i have a 2003 chevy silverado thats is 2 wd,and i tried pulling my boat out yesterday but ramp was to wet so I had to go find someone to help me,i was wondering if there is a trick to getting out in situations like that when your all by yourself?thanks

Was it a very steep ramp are just wet.you can usually just pull it in 2nd gear and lightly give it throttle and pull out.

i have seen guys burn their tires trying to pull out....

with no help around...

give it as little gas as possible. inch it out. i have also heard of guys putting things under their rear tires.. towels, dirt or anything to help in some kind of traction.

ya its a real steep ramp,i think ill try the towel idea

I have seen people carry cat liter

would cat litter work?i figured you would still slip on it since its loose but idk?

Try carrying some weight in the bed of your truck to help increase traction. When you are on the ramp a lot of the weight of your boat is transfered to the rear of the trailer. This reduces the tongue weight on your truck and actually lifts the rear a bit taking weight off the axle. Sand bags are a good choice. They concentrate a lot of weight in a small package and if all else fails the sand can be used to help dry and increase traction on the ramp. 300 pounds of added weight will do a lot over the axle.

i think ill go buy some concrete bags at home depot,thanks for the advice

what ramp was it? ive had trouble in my friends truck on the sandy creek ramp. we had to get like 4 guys in the back before we got traction

The extra money for the 4x4 is worth it. Plus it comes in handy the one day a year that the roads are iced over!

I've heard that if you put your park/emergency brake on just a little that it will help keep your tires from braking traction. I have not tried this myself, because I have not needed to, so I'm not sure if it really works.
Just something else you can try.

What truck do you have? What boat do you have?

Just slow it way down, take it an inch at a time.

putting on the emergency brake will work sometime and you can also let some air out of the rear tires.

like how much air?

What I've had to do a time or two is turn the front wheels of the truck while going up...Turn them to the left, then the right, then the left, etc....All while giving it very little gas...However, I haven't had to do this since getting new tires....

A couple of suggestions;

Try riding the brake ever so slightly on the way out. Sometimes this will control any wheel spin, and can help to transfer power to the other tire too (sometimes).

Letting air out is another good option. About 5psi can make a big difference.

Better tires, for this application (dunno what you have?). All Terrains work well for me. They have less contact area than street tires, but this means more weight per square inch of contact. Too much surface area (contact) will spread the load and lets the wet tread slip easier.

Weight is good too. Like said above, 300lbs can make all the difference. But who wants to lad and unload that much weight just to go fishin'?

If you want to fix it for good, go have a good posi-trac or limited slip carrier installed in you rear end. Not cheap but worth every penny. Both tires will get even power, ad you'll likely never have this happen again. Plus that, when you do a burn out on dry pavement, you'll leave two manly black marks on the road, instead of one little girly mark!

Just a few ideas!

As far as the limited slip addition goes I have seen new units that are a much easier install with new gear set up. I have always had limited slip and had no problems. I have a Sport Trac that I tow with now without it and get some wheel spin at times.

I meant to say no gear set up.

Spend the money on quailty all terrain tires. I've also seen folks use the boat's motor to push a truck up the ramp. I wouldn't advise that unless the water is deep.

i got stuck once and happened to get out by putting it in low with emergency brake on give a little gas then pop brake climbed right out boy was i surprized and happy.

towel idea sounds good.

My brother is fat. I have him sit in the bed of the truck.

I have a 4x4 now, but used to i would set the "E" brake and hold the handle out while i was giving throttle a bit and easing up on the e-brake at the same time. worked well.

Now with the 4X4, i just lock it in and stand on the gas, by the time i get to top of ramp out of everyones way, the boat is centered on the trailer and ready to be strapped down!

Yeah, they do have some ratcheting style lockers that will go in w/o disturbing the gear set-up, and can be installed in about an hour with simple hand tools.

