[Rammerhead]

Hey guys, I'm wondering if anyone here has experience launching a boat with a 2WD PP? I am the happy owner of a '19 EX-L 2WD with factory hitch and wiring. I know my tow capacity is 3,500lbs with a 2WD setup, my boat is probably at least that, probably closer to 4,000lbs. Boat launch is only 3 or 4 miles away (and 30 mph tops); it's concrete with a pitch that isn't overly aggressive. I'm not too concerned about towing 4k pounds for such a short distance, I am worried about having the traction to pull the boat back out of the water. Anyone with a 2WD have any experience, good or bad? Don't want to end up as a boat launch fail on YouTube... 😮 Friends tired of always borrowing their trucks. TIA

 

[CHEFERMAN65]

Probably wouldn't be bad launching, it's the pulling out I'm thinking is going to be an issue. I say go for it as you're already willing to exceed the recommended 3500# tow capacity.

 

[HarveyW]

You need to know the angle of the launch ramp. 7° to 8.5° is the optimal angle. Less than 7° and your rear axle and exhaust is almost surely going to be submerged before you can launch the boat. 8.5° or more and you are going to have a hard if not impossible time pulling the boat out. (Think YouTube video time) Not sure that the Passport has the same floating capabilities that the old VW bugs did.

Add to that the fact that you are exceeding the towing capacity just getting the boat there. When pulling up an incline gravity increases the load the vehicle is trying to pull. The greater the angle, the more stress gravity will put on the vehicle, especially the transmission. This is one of the reasons most people who tow, try to not to tow more than 75% of the vehicles capacity.

 

[Rammerhead]

Probably wouldn't be bad launching, it's the pulling out I'm thinking is going to be an issue. I say go for it as you're already willing to exceed the recommended 3500# tow capacity.

Ha fair comment!

 

[Rammerhead]

You need to know the angle of the launch ramp. 7° to 8.5° is the optimal angle. Less than 7° and you rear axle and exhaust is almost surely going to be submerged before you can launch the boat. 8.5° or more and you are going to have a hard if not impossible time pulling the boat out. (Think YouTube video time) Not sure that the Passport has the same floating capabilities that the old VW bugs did.

Add to that the fact that you are exceeding the towing capacity just getting the boat there. When pulling up an incline gravity increases the load the vehicle is trying to pull. The greater the angle, the more stress gravity will put on the vehicle, especially the transmission. This is one of the reasons most people who tow, try to not to tow more than 75% of the vehicles capacity.

All valid points, def want to avoid floatation experiments. I'll report back once I get the nads to try it.

 

[NayV8r]

I used two 40 foot long ropes ( one as a safety back up) with my sail boat trailer recovery.
tied them to the front of the trailer and used the extra length to pull the trailer out while the truck was firmly on dry and somewhat level concrete.
chocked the trailer wheels as soon as they came out of the water. Re hitched by removing the rope and hooking directly to the hitch ball for the dry pull.
allowed me to get to a trailer or launch from a trailer that was 8 feet underwater. No problem.

 

[tykurez]

Since you have a 2WD I’m assuming you’re in a warm climate with no off-season. Up here in the NE, we wait until the late fall/winter to experiment with that stuff so nobody is watching 😉