Towing a boat?

R

ray elliott

New member
Feb 8, 2000
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Anybody have experience towing a boat? My question is, is there a
problem launching or pulling a boat & trailer up a common boat ramp.
The ones in my area are fairly steep. I'm concerned because I know that
some traction is lost on wet, inclined surfaces. What's your
experience, anyone?

Ray Elliott
Grants Pass, OR
'77 PB
 
My thoughts would be to mount a hitch on the front of the GM. This should
alleviate any traction problems and reverse should give you a better gear
ratio. Darren

> Anybody have experience towing a boat? My question is, is there a
> problem launching or pulling a boat & trailer up a common boat ramp.
> The ones in my area are fairly steep. I'm concerned because I know that
> some traction is lost on wet, inclined surfaces. What's your
> experience, anyone?
>
> Ray Elliott
> Grants Pass, OR
> '77 PB

- --
Darren Paget
76 Experimental
Another Fab Day
http://www.TZEplus.com
 
My suggestion would be to put a trailer hitch on the front bumper. Drive
into the ramp area and switch ends with the GMC. You can see where the boat
is going and also the weight will be in the rear when you back out.
Don't know if this will work or not, but it's what I would try. And,
hopefully one day I will be able to say so for sure. BTW, my boat ramp is
the Mississippi River Levee that's concreted over. Kinda steep itself.
Roger
 
I'm not sure what size boat we're talking about here, but pushing my GMC
backwards up a hill, which I'm sure we have all had to do, seems enough work
for the reverse on my tranny. I wouldn't feel good about adding the weight
of a boat on top of that.

One interesting set up I saw was a guy pulling a small sailboat with a VW
convertible. I stuck around to see his troubles, and what I saw was rather
clever. He disconnected his trailer and replaced the ball with a short piece
that fit into the receiver and had an electric winch attached. He then
lowered the trailer into the water, floated the boat on, and pulled it up
with the winch. It took a little longer doing it this way, but it worked,
and his vehicle never went down the ramp. With the GMC and it's stronger
chassis, you could probably permanently mount the winch. Just a thought.

Tony Bad

- ----- Original Message -----
From:
To:
Sent: Wednesday, February 23, 2000 9:49 PM
Subject: Re: GMC: Towing a boat?

> You absolutely have to mount a ball on the front of the coach to launch
and
> recover a boat with the GMC on a regular basis. You will do it once in a
> while but not all the time for sure. It is a big time mess to unhook in
the
> water and leave the boat and the trailer. Some times you have to be pulled
> out without a boat and trailer attached, let alone with one. Talk about
> giving the GMC a black eye in front of boaters. And ..... no, don't get me
> started about front wheel drive. Hanson's '73-23'-GMC
>
 
I used a similar method when I was towing an O'Day Daysailer with my Mazda
RX-7. I couldn't get anyone to install the tow hitch, had to do it myself. I
was afraid that I would get pulled back into the water by the boat. I hooked up
a comealong with some rope, a couple of wheel chocks and managed to pull it
off. The embarassment at the ramp was easily replaced by the coolness of
driving a Rotary Rocket with my boat behind. My boat was named FivePlay (what
comes after FourPlay)....Oh the days of being single.

Having gotten stuck on wet grass twice in the one week I rented a GMC Palm
Beach, I will think twice about pulling my Bayliner....come to think of it, the
boat doesn't have an engine....Next project.

Ron and Julie

> I'm not sure what size boat we're talking about here, but pushing my GMC
> backwards up a hill, which I'm sure we have all had to do, seems enough work
> for the reverse on my tranny. I wouldn't feel good about adding the weight
> of a boat on top of that.
>
> One interesting set up I saw was a guy pulling a small sailboat with a VW
> convertible. I stuck around to see his troubles, and what I saw was rather
> clever. He disconnected his trailer and replaced the ball with a short piece
> that fit into the receiver and had an electric winch attached. He then
> lowered the trailer into the water, floated the boat on, and pulled it up
> with the winch. It took a little longer doing it this way, but it worked,
> and his vehicle never went down the ramp. With the GMC and it's stronger
> chassis, you could probably permanently mount the winch. Just a thought.
>
> Tony Bad
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From:
> To:
> Sent: Wednesday, February 23, 2000 9:49 PM
> Subject: Re: GMC: Towing a boat?
>
> > You absolutely have to mount a ball on the front of the coach to launch
> and
> > recover a boat with the GMC on a regular basis. You will do it once in a
> > while but not all the time for sure. It is a big time mess to unhook in
> the
> > water and leave the boat and the trailer. Some times you have to be pulled
> > out without a boat and trailer attached, let alone with one. Talk about
> > giving the GMC a black eye in front of boaters. And ..... no, don't get me
> > started about front wheel drive. Hanson's '73-23'-GMC
> >
 
