Boat Ramp Problem

[Racechaser]

More tongue weight!!!!!

Steve you need more weight on the hitch, does the trailer sway back and forth at highway speeds also? I had both problems with the first boat (& truck) I owned. The 4WD comments aren't going to help your situation, which is what this site is all about. Check to see if your axle(s) are attached to the frame with u-bolts. Most universal trailers are. If this is the case you can slide them back yourself. Make sure you are on level ground and loosen up the u-bolts. Block the wheels front and rear. After you loosen everything up, pull truck and trailer foreward with a buddy watching. I would go 6-12" back, but you need to watch the length of the brake lines so you are not stretching them. Make sure you mark the frame before you start to move everything. When you get things slid back, measure from the rear end of the frame rails to the "L" channel the axle(s) sits on, on both sides to make sure it tows down the road straight. Tighten everything up, take for a ride and re-measure. If you need more details, e-mail me. Hope this helps!!!

 

[Steve G]

Thanks for the info. The boat is in the shop now but I'll check out the suggestions as soon as I get it back. It's a 20' Viper with tandem trailer. As far as the tires I'm on factory Goodyears and inflated between 45-50 lbs. I was considering a Ranchand Dually bumper at one time, do you think that would improve anything?

Thanks



Steve

 

[Racechaser]

The boat shop could probably move your axles for you, or make suggestions to improve your situation. (Don't take the 4x4 answer)!!!

 

[duaneparks]

Re: Re: Try this...not sure if it'll help

Originally posted by Chipstien

I didn't know this, guess you learn something new everyday. Curious as to why top fuel dragsters use such wide tires if this is the case.

On dry pavement, the dynamics of traction are reversed. In the sloppy slick stuff, you want to be able to dig down through the muck and get traction on the harder stuff underneath. Skinny tires with a good self-cleaning tread pattern work better here.



On dry pavement the wider tires (with little or no tread) allow more power to be put down before losing traction. Tread actually takes away from the contact patch, and therefore diminishes traction.



This is a wayyy over-simplified explanation, but I hope it helps.



Duane

01 Ram 4x4 "Brandy" <--been stuck too, with the wrong size tires for the job.

 

[Ram4Sam]

easier way

Next time you are stuck, just spinning the tires, try this. Put a twelve pack of beer in the the bed, look around for a few large beer swilling locals. Tell them there is free beer in the bed of your truck. Put a few 200-300lb guys over the axle, you'll have all the traction you need. I have tried this and it really works!



Sam

 

[gitchesum]

Originally posted by Steve G

Thanks for the info. The boat is in the shop now but I'll check out the suggestions as soon as I get it back. It's a 20' Viper with tandem trailer. As far as the tires I'm on factory Goodyears and inflated between 45-50 lbs. I was considering a Ranchand Dually bumper at one time, do you think that would improve anything?

Thanks



Steve

Might not hurt too much.



I like mine. They can takea pretty good hit too. The extra 150+ pounds did help the ride a little too.

 

[Steve G]

Sam that's a good idea but one flaw. I end up drinking the beer. I can't just let a cooler of beer go untouched... . that would be alcohol abuse.



Steve

 

[Extreme1]

TOUNGUE WEIGHT!!!

Toungue should be 10-15% of the trailer loaded weight. Less than 10% and some evil yet interesting things happen, especially at speed.

 

[Briar Hopper]

A boat bunny or two in the back of the truck does wonders for traction, and distraction. Of course, it helps if they resemble the ones pictured in Hot Boat magazine. Oo.

We got boat ramps here in Kentucky that I won't even try, even with a 4x4. Makes you wonder why the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers was in such a hurry to build them? Did they have a war to get to, or sumpin'?

I remember seeing one guy with a Chevy 1500 4x4, about 3 years ago, using a Warn Winch to get back up the ramp. :-laf And it was just a regular bass boat with a Merc 225 hanging on the back for dear life.

 

[pwknapp]

Like Illflem said, just fire up the boat and push it out. That is the only way you can get out of most ramps in LA.

 

[DarrellB]

Don't know about getting out but I seen a 24' pontoon boat drag a Chevy Tahoe down the ramp last weekend. Kinda funny to hear the tires squalling the hole way down the ramp. even funnier woundering how he was going to get that thing out of the water at the end of the day. :-laf



I agree with the others try and hold the brake and if that doesn't work get some more wait over the rear axle. I myself just pull it back in 4high and let her eat, but with 33x12. 50 BFG MT's it has to be pretty steap for me to use 4wheel drive.



Darrell