Backing a boat trailer up a hill

[Wolfhound]

I am looking into a buying a boat (about 4,000 lb with trailer), and I am wondering if I will be able to back it up my driveway (no way to turn around at the top). My driveway is about 100' long, and has about a 15-18% grade.

Assuming I get a trailer that doesn't have surge breaks on it(or one's that can be disabled), do you think I'll be able to back it up the hill? I have 2wd CC with big tow. I understand that the reverse gear is a 2.613 ratio, similar to second gear of 2.368. First is 3.827. What do you guys think?

I may have to borrow a friend's boat to experiment, but I'd like to get your guys thoughts on it before I attempt it.

[rrumaner]

Backing it up shouldn't be a problem for the truck, but it might take some training on your part to keep it straight for such a distance.

[PolarisTitan]

im with rrumaner, i have a 5000 lb snowmobile trailer that I can back up a grade about that much with my 1992 GMC van, your titan should be no problem

[Zardoz]

Originally Posted by Wolfhound

I am looking into a buying a boat (about 4,000 lb with trailer), and I am wondering if I will be able to back it up my driveway (no way to turn around at the top). My driveway is about 100' long, and has about a 15-18% grade.

Assuming I get a trailer that doesn't have surge breaks on it(or one's that can be disabled), do you think I'll be able to back it up the hill? I have 2wd CC with big tow. I understand that the reverse gear is a 2.613 ratio, similar to second gear of 2.368. First is 3.827. What do you guys think?

I may have to borrow a friend's boat to experiment, but I'd like to get your guys thoughts on it before I attempt it.

I think it could do it but be sure to put the tranny in park and let it idle
for a couple of minutes before you shut it down. Your automatic tranny
temperature will surely rise doing this kinda thing. A couple of minutes
rest before you turn it off will cool it off just fine. It doesn't take long.

Zardoz

[mjw357]

You may want to have a helper chock the trailer wheels before you set your parking brake and put the tranny in park. On that steep of a grade it would be good safety practice and will keep the load off of the truck brakes and the tranny parking pawl.

[Nr1 Qualifier]

Why not put a hitch ball on the front and push it up the hill.
I put one on my Titan, had to have it fabricated to attach to
the skid plate brackets, and that's how I get my boat and ATV
trailers up my hill.

[KL99SEA]

Mine struggles backing my 24' Grady up a slight incline on soft grass. Forward pulling is easy and you don't know its there but reverse does suck. It won't be easy and it feels really hard on the tranny. Reverse gear should be the same as 1st....you should never need to go over 30mph in reverse. At least I know why I have to really lay into it backing up on grass. My old 01 F250 5.4L backed it up same place just off idle, the Titan needs like 2000rpm's to move it. But the old Ford couldn't get it going forward like the Nissan.