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Launching vehicle

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booyacht
1st Mate

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53 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/05/2011 : 06:34:59

Good morning,
Would a V6 Tacoma 4WD truck be sufficient to launch our boats? I have a 20 foot extender that came with the trailer. First time jitters-don't want to sink my truck.

Thanks!

Will Osborn
2000 C250 WK #478

Edited by - on

bear
Admiral

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USA
909 Posts

Response Posted - 04/05/2011 : 06:45:16

Will, I had a 99 Tacoma with the big 4 cylinder 5 speed, did launch and retrive with that truck, WB though. My rule of thumb was half the exhaust pipe in the water, max. Low range both launch and recovery. Never bogged down or spun the wheels. You might want to go to a fairly steep ramp to make sure the WK will come off the trailer.

Edited by - on

superbob
Navigator

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USA
200 Posts

Response Posted - 04/05/2011 : 06:55:24

Yes, the ramp has to be steep and steeper. The ramp we use is not as steep as I'd like. Our truck ends up surrounded by lake water (like 20' of water in front of the vehicle), the rear wheels completely submerged and water up to the doors of the Dodge 4x4 3500 Ram truck. And yes, all this with a tongue extender.

Bottom line, keep backing up until your boat floats freely.

I'm thinking lift kit and larger wheels on the Dodge.

Edited by - on

willy
Captain

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USA
422 Posts

Response Posted - 04/05/2011 : 06:57:39

Will,
I launch my WB with a 6 cylinder Rav4 so the Tacoma should have more than enough power. The Gross Vehicle Weight is way too light for towing any distance though...it's a matter of stopping.
Willy

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 04/05/2011 : 07:23:16

Wow Willy, that's Gutsy! I guess you are not on a steep ramp?

FWIW, we are really lucky here in south florida, Blackpoint is a breeze to launch from (10 ramps, no extension or straps required (although we initially went that route) and we have launched from a local ramp.

we never get the tyres in the water.

Paul

Edited by - on

superbob
Navigator

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USA
200 Posts

Response Posted - 04/05/2011 : 07:28:43

Paul, not getting the tires in the water is the difference between a WB and a WK boat.

Edited by - on

jml
Deckhand

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USA
19 Posts

Response Posted - 04/05/2011 : 08:29:50

Hi will,

I don't have experience with a V6 truck but our V8 1/2 ton Titan has no problem at all launching or towing our boat. If your worried about sinking the truck in the water you could always strap launch your boat. We have found that the 20 foot extender is not enough to launch our boat at the ramps on our lake. We often use forty feet of tow rope and mount a wheel on the tongue of our trailer. One thing you will want to make sure is that the concrete on the ramp extends down as far as you are going to launch the trailer. These photos are from last year, we have since found a spare tire carrier with a built in hub to use as our tongue wheel.

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 04/05/2011 : 13:27:41

We also strap launch. Truck tires never touch water.

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 04/05/2011 : 13:59:27

I imagine you could launch it with that truck but, does it have enough to get it back out again?

Edited by - on

willy
Captain

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USA
422 Posts

Response Posted - 04/05/2011 : 16:10:07

Actually Paul our ramp is steeper than most. It's short though. I'm not sure that I would want to pull any distance, say crossing the Rockies with this thing, but it seems to not strain at all getting up the ramp.I should mention that this is a poor choice for a tow vehicle from a gross vehicle weight/stopping from speed standpoint. I get away with it by living in an area that is pretty rural off the tourist season and I only go three miles from the marina to the boatyard on totally flat terrain.

Edited by - on

superbob
Navigator

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USA
200 Posts

Response Posted - 04/05/2011 : 16:20:35

If I were you and wanted to tow the boat over hill and dale, I'd rent a truck from Enterprise or Hertz or another company. Why spend big bucks on another vehicle that will be used infrequently for towing?

Edited by - on

skybird
Navigator

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USA
135 Posts

Response Posted - 04/05/2011 : 19:28:05

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by superbob
 Yes, the ramp has to be steep and steeper. The ramp we use is not as steep as I'd like. Our truck ends up surrounded by lake water (like 20' of water in front of the vehicle), the rear wheels completely submerged and water up to the doors of the Dodge 4x4 3500 Ram truck. And yes, all this with a tongue extender.

Bottom line, keep backing up until your boat floats freely.

I'm thinking lift kit and larger wheels on the Dodge.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Maybe you ought to mount a 150 horse Mercury on the tailgate of that Dodge!!

Is it a purpose built boat ramp or a submerged road?

Edited by - on

superbob
Navigator

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USA
200 Posts

Response Posted - 04/05/2011 : 20:59:50

It's a Parks Service engineered ramp built in 1963.

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 04/06/2011 : 06:20:29

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by superbob
 Yes, the ramp has to be steep and steeper. The ramp we use is not as steep as I'd like. Our truck ends up surrounded by lake water (like 20' of water in front of the vehicle), the rear wheels completely submerged and water up to the doors of the Dodge 4x4 3500 Ram truck. And yes, all this with a tongue extender.

Bottom line, keep backing up until your boat floats freely.

I'm thinking lift kit and larger wheels on the Dodge.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Look into launching with a strap instead of the tongue extension. Your truck will last longer.

