy driving down the freeway...No it doesn't do that anymore and its a better ride...The nitto terra grapplers were bought from a shop of a former boss's nephew and he said they are the best tire he has for road traction(I may have been jobbed on those but I really like them for everything else)...They don't spin in the rain...I have about 2" until the winch post hits the swing away tongue pivot point...

I need to do something...A bunch of weight in the back seems like a bandaid...I figure if its worth doing, its worth overdoing...

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Spinning tires at the launch, take two...

I need to do something...A bunch of weight in the back seems like a bandaid...I figure if its worth doing, its worth overdoing...

4x4

 

[palace]

Re: Spinning tires at the launch, take two...

try decreasing your tire pressure try 5-10 lbs.

 

[bouttime007]

Re: Spinning tires at the launch, take two...

try decreasing your tire pressure try 5-10 lbs.

My thoughts exactly.

Less air = more grip.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Spinning tires at the launch, take two...

Better tires or hold the brakes while pressing the gas. No reason you should be spinning or need 4wd.

As for why they put 4:10 gears on some 1/2 tons - some 1/2 tons are rated to tow a ton of weight (1/2 ton today is beefier than most of the 1 tons of the 80's)

 

[MRS]

Re: Spinning tires at the launch, take two...

Give alittle gas and when they start spinning bump your brakes keep steady throttle keep bumping brakes.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Spinning tires at the launch, take two...

The nitto terra grapplers were bought from a shop of a former boss's nephew and he said they are the best tire he has for road traction

They are a jack-of-all-trades, master of none type tire. They probably lean towards off roading more than anything else, and take a little hit on pavement traction.

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: Spinning tires at the launch, take two...

Have you ever looked in your rear mirror, and seen your trailer swaying 45 degrees in each direction while going down a hill? I can tell you it's a very scary proposition.

Trailers should have at least 10% of the gross weight of the trailer on the hitch/ball--no matter what kind of trailer it is. In your case, it's 500 lbs. Moving your winch/support forward, and bringing your boat forward might solve your problem.

If you had to make an emergency stop, you could be in trouble. You'd be surprised how much traction your tow vehicle will have coming out of a boat ramp.

 

[hrdwrkingacguy]

Re: Spinning tires at the launch, take two...

My trailer has surge brakes and you can't feel it back there when it stops...I am going to move the boat forward as far as I can and weigh it see what happens...I might have this universal bolt together hitch welded also...

 

[superbenk]

Re: Spinning tires at the launch, take two...

Sometimes you can move the axle of the trailer back to change the tongue weight. Not sure how involved that is, but it might be an alternative to moving the bow post.

 

[sw33ttooth]

Re: Spinning tires at the launch, take two...

As for why they put 4:10 gears on some 1/2 tons - some 1/2 tons are rated to tow a ton of weight (1/2 ton today is beefier than most of the 1 tons of the 80's)

just thought i'd add some info on that tid bit, 2010 f 150 has a tow rateing of like 10,000 lbs i think, and my dads 2000 1 ton has a max at 11,000. kind mad him angry in 2001 they boosted tow capacity by like 50% so it made his 1 ton like a 3/4 ton and now its equall to a 1/2 ton. i doubt 150# of sand or what ever in the bed will do much more then like you said "a bandaid" if you want the real fix move the winch post forward to its max then see how it does you'd be shocked what 2-3 inches will do.

if that doesnt work then moving the axle back is an idea, if you have the special magnetic drill and some good tools maybe even compressed air its a simple job. but if your under there with a drill from walmart and some dull bits and a 1/2 inch rachet and what not it would most certainly be a tidious job.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Spinning tires at the launch, take two...

Trailers should have at least 10% of the gross weight of the trailer on the hitch/ball--no matter what kind of trailer it is.

Sometimes you can move the axle of the trailer back to change the tongue weight. Not sure how involved that is, but it might be an alternative to moving the bow post.

Most trailer manufacturers will disagree with you on that... 5% to 10% max is far more common. And ezloader (and probably others) goes as far as saying 10% is the absolute max, never exceed. As far as tandem vs single, simple physics, a tandem trailer has a lot more lateral grip and sidewall stability, and far less likely to sway.

Given the weight the poster said, its a tandem axle. Tandems can be moved, but they are more involved. Moving the winch post is usually far better.

http://www.ezloader.com/Brochures/OwnManual/Manual.asp?page=14
http://www.ezloader.com/ezdisplayfaq.asp?faqcode=9
http://www.sherline.com/lmbook.htm#refrn9
http://www.loadrite.com/pdf/LoadRite-Owners-Manual/OwnerManual0311.pdf

 

[Fishing Dude too]

Re: Spinning tires at the launch, take two...

A little trick that might help is take a little silica sand (sandblasting sand) spread where the tires are going to run. If the do spin will burry into tires adding traction. Just a thought have used this in mud, and snow but never on a ramp so have no idea if will hep.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Spinning tires at the launch, take two...

Another trick everyone seems to forget about is the simplest. Put the tranny in 2nd gear. If you start in 2nd, you effectively lower the driveline ratio and you'll get less slip. I have the TerraGrapplers and they are outstanding tires on and off-road. Nothing wrong with your tires. I would try to get the trailer tongue weight up if it really is only 250lbs.

 

[90stingray]

Re: Spinning tires at the launch, take two...

Another trick everyone seems to forget about is the simplest. Put the tranny in 2nd gear. If you start in 2nd, you effectively lower the driveline ratio and you'll get less slip. I have the TerraGrapplers and they are outstanding tires on and off-road. Nothing wrong with your tires. I would try to get the trailer tongue weight up if it really is only 250lbs.

Read reply #6... he uses 2nd gear already!

Before bothering with movin winch post... try the extra weight in the bed first to see if its going to do the job for you. But it should work just fine