How not to lauch your truck with the boat?

[STAR5ive]

I'm new to owning a boat but I've been around them all my life but the funny thing is I've rarely launched them as most were staying in the water. I've heard lots of stories and seen lots of videos on the internet of folks sending their dry land toys into the water to play with the boats (more like submarines).
...Am I missing something here?? Is it really that easy to send your truck into the water with the boat?
Now, I don't want to question the intelligence of a poor sole who may have had the misfortune specifically since they may be reading this but it seems like just a parking break and putting the transmission in "P" (if you have that kind) would be all it takes.

Don't be confused with the "R" on your transmission selector...I'm not sure who made that mistake but when you put it there the truck goes backwards and backwards starts with a "B."

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: How not to lauch your truck with the boat?

transmission and parking brake both lock the rear wheels so putting the rear wheels on the green stuff with out your foot on the brake holding the front wheels can cause a problem. Ive never had a tow vehicle go swimming but then again I try to avoid the real bad ramps. I also learned how to drive stick so im use to working the hand brake and foot brake together where some people like my wife struggle with working both on a hill and will roll backwards until they have enough gas to go forwards. Best advice is never to throw stones in a glass house because karma is a ******

 

[theBrownskull]

Re: How not to lauch your truck with the boat?

After backing the trailer into the water I apply the parking brake and then put the automatic transmission in "P" park. This way the pressure of parking on a step incline is on the parking brake and not the parking pawl inside the transmission. This is for an automatic transmission and not a manual. If the angle is very steep I have seen people use wheel chocks for big boats.

Once I get ready to pull out I put the transmission in gear and apply pressure to the gas pedal. I disengage the parking brake and push down on the gas pedal. That way I do not roll backwards from the time the transmission is taken out of park and engages into gear.

 

[kjsAZ]

Re: How not to lauch your truck with the boat?

transmission and parking brake both lock the rear wheels so putting the rear wheels on the green stuff with out your foot on the brake holding the front wheels can cause a problem

only true for RWD vehicles. For FWD and AWD the front or both get locked. When I still owned my RWD 1500 truck I never used it to go boating. The much smaller FWD cross-over does a much better job despite being close to the max tow capacity.

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: How not to lauch your truck with the boat?

only true for RWD vehicles. For FWD and AWD the front or both get locked. When I still owned my RWD 1500 truck I never used it to go boating. The much smaller FWD cross-over does a much better job despite being close to the max tow capacity.

99% of awd and fwd still have the hand brake on the rear wheels so once you remove it from park you need to either have enough gas to ensure it will not roll back or your foot on the brake when the rear wheels are on the slime. Point is the rear wheels need to stay off the slime.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: How not to lauch your truck with the boat?

Yea, I left my vehicle in "R" once at the end of the ramp and proceeded to get out to untie the boat, etc. Fortunately, the brakes held.

I use wheels chocks as an added measure of safety.

On steeper ramps, it is a lot easier to send your vehicle swimming, since good working brakes are more critical and mistakes with the shifter less forgiving.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: How not to lauch your truck with the boat?

only true for RWD vehicles. For FWD and AWD the front or both get locked. When I still owned my RWD 1500 truck I never used it to go boating. The much smaller FWD cross-over does a much better job despite being close to the max tow capacity.

Yeah pretty sure I have NEVER seen a FWD vehicle with front parking brakes. I'm almost confident to say such a creature doesn't exist. Same goes for AWD. The parking brake locks the rear, and although the front may or may not be connected to the rear at the time, it doesn't help because it is going through the engine/trans, which is the primary mechanism the parking brake is meant to protect from.

Anyway, OP... Some of it happens because of slime, but more likely, someone just spaces out. People get nervous when unloading, or distracted, and bad things happen.

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: How not to lauch your truck with the boat?

Yeah pretty sure I have NEVER seen a FWD vehicle with front parking brakes. I'm almost confident to say such a creature doesn't exist.

hate to say it does....citreon bx had the hand brake on the front but that's what you get when you buy a French car.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: How not to lauch your truck with the boat?

Dose it count if your wife Lights up the tires like a NHRA burn out all the way up a ramp

 

[STAR5ive]

Re: How not to lauch your truck with the boat?

See this is why I asked! You guys/gals are great!!

