Should I use the 4WD (or 2WD) to pull my ski boat up the rather steep concrete launching ramp? Background: I bought a '15 SR5 4x4 in December 2014. Now has 6k miles. I have a 5,500 lb Four Winns ski boat (194 Funship). The concrete boatlaunch is pretty steep (maybe 10 degrees)? Is it better on my 4Runner's engine and transmission to use 4WD or should I use the 2WD? BTW, I had an '07 4Runner 2WD and it pulled the boat up the ramp ok. I'm just wondering if using the 4WD would be better on the vehicle. Thank you.
Use 4x4 or not?
- Thread starter Daddeaux
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Engineer
New member
Should you, I think so but it won't be any difference for wear and tear on the truck.
I see a worse case scenario of spinning wheels in 2wd then the boat and truck start slipping back an now that you are MOVING backwards the truck won't stop even with the brakes so you end up with the entire rig in the water......doubtful but still thats why I would throw it in 4wd.
I see a worse case scenario of spinning wheels in 2wd then the boat and truck start slipping back an now that you are MOVING backwards the truck won't stop even with the brakes so you end up with the entire rig in the water......doubtful but still thats why I would throw it in 4wd.
Blitzkrieg
New member
I'd throw it in 4-LO and let that baby creep out nice and easy.
Friggin Idiot
Senior Member
In the past I've encountered some steep ramps, like 20 degrees steep. Of course I was in the boat and my buddy was in the truck, hey, anyone can drive a trailer straight right? Apparently not the case. With boat on the trailer, we started drifting backwards into the water! My friend couldn't figure out how to put it in 4WD either. I swam you to the truck, hopped in getting my seat all wet, threw it into 1 and drove out not even having to use 4WD. Of course I then also have to float the boat, and get it back onto position on the trailer. The point being that often just shifting to the right gear to start can make the difference. I've also had to use 4WD on some very wet asphalt ramps before, but most of the ramps I use now are corrugated concrete, and even wet traction isn't a problem on crap stock tires. 4WD can also be useful if you manage to drop a trailer tire off of the ramp!
I'm with Raven.
.. and as soon as you're up incline and before turning much, back to 2wd.
philsey
New member
I have to wonder why you bought a 4WD vehicle? One would assume it's for low traction environments. Being a boat owner for 30 years, most ramps I've encountered are slippery.
My question to you is "why would you not use it"? Wait until it slips? ... now that's just dumb.
If you're worried about damaging it, you bought the wrong truck.
Harrump, silly thread.
My question to you is "why would you not use it"? Wait until it slips? ... now that's just dumb.
If you're worried about damaging it, you bought the wrong truck.
Harrump, silly thread.
BLACK-FL4RUNNER
Member
I'll state the obvious.... 5,500 lbs is too much to safely tow.
It's not rated for that much weight.
Get a bigger tow rig.
:welcome:
It's not rated for that much weight.
Get a bigger tow rig.
:welcome:
Maybe he only has to move it to the boat storage place going no more than 5mph. It's safe to tow just about anything very slowly, as long as the load has good brakes. See the Tundra towing a space shuttle ad.
You have 4WD, why not use it? I would go with 4 Low to make it easier on the transmission. If you are in the high range (2wd or 4 hi) the torque converter has to slip more to get you going with a heavy load, compared to using the low range. It's for a short time, so it won't matter much, but I prefer not to make a habit of slipping the torque converter excessively because it creates a lot of heat in the transmission. The torque converter slips all the time (unless it's locked, on the highway), so I don't think you can wear it out, but you can overheat it.
It's easier to spin the wheels in 4 Low because there's more torque at the wheels, but the traction is the same. Go easy on the gas and if the wheels start to slip, let off a little. Or, if that fails give it a little more gas and see if TRAC can get you going. It's not the fastest way to go, but as long as you aren't doing boat pull races you should be fine! You will get going faster if you keep all four wheels (in 4wd) in contact with the ground with no spinning. That might be impossible if the ramp is slippery. TRAC will apply the brakes to spinning wheels and adjust the throttle for you.
Monkeymenno
New member
I would go with 4 low. While you are increasing the torque delivered to the wheels theoretically decreasing traction, you are also vastly improving throttle control. Basically, whatever spinning you do is going to occur at a much lower speed, and you are going to have much more control of what torque is delivered meaning it should be much easier to keep the torque at the maximum threshold of the tires. Also, I would prefer going into 4L first instead of trying 2H first to prevent the squirrely moment when your truck may step sideways and slip off the ramp.
You will never be embarrassed by making it look too easy.
You will never be embarrassed by making it look too easy.
