Slippery ramp, spinning wheels, looking for solutions

U

uptimejeff

Member
Jul 20, 2010
61
Tampa
Boat Info
2010 185 Sport, Garmin 540S, Smart Tabs SX
Engines
Mercruiser 4.3L Alpha
Hi All

Vehicle:
2010 Cadillac SRX.
Front wheel drive, stock tires, 21,000 miles.
I have another year on lease on the SRX.
Not what I would call an ideal tow vehicle, but it handles my 185sport just fine.
After the lease is up, I'm hoping to upgrade the boat and the vehicle :smt038

My main launch location is a grooved concrete ramp, not too steep...
Most retrievals go just fine..

BUT- when I'm retrieving at low tide, my front tires are on algae which makes it really difficult to gain traction.
Yesterday, I was spinning the front tires at low tide retrieval.. a follow boater backed his truck to my SUV and we pulled it up a few feet with a tow rope.. the tow rope snapped, it could have been dangerous and I almost sh_t a brick thinking I pulled something off the front of my car... the admiral was not too pleased.....

So.. I need a solution to get me through another year.

I've seen mats you can slide under the tires.. they seemed designed more for snow than for ramps. I'm sure they are good on horizontal slippery surfaces, but not so sure about an algae covered slope.

Here are a couple made of plastic-type material
The Portable Tow Truck
Maxsa Innovations Foldable Traction Mat
Go Treads Foldable Traction

Here's another which takes a different approach.. (using netting and coco fibre)
Lions Grip Traction Pads

Then I've heard of using galvanized wire lath (home depot)
home depot

Should I consider any of these?
They could fly out the back of the truck, so I'm concerned about safety.. I could tether each to keep them from flying...

Or.. should I just buy a good tow chain? And if so, what do I look for?

Or.. are there better ideas???

Unfortunately - Buying a different tow vehicle isn't an option yet....

Thanks for any input

Jeff
 
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Carry a bucket of sand...
 
As far as towing goes, don't use a chain. Get a tow strap with loops on the ends. Safer than chains.

But anyway, the best idea may be to purchase new tires with better wet traction. You probably have a regular passenger all-season tire. Maybe look into an all-terrain tire.

Tom
 
One problem with the front wheel drive is that the weight is on the rear none pulling wheels and a lot is taken off of the front pulling wheels, that makes it easier to spin the tires. Is it possible to put a hitch on the front of the vehicle and drive down and back out, that would put the weight on the pulling wheel and may solve the problem.
 
midway said:
One problem with the front wheel drive is that the weight is on the rear none pulling wheels and a lot is taken off of the front pulling wheels, that makes it easier to spin the tires. Is it possible to put a hitch on the front of the vehicle and drive down and back out, that would put the weight on the pulling wheel and may solve the problem.
Click to expand...

Yea weights all on the wrong part of the car, but I bet you knew that. Just a thought but in my younger days I could put air shocks on my fwd car and jack the back up to put more weight up front to keep the tires from spinning when I was doing things I shouldn't have been doing. Not sure how it would work at ramp angles. maybe the easiest idea is to get a big sack of sand and set it on your hood and if that doessn't work spred it under the tires.
 
Yep I've got a Ford "crossover" wagon - whatever they call them these days, and it's the front drive only as well. From the factory, it stank in snow and rain; the Continental tires that Ford put on were awful. Thankfully, this car is not my tow vehicle.

Since you are in a lease, this may not help much, but I replaced my tires with Goodyear Assurance TripleTred, a directional traction oriented tire for wet and ice conditions. They did help, but the general design nature of these vehicles in FWD is always a bit of a pain.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?KEYWORD=tires.jsp_Goodyear_Assurance_TripleTred_Tire&CAWELAID=712056666&tireMake=Goodyear&GCID=C13674x012-tire&partnum=05VR7ATTXL&tireModel=Assurance+TripleTred&code=yes

Watch out on your replacement vehicle. I haven't studied everything fully, but even some of these all-wheel drive wagons aren't very impressive - and tend to have a bias toward their FWD base models. The latest Motor Trend has an article on some of these car based SUV's. If you want to take a gamble that Chrysler is turning quality around (again) the new Dodge Durango might be pretty good. Otherwise, old school vehicles like my 2002 Durango, the Tahoe, Expedition, etc. are the way to go if you want something invincible
 
Thanks for all info so far..

