2wd Boat Towing

[PhiLambTitan]

Okay spring break is around the corner and a couple buddies just invested in a boat w/ no truck go figure. I have a 04 2wd LE w/ big tow and will be towing the 17' ski boat. I never towed a boat of this size before just a small aluminum Xpress. The only main concern I really have is the boat ramp and tires slipping. Will I have any problems towing it?

[walleeme]

Nope.
Have fun.

[Megw3788]

Nope, I tow a 20ft ski boat with no problems, never had my tires slip.

[PhiLambTitan]

Sweet thanks for the help!

[anmut]

You should be okay towing it. Inspect the launch though before you put your boat in. Don't launch anywhere with a steep and/or gravel grade to it.

Also remember when you recover your boat from the water that with a two wheel drive it's sometimes better to keep more of the truck and trailer out of the water and use the trailer winch to get the boat on than it is to back way out. Oh and if the launch is wide enough and highly used try to back up out of the "wet marks" on the pavement.

This comes from a lot of experience watching n00bs at the launch ramps. I actually saw a guy with an older Jeep trying to recover a 25+ boat have to have his friends help push the vehicle up the ramp.

[Bullwinkle]

Originally Posted by anmut

This comes from a lot of experience watching n00bs at the launch ramps.

Busy launch ramps are always good entertainment!

Practice backing down the ramp, launching, & retrieving the boat before you head to the lake on a busy weekend. Get a routine down. Ideally you need someone that can drive the truck (and back up the trailer), and someone else to drive the boat.

When launching the boat don't forget to check the bilge plug & remove the transom straps. When retrieving it, don't forget to put the outdrive up (assuming it has one).

Learn to get the boat in & out of the water as quickly as possible, but don't expect anyone else to!

[Megw3788]

Originally Posted by Bullwinkle

Busy launch ramps are always good entertainment!

Practice backing down the ramp, launching, & retrieving the boat before you head to the lake on a busy weekend. Get a routine down. Ideally you need someone that can drive the truck (and back up the trailer), and someone else to drive the boat.

When launching the boat don't forget to check the bilge plug & remove the transom straps. When retrieving it, don't forget to put the outdrive up (assuming it has one).

Learn to get the boat in & out of the water as quickly as possible, but don't expect anyone else to!

Haha ain't that the truth. Everyone will pressure you to hurry up and get out of the way, then you happen to get behind that same person the next weekend and they take 30 minutes to unload their stuff. We usually go to the port on Saturday or Sunday evening after we go out to the islands because the boat ramp is super busy, and it's right beside this nice resturaunt and boy is it some great entertainment. All the drunkies that have been out in the ocean all day trying to load up their boats, all the noobs that have the drunks at the Tiki bar yelling at them and pressuring them making them do even worse than they were, and then the first timers that try to pull their boat out and can't and have to have someone with a 4x4 hook to them and tow em out. lol Then there's the occasional truck that rolls back into the water. I've only got to witness two of those though.

[AgTitan06]

You should be fine. I've never had a problem at the boat ramp with my 4x2. When you are pulling out, drop it in a low gear and ease into the throttle.

Just be careful. Don't let this happen to you! LOL

[anmut]

Originally Posted by Megw3788

Haha ain't that the truth. Everyone will pressure you to hurry up and get out of the way, then you happen to get behind that same person the next weekend and they take 30 minutes to unload their stuff. We usually go to the port on Saturday or Sunday evening after we go out to the islands because the boat ramp is super busy, and it's right beside this nice resturaunt and boy is it some great entertainment. All the drunkies that have been out in the ocean all day trying to load up their boats, all the noobs that have the drunks at the Tiki bar yelling at them and pressuring them making them do even worse than they were, and then the first timers that try to pull their boat out and can't and have to have someone with a 4x4 hook to them and tow em out. lol Then there's the occasional truck that rolls back into the water. I've only got to witness two of those though.

Ain't that the truth. That's why I'd rather hit the river than go to one of the many yuppie lakes. The river may be brown from the oak leaves but the launches are only being used by fishermen.

[Demondw3]

I have never had a problem towing, launching or recovering my boat with my 2wd.

[Megw3788]

Originally Posted by anmut

Ain't that the truth. That's why I'd rather hit the river than go to one of the many yuppie lakes. The river may be brown from the oak leaves but the launches are only being used by fishermen.

Around here once it starts warming up every boat ramp gets packed. The ones in the river's, aside from the fresh water river, and the ones for the ocean. It's rediculous, you can count on waiting atleast 20 minutes to launch your boat, then you play heck trying to find a spot. And if you have to launch at the ramps at the port, it takes atleast an hour to get through the locks, and it's still packed at the ramps.

[DiabloDelSol]

I had a friend who would launch and recover his heavy-a$$ sailboat with an old Ford two-wheel-drive with generic street tires. Occasionally, the ramp would be covered in a layer of algae. The truck would slip and spin its tires on recovery. Me and another buddy or just someone else at the dock would stand on the rear bumper. Problem solved. You just need a little weight on the rear tires for traction.

[yamatitan]

i never had a problem with my old 2wd f150. i did use some common sense though and wouldnt launch at a ramp that was gravel or was covered in algae, etc... If it looked effie i would find another launch. it didnt take long to learn where all the good launches where.

now i got a 4x4 and dont have to worry about that anymore yippee!

[young dank]

yeah I did a lil of spin on algae, dropped it in first and eased out. I been in deep mud and got out after diggin a trench. 2wd. thank you 1st gear.

[anmut]

And who says it isn't fun to burn a little rubber on the launch anyway?!