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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Truck limits

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britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Initially Posted - 08/11/2008 : 20:50:44

While I was shopping around in West Marine, Peggy was taking time out and was reading the Manual for our F150 4x4 Lariat....

Upon my return, she told me about the section under the subject of towing and launching a boat.. it advises not to allow the water to rise higher than the the rear bumper!!!!!!

If I ever did that, the admiral would be uttering some not very friendly suggestions about how quickly I should pull the truck forwards!!

Our rule is that if the rear tires are getting wet... that's just toooo far!

So.... what's the furthest you have buried your truck into the 'surf'?

Paul

Joint Decision. (Sold)
PO C250WB 2005 Sail # 841.

Moved up to C34 Eximius

Updated August 2015

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Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 08/11/2008 : 21:15:59

We have the same rule. Our tires do not touch water. Bu, then, we strap launch with 80'of strap!

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smoken
1st Mate

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USA
67 Posts

Response Posted - 08/11/2008 : 21:16:04

I usually try to not go farther than the bottom of the wheels. I have heard that most trucks have an air vent in the rear end. I'm guessing that if the rear bumper is wet that the air vent is under water and you have water in the rear end. Not the best thing to happen.

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RedRedWhine
Navigator

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USA
167 Posts

Response Posted - 08/11/2008 : 21:26:10

Paul,

This is as far as I got.... Too far. The water was up to the floor board and got the carpet a little wet. The real problem was that I got water in the diesel. I have a separator and I have had to drain it every day for the past month. I also put in a fuel additive that helped a lot. She is running good now. You can just make out the 12' extension followed by the 25' of strap. The truck did not need to be this deep. The guy that was backing in the trailer went too far. When I launched her I used the extension and 30' of cable and did not get over the bumper. The only thing I need to fix is the backup camera, it shorted out.

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Ed Cassidy
Captain

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USA
365 Posts

Response Posted - 08/11/2008 : 22:23:13

I'm guessing that the 4wd has vent tubes in the rear end and transmission that are up inside the engine compartment, just because it's a 4wd and made to get wet. My Isuzu Trooper had vents that were so high you would have to get the water almost to the windows before they went under.

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 08/11/2008 : 22:25:23

I'm not sure what you're all worried about... In NE winters, those trucks go through rock-salt soup every day--more abuse than a salt water launching ramp can dish out. Then again, a friend of mine used to say he lay awake at night listening to his Ford truck rust. (Unfortunately, I never heard our Taurus's subframe and engine mounts disintegrating away until the engine started flopping around!)

The trailer is the bigger question, especially the brakes.

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 08/11/2008 : 22:41:38

I've had our F-250 in as deep as the rear bumper, although I can usually launch without the wheels touching water. However, no more, after $700 worth of brakes, calipers, rotors, etc. I've learned my lesson. Even with spraying the wheels down with fresh water after the fact I still did that much damage in just one season. Possibly the PO of the truck did the damage though, there's no way to tell. There were chunks of metal missing from the rotors, and 1/16" deep scores in the them from the locked up pads.

I bought 60' or so of 1-1/2" double braid to do my launches with from now on.

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Steve Blackburn
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
1091 Posts

Response Posted - 08/11/2008 : 23:18:07

Didn't go as far as Don but nearly. Water just barley going over the bumper. But then again, I'm in fresh water. F150 Supercrew 2X4.

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Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 08/12/2008 : 00:02:57

The top of the bumper usually stays dry on my Grand Cherokee. Not launching a boat, but I have driven my Wrangler with all four tires completely submerged. Jeeps are different.

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SailCO26
Captain

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USA
457 Posts

Response Posted - 08/12/2008 : 08:41:58

Yeah, Jeeps are different. :) I had my '02 Sahara (31" tires, 2.5" lift) thru creeks this spring with water up to the door well - over the floorboards; no issues at all. Another vehicle that had gone thru shortly before us hydro-locked his engine in the same passage, but dont recall off hand what make/model it was.

That said, I've had my truck(s) as deep as Don above several times launching from shallow ramps, never had any issues. Otoh, that was all freshwater lakes.

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stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 08/12/2008 : 10:13:42

To the bumper.
My truck turns white during the winter from all the salt used on the roads here. I have not had any rust problems yet on my 8 year old truck.

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Stardog
Captain

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USA
319 Posts

Response Posted - 08/12/2008 : 11:38:39

I've always used four-wheel drive vehicles for launching and retrieving. I have always checked the ramp to find out what the surface is like. If I find slippery stuff on it, I make a point of keeping the front tires out of the water. The only thing that really bothers me is getting water up the tailpipe, but sometimes it can't be helped. Otherwise, my rule is to not get in deep enough where water will come into the passenger compartment.

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bear
Admiral

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USA
909 Posts

Response Posted - 08/12/2008 : 12:13:59

Since I use the same ramp with my Toyota 4x4 I back down until half the exhaust pipe is in water, this appears to be a good judgement for trailer position also.....

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RedRedWhine
Navigator

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USA
167 Posts

Response Posted - 08/12/2008 : 20:40:14

Well I am in fresh water and I think salt water would be worse. The problem we have is that the ramps are so shallow due to the drought. They have deep ramps but they are all above the water now. They say that the water level is suppose to start rising here soon.

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