Pulling boat out of water w/o 4 wheel drive - help

General Boats and Motors
1

So I bought a boat August 2010, a 17.5 ft Scout (hull under 1000 lbs), and, a truck to pull it (2003 Dodge Ram 1500, NO four wheel drive). Truck & boat have been great, never any problems.

I have added a 23 ft Palmetto to the family (LOA 27 ft due to bracket). MUCH heavier than the Scout…

I launched it for the first time Tuesday afternoon from Madere’s landing. Launched it alone because I couldn’t stand it any longer and my friend wound up getting stuck at work. Launch successful.

Have a nice ride and head back to landing. Back trailor in, put boat on trailor, hooked up and ready to roll. Or so I thought…

UH OH… :roll_eyes:

Here I go burning rubber, and more rubber… Someone else at the landing tried to help, so I get in the bed on top of the sand bags I had already put in the bed prior to departure just in case, while he tried to drive it out. Nothin but burning rubber… ALMOST got it but there was a hump and we just couldn’t get over it.

It was mid low tide… not even dead low…

I detach the boat and pull the trailor, calling my parents for help to get my (**() boat out of the water as they have four wheel drive.

Then I am approached by another person that said, “mind if i give it a try?” Well of course not… this BITES!

He backed the trailor back in with my truck, I put boat on trailor, and this time, me and another guy stand in the back of the bed jumping up and down. And here she goes… YAY!!! This time burning rubber paid off :wink:

I thought I would be ok with my truck to pull this boat (as I did call Dodge and asked a few people, consensus was 23 ft you will be just fine, as long as you don’t go long distances). U-Haul said I would be just fine (as I paid them to put on the hitch). The guys at Geralds (who replaced the ball joists & breaks the day before which was not cheap…) said that this truck would haul it just fine. Well guess what? They all wrong… :imp:

Perhaps I need to use another landing? I think it was the

2

I have a 1500 Chevy and I have never had an issue with my 23ft. I am not familiar with that landing so i would suggest trying another landing before you give up. That truck should be plenty for that boat.

Fishb8 (Fish Bait)

23 Sea Hunt “My Last Boat V”

If you can’t stand behind our soldiers, try standing in front of them.

3

that’s a tough one… aside from putting weight in the bed of the truck, you can have someone in the boat help power you up the ramp, but that is not recommended and timing can be difficult, to say the least.

trying another ramp might help as well.

were it me, i’d trade the truck in on a 4x4 half ton or a 2 wheel drive 3/4 ton.

4

Is there any room on the trailer to adjust the winch post forward? if you can move it forward even a couple inches it may redistribute enough weight to the tongue and hitch to get you the traction you need.

quote:
Originally posted by Bolbie

…the harbor was slick as an eel pecker.

5
quote:
Originally posted by ayejoe1017

Is there any room on the trailer to adjust the winch post forward? if you can move it forward even a couple inches it may redistribute enough weight to the tongue and hitch to get you the traction you need.

quote:
Originally posted by Bolbie

…the harbor was slick as an eel pecker.

That’s a good idea. I have had trouble on wet steep ramps. But I have 4 wheel drive to back me up.

Cliff
2006 pioneer 197 SF 150 4s

6
quote:
Originally posted by ayejoe1017

Is there any room on the trailer to adjust the winch post forward? if you can move it forward even a couple inches it may redistribute enough weight to the tongue and hitch to get you the traction you need.

quote:
Originally posted by Bolbie

…the harbor was slick as an eel pecker.

No room to do that…

I have an extra long ball mount. It is 10 inches. Would a shorter one would help?

7

Did the ramp have sand or gravel on it? I have a 23.5 WA and the motor is on a bracket also. My Dodge 2 wheel drive PU does just fine! Only trouble I ever had, was at a ramp on Folly and that ramp had sand and small gravel on it. Just like you did, 2 people on the bumper did the trick. Pick another ramp or take 2 people with you.

8

Sounds to me like you bought a POS truck to pull your dressed up POS Sea Pro around and it can’t do the job!!! J/K Only thing you can do to try and help is put more weight over the real wheels and go into low range while towing out. It wont be so painful at higher tides. Best of luck.

9

I had a 2WD Dodge 1500 and a heavy 23’ WA several years ago. I was OK at most ramps but had trouble at low tide at some steep and slippery ramps (especially Brickyard)

Having a full fuel tank in the truck helped some as did a running start from almost drowning the truck (boat is semi-floating and lighter then), but there were a couple of times that it took waiting for enough people to come along needing the ramp and sitting in the bed. That last method was not too cool and pretty embarrassing.

The Dodge was also pretty bad in pulling that boat in crosswinds, especially 526 and the IOP connector. Also had trouble getting it stopped, went through first red light I saw while standing on brake the day I bought the boat. I went to keeping the boat at a marina, was so much easier and no ramp delays. I was very surprised when I got a small SUV (Acura MDX) and found it could pull that boat up all ramps in AWD and could barely feel the boat while driving and braking. Was strange looking, the MDX looked like a bug stuck on the front of the boat. My only concern was transmission damage, but never had a problem.

10

She doesn’t have 4x4 so she has no low range and if you are referring to putting the transmission into 1, well all automatic transmissions in cars and light duty trucks start out in 1st gear. She may actually be better off starting out in 2nd to reduce wheel spin if her automatic will force it into starting out in 2nd. Anyone who has driven in snow, mud or sand will tell you that.

11
quote:
Originally posted by Half-hitched

Sounds to me like you bought a POS truck to pull your dressed up POS Sea Pro around and it can’t do the job!!!

</font id=“quote”></blockquote id=“quote”>

Actually - I bought the truck to pull my Scout. See very first sentence of this thread.

