Anybody use a come-a-long?

[Speedwagon]

I've gotten my truck stuck on a boat ramp 2 times so far, because of the one-wheel-peel on a slick ramp.<br /><br />I was wondering if anyone ever invested in a come-a-long(hand puller) to get themselves unstuck on a boat ramp? Are they large enough to handle a truck and a trailer/boat?

 

[Belchy]

Re: Anybody use a come-a-long?

Could be kinda dangerous, no matter what size of boat you are hooked to. Not only that but what are you gonna tie it too so you don't tie up the ramp, and make a lot of people waiting very up set.<br /><br />Try this....<br />when you back your truck down the ramp, make sure the ramp its self is clear of weeds and if you can avoid it, don't get the back tires of the truck wet. If that doesn't work, you could always add a bit of wait in the box right over the axle.<br /><br />If that doesn't work...<br />Have someone sit at the helm of the boat, and as you start to drive the truck up the ramp, have them engage the engine in forwards to help push the truck up the ramp. This manouvre requires teamwork, and a good understanding of the ramp you are at.<br /><br />hope it helps.....<br /><br />Belchy

 

[Speedwagon]

Re: Anybody use a come-a-long?

Well...<br /><br />I can't get my boat on/off without getting the rear tires wet, no matter the ramp I've been on so far.<br /><br />I've had a rather large guy(250+lbs) in the bed before, and still sat there spinning.<br /><br />I've also tried to gun the boat's engine while moving the truck, and it still sat there.<br /><br />The problem was the same ramp, and during the summer, algae grows on the one side of the ramp. This particular ramp has very large trees(2-3ft diameter) down one side of it, and isn't overly crowded.<br /><br />I do plan to get a limited-slip installed soon, but just thinking of an in-case situation.

 

[MajBach]

Re: Anybody use a come-a-long?

I have front wheel drive so I dont have this problem. I have carried a come-a-long from time to time if I am on a gravel ramp but they are so tedious to use you almost get frustrated and go back to spinning. Actually, if there is no one else around and there is something to tie to, it can help you inch along but I wouldn't recommend it to actually pull the truck out. I've been witness to similiar situations as yours and found rubber floor mats to be helpful. Once, I even climbed aboard an articulating front end loader ( the marina allowed me to and I have experience )to help a guy in an F-150 out that burried his rear end up to his tailpipe until the truck quit. I suppose if your wheels are actually in the water, a come-a-long might be your only choice.

 

[djvan]

Re: Anybody use a come-a-long?

Don't know if it'll work but maybe a couple of pieces of expanded metal about 12" wide by 36" long. Slide these in front of your rear tires and drive out, seems to me that it might work. Be careful to not spin on them though as they might get thrown out the rear and possibly into your boat. I have used expanded metal in the winter to get cars unstuck and it works pretty good on ice.<br /><br />HTH's<br /><br />DougV>

 

[Bondo]

Re: Anybody use a come-a-long?

What My Dad did, back when we were fishing in remote northern Maine lakes, with Truly UN-improved ramps was,..........<br /><br />He mounted Another Hitch to the Front Bumper.........<br /><br />It made driving the boat/trailer Easier down the Trail to the Ramp,+ it left the Driving Wheels up on Good Hard dirt to Pull things back Out................

 

[jlinder]

Re: Anybody use a come-a-long?

I would think the need here is for just a little extra pull. What about a simple rope and a pully or block and tackle? Do you think that could make the difference?<br /><br />Remember a single pulley will double the force of the person pulling, and I would think a single person could pull with 100# of force.<br /><br />I had a small block and tackle once with a multiplying factor of 7 - 100# pull became a 700# pull.<br /><br />If you need more perhaps a winch is what you want to look at.

 

[craze1cars]

Re: Anybody use a come-a-long?

Buy some traction mats?

 

[JB]

Re: Anybody use a come-a-long?

I was gonna suggest what Bondo suggested.<br /><br />A front mounted hitch also makes putting the boat in the garage a LOT easier.

 

[KM2]

Re: Anybody use a come-a-long?

