Towing

[AZJC17]

Hello All...

New to this forum. Have a question for those of you with more experience than myself. I've been boating for a long while, but never a boat owner and thus not a lot of experience towing. I'm looking at purchasing a 20v to pull behind my 07 Tundra.

My truck has the big V8 and tow package, but it's only 2 wheel drive. I've got the Nitto Terra Grapplers on it now, but I'm not convinced that they are the best tire for wet boat ramps. The truck is lifted and has 22's, the tires look great but I'm just not sure how it will handle pulling a boat out of the lake. Last thing I want is to be "that guy."

I know the truck has the power to tow just fine, so my main concern is just pulling it out of the water.

Does anyone have experience with the Nitto's or any advice?

Kind of a newbie question I know, but thanks for your advice.

Cheers

[whitlock87]

I do not know about the tires, but I know that some trucks can need extra weight in the bed to help pull the boat out without slipping. Also, it will depend on the ramp. I have seen boat ramps that work great for almost any truck or SUV and others that are really fun to watch as people are slipping all over the place.
Example, Lake Elsinore ramp are not very steep so you have to back way down to lunch and they get a lot of algae on them. But Diamond Valley Lake has steep ramps that have deep groves and I have never seen anybody slip there.

[scoot18]

I tow with a 2000 GMC 1500 2WD and I've never had the 1st problem at any ramp. No matter how steep or gradual, grooved, not grooved, growth and slime. Light pressure on the brake pedal with my left foot, and right foot on the accelerator and always pull right out (I've never even had the slightest slip, even when I thought I would). I have Goodyear Wrangler RT/S's on stock wheels. I think you shouldn't have any trouble. Not sure about the Nitto tires, I'm not familiar with them, but with the right tire, I'd think you'd be fine.

Hope this helps.

[TeamAllen]

Welcome to the site!

I think you are fine. I have used my Dad's 03 Tundra 2 wheel drive a few times. One of them I was really worried at Lake Powell. The water was really low that year and was below the cement launch ramp. The base was loose gravel at the water line and the boat was loaded down with all the houseboat stuff. It wasn't a problem. My boat is even larger @ 22' and the truck had the smaller V-8 and I had Michelin tires, Cross Terrain I think.

Where are you located and what ramps do you use mostly?

[IDBoating]

Light pressure on the brake pedal with my left foot, and right foot on the accelerator and always pull right out

x2 on this comment. Many people don't realize that if you don't have a limited slip differential you can often solve the "one spinning wheel" problem with a bit of brake pressure. Seems counterintuitive to use both the gas and the brake at the same time, but Scoot is definitely on the money here.

[AZJC17]

Thanks for the replies and suggestions. I'm in the Phoenix area and mostly use the lakes up on the Salt River. Roosevelt, Apache and Canyon. Will also make the trip to Powell I'm sure and out to Martinez (Yuma area).

[Jeffe]

I've got a Tundra and it pulls our RZ4 perfectly out of the launch ramp. Our ramp is fairly steep too.

[moved2ski]

Use an adjustable hitch as well. I tow with the trailer leavle , but if you find a slick ramp you can lower the hitch and add trailer weight to the truck axle.

[Duncan]

x2 on this comment. Many people don't realize that if you don't have a limited slip differential you can often solve the "one spinning wheel" problem with a bit of brake pressure. Seems counterintuitive to use both the gas and the brake at the same time, but Scoot is definitely on the money here.

Ohhhhhh ... I have heard of the trick but never the underlying reasons. I assumed it was to just get started without drifting back. Well, now I know

[Joeprunc]

The TGs are great tires, don't worry about them. But lifted with 22s.......never mind?
Like said before weight in the back helps a lot. Depending on how steep the ramp is you can try different things. One thing I use to do is put the tranny in 2nd and pull the boat out. This limits the amount of power that goes to the rear, which equals less wheel spinning.

[IDBoating]

Ohhhhhh ... I have heard of the trick but never the underlying reasons. I assumed it was to just get started without drifting back. Well, now I know

If a non-limited-slip differential has one wheel spinning free, essentially no power will go to the other wheel. By applying the brake gently, you artificially prevent free-wheeling and thus send power to the other (hopefully ground-engaged) wheel.

[txmxer]

We towed our 21 foot malibu last summer with a 2wd toyota tacoma. Its usually not a problem, every once in a while we will spin tires just a bit but not too much. Two trips stand out to me.

1. Lake elsinore: as mentioned earlier very shallow ramp and filled with algae. We were up to the bumper in water drove up and we were fine until the boat/trailer were just out of the water. We werent the only ones either, a dually was right next to us spinning his tires (until he put it in 4wd haha). We just put floormats in front of the rear tires and had everyone sit in the bed to weigh it down, and we came up just fine.

2. Lake havasu we began to spin the tires just a bit but not too much so we had everyone sit in the bed again and we went up the ramp without a problem.

I guess my point is if you have any trouble just get some weight in the bed of the truck. We now have a 2005 gmc sierra with awd to tow with though.

edit: Just use your brakes, and lower gears to your advantage according to the ramps, but you shouldnt have a problem.

[shawn74]

I have a 09 tundra stock wheels,but I have a 10' sequoia with 20" Terra grapplrrs and usually pull our rz4 out with 2wd no prob ,but we have 4x4 in case but rarely use it

[jrobertson]

I have the nittos on my 2008 Tundra. 18" not 22's and 4x4 not 2, but never uesed 4wd pulling by boat out. Those tires are very nice. Shouldn't have an issue