But beware, the cheaper versions make a popping noise when turning corners (when one tire over-runs the other). It can sound like the whole rear end is coming apart. It's really not, but that's what it sounds like. The newer, more expensive versions are supposed to be much more quiet. I think Richmond builds them.

But if you'd want quiet operation, an Eaton or Auburn unit would fix ya right up. But, to the tune of about 1k dollars installed. Still worth every penny if you use your truck....well......like a truck.

Jay

Should not have to put an auto in low. It should already be there.

I have heard the second gear thing works the best. I would not do it with a really heavy boat though.

I have a manual and used to have a really hard time slipping on ramps. I used to put 400 lbs of sand in the back before I would go to the lake. I got new tires and have not had a problem since. I got some Michelin cross terrains with full depth sipes. I love them. I don't break loose at all now without any sand.

Go to Murrell Park at Grapevine. NONE of the ramp is wet.

Good ideas. Here's another. If you have an extra person, back the boat down a little farther than normal after you have the boat strapped at the front.
Get the motor in gear and full throttle and get some speed going. When the outboard gets close to coming out of the water turn it off and trim it up.

What is the point of putting an automatic transmisson into 2nd gear when pulling up the ramp?
I thought that an automatic transmisson started out in 1st gear no matter what gear you have selected. 1-OD, or anything in between.
Just curious?????????????

I think when you put it in 2nd it overrides 1st. Less torque in 2nd, that's what will keep the wheels from spinning so easily. I sometimes will just grab some sand or gravel near the boat ramp and throw it in front of the rear tires for a little more traction if needed.

couple of clicks on the ebrake is an old trick that works remarkably well.

FYI: When you put the auto tranny in second gear it does not start in second. It starts in first but goes no higher than second.

its a matter of leverage. Move the winch on the boat trailer closer to the ball on the pickup. Usually 2 to 3 inches is enough. Now you will have more downforce on the pickup and your tires will gain traction. ...now , that'll be 50 bucks for the advice. And I' take pay pal.

Ford transmissions, back in the day, would manually go into 2nd when you put the shifter in 2nd. Don't know if the new ones do. Chevy will start out in 1st no matter where the shifter is. Dodge, don't know.

Sounds like you have an open differential. Conventional open differential's use two side gears inside the differential case. Each gear is splined to accept an axle shaft. These side gears are in turn driven by a set of spider gears. The spider gears, also inside the differential case, ride on a shaft which is pinned into the differential case and through which all the power is transmitted. The case is driven by the ring gear which is bolted fast to the case. The conventional differential is fitted as standard equipment on most vehicles.

On paved roads this system is very successful, giving predictable handling, even tire wear and requiring very little maintenance. This type of differential has a major limitation. When one wheel has greater traction than the other, all the power will be directed to the wheel with the least traction. For example, if one wheel is in the air and the other wheel is still on a hard surface, then all the power will be transferred to the wheel in the air. No power will go to the one on the ground and the vehicle will not move.

Useing the "E" brake will help. All you are doing is loading up the wheel to help keep you from spinning it, tricking the brainless differential into applying torque to both wheel's. There is a sweet spot you have to find though. Too little, you spin, too much, forcing more throttle and you spin. You can test this for yourself. Go to a known incline that you know you can't go up that is graveled. Start at the base and ease up till you stop. Now give it some throttle. You'll feel one wheel start to spin. Now try it again, whith very small increases in throttle, you should feel both wheel's start to dig in, as soon as it start's to spin, you'll note that it will go back to one wheel getting all the torque again.

The e brake apply's resistance to the rear drum's only (or disk's), riding the brake pedal apply's to all 4, making you have to overcome that force also. Not good when your already having difficulty.

Weight will help. Going up at an angle is just shifting more weight to one wheel to get more torque.

Took me a few try's to get the hang of it on wet and slimy ramp's. Have not been to one I can't walk right up now.