You haven't told us many details about your situation. I understand unloading you need to get truck back into the water, but pulling the boat out? Why can't you keep the truck high and dry and winch the boat on to the trailer? Winching the boat is a lot easier than a come-among on the truck. <br /><br />Is your tongue weight in the 10% range? Is your trailer tires getting past the ramp and into the muck? <br /><br />I doubt a limited slip axle will put enough torque to your traction wheel to get you up the ramp. You need a locker. <br /><br />The redneck engineering way to get some traction is to disconnect the parking brake cable from the side with traction. Then when the wheel slips set the parking brake applying pressure until you start to move. <br /><br />I just pictured a out of control pickup and boat going downhill backwards.... May you shouldn't try my last suggestion.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Anybody use a come-a-long?

If this is really such a problem on one particular ramp, perhaps an investment in some new "traction tires" would be a benefit. Second would be addition of a locking differential. It can be added, or the salvage yards are full of wrecked trucks where an entire axle can be obtained reasonably. But then a four-wheel drive vehicle would be the best solution.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Anybody use a come-a-long?

i had a welder friend , customize an angle, bolted to front bumper with a ball. $50. it's gone from truck to truck. and boy is it easy to manuver.

 

[Speedwagon]

Re: Anybody use a come-a-long?

Originally posted by Bondo:<br /> What My Dad did, back when we were fishing in remote northern Maine lakes, with Truly UN-improved ramps was,..........<br /><br />He mounted Another Hitch to the Front Bumper.........<br /><br />It made driving the boat/trailer Easier down the Trail to the Ramp,+ it left the Driving Wheels up on Good Hard dirt to Pull things back Out................

I thought about that, but doesn't that unload the traction wheels then?<br /><br />Yes, new tires would definetaly help me, and those are coming up in another month or so.<br /><br />And from what I've found, a locker for a Ford 7.5" rear end is way more than I want to spend on this truck that I got for free. So I got the limited slip, and figured it'd help enough, while giving me added traction for the normal drive.<br /><br />I don't recall exactly, but the trailer might have dropped off the ramp a bit. The river was a bit low last year.

 

[John_S]

Re: Anybody use a come-a-long?

but the trailer might have dropped off the ramp a bit. The river was a bit low last year.<br />

Sounds like one of the river ramps I use. If you go off the end of the ramp, you need to back out another foot, restart and get enough momentum and do the trailer hop, to get over it. If you try to come gently, on to the concrete, it takes allot more pulling power/traction. It is like pulling over the top of a wheel chock. Your other option, is leave the rear trailer wheels on the ramp, and expend more effort winching the boat on the trailer.

 

[TX 66]

Re: Anybody use a come-a-long?

A variation of the "redneck" engineering:<br /><br />Just apply your parking brake a few clicks. This puts equal drag on both wheels and the power is equally divided between both. I would not disconnect one of the parking brake cables.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Anybody use a come-a-long?

at the ramp today, saw a trailer that had smaller wheel mounted just ahead on the axle. looked like a fantastic idea. back plate and spindle mounted to the frame.

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Anybody use a come-a-long?

Just carry a 50# bag of sand with you. When you get stuck, spread some under the tires and that should give you all the traction you need..

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Anybody use a come-a-long?

If you have a limited slip differential and are still having problems, it either is not working its not limited slip.

 

[Speedwagon]

Re: Anybody use a come-a-long?

Originally posted by rickdb1boat:<br /> Just carry a 50# bag of sand with you. When you get stuck, spread some under the tires and that should give you all the traction you need..

<guinness brewmaster>BRILLIANT!</guinness brewmaster><br /><br />Now why didn't I think of that?<br /><br />And the LSD isn't in yet. I got it after getting stuck 2x last year, but haven't had a chance to get it in yet this year.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Anybody use a come-a-long?

It's alittle Extreme,....... But Tire Chains will get you out of More than Just Snow.........<br /><br />And,.....<br />With a Front Mounted Hitch,....<br />Ayuh,.. The rear Is slightly lighter,... But it's On Dry Ground..........