I would have never given any thought to algae on the ramp and the fact that it will cause you to go for a swim.
It's funny because I have a sloped driveway and I live in an area of the world where we get lots of cold weather...anyway I left my truck on the driveway one night after a bit of freezing rain, got out and off it went!! Luckily it only went to the gutter at the bottom of my driveway but still!!
We also came back from vacation last spring and my wife asked "why did you park your truck to far onto the road?"
...poor neighbours had been driving around my truck for a week because it slid down HAHAHA!!

Thanks again, you're all very wise...but I hope not experienced in this

 

[mds47588]

Re: How not to lauch your truck with the boat?

There are a few ramps that I use my truck at and I am sure to mash the parking brake all the way down, place the manual transmission in low, and then...throw one of the large rocks under the rear tires.

 

[littlerayray]

Re: How not to lauch your truck with the boat?

the only time i put my truck in 4wd is if it starts to slip at the ramp and it hasnt yet so mind you my truck tires never get wet either though the ramp i use is well designed and used heavily

 

[jkust]

Re: How not to lauch your truck with the boat?

Years back, a then buddy of mine came back from the dealership with a brand new truck. Hitched up the boat and went to the access. He forgot to put the car in park and it rolled completely into the lake. The truck had 20 miles on it when it was totaled by the insurance company.

 

[Mason78]

Re: How not to lauch your truck with the boat?

Once I get ready to pull out I put the transmission in gear and apply pressure to the gas pedal. I disengage the parking brake and push down on the gas pedal. That way I do not roll backwards from the time the transmission is taken out of park and engages into gear.

I used to do the same thing. The new Ford trucks come with "hill start assist" that holds the brake until you apply throttle. Works great on boat ramps!

 

[EddiePetty]

Re: How not to lauch your truck with the boat?

......and just as an added precaution, as I often boat alone, when I exit any of my tow vehicles, either launching or recovering, in addition to the parking brake and 'P' shifter selection I turn the steering wheels all the way to either lock, thus the vehicle would jack knife in lieu of swimming should systems fail.

 

[ninjamatt]

Re: How not to lauch your truck with the boat?

......and just as an added precaution, as I often boat alone, when I exit any of my tow vehicles, either launching or recovering, in addition to the parking brake and 'P' shifter selection I turn the steering wheels all the way to either lock, thus the vehicle would jack knife in lieu of swimming should systems fail.

that is a great idea I haven't thought of. I'm new to boating too. I bought a 2000 z71 to tow my boat. when I first got it the parking break didn't work but my dad fixed that. I still don't have confidence in it and at 162k miles the transmission could fail on Park. I have nightmares about my truck and boat rolling in to the lake

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: How not to lauch your truck with the boat?

The biggest reason by far for dunking the truck, is by getting in a hurry and jumping out with the vehicle still in gear or at least not in Park and/or the Manual Parking brake set. Slow down and you'll get done quicker.

If you make it a habit to Shut OFF the engine and Pull the Keys and the parking Brake; You won't become THAT guy!
Yes! It is more work, but restating the engine 1000 times is still a lot less trouble than having the truck towed from the ramp full of water.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: How not to lauch your truck with the boat?

that is a great idea I haven't thought of. I'm new to boating too. I bought a 2000 z71 to tow my boat. when I first got it the parking break didn't work but my dad fixed that. I still don't have confidence in it and at 162k miles the transmission could fail on Park. I have nightmares about my truck and boat rolling in to the lake

Treat the transmission "P" Brake as a backup only.
Pull into position and set the Manual Brake first
Then, take your foot OFF the brake pedal. It should hold position.
Now place the Transmission in "P" and shut OFF the Engine.

When restating, Place the Transmission in Drive first.
Press the brake pedal with your Left foot, Right Foot on Accelerator.
Then release the Manual Brake.
Confirm you are NOT in Reverse, Give it a little gas, Release the Brake pedal and drive up the ramp.

 

[Rd05lly]

Re: How not to lauch your truck with the boat?

Slimy ramps I put it in 4wd park will hold it with my Allison transmission. I also put park brake on. Been having to put truck in water to launch due to high water. But I keep the front tires dry I don't have to boat that bad.

Drinking may have something to do with some trucks getting a drink.

 

[SilverSS07]

Re: How not to lauch your truck with the boat?

Treat the transmission "P" Brake as a backup only.
Pull into position and set the Manual Brake first
Then, take your foot OFF the brake pedal. It should hold position.
Now place the Transmission in "P" and shut OFF the Engine.

It's a good idea to do that whenever parked on an incline. Easier on the transmission.