1engineer
Moderator
You know why I said 2wd? Because if the OP had to ask the question he surely won't know you shouldn't turn much on dry pavement. I have yet to launch or recover a boat without a sharp turn somewhere. I don't want to read another "I turned on dry pavement in 4wd and the truck !shuddered! like crazy.
Also unless the ramp is covered in alge 2wd is sufficient with all that tongue weight.
Also unless the ramp is covered in alge 2wd is sufficient with all that tongue weight.
Monkeymenno
New member
Which engineer is right? I'm so confused.
Seriously, good reasons for doing it any of these ways.
Thanks for all of your replies, and Black-FL4Runnerfor welcoming me to the Forum! The boat launch is only 1 mile from our lake house so the 5,550 lbs isn't a problem. I've launched the boat with my '07 2WD 4Runner for four years with no trouble. I was just wondering if using my new 4WD would cause less strain on the engine, transmission and gears (or whatever, I'm not technical) and extend the life of the vehicle. J.R. your 'technical' response about the difference between 2 and 4WD i.e. torque converter comments, were most helpful. Sounds like 4WD will place less strain on 'the system'. One last question, I've always heard that you should only use 4WD, especially L4 off road. I see on p. 232 of the owner's manual it says 'Use this (H4) for driving only on tracks that permit the tires to slide, like off-road.....'. That suggests using 4WD on concrete is a bad thing. Oh, brother. I think I'll try using L4 and H4 to pull it up the steep, straight launching ramp and then put it back in H4 once I'm on top where it's level.
1engineer
Moderator
4HI is fine. 2WD is fine. 4LO is fine. None of them is easier or harder on "the system" as 4WD is designed to provide traction in lower traction scenarios, nothing else.
If you pulled it out with your previous vehicle in 2WD there is no reason 2WD won't work with your new vehicle.
Monkeymenno
New member
No problem Daddeaux. Sounds like you have a good handle on things. Any time any of us are off road, load hauling or doing anything a little different it is all about being able to see a problem and work out the best solution based on our competence, experience and equipment available. It's great to get advice from others but at the end of the day it's your truck, your boat, your money. Either way it sounds like you have a good handle on it. Enjoy your new Runner.
Blitzkrieg
New member
Is the launch straight until you are up and on level ground?
4WD locks the front and rear axles together, so if you try to turn it will bind up, make it difficult to turn, and possibly cause damage to something (usually not, but it's still not good for it). You can use it on concrete as long as you go in a straight line or only turn very slightly. If you try to use it on dry roads in a straight line for a long distance, it might bind up a bit and put more stress on the tires and drivetrain components, and possibly reduce gas mileage.
If the boat ramp really does have as much grip as a dry road, then 2WD would be fine.
Personally I would get it lined up in 2WD, put it in 4 Low, load the boat and pull to the top of the ramp, then switch it back to 2WD once you are off the ramp. You have to stop and put it in neutral to shift between 4 Low and the high range, but it only takes a moment.
If your transfer case has an electronic actuator, then it's good to exercise it once in a while anyway. I think you can tell because the ones with a knob are electronically actuated, and the ones with a lever are a direct connection, but I'm not sure for the 5th gens. Also, I think even the ones with a manual lever still have an electronic Automatic Differential Disconnect in the front, so it wouldn't hurt to exercise that, too. On 4th gens it's common for the transfer case actuator to get stuck or fail with time if it's not used.
wfo9
New member
You can be in 4wd (lo or hi)... on dry pavement without causing any issues as long as you don't make sharp turns. How sharp you ask? Well the rule of thumb I heard initially here and have found it to work very well in practice is that if you can make the turn at 30mph, then it is fine to stay in 4wd. If the turn requires a lower speed, you need to shift into 2wd before making it to avoid binding on dry (high traction )pavement. Wet pavement is pretty much fine. Also, a little binding is not big deal if it does happen. You just don't want to do it all the time....
There is a boat ramp very near my house that requires 4wd depending on how busy it is and the weight of the boat... I would not have used that ramp without it, but many people do and often require another vehicle and a strap to get their boat out. Many 4wds were sold down her in texase because of that particular ramp LOL
For some reason, tempers really flare when people are trying to pull their boats out at the end of the day. I've seen some ridiculous tire smoking stunts attempted at the boat ramp.
There is a boat ramp very near my house that requires 4wd depending on how busy it is and the weight of the boat... I would not have used that ramp without it, but many people do and often require another vehicle and a strap to get their boat out. Many 4wds were sold down her in texase because of that particular ramp LOL
For some reason, tempers really flare when people are trying to pull their boats out at the end of the day. I've seen some ridiculous tire smoking stunts attempted at the boat ramp.
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