Tow Vehicle. What Gear Should I be in.

[AZBoatDreamer]

To my surprise I spun my rear tires pulling my boat out of the pond. The ramp is your normal concrete Ramp. My tow Vehicle is a Ford 2004 250 4 x 4 V10. I have a selector from 2 Wheel 4 Wheel High and 4 Wheel Low. I was in 4 wheel Low with the shift selector in Drive "D". I cannot understand how I spun rear tires in 4 x 4 mode.

So what gear should I be in when I pull my boat out of the Water.

So the Options would be.

2 Wheel Drive
4 Wheel High
4 Wheel Low

Also should I be in D, 2 or 1 on the Shift Selector.

How about overdrive on or off.
Im confused

Thanks

 

[QC]

Re: Tow Vehicle. What Gear Should I be in.

Your truck probably has auto locking front hubs. These require a few feet of forward motion to "lock". If you put the truck in 4WD "mode" when you were at the bottom of the ramp they were probably not locked when you took off, hence the rear wheel slippage.

Your boat is not that heavy so 4WD High is probably sufficient. Low if you have further issue, but lock your hubs (go forward in 4) before you get down on the ramp.

D on the selector.

If you try 2WD, then you might also try 2 on the selector to reduce slipping. But with 4WD that would be kinda stupid . . .

Overdrive has no affect on starting.

 

[AZBoatDreamer]

Re: Tow Vehicle. What Gear Should I be in.

OK now I know what the Locking Hubs are for. They have two options. Auto and Manual. What does Auto mean.

Someone is going to tell me to Read the Manual. I know.

Thanks.

 

[cooter2506]

Re: Tow Vehicle. What Gear Should I be in.

Dont quote me but I beleive he has to manually lock in the hubs on 250 Ford. If so it is in the center of your front hubs. It should say lock and free on it turn it to lock.

 

[AZBoatDreamer]

Re: Tow Vehicle. What Gear Should I be in.

Now I'm thinking I was never in 4wd because I didn't move the Selector to 4wd while in Neutral.

The locking hubs says Auto or Manual on the Hubs.

 

[scoutabout]

Re: Tow Vehicle. What Gear Should I be in.

Was just going to say - our Ford Explorer would not engage 4 low unless you were in Neutral first. It had auto hubs (if you consider having to reverse ten feet to unlock them "auto"...) but otherwise maybe your system is similar?

Maybe read the manual...

As for overdrive, not an issue. The transmission would never engage that gear pulling up a ramp from a dead stop so it doesn't matter what position the selector was in.

 

[reelnative]

Re: Tow Vehicle. What Gear Should I be in.

well if you had a dodge you wouldnt have to worry about this kind of stuff hahaha jk, if you put your truck in 4 low all tires will spin, as for putting your truck in 2nd gear like another posted that would be not too smart unless you want to go see the tranny guy, keep it in drive and let it fig out what gear is best

 

[northernmerc]

Re: Tow Vehicle. What Gear Should I be in.

Unless the ramp is very steep or the boat very heavy, High 4x4 and Drive should work well.

I have seen odd things happen with Ford 4x4 systems, so be sure to read the manual.

If your hubs really have two positions that are marked "Auto" and "Manual," put the hubs in "Manual" for the most positive locking while pulling the boat out of the water. That system is different from most, which either are automatic only (with nothing to turn on the hubs) or "Lock" and "Unlock" (or Freewheel).

 

[AZBoatDreamer]

Re: Tow Vehicle. What Gear Should I be in.

Thanks for the Replies.

Ok now I have convince myself I wasn't in 4wd even though I had it selected. The back wheels were spinning which might indicate I was still it 2wd. To stop the spinning I dropped down to 2nd Gear. I hardley ever use 4wd so this was a learning lesson.

You all have been great help as always.

 

[QC]

Re: Tow Vehicle. What Gear Should I be in.

as for putting your truck in 2nd gear like another posted that would be not too smart unless you want to go see the tranny guy

I happen to have spent my entire 30+ year career in the truck biz . . . you should read the manual. Many of you guys treat all of your vehicles (equipment) like they are antique stained glass windows

 

[JaseBosto]

Re: Tow Vehicle. What Gear Should I be in.

Maybe read the manual...

As for overdrive, not an issue. The transmission would never engage that gear pulling up a ramp from a dead stop so it doesn't matter what position the selector was in.