I'm stuck with the FWD SUV for about 16 months (2 summers)- ugh... Didn't know I'd buy a boat when I leased this car.

I've only had real issues twice over about 50 launches... so looking for a low-cost option for the occasional times it's needed...

As to the ideas so far..

- hitch on front: I don't think it would be easy to return when the lease is up..
- new tires: if I have to do it, I suppose that may be a good option.. but with the FWD, not sure if it would help too much
- chains: one poster said they are dangerous.. I'll accept that answer.
- sand: would be easy enough to carry sand to spread when needed.
- No comments on the traction pad devices?

Looking for any other comments....
as it stands, I think I'll just carry a bucket of sand to spread when needed..

Thanks so far !
 
I'd go with new tires - amazing what a good set of tires can do to a vehicle. The tires combined with your traction control should be able to handle the 185 with no problem. If you don't want to purchase new tires for a leased vehicle, you can also air them down as if you were driving a 4x4 on sand - say 18 psi which may help as well. Along with this - start off in 2nd gear which may help as well. I've never used any of the traction aids so can't add anything there.

Not sure if you have 18" or 20" wheels so...
18" - Michelin HP Touring Latitude - about $210 a piece
20" - Same - about $298 a piece

Those prices are my prices and include mounting and balancing but a dealer local to you should be close.
 
I an not sure about the sand, you are on a slick place to start with, sand will just give you a bunch of slick marbles, you need to test this if possible before you use it for real. Just my thoughts.

The front mounted hitch could be removed before you turn in the rental.
 
midway said:
I an not sure about the sand, you are on a slick place to start with, sand will just give you a bunch of slick marbles, you need to test this if possible before you use it for real. Just my thoughts.

The front mounted hitch could be removed before you turn in the rental.
Click to expand...
True, but the sand helps to clean the slime and then get traction on clean concrete. I have had to do this on occasion years ago with "one wheel wonder" pick ups!
 
floriduramax1 said:
True, but the sand helps to clean the slime and then get traction on clean concrete. I have had to do this on occasion years ago with "one wheel wonder" pick ups!
Click to expand...

:smt043

no posi :wow:
 
JimG said:
:smt043

no posi :wow:
Click to expand...

Ha, unfortunately that is/was a common occurance on even 4WD trucks. My previous 4wd truck had an open differential. One wheel spinning in the rear and one wheel spinning in the front and you were done. My new truck has an auto locking rear differential so I feel much better!

Back to the original post, you only need to purchase the front tires to see if they'll help. Won't be out too much...
 
I'd use a larger grit sand or a fine aggregate mix like a road-pack mix from a quarry/road builder and keep it in a 5 gallon bucket, not a fine sugar sand for traction. Try to time your launch retrievals with high tides. Also turn your wheel a lttle right and then a little left to get a better bite as you burn off those leased tires. Having a buddy sit on the hood over the drive wheel helps as does lowering the tire pressure.
 
Thanks for all the tips..

Funny.. when I bought the boat/trailer, I was thinking my existing FWD car was an advantage (motor over the drive wheels and on dryer part of ramp).. Live and learn...

I'd really like to avoid buying tires on a temporary car...

So.. I'll find a course sand and give that a try.

Thanks for all the tips

Jeff
 
Maybe try not winching the boat all the way on the trailer. Even just a couple of feet may provide enough wait transfer to put less wait on the back tires. Then once you are up the ramp, winch it the rest of the way.
 
cod said:
Maybe try not winching the boat all the way on the trailer. Even just a couple of feet may provide enough wait transfer to put less wait on the back tires. Then once you are up the ramp, winch it the rest of the way.
Click to expand...


Have you ever tried that? Even with the OP's 185... it is nearly impossible to move on the trailer with the winch. Maybe with those roller style bunks. :huh:

I can't do it with my 15 foot Triumph with solid bunks.
 
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I have done it, but your right, with an EZ roller trailer. They do make the teflon runners for the bunks which greatly reduce the friction. I use them for a pair of jet skis and they work great but certainly a lot lighter than a boat. It also depends on the winch and the gear ratio.
 
@ cod :thumbsup:

BTW... nice looking boat!
 
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