4WD question - How to handle slippery boat ramp with 4th gen V8?

[IndyJRL]

Hey all,

My friends with full size pickup trucks are normally the ones to launch and trailer our boat, but they were out of town one weekend so I was tasked with it. I had some wheel slippage on the ramp when getting the boat out of the water, and I'd like to know if there was a better way of doing this.

I have a fully stock 2006 4R V8 sport edition. Tires are at 32 psi all around. The boat, equipment, and trailer together weight roughly 4000 lbs, give or take. Kind of a heavy load for my truck, and there is quite a bit of rear sag when I tow. The ramp was wet from other trailers dripping on it, so I put it in 4LO. The front wheels slipped quite a bit when pulling, and I believe I understand why the torsen differential did that due to the varying amount of friction between the front and rear.

Would it be better in this case to lock the differential to initially get it out of the water (50 feet in a straight line), then go back into 4HI to tow the rest of the way?

I realize a 2 ton+ load is towards the upper end of what my truck can handle, but following the ramp I only have to tow it 0.25 miles to the garage where we keep it. Any advice is appreciated!

 

[Cactus Jack]

Hey all,

My friends with full size pickup trucks are normally the ones to launch and trailer our boat, but they were out of town one weekend so I was tasked with it. I had some wheel slippage on the ramp when getting the boat out of the water, and I'd like to know if there was a better way of doing this.

I have a fully stock 2006 4R V8 sport edition. Tires are at 32 psi all around. The boat, equipment, and trailer together weight roughly 4000 lbs, give or take. Kind of a heavy load for my truck, and there is quite a bit of rear sag when I tow. The ramp was wet from other trailers dripping on it, so I put it in 4LO. The front wheels slipped quite a bit when pulling, and I believe I understand why the torsen differential did that due to the varying amount of friction between the front and rear.

Would it be better in this case to lock the differential to initially get it out of the water (50 feet in a straight line), then go back into 4HI to tow the rest of the way?

I realize a 2 ton+ load is towards the upper end of what my truck can handle, but following the ramp I only have to tow it 0.25 miles to the garage where we keep it. Any advice is appreciated!

Yes, that is what I would do. This shouldn't damage any components either since the wet launch ramp has less friction than a dry road surface.

 

[Bumbo]

I would have no problem locking the center diff for the extra traction in your situation.

Should be fine especially in a straight line.

 

[2016 4Runner SR5]

Are you running stock street tires? If so, upgrade to something a little more aggressive like the General Grabber AT2 or BFG KO2 They will both be much better in all road conditions, not just the boat ramp.

 

[fng184r]

The issue with using 4low on hard ground is essentially confined to somewhat hard turns. Even then without a locker engaged its not a tremedously offensive thing to do within reason. I wouldnt think twice about utilizing 4lo to get it out of the water. I dont follow why you think you should go to 4hi the remaining drive though. Put it in 2hi and drive.