Sooo, this happened at my ramp the other day...

john55c · **Posted:** Wed Jul 23, 2014 7:35 am

LouC wrote:

Trucks that launch/retrieve boats should be 4x4...yes even in the South or Southwest.
If the ramp is slick if you are in 4x4 and it's in Park, or in gear if a manual, the front tires will keep you from sliding if they are on a dry section of the ramp. Two wheel drive can't accomplish that.

+1

blue dragon · **Joined:** Tue Jul 12, 2011 5:01 pm **Posts:** 792

I'm guessing thats an 8 foot VHF antenna on your boat? Looks tall

john55c · **Posted:** Wed Jul 23, 2014 8:24 am

blue dragon wrote:

I'm guessing thats an 8 foot VHF antenna on your boat? Looks tall

On my boat? Yes it is an 8'. Want to make sure I have good range where ever I am. If I go to Nantucket, it's a 26 mile shot from the mainland, with no cell service in middle. Haven't made trek yet, but will probably in the fall when the tourists vacate, leaving the best of the weather for us locals!

schoolsOut · **Posted:** Wed Jul 23, 2014 6:26 pm

GottWhat wrote:

So many people back their trailer into the water way too far.

So, how far do you guys back in? I usually back in until the side bunks on my FW trailer are just under water. When loading, I also make sure that the front of my forward bunks are just under water. Sometimes this has me pretty far in with my Tahoe. Bumper almost to water level. Today, at Raystown Lake in western PA, I used a ramp that was pretty flat and was about up to my bumper when loading. Boat went on nicely without having to winch too hard. Just wondering if maybe I am going too deep.

atlmover · **Joined:** Mon Jun 09, 2014 10:02 pm **Posts:** 52

I have a 220 and I put the load bumpers just under as well. Boat slides on great. I'm new at this but I have bfg all terrains on my truck and when the water touches the white letters on the rear tires I stop. Haven't had a problem yet.

john55c · **Posted:** Wed Jul 23, 2014 9:31 pm

schoolsOut wrote:

GottWhat wrote:

So many people back their trailer into the water way too far.

So, how far do you guys back in? I usually back in until the side bunks on my FW trailer are just under water. When loading, I also make sure that the front of my forward bunks are just under water. Sometimes this has me pretty far in with my Tahoe. Bumper almost to water level. Today, at Raystown Lake in western PA, I used a ramp that was pretty flat and was about up to my bumper when loading. Boat went on nicely without having to winch too hard. Just wondering if maybe I am going too deep.

For launching, I put the trailer back enough so that the stern is touching the water. For hauling, I put the trailer in so the back pair of rollers is wet, usually this covers 3/4 of the fenders. Most of my use is for salt water, so roller trailers are best if you trailer often, because touching any part of the vehicle into the water will rot it out quickly. Steel trailers are rare sights indeed. Galvanized is the norm. Most ramps around here have a decent angle on them so it gets deep quickly without needing to get trailer too far into water before stern is floating. Many also have docks alongside ramp, so you can back trailer down within inches of the dock, the stern floats with the fenders still above water, and you are able to easily get boat off without putting the whole rig into the water. Most ramps are concrete with 45 degree diagonally running grooves for traction. I have galvanized steel uprights with 2" PVC uprights and LED light kits on top of poles so lights are not submerged.

While on the south side we have a 3-4' tide, the north side (Cape Cod Bay up to Boston) has a 10-11' tide, so making sure traction is maintained is vital. I only know 1 guy that pulls with a 4X2 truck and he has a 20' Boston Whaler cuddy. I wouldn't do it. Always put it in 4X4 when on ramp for reasons stated by Lou and others. At least it's locked in gear when in park.

Boat Ramp in Hyannis Harbor where I normally put in

Sesuit Harbor, Dennis (ironically with a Four Winns Sundowner, same vintage as mine, in Googled photo)

meinmelb · **Posted:** Thu Jul 24, 2014 12:39 am

LouC wrote:

Trucks that launch/retrieve boats should be 4x4...yes even in the South or Southwest.
If the ramp is slick if you are in 4x4 and it's in Park, or in gear if a manual, the front tires will keep you from sliding if they are on a dry section of the ramp. Two wheel drive can't accomplish that.

