Is this a dumb idea? it's only 10-15 miles to the ramp for me. Boat is about 4,000 pounds loaded. Trailer has surge brakes. Ramps are not steep.
Is this a dumb idea? it's only 10-15 miles to the ramp for me. Boat is about 4,000 pounds loaded. Trailer has surge brakes. Ramps are not steep.
Son has same truck but 4x4. 2.7 with 10speed and 4:55. Tows great.
How much weight is your truck rated to tow? There's the answer.
2018 Tracker Pro Team 190 TX
115 Mercury Pro XS 4S
I pefer 4x4 because we have some ramps that can silt up pretty bad and you need 4x4 to get out of it.
Bruce
2019 20 TRX Patriot
Mercury 250 ProXS Fourstroke
HDS 12 Live - Console
HDS 9 Live - Bow
Just make sure you have an appropriate amount of tounge weight or add some weight over axle.
1994 SWIFT boat 200-SDX
1999 Mercury EFI 150
I have the 2.7 in a crew 4x4. It tows my z118 with ease at 8,500 tow rating, I think. The 2.7 will tow just fine, however, if I had a larger 20-21 ft rig I would get the 3.5 at like 12,000 lbs. if you already have the 2.7 I wouldn't go buy a new truck. I say it will tow fine.
The anti slip rear end is a needed feature for a 2wd F150. I have a 2010 2wd F150. Tows my Ranger fine. But if the ramp is slippery and you dont have anti slip rear end configuration you can get into trouble. I saw a 2012 Dodge 1500 with the diesel and no anti slip rear end, slide back into the lake and go completely under water. They were trying to pull a bass boat out of the water on the same ramp I just pulled my boat out. The ramp was greasy from algae/water and the driver panicked when they tried to pull the boat out and both rear wheels started spinning. They gunned the engine and the boat/trailer pulled the truck into the lake. Pretty messy situation. Tow truck was needed and Ram 1500 was totaled. I have spun on that ramp as well but feathered the brake until the anti slip kicked end and ease out of the water with no problem.
If I was in a 4x2 at a slippery ramp, I want to have someone pulling the truck out as I pushed with boat in gear forward. It's a little tricky but a good trick in a tough situation.
Once you get momentum going up the ramp the truck will be out of the slime at the edge and you're good. Neutral then cut motor off before L/U is out of water.
2000 Ranger 520DVX 225hpdi
2wd is fine as long as you don't try to pull at low tide at belle haven. only other issue you could have is if there is dead grass on ramp or an extremely low tide. used to be an issue at Smallwood but they extended the ramps long time ago