Actually it does matter. Feel free to put it in (D) or (1). Not (2). I believe, and it varies by the years, but some vehicles(mine included) start off in 2nd gear when you select (2) from a dead stop. I believe this is for a situation where you have tire slippage, but its no good for the tranny.
I wouldn't use 4x4 unless you can't get up the ramp. Going in a straight line is ok in 4x4 on dry pavement, but if you need to make a turn after the ramp, your driveline could bind up. excessive wear would result. If it were me, I would just pull her up in 2wd and deal with a little tire slippage, definitly better than binding up the driveline. I pull my boat with a 2wd and a real auto-locker.4x4 is overrated IMHO.

 

[QC]

Re: Tow Vehicle. What Gear Should I be in.

Let's rewind here:

1) Yes, putting the gear selector in 2 forces almost all autos into 2nd gear starts to reduce wheel slippage. The flippin' topic is wheel slippage. If (and I posted this) if he is in 2WD then using 2nd to reduce wheel slippage is a designed in feature. I also said it would be stupid since he has 4WD. However, a full throttle start in 2nd gear every once in a while is not going to hurt the tranny. BTW, does anyone know what a stall test is? How is this procedure less damaging? And it is done by techs all the time.

2) How in the flyin' flip does OD enter into this discussion at all? He is on the ramp from a stop. OD does not enter the discussion until at least 35MPH. If you are talking about "tow/haul" that's a GM discussion.

3) Going up a ramp in 4WD, is awesome. Yes, there might be some binding in a turn up the ramp. So what? He is not going to leave pieces of this truck splattered all over the wash down lane from a turn with wet tires. Wouldn't happen with dry tires and pavement. I bet he could do lock to lock figure eights in the parking lot for a month on dry pavement in 4WD and not break anything. Yes I understand the binding/wear discussion, but these things are questions of degree and time. Not going to hurt it once a week for the rest of it's life.

I am going to reiterate what I said before. Many of you people baby your equipment and in the process don't get what you pay for. My .02 . . .

Oh, FWIW I buy 2WD now too. But it's because I don't like buying tires as most of our use is highway miles. I don't like to buy stuff I don't use, but if I do I use it!

 

[SNye45]

Re: Tow Vehicle. What Gear Should I be in.

I only have a 4WD Toyota Tacoma and it's is nearly at it's towing maximum. I regularly pull out of the launch only using only 2 wheel drive, the trick is not to "mash" the gas pedal. Nice and easy does it, feathering the gas pedal if you wish. I have never had any problem either on a dry or wet surface with my tires spinning.

Just my 2 cents worth

 

[AZBoatDreamer]

Re: Tow Vehicle. What Gear Should I be in.

I brought up the Over Drive because I wasn't sure if that may be the Factor. OK I get it I need to read the Manual better. I haven't worried about 4wd in my truck because really didn't have a need to use it. I also tow a 30ft Travel trailer, but keep it on pavement most of the time and the only thing I do is tow it with OD off. I have been to 3 lakes now since I purchased my boat Feb 12th 2010. All of them have the Staging area directly in front of the Ramp. So I figure I would pull the boat out in 4wd low straight ahead in the Staging area and take it out of 4wd. No turning really needed. I just have to make sure I'm in neutral when shifting from 2wd to 4wd.

You all have been helpful. Thanks.

 

[JoLin]

Re: Tow Vehicle. What Gear Should I be in.

Let's rewind here:

1) Yes, putting the gear selector in 2 forces almost all autos into 2nd gear starts to reduce wheel slippage. The flippin' topic is wheel slippage. If (and I posted this) if he is in 2WD then using 2nd to reduce wheel slippage is a designed in feature. I also said it would be stupid since he has 4WD. However, a full throttle start in 2nd gear every once in a while is not going to hurt the tranny. BTW, does anyone know what a stall test is? How is this procedure less damaging? And it is done by techs all the time.

2) How in the flyin' flip does OD enter into this discussion at all? He is on the ramp from a stop. OD does not enter the discussion until at least 35MPH. If you are talking about "tow/haul" that's a GM discussion.

3) Going up a ramp in 4WD, is awesome. Yes, there might be some binding in a turn up the ramp. So what? He is not going to leave pieces of this truck splattered all over the wash down lane from a turn with wet tires. Wouldn't happen with dry tires and pavement. I bet he could do lock to lock figure eights in the parking lot for a month on dry pavement in 4WD and not break anything. Yes I understand the binding/wear discussion, but these things are questions of degree and time. Not going to hurt it once a week for the rest of it's life.

