Do you use 4wd while pulling your boat out?

[low_pro]

I am looking to buy a cheap boat and fix it up, however which boat I choose greatly depends on my question.  I have a 2wd Jeep with the 4.0 engine.  Will I be able to pull a 16-18ft glass boat out of a typical boat ramp without any trouble?

My choices are a 16-18ft glass boat or buying a 16ft aluminum jon boat and decking it.  There are some good deals (project boats) I am seeing and just need some direction.  You experience and advice is appreciated!!

http://fortlauderdale.craigslist.org/boa/527342796.html

[HPBB]

With the 4.0L you will have no problem. These motor have lots of power. low end power. And pulling with a 2wd. as long as you watch what kind of ramp you launch from you should have no problems. What kind of Jeep do you have. a friend has a Jeep Grand Cherokee with the 4.0 l and it tows great, he tows a 20 foot Crown Line openbow runabout with a 350 V8 Chevy motor. It is a 4wd, but he has never need to put it in 4wd while towing that boat. we have had to put it in 4wd, but that was launching jet skies off of the beach. I have been boating since 1988 and in 2005 I got my first 4wd. I always pulled with 2wds. mostly Chevy S-10 with a 4.3L V6. As long as the ramp wasn't really muddy or very loose gravel you should have no problem. Do you have a posi rear end on you jeep? If you do it will be even easier. I really never had any problems, and the v6 towed great.

[fishfordollars]

I wore out three of those jeeps. You will have no trouble pulling an 18 ft boat  or pulling it out of the water.

[cart7t]

The only time I've ever wished for a 4wd was when pulling out of the local river.  The concrete ramps tend to get a fine layer of silt and sand on them and can be a real wheel spinner.  Otherwise, you need power to pull  out of the water more than anything.

[low_pro]

Sweet...

I have the Cherokee and I am almost positive that it does NOT have a posi rear end. Very few 2wd models were made with it... (dam one wheel spinners!) Luckily the majority of the ramps here in florida are well made and have little to no slime... Ice is obviously not a concern either.

I definatley prefer a glass over the jon however my fiberglass skills are non-existent. does fiberglass "wearout" over time? will I have to repair portions of the hull? is it hard? I have never owned a glass boat, only jons... I am fine with wood working and elecrtical so the wiring and deck is not really a concern...

[Sam]

No problems with either our Jeep or my Volvo sedan.

Only use 4 wheel drive when pulling up a high slope ramp.

You should not have any problems.

However....be very careful as you will be pulling the boat and you will no longer stop on a dime.

Give yourself as much room as possible from the vehicle in front of you.

[tntitans21399]

You shouldn't have any trouble with the power, it's just the traction faction.  If you have limited slip then just give it a little gas and if the tire starts to spin you will feel it stop and start to keep getting traction, just don't floor it.  I have a 2003 Dodge Dakota with the 3.9L V6 and I have never had any trouble and I have pulled my heavy fiberglass boat of a couple of steep boat ramps.  

[Way2slow]

My boat has a tow weight of about 3,500 pounds, I tow with a 98 Chevy 4WD pickup.  The only time I've used 4WD is pulling out of some areas the most people would have never launched in to start with.  I've never used it but one time on a paved ramp and that was because the sleet that was falling heavily had it too slick to pull in 2WD.

[bassdocktor]

The only time I find it necessary is on some of the gravel ramps when a bunch of guys launched before me the ramp starts looking like soup. Might be able to get by without it but tears up the ramp alot less.

[NBR]

Except in real bad and rare situations you should have no problem. Don't tow in OD.

[mercury89]

What year is your Jeep?  If its an older one I would avoid getting a glass boat unless you want to overheat.  Those XJ Cherokees have a history of overheating and weak brakes.  I had a 1989 Cherokee that I towed a 16 foot glass skeeter with for 6 months.  Overheated every time I towed the boat.  Bought a 1/2 Ton Chevy with a 350 and havent looked back!!

With that rig I would recommend staying with Aluminum unless you know that the cooling system is up to it.

[Buzbait88]

I tow my boat with a 2002 f-150 2wd and with a 4.3L.  It gets awesome gas mileage with the large V6 and I have no problems pulling the boat out unless the ramp is very steep and wet.  I've pulled it out of unpaved ramps with this truck on a rainy day and no problems.  The gas mileage of the is huge for guys like me that pull there boats a long way

[low_pro]

What year is your Jeep?

2000 Cherokee.

Thanks for the advice guys...  I might try to tow someone elses boat before I decide although I think I would be fine with a 16-17ft glass.  

I spoke with my dad who has a Wrangler and he pulled his 20ft Big-O and never had to use 4wd....

[mercury89]

2000 Cherokee.

Yeah thats a newer one, you should be fine.  trying it with someone elses boat first is a good idea too.

[WIII-60]

As stated before. Don't tow with the tranny in overdrive. If you don't have a switch on the gearshift to shutoff overdrive, then shift to your highest gear (3rd maybe?) and run that on the highway. This saves a ton of wear on your engine.

[low_pro]

As stated before. Don't tow with the tranny in overdrive. If you don't have a switch on the gearshift to shutoff overdrive, then shift to your highest gear (3rd maybe?) and run that on the highway. This saves a ton of wear on your engine.

great advice...  thanks

[Skitterz]

No 2 wheel drive work's fine never had a problem.

[kybassangler]

I have gotten in trouble before on moss covered concrete ramps./ 4wd did keep me out of the lake. I won't tell you to trade trucks, just watch how far you get your wheels in the water.  That being said most of the folks I know that have a boat use a 2wd truck to pull them.