4X4 Use on the launch ramp
 

How many of you use your 4Lo on the ramp to pull out the boat? I found a used F550, but it is 4x2. I really want a 4x4 (just in case), but can not find a nice used truck with decent miles and a fair price.

Also, I am trying to determine if the F550 is needed. I have a 40 Hustler and may move up, but not 100% sure. Been looking at a few 450s and 350s. I am worried that I will be near 15K on the F350 tow rating... not worried that the truck can't handle the weight, but liability issues if I am over 15K.

PS, I know, go to a scale and weigh it :D

Re: 4X4 Use on the launch ramp
 

Always use 4l.....I have it might as well use it.

Re: 4X4 Use on the launch ramp
 

I use it just about everytime! I've been stuck on a busy Boat ramp with a 2-wd dually before and had to pulled up the ramp by a buddy in his bronco with his trailer attached. (that sucked!!)

I don't know if the extra weight of the 550 might help a little...........

Re: 4X4 Use on the launch ramp
 

I use a GMC Kodiak pulling about 12,500 max out of the ram, no prolbems yet..........

Re: 4X4 Use on the launch ramp
 

I have a GMC 3500HD (same as a F450) two wheel drive. It is the WORST at the ramp, the tires are so stiff any slime, moss, gravel, if you touch the gas pedal its stuck. They use the 19.5 lo pro tires with ten lug rims. My truck even has weight in it, hits the scales at 10K. I hate a 2wd truck for many reason, and I am sorry I wound up with this one, again..

Re: 4X4 Use on the launch ramp
 

Super, point well taken. Any 4wd will spin on slime, moss and gravel.

Re: 4X4 Use on the launch ramp
 

If the tide is low at Atlantic Highlands Marina, then you will have your rear wheels on that green... slick as owl chit...bay scum. Guess what? You are in a bind. Here is where 4wd pays off. Place that transfer case in 4wd when you back up to dip that Myco to retrieve your boat, winch that little honey into place, hook up the safetychain to the bow eye and haul that salty preztel up the ramp and over to the lot where you can attach the transom straps. Now it's off to the house for flushing the engines ( a neighborhood favorite) and washing the boat. All painless because of 4wd.

Re: 4X4 Use on the launch ramp
 

Thanks for the input... I guess my search will have to continue!

Re: 4X4 Use on the launch ramp
 

Scott, BOB has got to weigh more than that! Rich's 37AT on a trailer full of fuel, tools, gear, AC, portable Honda generator, and everything else was 12,800 lbs. on a Myco Aluminum trailer!

Re: 4X4 Use on the launch ramp
 

Dry weight is only 9500lbs according to Formula. No gen, water heater. I will be weighing it as soon as I get the truck done with it's new look. That's only the boat no trailer. I would guess @2000lb on the trailer maybe.

Re: 4X4 Use on the launch ramp
 

I almost miss my old F250 with manual locking hubs, was able to put transfer case in low and not have the front end bind up (new has auto locking) at top of ramp when making tight turn. If tires ever spun I would then lock the hubs.

Then again now being boatless I don't have any trouble at all :(

Re: 4X4 Use on the launch ramp
 

There is a kit to convert the hubs to manual hubs........the best thing out there is being able to select the hubs being locked or not.......................

Re: 4X4 Use on the launch ramp
 

Thanks, its my wife's daily driver and I like the fact that she can easily put in 4x4 in snow and slippery rain without getting out (she wouldn't). The truck could pull my old 311 up just about any ramp, it just wasn't the best treatment of the trans in high gear

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You must use more gas in your van going up and down the ramp than you do in the boat for a day!

Re: 4X4 Use on the launch ramp
 

Liability is a big one that many overlook. Keeping yourself alive is even bigger. While the light-duty pickup will pull these monsters, once you find yourself in a scrape, you'll have the best results with the biggest truck you can buy. I rolled a 38TG with an under-limit dually. Wasn't fun. The Apache gets tugged by an FL70. I've done a couple of quick maneuvers and even got about 3' off the berm into the grass to avoid a left-of-center. Yanked it right back up with zero fuss. You can hardly feel it back there. The driving is alot more relaxed too. None of this white-knuckle crap anymore. Steep, wet, greasy ramps are something I avoid with it for obvious reasons.

