How step ramp with F350 dually?

hpcrank

hpcrank

Member
Feb 4, 2016
145
Col. Spgs, Co-Lake Pueblo State Park
Boat Info
1981 260 Sundancer with rebuilt 454/Mercruiser330-I/O. w/ alum. hard top with front and side wdos
Engines
One rebuilt 330 hp. 454 Chevy
I have a 1996 F350 Ford dually 4x2 with the 7.3 diesel which I will be towing a 1981 260 Sundancer (if I ever get it done).
We will be boating on Lake Pueblo in Colorado. It has two ramps, one I very low slope and one that is quite seep (12% +/_).

I have two concerns, the low slope ramp might require backing the truck too far into the water to launch the boat and the steep ramp may be too steep for the traction of the 4x2 dually to haul the boat out.

Anyone have any experience with similar issues?

hpcrank
 
I'd go for steep 1 first. Back it down all the way, then see if it will pull it out. If that don't happen, unload it, and have someone else drive it and meet you at the shallow ramp. Dually's have real good traction, we got guys plowing snow with the 4x2's
 
I had the same truck...... for a while. It would pull your house on dry pavement and ground, but the damned thing would get stuck in the Walmart parking lot if the pavement was wet. Weight in the bed helps, but, rather than the slope, I think your real challenge will be pulling the boat up the ramp when it is wet from others using it.

I don't have any recommendations for you.......other than to say this is why I only had the 4X2 truck for while.
 
if there is slime on the ramp a good stiff push broom will remove it from the ramp and help your traction. A buddy had a 55 gallon drum of water over the axle and when he pulled the boat he would drain it.
 
I tow my 24 footer with a rear wheel drive Chevy dually and don't have much problems even on steep ramps.


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As long as it's a concrete ramp you should be fine. Make sure you have enough tongue weight. If your concerned about traction, in addition to weight in the bed, have a few asphalt shingles to throw down and you should be fine.
 
fwebster said:
It would pull your house on dry pavement and ground, but the damned thing would get stuck in the Walmart parking lot if the pavement was wet.
Click to expand...

I bet it did great doughnuts.
 
Make sure you have adequate tongue weight. Also, do you have a limited slip diff?

You could add an air locker to momentarily lock the rear diff. That provides an enormous difference.

You can cheat a little by partially engaging the emergency brake. This effectively reduces the ability for all the power to go to one wheel.
 
I pull my 270da with a dodge 2500 4x2. I'd go with the 12 deg ramp. I've done steeper ramps and never had a problem. Proper ramps are rough concrete and most have the ridges to drain water. Make sure you have proper tongue weight, I have 1000ish lbs of boat weight on the tongue, it provides a lot of traction. I always have to put my tires in the water too.

I've only had my 4x2 spin wheels twice; one was on a very flat almost ramp which had asphalt patches on it (POS ramp at a local marina), and once when I dropped the trailer off the end of a low inclined too short ramp. That was hairy and I had to give it several tries before I got the trailer back up onto the concrete (boat was still on, wouldn't come off the trailer). With big boats you have to back so far in some low incline ramps aren't long enough.

In summation, I do fine with my SRW so you should be extra good with DRW.
 
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