Hey Ray,
I never towed a boat with the GMC..but I had a 19'Checkmate...I think that
if you went to the boat launch
and couldn't get back out someone would pull you up...
My experience is that they ( boaters ) don't want the
ramp tied up for long.....
I think the front wheel drive should remain as far up the ramp as possible
for the best traction.
Rob Teed 74 Painted Desert

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-gmcmotorhome
> [mailto:owner-gmcmotorhome]On Behalf Of Ray Elliott
> Sent: Wednesday, February 23, 2000 9:03 PM
> To: gmcmotorhome
> Subject: GMC: Towing a boat?
>
>
> Anybody have experience towing a boat? My question is, is there a
> problem launching or pulling a boat & trailer up a common boat ramp.
> The ones in my area are fairly steep. I'm concerned because I know that
> some traction is lost on wet, inclined surfaces. What's your
> experience, anyone?
>
> Ray Elliott
> Grants Pass, OR
> '77 PB
>
>

__________________________________________
NetZero - Defenders of the Free World
Get your FREE Internet Access and Email at
http://www.netzero.net/download/index.html
 
This may be true...but there is usually alot of slick
mud closer to the water..My Dodge Ram would spin the rear
tires until I put it in 4wheel...
Rob Teed

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-gmcmotorhome
> [mailto:owner-gmcmotorhome]On Behalf Of Darren Paget
> Sent: Wednesday, February 23, 2000 9:12 PM
> To: gmcmotorhome
> Subject: Re: GMC: Towing a boat?
>
>
> My thoughts would be to mount a hitch on the front of the GM. This should
> alleviate any traction problems and reverse should give you a better gear
> ratio. Darren
>

>
> > Anybody have experience towing a boat? My question is, is there a
> > problem launching or pulling a boat & trailer up a common boat ramp.
> > The ones in my area are fairly steep. I'm concerned because I know that
> > some traction is lost on wet, inclined surfaces. What's your
> > experience, anyone?
> >
> > Ray Elliott
> > Grants Pass, OR
> > '77 PB
>
> --
> Darren Paget
> 76 Experimental
> Another Fab Day
> http://www.TZEplus.com
>
>
>

__________________________________________
NetZero - Defenders of the Free World
Get your FREE Internet Access and Email at
http://www.netzero.net/download/index.html
 
Only choice is an amphicar

> You guys talking about boat towing have peeked my interest as I have been
> known to drag a boat around the country at various times, but never have done
> it in the GMC. My boat (current one) is a 6,000# boat (sloop/diesel) on a
> 2100# trailer. I wouldn't even dream of hauling that rig around, as when it
> is loaded up I am sure I get close to the 9,500# weight. How about the ideal
> TOAD..........one that we could unhook and drive into the water, get a dry
> ride at 10 knots or so, near coastal capability, 2,000# weight, and then
> drive it to the mall for that new leisure suit purchase, at 50 knots. Larry
> in MO, PB75
 
> Anybody have experience towing a boat? My question is, is there a
> problem launching or pulling a boat & trailer up a common boat ramp.
> The ones in my area are fairly steep. I'm concerned because I know
> that
> some traction is lost on wet, inclined surfaces. What's your
> experience, anyone?
>
> Ray Elliott
> Grants Pass, OR
> '77 PB
>

Ray, if I have learned anything in over 25 years of GMCing it is to be
extremely careful where I place my drive wheels, whether it is snow,
rain, grass, sand, etc. Launch ramps conditions vary all over the place
but I would be very cautious about pulling the GMC up a mossy or slippery
ramp mainly because if she doesn't spin but stalls your ability to brake
is limited.

I am probably too conservative about this matter but I have been there
and done that, too many times!

David Lee Greenberg
The GMC Motorhome Registry
Dedicated To The Classic GMC Motorhome
www.gmcss.com/registry.htm
 
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