One trick I have found that works is after loading the boat and strapping it down in the front.(This takes 2 people) Back down the ramp a little more and have the person in the boat push the truck with the motor of the boat. Once you get your momentum rolling you should be able to make it right on up the ramp. I have had to do this before with a 4x4 in an Ice Storm and it works great. Dont worry about your prop hitting anything just trim the motor a little and dont stop pushing with the outboard until its starts to come out of the water! Hope this helps!!

Hmmm, I dunno my truck does fine! No really the E brake thing will work, just go easy! Can ya tell I loves my little red truck!

I have never had an issue with getting out of the water. But, I like the idea of say turn to the left and back to the right to kinda zig zag your way out. Sounds like it changes the load position on the track allowing for better traction and less stress for the drivetrain.

My brother is not fat but my mother in law always get the job done....

Buy sand instead. It's still reusable when it gets wet.

I have done the emergency brake a couple times and all was fine

what about 4 wheel dr?

4 wd has always worked for me to get up the steep ones.

ride the brake it will engage your limited slip

Riding the brake will not engage your limited slip if you do not have LS. What you are doing is tricking an open diff to act like LS. If you actually have a LS diff then you do not need to do the braking thing.

Just take it slow, very slow or for future trips just add some sand bags to the bed.

First thing is weight. You need more in the back over the axle. Good rubber and make sure you don't have the tires over inflated even a little low is better if you aren't going far or have air readily accessible. If the ramp is large enough to allow try getting a little angle instead of straight down the ramp.

Wathed a guy try the e-brake thing about 2 weeks ago. I laughed to myself when somebody suggested it and started over to get my Ford to pull his Chevy up the ramp but it actually worked. Convinced me.

Personally, GM is the only brand I've seen struggle up ramps. I think it's a design flaw. Never had any problems with my Dodges or Fords.

Its not a chevy thing. My dads 99 f150 will sit there and spin that right tire all day tring to get up steep ramps. My silverado has a locking rear end and has never had a wheel slip.

It's the open differential and weight distribution that I think causes the problem.

If you are going to encounter moderately steep ramps then get limited slip, positrac, locker or what ever you want to call it. The electronic lockers are best but I have never has a problem with LS. A lot also depends on the weight of the boat.

Or jet ski if you drive a chevy.


(lol! Couldn't resist! :P )

This is why I drive a Jeep GC and not a pickup. 4WD and trac-loc rear end helps too.

Nope! many automatics when put into second gear start in second and stay in second

Don't know about ford or dodge but when you put a chevy in second it starts and stays in second unless they chnged them in the last few years.

If you are by yourself there is really only a few things you can do:

1st back into the water keeping your tires in the driest path possible even if it is a little rough along the edges.

2nd if there is any sand in the area you can put some into the path and it will help you get a better bite (kinda works like the folks up North having to deal with ice and snow in the winter).

Lastly keeping the parking brake engaged slightly really works well.

Amistad's Diablo East ramp used to be real bad and these things helped there tremendously. Of course when other folks are around you have other options...

The towel idea sounded good, plus you dont have the added weight of heavy bags. Has anyone tried this? Does it work? Old towels are easier to load then bags of concrete. Had trouble once before getting up a ramp, so I'm very interested in your opinions.

Easy trick is to lightly apply emergency brake (not all the way, just barely on). This will help eliminate rear wheel spin. The other thing you can do is just get a bunch of people to sit in the bed of the PU.

worked for me when i had my '99 and or use your break.

08 still does the same.. needed it last night..

edit - oopd, this was answering if the new GM's start in 2nd gear when putting tranny into 2

Try clicking off the OD or shifting down. I've never had any problems pulling out of any ramp but I do know that too much throttle will spin the tires every time. Go very lightly on the gas. Maybe also look at your hitch height, if its too high then your trailer could be lifting your rear tires enough to cause traction problems.

Sand bags are pretty easy and cheap. I've seen water bladders that you can keep in the truck and fill them up before you head out.

Not as cheap as sand, but you wouldnt have to lug the sand around all the time or load it an unload it all the time.
This thread affirms my choice to only own 4x4s. Worth every penny.