Burning up clutch

C

coolings

New Member
Jul 8, 2008
90
Pensacola, FL
Boat Info
2008 205 Sport
Engines
5.0, Alpha one
Okay, I have a 205 Sport towed by a Tacoma, V6. My driveway goes uphill probably about 15-20 degrees. I have to back my trailer up the driveway. Every time I do, I am burning up my clutch. You can smell it. Here is the problem. If I let the clutch all the way out, I am going to fast. I cannot manage the turn while backing that fast. Soooo, I normally have the clutch partially engaged to maintain a slow speed. Does anyone else have this problem? How can I prevent burning up my clutch?
 
Automatic transmission
 
A front receiver hitch might make it easy enough to not ride the clutch. Also, if it is a 4X4, try 4 low.
 
keokie said:
if it is a 4X4, try 4 low.
Click to expand...

Probably not a good idea. Stressing the gearbox, transfer case, driveshafts, and axles instead of the clutch sounds like a bad trade-off. 4x4 low is not meant for dry pavement.
 
Hi!

How long is the driveway, and is it a straight shot to the parking spot?

NCC
 
This may sound dumb, but you didn't mention anything about the trailer or what happens when you back up in other instances? Do you have surge brakes? Based on the size of your boat I'm guessing that you do.

Perhaps there is an issue with the reversing solenoid. In an instance when the surge brakes do not work so well it would be easy to reverse DOWN a boat ramp but very difficult to reverse uphill if there is a brake issue - bad reversing solenoid, partially engaged brakes due to poor hydraulic pressure, etc. When was the last time that you had your brakes serviced?
 
Instead of backing up the driveway slipping the clutch try letting the clutch all the way out then let off real quick. do a couple of quick burst's up the driveway then slow down and slip the clutch when you get close to where the boat needs to go.

It won't get rid of needing to slip the clutch but reducing how often you slip it will keep your clutch alive longer. slipping a little won't kill it. In theory you slip the clutch every time you take off from a stop. well.... unless you leave every light like john force lol.
 
Hi Again,

I don't know how straight or long your driveway is. I do know a couple of folks who have had the same issue with their camper/travel trailers. What they did to overcome this problem is use an electric winch hooked to the trailer to pull it up their driveway. I don't know if your particular circumstance would allow this, but it's just a thought.

But you have a few ideas:
- New tow vehicle
- Front-mounted receiver hitch.
- You could find off-site storage
- Electric winch
- Borrow a truck to park it
- Check those trailer brakes
- Keep doing what you're doing

Some are more viable than others. Let us know how it works out.

NCC
 
Also, if you use the boat alot keep it at the bottom of the driveway. You could even pull in the driveway leaving enough room to get the truck out from in front of the boat.

In the summer i used my boat alot. I'll leave it in the yard by the road instead of tucked away where we keep the pontoon, motor home ect...

These methods may not be suitable if you live in a neighborhood with one of those stupid associations lol.
 
This is the rare time one would wish for a slush box (aka automatic Trans). unless you can come all the way off the cluch and lug it up in one shot, there seems to be no way around slipping the heck out of the clutch. This is if you Have to go up in reverse. A hitch in the front of the truck would have no benefit to you either. Reverse have a much lower ratio the 1st gear. You would still have the same trouble, just worse.
FYI if it was 4x4 you could just idle it up in 4x4 low, IF YOU DON"T NEED TO TURN. I do this all the time at home, BUT I leave the front hubs unlocked so all I did is effectively put it in 2wd Low. I have manual locking hubs. Older trucks however. No sissy push button 4x4 here.
EDIT: Also if you have surge brakes, they are stopping you as well. Figure out a way to jam the brakes off at the tung by inserting a rod thru the slotted holes in the hitch or a Reverse lock out Soliniod.
 
Last edited:
The idea of a front receiver is the increased visibility, and steering may allow you do drive faster, thereby not slipping the clutch.

I know a lot of guys that use 4 low to back very heavy equipment up steep and winding driveways. All of these guys are using today's diesels from the big three. Some hose the driveways for the drivetrain concern, others just forget it. None of them have broken anything, yet.
 
The driveway is not to long. Just about 40 feet. I have to turn sharply off the road and into the driveway. Thanks for the ideas. I will try just going faster with the clutch all the way out.
 
keokie said:
The idea of a front receiver is the increased visibility, and steering may allow you do drive faster, thereby not slipping the clutch.

I know a lot of guys that use 4 low to back very heavy equipment up steep and winding driveways. All of these guys are using today's diesels from the big three. Some hose the driveways for the drivetrain concern, others just forget it. None of them have broken anything, yet.
Click to expand...
Both my trucks just bounce while making turns on hard pavement in 4x4. Haven't broken anything that way yet. somtimes its unavoidable.
 
jitts3 said:
Both my trucks just bounce while making turns on hard pavement in 4x4. Haven't broken anything that way yet. somtimes its unavoidable.
Click to expand...

Thats the driveline binding up (Im sure you know that, but for everyone else). In 4x4 all wheels have to turn at the same speed. This works fine on sand, snow, etc. when you turn and the wheels can slip, but on pavement it is bad. If you get more traction than the strength of the axle/differential/transfer case/whatever, one of them WILL break.

Of course, Im paranoid because the frontier has a weak front differential.

I once forgot to take it out of 4 hi and turned at low speed. damn near broke my nose when the driveline bound up and I stalled w/o my seatbelt on yet.

To the original poster, try letting the clutch out then riding the brake. it wont slow you down a LOT, but I try to do that instead of slipping my clutch. And you pose a serious question, I was thinking about an f-250 diesel for the next truck (can tow a larger boat!) and I REALLY want to stay with a manual trans...but Im thinking about the slipping necessary to haul a 9-10k lb load up a boat ramp...EEK
 
mvoellinger said:
I was thinking about an f-250 diesel for the next truck (can tow a larger boat!) and I REALLY want to stay with a manual trans...but Im thinking about the slipping necessary to haul a 9-10k lb load up a boat ramp...EEK
Click to expand...

Don't do it!!! NO SLUSHBOX!!! It is amazing what a diesel can do at idle. I come off the clutch at idle then gas on it. Now thats a Peterbilt truck. But I would not go with an automatic. All the torque the diesel makes is lost on the trans slipping. My .02
 
mvoellinger said:
Of course, Im paranoid because the frontier has a weak front differential.
Click to expand...


Buy something capable of 4wd duties and you won't have a problem. GM, Ford or Dodge are really your only options. Please don't buy into that crap nissan and TOYota are trying to sell with being able to tow hahahaha.

and I 100% agree with the diesel and manual comment. their is no better combination. And this is coming from a former nissan transmission guy.


the rest of this country knocks the big three for "vehicles no one wants" yet no one can build a tow vehicle to compete. :huh:
 
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