Secondly, it is a Palmetto, not a “dressed up Sea Pro”. Only thing these boats have in common is they were both owned by Sea Pro. Palmetto had its own production facility, own plant, own personel, not to mention a different hull, deck layout, length, beam, fuel capicity, weight. Check out the hardware, hatches, gel coat, layup, so on and so forth - it is a world of difference.

You are more than welcome to come take a look at my boat sometime and see for yourself. If you give me a ride to the landing, I may even take you for a ride :smiley:</font id=“Georgia”>

With rates so low, now may be the perfect time to refinance or purchase your dream home. If you are thinking about home financing give me a ring!</font id=“blue”>

Heather Leman
Direct: 843-343-8169
NMLS# 279616
hleman@primelending.com
www.shakeyourbouy.com

12
quote:
Originally posted by ayejoe1017

Is there any room on the trailer to adjust the winch post forward? if you can move it forward even a couple inches it may redistribute enough weight to the tongue and hitch to get you the traction you need.

quote:
Originally posted by Bolbie

…the harbor was slick as an eel pecker.

Actually - if I take off the spare tire I shoudl be able to move the winch post forward an inch and a half, maybe two.

Not sure if the spare tire would fit behind it, but could always keep it in the bed of the truck.

I will give this a shot.

13
quote:
Originally posted by ladyshrimpkilla
quote:
Originally posted by ayejoe1017

Is there any room on the trailer to adjust the winch post forward? if you can move it forward even a couple inches it may redistribute enough weight to the tongue and hitch to get you the traction you need.

quote:
Originally posted by Bolbie

…the harbor was slick as an eel pecker.

Actually - if I take off the spare tire I shoudl be able to move the winch post forward an inch and a half, maybe two.

Not sure if the spare tire would fit behind it, but could always keep it in the bed of the truck.

I will give this a shot.

that’s not the “winch post” that is being referred to.

14
quote:
Originally posted by Floater
quote:
Originally posted by ladyshrimpkilla
quote:
Originally posted by ayejoe1017

Is there any room on the trailer to adjust the winch post forward? if you can move it forward even a couple inches it may redistribute enough weight to the tongue and hitch to get you the traction you need.

quote:
Originally posted by Bolbie

…the harbor was slick as an eel pecker.

Actually - if I take off the spare tire I shoudl be able to move the winch post forward an inch and a half, maybe two.

Not sure if the spare tire would fit behind it, but could always keep it in the bed of the truck.

I will give this a shot.

that’s not the “winch post” that is being referred to.

Glad that I posted a picture before I moved it, lol.

What “winch post” are we referring to?

With rates so low, now may be the perfect time to refinance or purchase your dream home. If you are thinking about home financing give me a ring!</font id=“blue”>

Heather Leman
Direct: 843-343-8169
NMLS# 279616
hleman@primelending.com
www.shakeyourbouy.com

15

Sometimes 2WD is not enough on slick ramps. However, most of the time 2WD will do. Some things have have a big affect are the tires (are they worn or just have bad wet traction) and what kind of differential (is it open, limited slip, etc).

Iain Pelto
Sea Hunt Triton 160 w/ 90 ETEC “JB3”
Native Manta Ray 14

16

I had the same problem on some ramps, and cured it with a different set of tires on the truck. Made all the difference in the world.

Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats

17

the bow of your boat is touching the winch post. it’s the post with the winch on it;-). if you move it forward your whole boat will be moved forward and create more tongue weight. the boat and trailer are probably already situated correctly, so don’t go crazy moving the boat forward, or you can create an unsafe driving condition, especially with a smaller truck.

18
quote:
Originally posted by Floater

the bow of your boat is touching the winch post. it’s the post with the winch on it;-). if you move it forward your whole boat will be moved forward and create more tongue weight. the boat and trailer are probably already situated correctly, so don’t go crazy moving the boat forward, or you can create an unsafe driving condition, especially with a smaller truck.

Gotcha. So THIS is what we are talking about…

Undecided on what to name the new boat at the moment - but thinking about Blonde Moment, lol. Although leaning towards Miss Behavior.

With rates so low, now may be the perfect time to refinance or purchase your dream home. If you are thinking about home financing give me a ring!</font id=“blue”>

Heather Leman
Direct: 843-343-8169
NMLS# 279616
hleman@primelending.com
www.shakeyourbouy.com

19
quote:
Originally posted by Cracker Larry

I had the same problem on some ramps, and cured it with a different set of tires on the truck. Made all the difference in the world.

Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats

Any particular type of tires that would work best in this situation?

With rates so low, now may be the perfect time to refinance or purchase your dream home. If you are thinking about home financing give me a ring!</font id=“blue”>

Heather Leman
Direct: 843-343-8169
NMLS# 279616
hleman@primelending.com
www.shakeyourbouy.com

20

This is just my opinion, but here goes. You don’t have a power problem, or even a gearing problem per se. It is just a traction problem that 4wd would eliminate.
I have two suggestions to try.

  1. Reduce the torque to the rear wheels. I am a Ford guy, on the Fords when you select second gear on an automatic is gives you a higher gear. Thus reducing the torque to the rear wheels, this sounds backwards but less torque will not spin the tires as easily and give you a more even pull.
  2. Reduce the inertia of pulling the boat. After attaching the boat to the trailer at the bow, carefully back the boat up a little, letting the total load on the truck be reduced by letting the boat float a little more. Then pull up in an even pull, that way you are not starting out with as much strain and the truck and trailer are already in motion when traction is reduced.
    I think with a little finesse you could overcome this issue.
    Just my suggestion, but I do use 4wd and low range even for my little aluminum boat just because I have it.