I'm looking for those of you who don't have LSD or a locker or ABLS because I have none of those; I have a true 4x1.
I've only pulled one of those small "plastic-composite" two man fishing boats out of the water before; maybe 600#. I pulled it out fine, but did start to spin a tire. Now, I'm coming up a wet boat ramp with my manual trans and I'm probably a little nervous about the truck getting dragged back in, so I may have just hit the gas a little too much and maybe that's why I spun.
Anyway, I'm looking for a boat of my own and I'm thinking about 17'-18' fiberglass (maybe 2500#-3000#) and I'm wondering if anyone with the equivalent of my truck has experience pulling something like that up a boat ramp.
Thanks for any input.
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Jerry
2004 Frontier, King Cab, XE, 4x1, 4-cyl, 5-spd My Frontier Page
With a 2WD truck you are pettry much SOL specialy on a wet surface and w/o a posi or locker diff. Try adding some weight to the bed (at least 300lbs). Or you can start on 2nd gear, this will send less torque to the wheels and preventing you from spinning out too much. This requires a bit of skills with gas and cluth specially if you are on a steep ramp...
If you have experience launching and landing boats you should be fine. Have a friend with you just in case.
Just make sure the ramp is maintained. Most have a grooved surface. I've seen more than my fair share of 4x2 rigs (F150, Tacoma, Frontier, etc) pull much bigger boats out of the water. I haven't ever needed 4wd.
Should things go south, the place is going to be chock full 'o 4x4 trucks that would gladly lend a hand.
I had an 01 4x1 and put a 20ft. bayliner cuddy cabin with a 150 outboard in and out fine. Its all in the ramp, the ramp I used was a state ramp that was grooved for better traction,,,didn't matter if it was wet or dry.
This is promising feedback. Thanks. I'm still looking for a smaller (16', 17') boat just because it should be easier to handle overall, but I feel a little better about the boat landing "issue".
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Jerry
2004 Frontier, King Cab, XE, 4x1, 4-cyl, 5-spd My Frontier Page
IMO, the only trouble you will encounter is lesser-frequented areas or going out-of-season. Ramp conditions play a much larger role than size of the boat.
I've seen anything from FWD minivans to 4cyl open differential ford ranger 4x2's pull larger boats than you mentioned up a ramp. Just use common sense. When you launch the boat and pull the trailer back up, you'll know if you'll have any trouble landing it and pulling it up the ramp-- In that case ask someone to pull it; But I highly doubt you will ever have a problem.
Pulled my "new" boat out of the water today with no problems.
It's a 1990 16' Bayliner Capri Open Bow with a 50hp Johnson. Probably around 2000#, maybe?
The public ramp was a bit "beat up which may have worked in my favor.
That was the same ramp that I pulled my brother's two-man "plastic" boat out of the water with and spun the tires, but maybe that was with the factory Generals (I have Kuhmos on the truck now). Maybe the extra tongue weight of the heavier boat helped too.
Whatever the reason, unless I get a ramp with really unfavorable conditions, I think the little 4x1 may do just fine
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Jerry
2004 Frontier, King Cab, XE, 4x1, 4-cyl, 5-spd My Frontier Page
I tow an 18' Ranger Bass boat with a 150HP Outboard (aprox 4,000 lbs)everywhere with my '05Nissan Frontier SE Crew Cab with ease. I have had trouble on a couple of steep boat ramps (I wasn't the only one having trouble). There isn't enough weight over the back tires for the steeper angles. I had to creep super slow down the ramps so I wouldn't slide backwards. I started to once and jacked knifed a bit. Lilttle scare there. Then I would spin getting out. If you ever have trouble, just ask someone to hop in the bed while you pull up the ramp. :-) Out of the 30 or so different ramps I've been on, only two have given trouble and they were unusually steep.
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