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dipping the rear end when launching boat

5873 Views 14 Replies 11 Participants Last post by  Big Jim 2003, 
G
Hi there

I will soon be launching my boat on a shallow ramp and need to back in as far as I can. What should I know about the limits of this on my TB EXT.

Thanks and happy spring and summer to all!


ed:)
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B
IF YOUR FEET GET WET YOU WENT TO FAR :rotfl: NO REALLY YOU SHOULD BE FINE AS LONG AS YOUR REAR END VENT IS NOT UNDER WATER JUST MY :m2:
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MichEnvoyBoy
I surmise that putting the rear end in the water too much is the reason my rear air compressor has went bad 3x. I think it kicks on when Im backed up, and sucks in moisture.

As long as you dont have the rear load leveling suspension, I dont see any problems with it.
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ssmedt
i have my rainier at the launch almost every weekend and have not had a problem yet; the boat should float off before you get too far in
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markarock
As I recall from when I replaced the entire rear end on my 03 Envoy, the vent from the differential has a long hose attached that goes high up to the body.

So, you can submerge the entire differential without any problems, IMHO.
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M
If this is something you do very often, i would try a different ball
height on your reciever..
Go up an inch or so to see if the rear of the boat floats off
the trailer sooner..
Just my thoughts..
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the roadie
The standard location for the vent tube is clipped above the spare tire. Your bumper would be pretty much totally submerged before it gets wet. In this pic, the vent tube is running from the diff in front of the coil spring (with the red Airlift1000 bag inside), and then up above the spare mount. Just go look at yours.

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G
The furthest I would go in would be tailpipe just submerged. Is this OK?

It is just this one ramp I use.... I even have a 5' tongue extension. At high tide the ramp is such a shallow angle. The people that designed it need a lesson in geometry.

Thanks to everyone for their responses! This site is awesome!

ed
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SSportWagon
I see you're by the sea - if you're launching into salt water, make sure to hose off the underside of the truck real good when you get home.

I used to do it right after launching before taking off in the boat too ... they had a hose handy at the launch so I made use of it
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Big Jim 2003
Could be trouble for rear brakes and parking brake components,over time.:m2:
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J
Get yourself a properly set up roller trailer. I could practically load and unload my heavy Chaparral on land if I wanted. Roller trailers make life with a trailer boat effortless no matter the ramp or water level. Showing up with my boat on my roller trailer next to all the bunk trailers is like having a circus act with me as people stop and look on in amazement. No kidding. My Rainier is my dedicated tow vehicle and the rear wheels at worst hardly even thouch the water.
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Big Jim 2003
If your having that much trouble at high tide,it most be high and dry at low tide.I had a similar problem on Lake Erie.There was a great location for a public launch ramp,very sheltered,but water level can be very low.It had three ramps and good parking,but only good for jet skis to launch.Someone dug out one of the ramps with a back hoe to allow bigger boats to launch,which helped a lot.I had a 19 foot fiberglass inboard on a roller trailer,I could launch OK,but had to walk the boat out about two hundred feet before I could lower the motor.Very nice sandy bottom though.To get back on point,I noticed that I had to repair my rear brakes more often when I had the boat and that was in fresh water.It would not hurt to check the rear end oil to make sure water did not get past the axle seals,as a precaution.As far as your truck is concerned,it will handle it no problem just dont get the exhaust to far under water and if it is,dont shut the engine off,because you may have trouble starting again.I mean if you check the 4X4 videos,some guys will go through water up to the hood with these trucks.I have not done it with my Trailblazer,but I had my Jeep Cherokee floating in a pond,the tires were not touching the ground and I still got out.One week later my wife asked what the noise was in the back of the truck,sounded like the ocean.Turned out to be 8 inches of water inside both rear fenders.:crackup:
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markmc said:
i would try a different ball height on your reciever.
Go up an inch or so to see if the rear of the boat floats off the trailer sooner.
Click to expand...
Wow! Great idea. And so simple too. Would you suggest going so far as towing with one ball mount and switching to one with less drop in the parking lot?
I do not know about you but I have several ball mounts in my garage. It seams as if every time I change trucks or use a different trailer none of the mounts I have are exactly right and I end up geting an additional one. Taking one of the extra mounts along would not be a problem for me.

jkust said:
Get yourself a properly set up roller trailer. I could practically load and unload my heavy Chaparral on land if I wanted. Roller trailers make life with a trailer boat effortless no matter the ramp or water level.
Click to expand...
:iagree: My nephew made the switch from carpeted bunks to rollers and the difference is considerable!
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M
4
When towing, your trailer should be as level as possible to distribute the weight evenly on the trailer when bounceing over bumps in the road.
Change the ball height when you get to the ramp.
Getting use to the tide was rough for me also.. Be carefull at low tide that you dont put the trailer tires off the end of the cement ramp, or you will be calling a tow truck.. Guys like me have to power load our boats and it washes a big hole at the end of the ramp.

Pics for amusement

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Big Jim 2003
Extreme Carwash

I have seen on Youtube were people have trouble at low tide with seaweed and slippery boat ramps and even 4x4 end up taking the Extreme Carwash.That would ruin a day at the beach. :dielaugh:
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