If both your wheels were spinning, there's not much else you can do.

If only one wheel was spinning at a time, then you can help somewhat by adding a limited slip differential to your rear-end.

The term 'traction bar' is mis-leading, since they are intended to remedy the wheel-hop that occurs when frog-hopping due to spring flex/wind-up. The traction bars merely prevent the axle from turning -- thereby preventing the spring from windind/un-winding.

If your traction loss was due to excessive weight of the boat/trailer, then adding additional weight to the truck seems senseless.

However, if the boat and trailer are not excessively heavy -- but the rear of the truck is just light -- then adding a couple of heavy coolers full of ice and Bud Light next to the tailgate will help add traction to your tires -- and the Bud Light will help you celebrate the end of the day.

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Y2K™ Jim - N8JG@Hotmail.com

Toreador Red, Keyless XLT SC SB 5.4L E4x4 4wDisc/ABS, 3.73LS, Skid, HD 7700# Towing, LT-245's on Chrome, Tube-Steps, Captain's, 6CD, Tonneau, named: "Nick"

 

test

[This message has been edited by max mitchell (edited 11-12-2000).]

 

I have a 1998 F150 supercab w/4.2 5 speed lit,3.55 rear end.Super chip,K&N Filter.And I just a boat.A 18' searay and I took it to lake perris for a spin.When I took it out of the water I had a hard time pulling it out of the water.My wheels were spining.I had it low gear and eased on the peddle and still was spinning.I made my clutch smell pretty bad when I got done getting it out of the water.Someone told me to try traction bar on my truck or something so I can put some weight on the rear end.Someone please help!!

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Actually, the tongue weight decreases quite a bit when you back down a ramp. The center of gravity of the boat/trailer moves further back the steeper the ramp is. Try carrying a 10' long piece of 4x4 wood up the stairs with a friend. The guy on the back end will end up carrying more weight than the guy at the front. That's why you always see the older carpenters at the front and the apprentices at the bottom.

The cheapest and probably most effective thing you can do is add weight over the rear axle of your truck. I know people who will fill a barrel with water at the ramp, then dump the water after the rig is back on level ground.

 

Have a couple of your buddies who went with you jump in the bed for extra weight. Makes a world of difference.

Another tip for ya'... When you are ready to pull out, start the truck, make sure the parking brake is set, put it in gear, and ease into the throttle and off the clutch until the clutch begins to grab and the engine bears down a little bit. Now, don't delay here because you're frying the clutch... pop the e-brake and you should immediately begin moving forward without rolling 3 feet backwards while you try to swap feet from the brake to the gas. It works like a charm every time, even on a slippery ramp. Try it next time, or watch a few others with manuals, and I'm sure you'll see someone else doing it.

If you start to spin, ease off a little bit... when it's spinning, it's not gonna get you very far, and it's not exactly good for the differential and tires either.

-Joe-


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98 Explorer (Lemon Law Case in Progress)

'00 F-150, X-cab, 4x4, Lariat, Off-road, Trailer Tow, Holandia Sunroof, built 11/99 picked up 10/00!
List of planned mods: Clear corners and tails, CB wiring, Stainless brush guard, at least 1 set of KCs (probably more!), custom radar detector mount, color matched trailer hitch with stainless steel ball, torsion bar tweak, bug deflector, spray in liner, and a tonneau of some sort...