We can talk about any sizes, specifically the 16' and under I'm interested
in.... My truck is 2 wheel drive standard with a light back end... my boat
launch areas include:
1. beach with grassy incline to follow
2. an older gravel boat launch that could have a tiny bit of muck just near
the water.

My biggest thoughts are around the rear wheels spinning coming out of the
water with the boat on... then getting stuck...

For those using cars, I suspect a good front wheel drive would clearly help
out as you're in the dry with lots of weight on the front... As well those
launching on concrete boat launches should have an easier time too...


"Arcadefreaque" wrote in message
oups.com...
What size of boat are we talking about? I went out over the weekend to
watch people loading/unloading boats and there were midsized cars
trailering the smaller boats. I plan on using the mini-van or my
daugters bonneville to launch our 16' boat (heck, I think a decent
lawn tractor could probably tow/launch my boat)

You may want to ponder ways of solving these problems in other way, if
possible, before getting into a 4wd vehicle. Even for the 99% of the time
you're not using 4wd, you're still turning lots of extra metal parts. Gas
mileage can be rather appalling.



"Chris" wrote in message
.. .
We can talk about any sizes, specifically the 16' and under I'm interested
in.... My truck is 2 wheel drive standard with a light back end... my boat
launch areas include:
1. beach with grassy incline to follow
2. an older gravel boat launch that could have a tiny bit of muck just
near the water.

My biggest thoughts are around the rear wheels spinning coming out of the
water with the boat on... then getting stuck...

For those using cars, I suspect a good front wheel drive would clearly
help out as you're in the dry with lots of weight on the front... As well
those launching on concrete boat launches should have an easier time
too...


"Arcadefreaque" wrote in message
oups.com...
What size of boat are we talking about? I went out over the weekend to
watch people loading/unloading boats and there were midsized cars
trailering the smaller boats. I plan on using the mini-van or my
daugters bonneville to launch our 16' boat (heck, I think a decent
lawn tractor could probably tow/launch my boat)

"Arcadefreaque" wrote in message
oups.com...
What size of boat are we talking about? I went out over the weekend
to watch people loading/unloading boats and there were midsized cars
trailering the smaller boats. I plan on using the mini-van or my
daugters bonneville to launch our 16' boat (heck, I think a decent
lawn tractor could probably tow/launch my boat)

Chris wrote:
We can talk about any sizes, specifically the 16' and under I'm
interested in.... My truck is 2 wheel drive standard with a light
back end... my boat launch areas include:
1. beach with grassy incline to follow
2. an older gravel boat launch that could have a tiny bit of muck
just near the water.

My biggest thoughts are around the rear wheels spinning coming out of
the water with the boat on... then getting stuck...

For those using cars, I suspect a good front wheel drive would
clearly help out as you're in the dry with lots of weight on the
front... As well those launching on concrete boat launches should
have an easier time too...

You need weight over your drive (rear) axle to get traction.
Put something heavy in the bed of your pickup truck. A
slide-in truck camper works well!

--
frosty

Chris wrote:
We can talk about any sizes, specifically the 16' and under I'm interested
in.... My truck is 2 wheel drive standard with a light back end... my boat
launch areas include:
1. beach with grassy incline to follow
2. an older gravel boat launch that could have a tiny bit of muck just near
the water.

My biggest thoughts are around the rear wheels spinning coming out of the
water with the boat on... then getting stuck...

For those using cars, I suspect a good front wheel drive would clearly help
out as you're in the dry with lots of weight on the front... As well those
launching on concrete boat launches should have an easier time too...


"Arcadefreaque" wrote in message
oups.com...

What size of boat are we talking about? I went out over the weekend to
watch people loading/unloading boats and there were midsized cars
trailering the smaller boats. I plan on using the mini-van or my
daugters bonneville to launch our 16' boat (heck, I think a decent
lawn tractor could probably tow/launch my boat)




I have a wheeled tongue jack on my boat trailer. If the ramp looked too
slippery or soft on retrieval, I would keep the tow vehicle up where
traction is good and attach a tow rope from the hitch to the trailer. I
would very gently pull it forward until the boat cleared the bad spot.
Then I'd chock the trailer wheels, stow the tow rope and hook the rig up
for road travel.

For what it;s worth ... I use 4WD, Low pulling my boat (about 3000 lbs inc
trailer) up all ramps including muddy bottom and gravel. Just put it in gear
and it will idle it's way up, no tire spinning if necessary ... then it's
back to 2WD. This is with a 3100 lb or so '96 Jeep Cherokee which is
probably lighter than your truck. My opinion, you'll eventually have
traction problems ... but maybe as mentioned, a wheel on the trailer tongue,
and some good rope/tow strap, and/or a come along or winch ...


"Chris" wrote in message
.. .
We can talk about any sizes, specifically the 16' and under I'm interested
in.... My truck is 2 wheel drive standard with a light back end... my boat
launch areas include:
1. beach with grassy incline to follow
2. an older gravel boat launch that could have a tiny bit of muck just
near
the water.

My biggest thoughts are around the rear wheels spinning coming out of the
water with the boat on... then getting stuck...