How To Launch A Boat

Boats don't have wheels and your truck can't drive on water. Fortunately, however, trucks are perfect for bringing your water toys to the lake. In the latest installment of our How to Truck series, we'll walk you through everything you need to know to launch a boat.

Subscribe

AutoGuide reviews the latest new cars with test drives, car comparisons and shootouts plus coverage of breaking auto industry news, auto shows, rumors and spy photos. Help shop for your new car with informative car buying tips and car recall news, and be entertained with feature stories, Top 10s and car review videos.

[hotfarts]

Wow. For a second there, I thought you were going to launch your truck too.

[Logicsupremacy]

I saw a big pickup truck trailing a nice looking boat when I first came to America. That have become the definition of American Dream for me ever since and I have achieved it after 10 years of hard work.

[CalebCissna]

Have they never heard of boat launch etiquette? Prepare your boat in the parking lot (straps gear drain plug.) then launch it.

[FoodyTunes]

Jesus Christ you guys ran that truck deep in the water

[thedailyvariety]

I thought we were about to witness an epic boat launch fail when I saw the truck was in door deep water. Yikes

[scottstotler]

Never undo the front winch completely until your boats in the water. Nothing like having your boats slide off the trailer on a steep ramp.

[delboy]

And run the boat engine before it leaves the trailer. Otherwise you could have a very expensive rowing boat.

[rotfan]

This is one of the best guides I’ve seen, I was trying to tell my wife about the cut and following it didn’t make much sense when I said it, but when she saw your diagrams I think it helped. Thanks so much

[stankyd]

props on the set of nads it took to go that deep with the water lol.. when it only takes some inches of water to start to move a car in a flood... who knows how much more it takes to lift the back of a truck in calm water.. haha GittYaSome!!

[tundrabasser]

Truck bed is washed now. Need a snorkel to launch there:-) don’t undo the bow strap without someone in the boat and at a busy ramp do all the prep work except the bow strap off the ramp and out of the way:-)

[redcanary]

ensure that when you're backing up, it's still winter shrink wrapped. wait until you're in the way of everyone to remove that and summarize/defog

[Offshore]

Great tips. Especially of the disconnecting the trailer wires prior to submerging and tapping the breaks. I can’t believe how shallow that boat ramp was. Great video series.

[hydrobazooka]

I have a tundra so this guide was extremely helpful

[DaveSmith-zfxl]

You will be extremely scorned at our ramp....you better have your boat completely prepped prior to reaching the that ramp! Uncovered, untied and loaded before you even get in line! Proper etiquette for sure!

[ashwalford]

Seriously...did you just "use your reverse..back up camera", come on mate!
And why is the Tundra in the drink too?

[cjharrin]

Should be titled “how to sink your truck”.

[ryan]

I feel like this is the first time you’ve ever unloaded a boat...

[benjaminowen]

Also, if your truck has 4 wheel drive it'd be a good idea to engage that right before the trailer enters the water. That way you'll be less likely to slip tires on the ramp going down or up.

[AlThePal]

yall had your whole truck in the water lmao

[ShuswapLivin]

Do a video on how to launch and load a boat Solo.