I just bought a new Dodge CTD with a 6 speed transmission to tow my boat. My question is with a 6 speed maual transmission at the launch ramp what is the proper way to launch a boat? Will the emergency brake work fine or do I need to shut the truck off in gear as well as set the brake???
I think I was spoiled with the automatic trans before.

 

When your parked on an incline, always leave it in gear. You never know when that brake might fail!

 

Hey what he said
Actually a better way to launch the boat is to carry someon else with you to launch the boat while you stay in the truck to ensure that the truc doesn't end up at the bottem of the lake or ocean

 

Thank you for the replys, looks like an exta step to launching the boat. I though it was not good to start and shut off the engine that much???

I always seem to launch the boat by my self, besides I do not trust many people to drive my boat off the trailer and over to the dock

 

While it may not be good to stop and start the truck that much, it is even "less good" to have the truck completely full of water. I would never trust only the emergency brake in this case especially on some launches I have used. The brake is really what it is, an emergency brake although sometimes it is called a parking brake. You may also want to consider a quality set of wheel chocks.
Unless you're going to launch that boat several times a day every day, I wouldn't even worry about stopping and starting it.
Good luck and think safety first.

 

Chrisk Don't forget the working behind the Truck aspect of launching. I shut my Truck off when launching and I have an auto, I see guys at these ramps doing stuff that I can't imagine. I fish for much of my living now and I am amazed at the saftey issues I guess people are out having fun and just don't think, Anyhow be safe and have fun and turn your truck off with the e-brake set Standard or auto tranny.

 

I hear ya on that one..........Gettin a little off subject here but a couple of buddies and myself just love to go down to the ramp on a busy weekend afternoon and watch the drunks try to get their boats on the trailer.......what a blast.......you will see some amazing things for sure

 

Shut your engine off and leave it in gear with the brake on! It is a sad thing to see a grown man cry when his truck & trailer go under water.

 

I usually shut it down and use the parking brake when dropping the Formula into the water.

I always keep two things in mind: don't forget to put the bilge plug in before launching it (you don't want to add to the stories mentioned above) and never let anyone rush you (contributes to the first one).

 

I have a mobility problem with my legs, so it is better for me if I don't have to do a great deal of walking when launching my boat.

One neat little trick I have come up with when launching by myself, is to tie the boat to the trailer with a long rope, then backing the trailer down far enough for the boat to break free of the trailer. Then easing the trailer out of the water with the boat following close behind on the rope, Stopping at the edge of the ramp with the boat resting against the trailer.

This way I can launch and maintain control of the boat without the added steps of running back and forth from the truck to the boat. It takes a little figuring to get the rope the correct length, but it really has been helpful in windy situations as well.

Plus it takes away the urge to allow a friend to back the boat into the water, and then cringe as they try to park the 35ft trailer without wrecking it.

I too have seen vehicle and all go into the water at the ramp, never rely on just the parking brake to hold it. Shut it down and set the brake before getting out of the truck

 

I would not worry about shutting off the truck at the ramp, before you ever get the boat backed down the EGT's are down so no harm. With my loads sometimes my life depends on the truck not moving on a hill while loading and unloading. I use the in gear method always. That truck will not move it it is in one or reverse. I had one of those moments while loading a couple of years ago. Never trust the parking brake. In this case I ended up chasing a car down the parking lot. Like Top with his legs, have the same problem, hurt for a couple of months.

I have a little tip though to be careful of. You are on a steep incline, engine off, in gear. You go to start it, apply the foot brake, push the clutch, start it. It took considerable pressure on the foot brake to hold it, when the truck starts it gives a tremendious surge of pressure that can break things in the hydroboost. So watch how much pressure in on the pedal when starting, keep it light as possible.

 

You could put a micro brake lock on your truck. I had one on a jeep worked well for winching another vehicle out. once the micro is locked that truck won't roll. Of cource the lock is only as good as your brake system is. Worn shoes/ pads = truck in the lake.