SLIPPERY ramps~

[Tommy in Wilton]

I own a '96 Larson All-American, and I keep it in the water behind my house in Fort Lauderdale. It is a 16 foot runabout with a 90 hp Yamaha engine.

I tow it with a '97 Ford Aerostar, a rear drive vehicle that I use for work now...

[I know what you are thinking; YES I am cheap. But I also just bought my wife a 2014 Lincoln MKZ hybrid which is getting "only" 35 mpg, and my own car is a Porsche 928S2.]

And whenever I pull the boat out of the water I am worried about the rear tires on the van slipping! Today I pulled the boat out of the water [and spent the WHOLE afternoon scraping about 30 pounds of barnacles off the bottom despite the anti-fouling paint!], and was able to get the boat on the trailer despite the wind....and then proceed up the ramp.

-The last time I did this at the same ramp, when I tried to pull the boat up the incline, I released the parking brake, foot on the brake, slowly increased pressure on the gas....and felt the rear tires start to spin! These were 215/70-14 all season tires with a tire pressure of 25 when the max load is 45, I lowered the tire pressure on purpose.

Today that didn't happen, but the ramp was just as slimy!

-JUST how dangerous is it when your tires start to spin pulling your boat out of the water? THIS time I did not do it, but last time I actually tied a rope to a front suspension member because I was concerned, and this rope was to a tree so that the Aerostar wouldn't go floating down the canal like the boat.

T!

[I really don't recommend using a Ford Aerostar as a boat. I don't think it will work for very long...]

 

[NYBo]

Re: SLIPPERY ramps~

The problems with spinning tires that immediately come to mind are:
1. Slewing sideways
2. Lurching ahead if the tires grab.
3. Potential for over-revving the engine.

BTW, how do you put "cheap" and "Porsche 928S2" in the same paragraph? Have you looked at the price of parts for that baby, much less labor costs for repairs?

 

[agallant80]

Re: SLIPPERY ramps~

You don't really have much of an option here. Upgrade the van to something wit 4x4 or just deal with it. Tires spin on ramps, even on dry ones they can spin. Just go slow and don't have the tires spinning at 50mph and you will be fine. Keep some kitty litter in the back of the van, that may help you if the tires start to spin, I like Fresh Step.....

 

[gm280]

Re: SLIPPERY ramps~

The absolute most traction you can get on any tire setup is right before the tire breaks loose and starts to spin....duh! :doh: What I'm trying to say is, apply gas until you feel the tire getting ready to spin and leave it at that gas feed. That is the best you can expect. Slippery ramps are everywhere and you have to feed (feather) the gas to gain the best movement for the ramp. Spinning tires will actually allow the vehicle to slide backwards a lot of the time. :nono: It is a learned process... :encouragement: