THE REAL REASON BOAT RAMPS SINK TRUCKS!

This video is for Education purposes and gives my opinion and commentary on reasons why Trucks sink at boat ramps!
Boat Ramps can be scary especially if you're new to boating! Follow these tips for the best success you can have launching your boat!

Copyright Disclaimer under Section 107 of the copyright act 1976, allowance is made for fair use for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.

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[bigguydiy]

The #1 reason is definitely human error. Most of these drivers do not go look at the ramp to see if there will be issues backing down. Issues with the ramp or even issues under water. Another issue I see as well as experiencing the problem are boat trailer tongues have gotten too short. They are made short for better ability to make a turn and not have the trailer run over curbs, road signs or yards but that short tongue also increases the chance of the rear truck tires of getting in the water. I tow a lot and I use an extension in my receiver to put the trailer further down the ramp to be safer. Great video! New boaters really need to see this vid....

[tadecker]

Years ago, a boat-owning friend of mine showed me an extension bar that a farmer had welded together, for him, that was 5 FEET LONG. All the boat launches near us were HORRIBLE, so after seeing/hearing about way too many people losing their tow vehicles on the boat ramps, he asked a family friend (the farmer) who had welding experience, to create an extention for his hitch receiver. He'd get to the boat launch, chock and drop the boat trailer, swap the regular hitch with the extension bar, then hook the trailer back up.

This gave him 5 extra feet to keep his tires out of the mud/water/algae. Not to mention, when he actually got the boat completely in the water, he'd chock his rear truck tires, until he was ready to pull forward.

[CapeCodTrainTodd]

I have seen too many of these videos and now I use a chock block with my old truck. I back the boat in hop out put the block under the front tire and launch the boat. The block has a rope on it that I loop on my mirror, I pull up a few inches pull the chock in and up the ramp I go.

[kd]

My favorite rule about boat ramps is always go to the least busy boat ramp, feeling rushed is the #1 way to make a mistake

[DNKERR]

Great video, man! I'm glad you showed that guy falling @3:05. This happens way too often and you gotta anticipate it.

[paulne]

I used to back down a steep ramp with a 4 wheel drive truck and camper with a 19’ boat. People would laugh at me, yelling the whole rig would sink. I had a truck chock, attached with a chain behind my back wheel. I always came up in 4 low, the chock would drag behind my wheel til I got off the ramp. Then I’d disconnect the chock and chain and head to the tie down area.

[jameskempienski]

That Jeep around the 3 min mark was pulling a boat at least double or triple it’s towing capacity. Those old wranglers don’t weigh much and only have a towing capacity of 2k. Add a lift kit and much bigger tires that towing capacity is less. I tow a 2k lbs boat motor trailer with my 2015 2dr wrangler. That boat was at least double the weight of mine. When I launch my skiff I apply the parking brake, turn off my jeep (in case it does slip and go in the water, the engine won’t suck in water) I put it in gear (it’s a manual, park if it was an automatic) AND I have someone put wheel chocks behind my front tires before I take my foot off the brake. If I go to a new ramp I’ll park my boat and jeep in a trailer parking spot and before anything I’ll walk to the ramp and check it out, see how steep it is, how slippery it is ect. I also put my vehicle in 4lo whenever I pull my boat out. Not only does it maximize my traction but it puts much less wear and tear on my clutch. The manual wrangler can STRUGGLE going up a hill with that much weight on the back.

[rtz]

Seen a semi smoke the tires because the ramp was wet.

Best haul out vehicle I have ever seen. Farm tractor at one of the boat factories. Pulls the boat out of the water like it was made for it.

[shaunadumas]

fantastic video!. As someone new to boating, I find the boat ramp to be one of the most intimidating aspects of launching.

[redman]

I had a scare. Was at a boat ramp that I always launch at and was familiar. Was un-usually low tide, had a bunch of grass on ramp that normally is not there due to odd storms we had just had. I back down the ramp pretty slowly but as soon as the truck hit the incline the tires locked up(I had been releasing the brakes slightly in reverse to lower boat down) and I started to slide back. Kept releasing brakes and trying to re-apply them to gain traction again. I only got traction once enough of the boat weight came off the trailer and the truck finally stopped. This was the only time I wished I had put it in 4wd and then put the trans in neutral so that I could quickly engage drive and pull up some. Luckily I didn’t lose anything but it definitely scared me for a minute.

[johnvgig]

Thank you! Finally someone explaining why it happens, as opposed too simply ridiculing people.

[jesusisreal]

Make sure your E / parking brake is serviced and strong. Before putting in (P) park, set the E brake then let off the foot brake make sure the E brake is holding the load then put shifter in (P) park.
If your 4x4, lock it in 4x4 then your E/parking brake will apply braking force also to the front wheels,
longer wheelbase vehicle's have advantage front tires should always be out of the water where the traction is decent.

[mariamoreno]

Excelente video to learn from those mistakes I see trucks all the time going into the water 💦 but I never thought about the insurance reasons good point of view 👌

[jimquantic]

1st nuance, emergency brake FIRST, let the weight be taken by the brake--feel it catch (keep foot near brake if it will not stop it), THEN put it in park. That much weight should never go against the transmission. Same on a hill, turn the tire into the curb--feel the weight catch, then brake, THEN parking gear. That order. 2nd, LOVE your tip about keeping the back ties dry. No damn reason to go so far back as to get wet. That also damages the truck with salt water--again, no reason for it. Last AS you start to pul out (when you retrieve the boat) get the RPM's up, feel it pulling, then pop off the emergency brake. Some people take off the brake and THEN start to go forard--bad mistake cause you instantly start to roll back. Put it in gear--and also, while I'm at it, my truck--and many other trucks, though NOT 4wheel drive, DO have a positrac mode, meaning it locks the axle, so both tires are pulling. On one ramp, I could not budge the boat until I remembered that function--so make sure you have that mode on your truck--and you probably have it, engaged--get the revs up, start to ease you left foot off the brake WHEN you feel it pulling against the brake and go SLOW for God's sake. AND NEVER LET ANY IDIOT RUSH YOU--TRUST ME ON THIS, WHEN YOU SCREW UP, THAT GUY WILL BE NOWHERE TO BE FOUND. Great video, thanks for posting

[ronnieam]

Here in Arizona we have slippery boat ramps and I too have had a couple close calls but now when I am ready to launch and recover my heavy boat not only do I put my truck in 4-wheel drive I put snow chains on the tires too and people look at me like I'm crazy, but then they see how easy I get in and out of the boat ramp every time!!

[farrdawgjoker]

I was at a private launch in Florida and they had a 2 cable attachment that you back up to then disconnect trailer from the truck and attach the trailer to a ball hitch on 2 little wheels and 2 cables that run down the ramp pretty far out into the water due to some massive boats going in and out. But I got in my boat and the controller pushed me down into the water and once clear it pulled m6 trailer back to the top back on my truck and resets for the next person. It is cool as hell and I tried to describe it the best I could but it's been years since I was there but I never seen another one but that was yamaha and I believe Mercury outboards did their development and testing.

[Bubbles]

Carry a metal broom brush, chocks, carpet and or some sand, inspect the ramp and voila, zero issues

[cajunroadwarrior]

I only lost traction once launching a small boat with a little S-10 truck. I held the brake until I was sure the truck wouldn't move in park. After that some big guys got in the bed of the truck to weigh it down and I was able to pull my boat out of the water. My new truck is a F250 4x4. Hopefully this will never happen again.

[LadyAdakStillStands]

#4: boat ramps with an unseen dropoff at the end. Usually at river launches. Your trailer wheels go off the end/curb into a wash hole and you can't pull it back up and over. Get 2 spare humans in the water to lift the back of the trailer as you tug it out. Embarassing but works!

[Bubbles]

The "human error" reason is an interesting one. While we all make mistakes, it's often basic incompetence that causes a lot of this. Bit of a difference