WOW you guys must have REALLY BAD ramps. :?:

I have never owned a 4x4 in nearly 30 years of boating. Launched off river banks, dirt slipways, moss covered concrete etc and don't believe I have ever needed a 4x4. Some summers I would launch nearly every weekend from November to April, so it was not like a once off.... and yes for a season I even towed with a Toyota Camry ( company car... :lol:

) 2.4L, 4 cylinder front wheel drive and only just rated to tow my boat at the time :shock:

There is a level of common sense here that says if the boat ramp is dodgy don't launch, or take precautions... Personally I think if you manage to do this to any vehicle genuinely capable of towing the weight of your boat, you have a skill deficiency... ie you should not be allowed a driver licence!

john55c · **Posted:** Thu Jul 24, 2014 6:20 am

meinmelb wrote:

LouC wrote:

Trucks that launch/retrieve boats should be 4x4...yes even in the South or Southwest.
If the ramp is slick if you are in 4x4 and it's in Park, or in gear if a manual, the front tires will keep you from sliding if they are on a dry section of the ramp. Two wheel drive can't accomplish that.

WOW you guys must have REALLY BAD ramps. :?:

I have never owned a 4x4 in nearly 30 years of boating. Launched off river banks, dirt slipways, moss covered concrete etc and don't believe I have ever needed a 4x4. Some summers I would launch nearly every weekend from November to April, so it was not like a once off.... and yes for a season I even towed with a Toyota Camry ( company car... :lol:

) 2.4L, 4 cylinder front wheel drive and only just rated to tow my boat at the time :shock:

There is a level of common sense here that says if the boat ramp is dodgy don't launch, or take precautions... Personally I think if you manage to do this to any vehicle genuinely capable of towing the weight of your boat, you have a skill deficiency... ie you should not be allowed a driver licence!

Our ramps around here vary in degree of quality. I don't need to be in 4X4 all the time, but I choose to most of the time, to prevent any issues and for peace of mind.

Jdpber · **Posted:** Thu Jul 24, 2014 8:47 am

i have the answer.. the owner was late on payments and wanted the newer 2014 body style. Seems legit to me.

kd4pbs · **Joined:** Thu Sep 05, 2013 10:34 am **Posts:** 350

meinmelb wrote:

Personally I think if you manage to do this to any vehicle genuinely capable of towing the weight of your boat, you have a skill deficiency... ie you should not be allowed a driver licence!

You hit the nail on the head, my friend. In this country, the only stipulation for getting a drivers license is to have a pulse and be of a certain age. Those requirements are even sometimes waived if it involves getting an ID for voting in presidential elections.

LouC · **Posted:** Thu Jul 24, 2014 9:31 am

Its not just ramps, its marine growth due to environmental conditions. Slime etc makes them hard to walk up much less pull 4000-8000 lbs up.
Now in Australia this is irrelevant, but in a Northern winter in this country, a 2 wd truck ain't a goin' nowhere fast, if you have a lot of hills like we do here.

NiagaraChillin · **Posted:** Thu Jul 24, 2014 9:40 am

LouC wrote:

its marine growth due to environmental conditions.

Yep, we have had a lot of bright sunny days lately, coupled with crystal clear water. That promotes the moss/algae/slime to grow like crazy. Haven't seen it this thick in awhile. Its even coating the rocks 5-10 feet down off shore. Water is so clear lately, you don't even need a depth gauge, lol....

Jdpber · **Posted:** Thu Jul 24, 2014 10:03 am

sounds like a few of you need to be good citizens and carry your pressure washer to the landing and clean them up.. DNR maintains our ramps with a wash once a month..

NiagaraChillin · **Posted:** Thu Jul 24, 2014 11:08 am

Power washer wouldn't work, as all the growth is on the ramp that is UNDER water. Have to take a coal shovel or spade and scrap it off. We had big wind (NNW at 22) here yesterday, creating 4 footers on the lake, which then channeled into the river and pounded the ramp dock area. Haven't been down today, but I bet that got rid of a lot of the growth, it always does. Yay nature!

Jdpber · **Posted:** Thu Jul 24, 2014 11:33 am

you may want to research some sort of scrub and hard bristle brush it.. hell my tires stop 2 feet or so before the water on my grooved grippy ramp.

www.iFourWinns.com

Sooo, this happened at my ramp the other day...

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