Boat Ramp Question
 

Ok, just want to get some best practices.

The ramp at my lake is long and can get slick. I have a 4WD Excursion. My fear is while backing down, loss of traction, and not a pretty ending.....I've been putting it in 4WD anywhere near the ramp (backing down and pulling out).

So, question is: How to best handle a situation if tires break loose and you are sliding backwards with boat behind??? Does anyone keep it in drive while rolling back slowly toward the water in case traction break so you can accelerate out? I'm not a newbie, have been up and down many ramps, just thinking this through for when I have a bigger boat behind my truck.....

Thanks in advance...

I have never had the boat drag me down a ramp even in 2 wheel drive. Actually I have never had to put my truck in 4 wheel to move around a ramp. We have a ramp by us it's not real long but steep and always slick from water and slime. Even then I have no trouble. I put truck in drive and very little gas and it walks right out.

The people that are going crazy hammering on the gas spinning tires like crazy. SMH Don't know where they learned to pull a boat. Had a guy one time with a 20 something fishing boat. Spinning the tires like mad. Could not get the boat up the ramp. I pull up with my Avalanch hook up to my boat and walk right out. He asks if I can pull him out with my truck. I said just let me drive your truck and pulled his boat right out.

Do you have Electric over Hydraulic brakes on your trailer? If not, install them. This gives you braking in reverse; whereas surge brakes do not.

Second, keep someone in the boat that knows how to drive the boat. You can push a boat/trailer/truck out of the water with the drives in forward and some RPMs; done it many times. It takes timing to get it right and not blow your impellers by running dry, but not that big of a concern. I'd much rather replace a couple impellers than buy a new tow rig.

Thanks for the replies, I dont think I explained my concern very well. I have no problem pulling my boat out with my 4wd, diesel Excursion. The concern is when I am backing down slowly with brakes applied lightly and the tires lock up. Suddenly, you are being pulled down to the water by the boat, feeling out of control. Let off the brakes and you are going faster. Cant hit the gas because vehicle is in reverse.

Want to be better prepared for this as our lake is down further, and already slick ramp is longer......

Pretend like you are some of us from the North. Bring some sand with you, but in your case sprinkle down the ramp. Sand is great traction on slick surfaces. We use it for ice.

Lower air psi in tires also helps very well.

Other than that, i agree with the trailer brakes.

I tend to put the truck in neutral once the weight of the boat is on the ramp anytime I use a steep ramp around here. That way you will only have to fight gravity if the ramp is slick. Take it slow and figure the worst case, truck with boat on trailer will stop once the boat hits the water... You can leave it in drive and let the truck get pulled backwards but I would think that would put undue stress on the drivetrain.

If you cant break because you loose traction, having it in forward wont help. You still dont have traction.

AND since most of your braking is done with the front axle now being lightened by tounge weight the front may slide. At the top of the ramp apply just enough parking brake to keep the weight from pulling you down the ramp. Put the truck in reverse and use just enough power to overcome the drag of the parking brake and if need be you can shift into neutral and apply normal braking.

If this will not work you need to find another ramp.

All very good comments, advice. It hasnt been a huge problem, but with a larger boat could be. I do always anticipate worse, so line up in lane best as I can if I have to manage slip. Thanks all!

I had that same problem with a very steep ramp once. As your backing down with your foot on the brake the front tires lock up and start to slide. It is scary. After that happened a couple of times, I just kept the truck in drive and let the weight of the rig pull me down to the water. Just give it a little gas to go down nice and slow. Probably not the best for the transmission, but better than an uncontrollable slide.