Pulling a Boat 4x4 vs. 4x2

[HoustonPerson]

In reading the threads below (4x4 vs 4x2), I gather that it is preferable to have a 4x4 instead of 4x2 for pulling a boat. Like a 24' wakesetter. etc Steep, slipery and sometimes muddy ramps etc.

Is there about 90% agreement on that? Or would the 4x2 LSD do the job?

[file014]

I dont know too much about towing, but I do know about getting stuck, like I did yesterday(4x2, no LSD, so its basically a 4x1)! I posted about it in general chat forum. I could have used an LSD yesterday! Ive heard that 4x4 is pretty important when it comes to muddy or moss covered boat ramps. The back wheels can slip and maybe your truck ends up halfway in the water.

[DJ]

I would use 4x4, not 4x2 with an LSD. Why?

When a "limited slip differential" is necessary, it will have "some" slippage, which means one rear wheel slips and you are putting all the torque into ONE tire footprint. The LSD simply keeps the slipping tire from slipping totally, so you can put that torque into that one wheel.

With a 4x4, you are putting all the torque into FOUR tire footprints, which means any given tire will have 1/4 the propensity to slip, other things being equal. I would expect the 4x4 to pull you up the ramp when a 4x2 with LSD won't. For the best option, put an LSD on the rear of a 4x4.

Remember, four wheel drive lets you get stuck in inaccessible places.

[matttom]

With a heavy boat like that I would get the 4x4. On slippery ramps it could save your truck. Where I boat in salt water at low tide you can't launch at most of the ramps around here with out 4x4. My 2 cents.

[HotRod8]

I am not familiar with the boat that you mention. You need to consider how much it weighs and the type of ramps you will be using. My 20.5' Bayliner weighs roughly 3500 LBs and I have never had any problems pulling this out of any of the 4 or 5 different ramps that we use. My truck is a 4x4, with the LSD, but I've had no difficulty pulling the boat up the ramp in 2wd. Having said that, the ramps that we have used are all good concrete, not slippery, not overly steep, etc.
Until this year I pulled a smaller boat, about 2700 LBs, with my previous truck, an '89 Toyota 4x4 pickup. With that setup I used to always put the truck in 4Lo to pull the boat up the ramp. With the 5spd this works really well because you can crawl up the ramp without slipping the clutch and then shift back to 2Hi at the top of the ramp.
From your description of the ramps (steep, slippery, muddy) I would suggest you may be better off with a 4wd.

[keiphers]

HoustonPerson, rock on for having a wakeboarding boat! We've got a Mastercraft X-10. I've towed it with my truck (BFG All Terrains + 4WD) and with my dad's SUV (Yukon XL w/Michelin LTX/MS and no 4WD). On a slippery ramp, nothing beats having 4WD and good tires. I pulled it before I got my tires, and I always had to use 4WD to get it off of my friend's muddy ramp.

So, go 4WD!

[matttom]

I still vote for the 4x4. If you back down on a slippery ramp it's usually the rear tires that will loose traction. With the 4x4 your front tires should be on a dry firm surface. On the fresh water ramps that I have been to have had long surfaces and a low grade. But this may require that you put your rear wheels into the water to get the boat off the trailer. In the fresh water ramp your only dry wheels may be the fronts and if they don't pull??? Get the 4x4 you may also get better resale.

[TRDKEAU]

you could always get a 4x2 with an open Diff and spend the extra cash you saved on a ARB locker and re-gear, and you might have some left over money for a supercharger. Better gas mileage, more power, easier on your drivetrain, lower insurance , and ful power to the rear end. Good option especially if you dont need your 4wd too often.

(note: coming from a 4wd owner)

[Wiley]

A perhapse less expensive alternative to 4wd is mount an inexpesive hitch to the front and use it for up and down the ramps. One of the reasons 4wd works is that the engine and stuff are weighting down two of the drive wheels so you would have to put weight in the bed (all the stuff you take off the boat anyway).

[jaimr]

Get the 4x4. I pull a 4000# boat out of the Ohio River and many times have needed 4 wd to get the job done. Plus you can make some extra money pulling out the boats for all the 2 wd that can't I also pull a camper and have needed 4 wd more often getting in and out of the camp sites. You would be surprised how slippery it gets with a little rain and soft grass. Once again, more money helping the mini vans get out I actually don't charge anybody, just do it for the fun. Trust me, you don't want to be one of the guys that can't get his boat out of the water. You'll never hear the end of it!

[HoustonPerson]

It looks like most think the 4x4 with LSD is the way to go. And I tend to agree with what I have seen throughout Texas, when the boats are pulled out of the water. The 4x4's can simply get the boats up out of the water. I have seen two pickups lost in the water, they were 4x2's.

There was one 4 lane boat ramp, up at Lake Lewisville (Dallas). All lanes full, pulling out. 2 lanes had 4x2 pickups, 1 lane was a small SUV with small fishing boat. The ramp was steep and slipery. Another lane was 2500 Chev 4x4 Z71, pulling out some sort of huge yatch, 32'? The two 4x2 pick ups with lifting out large size wakeboarder boats. One of them slide all the way back down to the door handle on the cab! Water got inside the cab, maybe the tranny, but not the engine. The other truck pulled out with a lot of slipping and sliding, and amost slide over and bump the small SUV off the ramp. The 2500 Chev pulled the yatch out like it was a piece of cake. I was about 15 feet away, it was like the front tires of the Chev knew to dug-in, and lock into the pavement, none of the four tires slipped at all.

I have pretty much decided that for me 4x4 with the LSD will be it. During the summer months it will be used every weekend, pulling and launching the boat. Now all I have to do is decided amoung the five brands of trucks. They are all so different it is unreal. Yes I am a great Toyota fan, and all ten of my toyotas have been very good cars; but for a truck to replace the car, for me any way, it has to have a lot better chairs inside; bigger and full power on both sides for comfort on long trips. At this point I am leaning towards the Ford, but my greatest concern is reliability, and my previous Fords were not good cars; lots of trouble. The Nissan has all the specs, but is so ugly! I have driven the new Ford F150 several times, off-road as well, and was truly amazed about how super tight and rigid the entire body was, not even a sound. I know that the Toyota and Chev flex quite a bit.

Some of you have asked more about the boat, which I don't have just yet. My dream boat is the Malibu 23XTi Wakesetter. (If I went for the MasterCraft I would need another $5,000 - but it is still not out of the running). To me both the Malibu's and MasterCraft are some of the hotest Wakeboard boats out there. Best I can figure, boat trailer and all, fully loaded is about 4500 to 5200 lbs. I think the boat by itself empty is about 3700 lbs.

I hope Santa does his job this year, all I need for this is a $100,000 LOL

[jaimr]

Don't worry about getting the Ford.....I am sure there will be a Tundra near by to help you pull out your boat when your Ford won't start

You knew somebody had to say something

[HoustonPerson]

Originally Posted by jaimr

Don't worry about getting the Ford.....I am sure there will be a Tundra near by to help you pull out your boat when your Ford won't start

You knew somebody had to say something

Yep, it's cool

[mike.elmes]

You made the right choice! 4x4 LSD. I have one, and love it, especially at the boat launch. Low range 4x4 and it just crawls up the launch. I own a killer jetboat and the river launches are the worst. Slippery rocks and algae,muck,slime etc...the Tundra is incredible when combined with a little weight in the box or a bit of weight on the hitch.

mike