Boat is too heavy...

[KingTut713]

I understand that one shouldn't exceed the max of your truck however I would potentially be exceeding my capacity by 500lbs. My question is whether this is a huge deal if the marina is literally 1 block away. I have no intention of traveling any greater distances with it at this time.

 

[MTboatguy]

If you take it easy and slow, you should not have any problems, I wouldn't worry about it, but others might.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Not enough information. Is the 500# over a 9500# towing capacity or 500# over a 1000# towing capacity

Makes a big difference

 

[JimS123]

"At this time". Well, that clinched it for me. It goes easy now and who knows what next year has in mind.

One block...yeah. A kid on a bike runs out in front of you when you are only at 25 mph. You can't stop fast enough. The lawyer checks your truck capacity. Now you don't have a truck, a boat or a house either.

It happened to a friend of mine.

But go ahead, it'll be alright.

 

[KingTut713]

"at this time" is more suggesting that I would upgrade towing capacity before I have the need to venture farther than the one block.

Assuming I am reading the tow capacity information correctly it's 2000# for the truck and roughly 2500#+ for the boat and trailer.

 

[MTboatguy]

What truck is it?

 

[KingTut713]

1992 Chevy S10 with the 2.8L V6

 

[kawakx125]

I didn't know a 2.6 S10 could even pull 500 lbs, let alone double that

 

[bigdee]

One block? S-10? FYI I used a 4 cylinder S-10 to pull 3500# boat 38 miles each way to the ramp. Done it twice a week for 2 years on a rural road. I don't recommend you do that but my point is the truck is capable of pulling. One block? If it is not a major road and you can drive slow and maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you, I say go for it. Give it a test run before yo go off the deep end.

 

[MTboatguy]

I used to pull a 2800 pound 16 foot travel trailer with my mid 80's S-10 V6, it was fine and you still had the braking power needed and the trailer didn't have brakes on it., so going a block to the ramp should be fine if you pay attention to what is going on.

 

[bigdee]

That is the key!

 

[MTboatguy]

That is the key!

Exactly,

There is a lot of stuff you can get away with, if you are paying attention with what you are doing. As far as the one block tow, that would be simple but with even a small amount of overweight, the thing I would be concerned with, especially with a 2WD small truck, what is the ramp like to launch and recover, if it is a steep one, then I would think a lot about it. On the flat, those brakes are going to be fine, but get into a slippery or a steep ramp, maybe not so much. I would want to be sure it is a gradual slope on that ramp you are using.

If things go wrong on the ramp you might end up in the Launch Disasters thread!

:faint2:

 

[bigdee]

Exactly,

There is a lot of stuff you can get away with, if you are paying attention with what you are doing. As far as the one block tow, that would be simple but with even a small amount of overweight, the thing I would be concerned with, especially with a 2WD small truck, what is the ramp like to launch and recover, if it is a steep one, then I would think a lot about it. On the flat, those brakes are going to be fine, but get into a slippery or a steep ramp, maybe not so much. I would want to be sure it is a gradual slope on that ramp you are using.

If things go wrong on the ramp you might end up in the Launch Disasters thread!

:faint2:

Yeah I once slid down to the water on loose gravel but stopped as soon as boat hit water! Another time I backed too far and dropped off end of ramp but even with a big truck that would be trouble. Good thing about public ramps is there is usually someone there that is willing to pull you out if needed. Most boaters are good people to know. I loaded on some steep ramps without much tire spin. tongue weight helps increase traction as boat comes out of water. S-10 is lighter but there is less forward weight ahead of you then a full size PU so it sort of equals out.

 

[MTboatguy]

Yeah I once slid down to the water on loose gravel but stopped as soon as boat hit water! Another time I backed too far and dropped off end of ramp but even with a big truck that would be trouble. Good thing about public ramps is there is usually someone there that is willing to pull you out if needed. Most boaters are good people to know. I loaded on some steep ramps without much tire spin. tongue weight helps increase traction as boat comes out of water. S-10 is lighter but there is less forward weight ahead of you then a full size PU so it sort of equals out.

Couple of years ago, My boss asked me to pull him out at a ramp, threw the keys to his brand new Mercedes SUV 4x4 and it was a steep and I mean steep ramp, so with big reservations, I back the trailer down the ramp, he loads his fourwinns up and away I go up the ramp, was in 4 wheel drive and spinning the wheels and thought, this is not going to work out, low an behold a guy got tired of waiting and cut right across in front of me and I had to jump on the brakes. Lucky it was Labor day weekend and this ramp is a known problem, there was a ramp watcher there and he backed up in front of me real quick, jumped out and put a tow strap on the tow hook on the front and proceeded to pull me up and out.

I thought the pretty little SUV was going swimming and that particular ramp is not only steep but it drops off about 30 feet, so it would have been a mess!

 

[sopwithcamel74]

I think your're fine, so long as you do what others recommend and take care/be attentive.

From what I've both experienced and heard, virtually all vehicle manufacturers provide a tow capacity that is below the absolute max of what they know a vehicle is capable of. It's smart - not all situations (or drivers, for that matter) are the same.

 

[Maclin]

MTboatguy be like https://youtu.be/3cx_zmIP8vE?t=1m47s

 

[MTboatguy]

MTboatguy be like https://youtu.be/3cx_zmIP8vE?t=1m47s

Hey that looks strangely familiar!



:lol: