How bad is it to submerge the rear wheels to launch my boat. Looked into everything and will probably have to buy a new trailer if it is a big problem.

I used to do it with my 2000 F-150 but worried about doing it with the new 204. It is salt water ramp.

 

I would think you'd be fine....as long as you rinsed your truck real well with fresh water afterward. To give you a more "warm-fuzzy" feeling, you could take the truck into a Jiffy-Lube type place to have the rear axle fluid checked after each launch.

Sackett

 

Well trailers with stainless and bronze disc brakes are lucky to get a year before they need toren down and cleaned or replaced. The steel brakes on your truck will last a month...tops... The disc's and pads will be fine. The calipers will start to bind and won't release the pads from the disc.

You can back them in till the rubber on the bottom of the wheel is covered. Even at that I rinse them, but don't sink the brakes.

Either extend the trailer tougne, find a steeper ramp or get a trailer with rollers instead of bunks..

 

Just make SURE you do not submerge any breather tubes (vents) in the pumpkin or transfer case.

 

dont do it

 

Based on what happens to trailer brakes in salt, I wouldn't even consider getting my truck wet in the salt. I would assume that the entire rear suspension, bumper, exaust, spare-tire, etc. would need a rinsing with 'SaltAway'. Just too risky.

 

Give it a good power washing you should be fine. You just don't want salt water pooling up some where and sitting. Rust is a bad thing. Backing the truck in for a miniute or two is not going to hurt any thing. As long as you rinse it off good at the end of the day you should be fine.

 

I wouldn’t worry about it too much; these are trucks not panties.

 

What about fresh water???? Forsee any problems? I only loaded my boat twice last year and I haven't seen any effects to date...JP

 

Whenever you drive in the rain, everything gets nice and wet anyways.... If its salt water, then I would go and rinse the truckoff after you launch. Fresh water will not hurt anything.

 

A lot of the saltwater ramps we use have washdown areas. The trailer is plumbled where you just connect a hose to a fitting up near the toungue and it flushes the brakes from inside. 3 years and no problems. Since the Ford uses rear discs, hosing off the rear brakes would help, but keep a close eye on everything.

Like was said, don't submerge the breather tube on the rear diff, it will suck water and you'll have a mess on your hands. I extended all the breather (front and rear diff, tranny, transfer case) tubes on my F250 up to a point high under the hood to prevent this problem. There is always a risk of some water getting in, so like he said, get it changed often.

I've been doing this for years, and careful cleaning and maintenance have prevented any problems.

 

Extend the breather tube, rinse after use and I'm suprised no one has mentioned that you should change the fluids in the rearend at least once a year or at the end of the season if you live up north.

 

My 2001 dakota was always submerged, sometimes my bumper and exhaust would go under water. I never rinsed and never had a problem. 3 years with it and never needed brake work. I know Ford is AT LEAST as good as dodge

Think about it people, it gets wet when you drive in the rain. You will drive in salt water when it snows and they salt down the roads. It won't hurt the truck, rinse it down if it makes you feel better.

 

Just like big screw said......How's this any different than driving on roads that are covered with salt for 4 months out of the year? If you don't wash your vehicle once a week, it gets a layer salt all over everything and I'm not replacing brakes, suspension components, spare tires.....etc.....

Take a couple quarters out of your purse, power wash your truck and don't worry about it.

 

There is a big difference between salt water spray and being submerged.

Having owned a boat and strictly using it in salt water, I can attest to the damage sea water can do. IMHO, I would find another ramp to use rather than submerge my Lariat in sea water.