6,500 tow to the boat ramp
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TOYOTAGUYS
New member
I think you'll be able to pull it down to the ramp, and put it in, but im not sure if you will be able to pull your boat back up the ramp. you can try, but especially without 4WD i don't think it'll make it back up.
maybe its time for a Tacoma, or GX?
I think you'll be able to pull it down to the ramp, and put it in, but im not sure if you will be able to pull your boat back up the ramp. you can try, but especially without 4WD i don't think it'll make it back up.
maybe its time for a Tacoma, or GX?
I've never not had enough horse power to pull something.. What will happen? Engine stall? transmission burn up?
Decipher
New member
I would not do this at all. Tow ratings are provided for a reason. Sure there’s a margin of error/safety built into ratings but still. Does it exceed tongue weight?
You’re going to strain your drivetrain and transmission. You’re going to possibly overload your tires. If you get into an accident or something happens, it’ll be a fight with insurance to get things covered. You’ll definitely be cited with operating an unsafe motor vehicle and possibly negligence (maybe even gross).
Oh, and you’ll have to try to pull your boat and trailer up a wet ramp? This is all a recipe for disaster and hardly worth it. Sorry but all facts. I’d figured something else out or get the right rig to pull your boat. You’re assuming a lot of risk to your vehicle, the public, and your boat. And you’ll be totally unsure if you can even get the boat out without blowing your truck up.
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You’re going to strain your drivetrain and transmission. You’re going to possibly overload your tires. If you get into an accident or something happens, it’ll be a fight with insurance to get things covered. You’ll definitely be cited with operating an unsafe motor vehicle and possibly negligence (maybe even gross).
Oh, and you’ll have to try to pull your boat and trailer up a wet ramp? This is all a recipe for disaster and hardly worth it. Sorry but all facts. I’d figured something else out or get the right rig to pull your boat. You’re assuming a lot of risk to your vehicle, the public, and your boat. And you’ll be totally unsure if you can even get the boat out without blowing your truck up.
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honda250xtitan
New member
Be sure to record it, especially pulling the boat outta the water part.
Cadesun
New member
I have pushed over 6k when I forgot to empty my ballast tanks out on my Nautique a few times. Needed 4WD but did just fine even on a gravel launch.
EDIT: Just noticed your 4x2 in sig. No way you will get that boat out unless it is a very low angle concrete ramp. I need 4x4 more often than not on gravel ramps.
EDIT: Just noticed your 4x2 in sig. No way you will get that boat out unless it is a very low angle concrete ramp. I need 4x4 more often than not on gravel ramps.
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Thrasher_S
New member
I think the angle of the ramp and the ramp surface are going to be the real factor here.
DesertCanyons
New member
Launching boat on ramp with 4x2
Be sure to have someone else record a video of pulling the truck and trailer out of the water. Search YouTube for videos of people who've done this already. You'll be too busy trying to get your truck out of the water to video record the event.
If you can install a hitch on the front of the truck then you have a chance of getting traction on the ramp with the rear wheels of your 4x2. You just have to aim the trailer down the ramp, from flat ground, and then turn the vehicle around to face the trailer and ramp with the rear wheels on the uphill, dry side of the ramp.
You could use two trucks with a tow strap to a heavy truck on flat ground above you, as a safe anchor or pull if anything goes bad.
Be sure to have someone else record a video of pulling the truck and trailer out of the water. Search YouTube for videos of people who've done this already. You'll be too busy trying to get your truck out of the water to video record the event.
If you can install a hitch on the front of the truck then you have a chance of getting traction on the ramp with the rear wheels of your 4x2. You just have to aim the trailer down the ramp, from flat ground, and then turn the vehicle around to face the trailer and ramp with the rear wheels on the uphill, dry side of the ramp.
You could use two trucks with a tow strap to a heavy truck on flat ground above you, as a safe anchor or pull if anything goes bad.
Actually, tow ratings are mostly based on cooling capability, brakes for long downhill roads where they can overheat and wheelbase for stability at speed. Towing a boat 6000 lb boat 2 blocks won't do anything to your coolant and transmission temperatures. Torque transfer through the transmission is based on engine output, so whatever you try to pull won't hurt it. It's lack of cooling that breaks transmissions when towing. The brakes can manage for 2 blocks no problem and you don't have to worry about trailer sway at low speed.
Also, at 10% tongue weight, you won't be anywhere near max load of the tires. The stock 265/70R17 tires should be good to at least 2000 lbs depending on the brand, and you'd struggle to get much past 1500 lbs per tire with the boat attached unless you seriously mess up the tongue weight.
It really depends on how steep the ramp is and how well it is maintained. Biggest problem will be traction trying to pull the boat up the ramp and maybe the 4Runner doesn't weigh enough to prevent being pulled in if you have a steep and not well kept or wet ramp. For steep ramps, I'd say maybe go for it with 4Lo on the ramp if you want to risk sinking the 4Runner, but not a good idea with a 4x2.
For more gentle slopes, it will be fine.
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Back when I lived in Texas/Florida we used to pull the boat all the time with a 2wd 3rd gen and it did fine getting up the ramp. It was a little lighter than yours, but the weight won’t be an issue driving a few blocks to the ramp. I wouldn’t back down anything very steep or in bad condition, but all the ramps we had around when I lived in Florida were concrete/pretty benign and well kept. I think a lot of people here are being awfully dramatic and haven’t launched/recovered a boat before. Don’t be an idiot and back your car below the waterline where the algae grows, and back up in a slow controlled manner. If you don’t back into the water your car doesn’t magically slide in. You’ll have to run the risk management when you see the launch.
Decipher
New member
Great information. Thank you. I do understand all of the ratings and mechanical considerations that go into tow ratings. Everything you said is correct and great for those who don’t understand. My point is about the inherent risk and liability of doing so. I know the temps won’t be a huge issue going such a short distance but again, the risk associated with exceeding recommendations is not worth the reward.
I have pulled many trailers and do so under emergency situations and responses for my job. I have launched boats from very unconventional locations and I’ve watched 3/4 ton 4x4 pickups get stuck on ramps with appropriate tow ratings for the boat. I actually helped recover one just the other day at training using my 4Runner. This boat far exceeds the recommended ratings of the Runner. Just because you “could” do something doesn’t mean you “should.”
OP, at the end of the day, it’s your rig and your boat and your ass if something goes wrong. If this is gonna be a common occurrence for you, I’d strongly consider getting an appropriate rig but hey, it’s your party. Please don’t hurt anyone else along the way.
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Paragon1
Member
Forget all the nonsense about needing 4WD to pull the boat out. Keep in mind most trucks have the highest towing capacity without 4wd. Additionally, consider the additional weight you'll have over the rear tires. I'd launch my boat (190 Boston whaler outrage w/dual axle trailer, with a full tank and gear i was pushing about 6000) out of the canaveral launch and its pretty steep, only used 2wd. You'll be fine, just keep it in low gear and keep the tires off the slimy stuff.
That being said, a pic of the launch ramp and boat would help.
That being said, a pic of the launch ramp and boat would help.
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MossJenks
New member
And thousands more succeed every weekend. Nobody in Florida has 4wd.
This thread is silly. Nobody's gonna die pulling a slightly overweight trailer 2 f'ing blocks. Your Runner will do just fine as long as you can get traction. Be sure to check out the ramp conditions first then get video to show all of these ninnies.
It's amazing to watch trucks get bigger, heavier and more powerful every year but somehow the weight they can tow keeps going down. But don't listen to me - I've been foolish enough to pull a trailer with a Chevy Luv.
Oh, and try not to cause a 40 car multiple fatalities pileup on your 2 block run.
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Jetboy
New member
Also for reference: GX460. Same chassis. Same rear axle. Tow rating: 6,500lb. The primary difference is that the GX has a transmission cooling radiator and a bolt on hitch that is a class 3. The OEM 4Runner hitch is a class ?? - somewhere between a 2 and 3. It's only bolted to the frame cross member, which is strong - but not as robust as the bolt on hitch used by the GX460. Neither of these will be an issue in a short low speed tow to the lake.
The only issue here is whether you can actually get enough traction to pull up the ramp. That of course as has been mentioned will depend mostly on the angle of the ramp and the surface. Places like Florida often have algae on the concrete that can be pretty slippery. In the northern states we don't have that as often.
The biggest issue I have putting my own boat in the water is usually the ramp being too shallow of an angle. I have a sailboat that takes a bit more water to float off the trailer, so I end up having to put the rear bumper in the water before I can get the boat to float off the bunks. My solution is an extension for the hitch that's about 3' long. I just install at the ramp if necessary. At some point I'll modify the trailer tongue to be about 3 feet longer. This is where the rear overhang of most trucks being much longer is pretty useful. The point here is that you need to recognize that you're going to need to get a foot or two closer to the water with the rear tires than you would in most trucks. Check out the ramp and see if that's an issue or not.
After last year's drought here the ramp at one of my local lakes was probably 100 feet from the edge of the water. You can see how far I had to get into the water to launch my boat in this picture. I would not even consider doing that in a 2wd. So... like others have said, it's really the 2wd that's the problem, not the tow rating.
The only issue here is whether you can actually get enough traction to pull up the ramp. That of course as has been mentioned will depend mostly on the angle of the ramp and the surface. Places like Florida often have algae on the concrete that can be pretty slippery. In the northern states we don't have that as often.
The biggest issue I have putting my own boat in the water is usually the ramp being too shallow of an angle. I have a sailboat that takes a bit more water to float off the trailer, so I end up having to put the rear bumper in the water before I can get the boat to float off the bunks. My solution is an extension for the hitch that's about 3' long. I just install at the ramp if necessary. At some point I'll modify the trailer tongue to be about 3 feet longer. This is where the rear overhang of most trucks being much longer is pretty useful. The point here is that you need to recognize that you're going to need to get a foot or two closer to the water with the rear tires than you would in most trucks. Check out the ramp and see if that's an issue or not.
After last year's drought here the ramp at one of my local lakes was probably 100 feet from the edge of the water. You can see how far I had to get into the water to launch my boat in this picture. I would not even consider doing that in a 2wd. So... like others have said, it's really the 2wd that's the problem, not the tow rating.