I bought the FL70 for a third of what a new 550 costs. It pulls the boat and serves double-duty anytime I need to move anything bigger than will fit in a pickup. 16' flat bed.

Re: 4X4 Use on the launch ramp
 

I don't normally use it. I look at the ramp and see if the water level is low...if it is, it's usually "slimy" because the water is usually covering it. I probably use it half the time. It's good to have 4x4 when you need it :D

Re: 4X4 Use on the launch ramp
 

I use 4 low all the time just think it puts less stress on the truck. I had manual transmissions before and figured 4 low was easier on the clutches. i didn't figure this out until the third clutch though. Usually pull pretty big boats out at the ramps, and when the boat is not all the way on the trailer it tends to lift the rear wheels off the ground. Nice having the front wheels locked when I'm on the trailer operating the winch.

Re: 4X4 Use on the launch ramp
 

I use 4x4 everytime as a precaution. no matter what

Re: 4X4 Use on the launch ramp
 

New truck this year, but the parking brake didn't work in the last truck. So i put it in 4 low and put it in park when i had to launch on my own.

Re: 4X4 Use on the launch ramp
 

I use it everytime. It only takes a second to switch and the truck doesn't even know the boat is back there in 4L.
I also use 4wd, when launching, that way I don't have to worry about the front tires slipping.

Re: 4X4 Use on the launch ramp
 

Not much choice when I launch this monster.

Re: 4X4 Use on the launch ramp
 

I always use four wheel drive..but then again I have no choice. :eek:

Re: 4X4 Use on the launch ramp
 

try again

Re: 4X4 Use on the launch ramp
 

I use 4 wheel when ever needed, went to ohio last year for a run and the ramps there were the worst we have ever seen. I got the boat in the water but had to have it hoisted back on the trailer. I still wonder why such a big boating area on a great lake has bad launches. Or is it the Marinas that want to charge to hydro lift them ?????. Or is it no one launches . We have some bad ones around here also but have several to chose from.

Re: 4X4 Use on the launch ramp
 

Haven't had a need yet, not even on steep ramps. This truck has teeth for feet, haven't even broken a tire loose, but if I came to a "green" ramp (algae), I would probably engage it.

Re: 4X4 Use on the launch ramp
 

I used 4WD HIGH most of the time just incase on my 2500 Avalanche (w/ 37 Active Thunder) and my previous Tahoe (with 26 Sonic). I never ever had to put into 4WD LOW.

I have not launched yet with my Ford F-350 dually, but it is 4WD.

Re: 4X4 Use on the launch ramp
 

I don't feel a need to go to 4 low, but I would never consider anything but 4 wheel drive. I am pulling 16K. On my home ramp it gets alot of use and even on wet asphalt I will not make it out when in 2 wheel drive. I have an F-350 Powerstroker.

Re: 4X4 Use on the launch ramp
 

The only reason i used 4 low is because my parking brake didn't work. So if i was launching by myself and had to get out of the truck, i had to put it in park. Now, the 7000 lbs or so i was towing, plus the 5000 lbs the truck weighed, on an incline, meant a whole bunch of stress on that parking pawl in the transmission.

4 low works both ways. It steps up the torque going to the wheels. If you're in park, it reduces the amount of torque transmitted back to the transmission. So it basically cut the stress on on the parking pawl by a factor of whatever the low range ratio was.

I didn't need 4 low or even 4x4 to pull the boat out, but i used it anyway to help save the tranny.

New truck this year, but one of the rear parking brakes (drum in the hat of the disk setup) sticks. So i need to fix that before long, or i'm going to be doing the same thing, just with a much more expensive truck.

Back when i was younger, and i towed my dads jetboat (about 2000 lbs) on the bumper of my $100 beater S10, i had a couple of times where i almost didn't get it out of the water. I would make it almost to the top of the ramp, then lose traction. I'd have to convince whoever was around to sit in my pickup bed while i pulled it out, so i could get enough traction.

Re: 4X4 Use on the launch ramp
 

I've been on some pretty steep ramps with my 95 GMC 3500 Dually (Rat Motor, Auto) and have never had to use anything other than 4WD High to get my 386 Sonic out.

Re: 4X4 Use on the launch ramp
 

I have rarely used it but there were a few occasions I needed it, and boy was I glad it was there. Depends alot on your launch.