Lucked out last night

[oldjeep]

Went to pull my boat out of the lake, backed the truck down the ramp and set the parking brake. Loaded the boat and went to pull out and noticed -- the truck was in DRIVE. I've got no idea what I was thinking when I put it in drive instead of park, but I'm sure glad I had set the parking brake.

 

[robert graham]

Re: Lucked out last night

You did luck out, and a good parking brake!...

 

[tedious]

Re: Lucked out last night

One word for you: chock!

I always use one on the ramp. Had an experience several years ago launching on a ramp with a fair amount of seaweed - in 4WD, brakes on, whole rig sliding on the weed. Got the boat off the trailer in record time and kept the truck out of the water, but now I always put a chock under the rear wheel when launching or hauling. And I bring a rake to that particular ramp...

Tim

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Lucked out last night

Could have been worse, could have been Reverse

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Lucked out last night

One word for you: chock!

I always use one on the ramp. Had an experience several years ago launching on a ramp with a fair amount of seaweed - in 4WD, brakes on, whole rig sliding on the weed. Got the boat off the trailer in record time and kept the truck out of the water, but now I always put a chock under the rear wheel when launching or hauling. And I bring a rake to that particular ramp...

Tim

These are flat perfectly paved lake launches, you don't have any issues with even a 2wd truck and the rear tires don't even get wet.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Lucked out last night

Could have been worse, could have been Reverse

LOL, probabally would have noticed that. I would have had my foot off the brake when I set the parking brake.

 

[Navy Jr.]

Re: Lucked out last night

In my tow vehicle the doors lock automatically when the shifter is in other than neutral or Park mode. A friend of my BIL had his keys get locked in his truck after doing the same thing. Lots of unhappy folks at the ramp that day.

 

[Reel Kahuna]

Re: Lucked out last night

One word for you: chock!

If the vehicle was in 'Drive' and the chock behind the rear wheel, would it have helped?

 

[dls322]

Re: Lucked out last night

If the vehicle was in 'Drive' and the chock behind the rear wheel, would it have helped?

Yes....depending on what you are using as a chock and the steepness of the hill. At the fire department, when we stop the truck, we put it in Neutral, set the parking brake (air) and then chock the wheels.....it's a good practice to chock and its simple and takes seconds. Chocking can save you from a potential disaster.......granted your using something larger than a twig!

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: Lucked out last night

With an automatic in Drive, if anything, I think the truck would tend to creep up the ramp. The transmission doesn't like to spin backwards when in drive. Now if the tires didn't have enough grip that is another story and Drive or Park could have been an issue.

Not that I do or plan to, if I think of all the possible positions to put the gear selector in, Drive (or 2 or 1) with the brake set may be the best.

On my truck, the parking brake is basically useless when the truck rolls backwards. Drum brakes. So really all I have holding the truck from rolling in the water is the Park pawl/lock in the transmission. I actually think having it in drive is probably less likely to cause a problem. It doesn't seem like a good practice though. Maybe with good size wheel chocks in front of and behind the tires it would be ok.

 

[tburda]

Re: Lucked out last night

With an automatic in Drive, if anything, I think the truck would tend to creep up the ramp. The transmission doesn't like to spin backwards when in drive. Now if the tires didn't have enough grip that is another story and Drive or Park could have been an issue.

Not that I do or plan to, if I think of all the possible positions to put the gear selector in, Drive (or 2 or 1) with the brake set may be the best.

On my truck, the parking brake is basically useless when the truck rolls backwards. Drum brakes. So really all I have holding the truck from rolling in the water is the Park pawl/lock in the transmission. I actually think having it in drive is probably less likely to cause a problem. It doesn't seem like a good practice though. Maybe with good size wheel chocks in front of and behind the tires it would be ok.

Sounds like you might want to look into having your brakes adjusted. My truck and my friends f150 we both have adjusted and been sure to get that ebrake set that if the brake is set and you put it in gear and give her a little gas, it wont move, so we're sure it wont roll. It's made to do exactly that so if it doesn't hold your vehicle from rolling, drum brakes or not, it's not functioning right. Could save you a ton of headache and worry.

 

[angus63]

Re: Lucked out last night

With an automatic in Drive, if anything, I think the truck would tend to creep up the ramp. The transmission doesn't like to spin backwards when in drive. Now if the tires didn't have enough grip that is another story and Drive or Park could have been an issue.

Not that I do or plan to, if I think of all the possible positions to put the gear selector in, Drive (or 2 or 1) with the brake set may be the best.

On my truck, the parking brake is basically useless when the truck rolls backwards. Drum brakes. So really all I have holding the truck from rolling in the water is the Park pawl/lock in the transmission. I actually think having it in drive is probably less likely to cause a problem. It doesn't seem like a good practice though. Maybe with good size wheel chocks in front of and behind the tires it would be ok.

My Dodge 1500 idles at 525RPM and creeps backwards in Drive on the slightest incline. I single hand my 21' Trophy so I tie chocks to the rear bumper and drag them behind me until I clear the ramp. I remove them when I tie down in the lot. Works well and feels safe, especially alone.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Lucked out last night

I hate the so-called safety and convenience features like the automatically locking doors. One more thing to go wrong, or as you said, work right at the wrong time. Let me be in control!
2 solutions: always leave the window down during launch operations (you should anyway for safety reasons if nothing else)
Have a spare key wired somewhere under the frame.
last time mine got locked in (by helpful friends), and my spare was missing, the AAA guy used a blood pressure cuff to gently pry the door open a little so eh could get a flat bar like a slim jim in the door and unlock it.

 

[ifallsguy]

Re: Lucked out last night

Chock is the way to go. I have a 5 speed stick and don't trust the parking brake. I leave the truck in 1st gear, 4 wheel low and chock.

I have modified the chock I use, one of those triangular rubber type. Drilled a hole in the side, stuck a line through and put in a BIG knot. The other end of the rope is tied to the truck bumper. When I pull up the ramp, the chock is dragged behine the truck. When I'm out of the way, pick up the chock, finish getting the boat tied down and head off.

In 4 years of using that chock, I haven't left it behind or had the truck/boat combo move while on a ramp.

Knock on fiberglass....

 

[tswiczko]

Re: Lucked out last night

I have modified the chock I use, one of those triangular rubber type. Drilled a hole in the side, stuck a line through and put in a BIG knot. The other end of the rope is tied to the truck bumper. When I pull up the ramp, the chock is dragged behine the truck. When I'm out of the way, pick up the chock, finish getting the boat tied down and head off.

I like this Idea. I know what my weekend project is going to be. Thanks IFalls

Glad it didn't go bad for you Jeep

 

[rrkyle]

Re: Lucked out last night

I second the thing about stupid auto locking doors. Its kind of goofy but i have an EXTREME phobia of locking my keys in my truck. I absolutely never shut my door until i have made sure i am holding my keys in my hand!

Also any time i do have to leave it running i absolutely always roll both front windows down!

Knock on wood but I HAVE NEVER ever locked my keys in my truck!! haha

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Lucked out last night

Glad you got away with it !!!
Bet you don't do that again !!!

 

[PGFISHER]

Re: Lucked out last night

'58 ford f100, drum brakes are 2" wide on all 4 wheels and when wet; usless unless I hold them on for a mile to dry them. I use chocks! The park pawl is about 1/4" wide holding 5200 pounds of truck + boat and trailer. Never trusted them.