Edited by - on

superbob
Navigator

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USA
200 Posts

Response Posted - 04/06/2011 : 07:12:05

John,

Your suggestion would certainly work during the launch process but not in retrieving the boat back onto the trailer.

Edited by - on

TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 04/06/2011 : 07:12:53

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by superbob
 If I were you and wanted to tow the boat over hill and dale, I'd rent a truck from Enterprise or Hertz or another company. Why spend big bucks on another vehicle that will be used infrequently for towing?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I've been keeping (and paying insurance on) my 200,000 mile minivan for the sole purpose of towing my 15' Trophy fishing boat. The boat is relatively small and light, and the insurance/maintenance expense does not justify keeping the minivan. I'd rather get rid of it.

But last year I called around to numerous local rental places, national rental chains and locally owned (including Hertz, Enterprise, Budget, Bargain, and UHaul), and I could not find a single one that would allow towing a trailer. NOT A SINGLE ONE. UHaul would rent me a trailer or a truck, or would install a hitch on my own vehicle (not really recommended for a Prius lol), but would not let me use one of their trucks to tow my trailer.

So if anyone here found a national chain that you have actually used to do this, please let me know. Because I've tried and could not find one. Everyone seems to say I should be able to do it, but nobody who has made these recommendations to me has actually done it. It does not appear to be as straightforward as everyone suggests.

I think it's a liability thing - they don't want you pulling a trailer from their rental vehicles for fear that you'll exceed maximum load or do something else unsafe.

Edited by - on

bear
Admiral

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USA
909 Posts

Response Posted - 04/06/2011 : 07:49:53

When Toyota bought back my Tacoma [recall, bad frame] I asked about leasing a Tundra for a day, that was a good deal until they told me they don't allow hitches on there rentals either. Also I would be somewhat concerned about a U-Haul truck etc pulling my boat out of the water, some of them not in too good of shape mechanically [Don't ask I know].

Edited by - on

superbob
Navigator

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USA
200 Posts

Response Posted - 04/06/2011 : 08:07:25

Enterprise Rental's website cites the following in regards to renting a pickup:

"2,500 lbs. payload
2- or 4-wheel drive
Extended and Crew cabs
Short and long beds
Automatic transmissions
Power steering/power brakes—For easy maneuverability.
3–6 person seating—Comfortable seating for all.
Air-conditioned—For comfort in warm weather.
Gas and diesel engines available.
Towing capability—Receiver hitch allows for easy towing.
AM/FM radios—Enjoy the ride with your favorite radio stations."

Edited by - on

TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 04/06/2011 : 08:22:39

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by superbob
 Enterprise Rental's website cites the following in regards to renting a pickup:

"2,500 lbs. payload
2- or 4-wheel drive
Extended and Crew cabs
Short and long beds
Automatic transmissions
Power steering/power brakes—For easy maneuverability.
3–6 person seating—Comfortable seating for all.
Air-conditioned—For comfort in warm weather.
Gas and diesel engines available.
Towing capability—Receiver hitch allows for easy towing.
AM/FM radios—Enjoy the ride with your favorite radio stations."

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
The nearby location definitely told me hitches were not allowed or available.

Please provide a link. I would like to print it out and ask them about it.

When I checked their site it said nothing about hitches:

http://www.enterprise.com/car_rental/deeplinkmap.do?bid=018& cartype=PPAR& cnty=US& language=en

A Google search for "hitch" on "enterprise.com" turned up no hits.

Edited by - TakeFive on 04/06/2011 08:23:50

superbob
Navigator

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USA
200 Posts

Response Posted - 04/06/2011 : 08:26:32

http://www.enterprisetrucks.com/truckDetailsPickup.html

Edited by - on

TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 04/06/2011 : 08:41:52

That's their commercial division, not household use. It's worth checking into, but the liability issue may be more restrictive for personal use.

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 04/06/2011 : 10:40:43

I was looking at the uhaul site to see if they mentioned towing. Not found anything yet, but as they rent out trailers, it would be reasonable to assume they rent tow vehicles too.

Paul

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 04/06/2011 : 11:46:40

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by superbob
 John,

Your suggestion would certainly work during the launch process but not in retrieving the boat back onto the trailer.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
We launch and retrieve with a strap. Works fine.

Edited by - Nautiduck on 04/06/2011 11:48:16

TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 04/06/2011 : 12:00:28

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by britinusa
 I was looking at the uhaul site to see if they mentioned towing. Not found anything yet, but as they rent out trailers, it would be reasonable to assume they rent tow vehicles too.

Paul
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I made that exact same statement to the guy at the U-Haul location 2 miles from my house. He just shrugged his shoulders and said that you have to use your own vehicle to pull their trailers.

Edited by - on

TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 04/06/2011 : 12:05:40

Hmmm, just found this:

http://www.uhaul.com/Reservations/Images/TruckTowing.png

...and this...

http://www.uhaul.com/Reservations/EquipmentDetail.aspx?model=BP

Maybe it's time for me to ask again.

Edited by - TakeFive on 04/06/2011 12:07:06

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 04/06/2011 : 12:23:24

I've asked a couple different U-Haul sites if I could rent a truck to pull my trailer and they said no faster than I could blink. But, I'd guess you can rent their moving van and their trailers together. According to their site, the smallest truck they have with capacity to tow our boats is 14 feet.

Edited by - John Russell on 04/06/2011 12:26:15

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