I am going to reiterate what I said before. Many of you people baby your equipment and in the process don't get what you pay for. My .02 . . .

Oh, FWIW I buy 2WD now too. But it's because I don't like buying tires as most of our use is highway miles. I don't like to buy stuff I don't use, but if I do I use it!

+1

Four wheel 'low' going up the ramp. Every time. I know I'm not going to have an issue, and that's why I bought the friggin' thing.

Soon as I'm up the ramp, pop it into 2-wheel and we're golden. No fuss, no muss, no drama.

As for the 'shift to neutral' in order to engaeg 'low', seems to be very common across brands- my '03 Dodge requires it, as did my '96 Chevy. Truck can be rolling (at low speed) or stopped, but you have to be in neutral to engage.

 

[AZBoatDreamer]

Re: Tow Vehicle. What Gear Should I be in.

+1

Four wheel 'low' going up the ramp. Every time. I know I'm not going to have an issue, and that's why I bought the friggin' thing.

Soon as I'm up the ramp, pop it into 2-wheel and we're golden. No fuss, no muss, no drama.

As for the 'shift to neutral' in order to engaeg 'low', seems to be very common across brands- my '03 Dodge requires it, as did my '96 Chevy. Truck can be rolling (at low speed) or stopped, but you have to be in neutral to engage.

Thank you.

 

[cooter2506]

Re: Tow Vehicle. What Gear Should I be in.

4 wheel low to pull up a ramp is extreme. If it has 12 inches of snow on it maybe but just wet come on use 4 wheel high. Thats all that should be needed. I tow with the two vehicles in my signature. neither have been in 4x4 at all at any ramp. Tires are a real key to tire slippage at the ramps. IMHO!

 

[QC]

Re: Tow Vehicle. What Gear Should I be in.

4 wheel low to pull up a ramp is extreme.

Agree, but consider that some guys are launching 29 ft. Grady's on saltwater ramps at low tide . . . Bad combo for traction Cool thing about low is that you can just let off the brake slowly and idle alone may get you rolling and most likely not spin the tires.

 

[cooter2506]

Re: Tow Vehicle. What Gear Should I be in.

Agree, but consider that some guys are launching 29 ft. Grady's on saltwater ramps at low tide . . . Bad combo for traction Cool thing about low is that you can just let off the brake slowly and idle alone may get you rolling and most likely not spin the tires.

Good Point QC!

 

[TyeeMan]

Re: Tow Vehicle. What Gear Should I be in.

As for the "auto" feature on your front hubs, I'll bet you a box of beer that that is sort of an "auto 4 X 4 " feature. By that I mean, when you are driving down the highway or side street or what ever, and all of a sudden it snows 5 inches and you need four wheel drive, with out stopping or putting the truck in neutral, you can keep driving and turn the 4x4 switch to 4hi, this will engage the transfer case and simultaneously and automatically lock up your front hubs. When you no longer need 4 wheel drive, with out stopping or putting the truck in neutral, keep driving and put the 4x4 switch back in 2hi. After a few miles the hubs will unlock by themselves, or you have to stop and back up 10 feet, either one. As stated before the "manual" mode on the hub is for when you are or will be in a real predicament and do not want the hubs to unlock. Again, back in Auto mode, , once you flip the switch on the dash to 4hi you will need at least 10 feet in either direction to engage the front hubs.
So you could use the auto function on the boat ramp, just flip the switch on the dash to 4hi as you are backing down the ramp, not at the bottom when you are at a dead stop.
4lo will also work with the auto mode, the only difference is that when you go into and out of 4 lo you will need to put the transmission in neutral.
Turning corners in four wheel drive on wet or even dry pavement wont hurt anything. Yes the driveline will bind the wheel in opposite corners will scratch/slip, but driving 10 feet like that wont do anything. As stated before, if you did that for a month straight, yeah there's going to be some badness.
Oh, just be advised that when the auto lock hubs on Fords get a bunch of miles on them, say over 90-100,000 they may not work any more (the auto mode) they weren't really known for their hi mileage ability.
You'll know if it's not working when you drive down the road in 2hi and all of a sudden you get a big clunk from up front that makes your coffee shake.

Good Luck.

Oh, maybe you want to read the manual, , , , sorry I just had to.