Traction for Launching

[Dick of Sylvan]

I have a 98 Chev. Silvarado Pickup w/ext. cab and only two wheel drive and the original General highway tires. On some ramps, rear tires spin when I'm pulling my Cat-22 boat out of the water. Spins worse with tongue extended since there is less weight on rear wheels. Sometimes even spins when the trailer is empty after the boat is launched! Helps a little to sit on tailgate and really ease the throttle, but still unsatisfactory. Does anyone know of a better tire for more traction and still get reasonable miles before they wear out?

 

[Erik]

Boat ramp traction

Several things can be done for better traction. You don't say if your truck is equipped with a limited-slip differential, but it sounds like it isn't. Installing one could provide up to 50% more traction. Adding some temporary weight in the rear of the bed in the form of sandbags or water containers could help. A handy sandbag can be made from a length of truck tire innertube. Fold and bolt (bolts through the folded area) one end shut, fill the tube with sand, and fold/bolt the other end over to seal it. Water weighs over 8 lbs a gallon, so a full 5 gallon bucket weighs 40 lbs. A row of those across the tailgate area could add some significant weight. Some people add a camper shell to a pickup to provide not only a protected storage area, but additional rear axle weight. All-terrain tires can also provide better traction on a slick ramp over the typical *hi-miler* truck tire. Finally, a lower tire pressure can help. Most truck tires don't need to be inflated to the max pressure listed on the sidewall, as most people don't load their trucks to the max GVWR. Hope this helps.

 

[greg]

couple of ideas

The idea of extra weight is good. But consider these that have worked for me. If you do use sand, it can be sprinkled under the rear tires to aid traction. Just a little can help. Having lived most of my life in the north snow country, I like this trick that is very useful when the tire begins to spin: lightly apply the parking brake. At a slippery ramp, it works like a champ every time as it will even out the apparent "traction" to a slip differential. A little experimentaion will show you how much parking brake to use. BTW, don't forget to release the parking braking completely when you reach "hard" ground!

 

[CHARLIE]

At the Ramp

I tow with a '93 Chevy s-10 extended cab 2-wheel drive and was worried about traction pulling out. this is my first year. I had no problem, the tires didn't even spin. This may be due to the fact the ramp I used was a new ramp with ribbed concrete surface and a nice slope. As for wieght in the back, I used to use sand, but after a few years the bags broke. I put a new roof on the house and had 5 bundles of shingles left over. At 85#'s each thats 425#'s of weight and they can be laid out on the ground/ramp to aid traction in water or snow and in water they won't wash away.

 

[Dick of Sylvan]

Thanks for the Help

Erik, Greg, and Charlie: Many thanks for the good ideas. I probably do carry too much air since I ofter carry a camper (but not when launching ususally). Guess I'll carry my 12v air pump to refill if necessary. And weight and sand really sound good. Maybe a bag of sand for weight, that can be opened for a few grains for traction will be just the number. Hardly can wait to get back on the water. Dick

 

[Bob Finley]

tire traction

I have the same pickup, a 98 Silverado, extended cab 2wd, and the same problem. I recently won a set of 8ply LT Goodyear wilderness tires and they are somewhat better, but the problem is still there. Believe me, with the tread on these tires, they should be able to grip anything but with the wet ramp, heavy weight of the boat and trailer plus the uphill climb, they spin even with the lightest of foot pressure. I think the answer is more weight in the truck bed rather than different tires. Since I have added a 10hp outboard hanging on the transom of the boat, for some reason the tongue weight on my boat and trailer has gone to virtually nothing so there is no help there. After the last outting the boat is resting back off the nose rubber bumper about 4 inches and that is probably the problem with the weight shift.