Do you think I could have made it?

[RHDlady]

Yesterday I towed our fully loaded 17' aluminum fishing boat with a 60 hp engine (about 2K pounds) three miles up and down some steep hills to the river. I put it into 4-wheel going down the very steep, quarter mile, gravel driveway and had no problems on gravel or on the road (in two-wheel). But.....I chickened out taking the boat back up the driveway because I didn't want to start sliding backwards, etc.

Question: Do you think I could have made it up the steep, 1/4 mile, gravel driveway without any problems?

Due to tight parking for the boat at the cabin, I would love to use my jeep to manuever the boat into its parking place plus take it to and from the river without doing a wheelie or anything else too exciting like slide off the steep driveway!

[thesherm]

what is your backup plan if it doesnt work?

[airduds]

Without seeing the hill it's impossible to say but since my jeep can do anything yours probably can too.

Just make a plan for what you're going to do if it starts to go wrong.

[OffCamberTJ]

Originally Posted by airduds

Just make a plan for what you're going to do if it starts to go wrong.

BAIL!



then call your insurance company

[chewrocks]

Originally Posted by RHDlady

Yesterday I towed our fully loaded 17' aluminum fishing boat with a 60 hp engine (about 2K pounds) three miles up and down some steep hills to the river. I put it into 4-wheel going down the very steep, quarter mile, gravel driveway and had no problems on gravel or on the road (in two-wheel). But.....I chickened out taking the boat back up the driveway because I didn't want to start sliding backwards, etc.

Question: Do you think I could have made it up the steep, 1/4 mile, gravel driveway without any problems?

Due to tight parking for the boat at the cabin, I would love to use my jeep to manuever the boat into its parking place plus take it to and from the river without doing a wheelie or anything else too exciting like slide off the steep driveway!

I would think that you would be fine but the only way to know for sure is give it a try.

Off topic: I was talking with a camp host at a state park here in Oregon a while back (he had been hosting for 12 years around the US) and asked were the nicest place he had been in his travels around the country. His reply was Mountain View Arkansas. Why???? He tells me about the nice laid back people and the town and about the almost nightly jamb sessions in town at the court house with fiddles, guitars and banjos. Also the great country side. I did some looking on line and we have put Mountain View on our list of "must go to places" when I retire. I hope I can afford to hang up my tools in 5 years and do some traveling.... with the jeep in tow of cource. Maybe see ya there!

[RHDlady]

"Bail" was what I had in mind, but more likely 'go down with the ship'! I didn't have a good backup plan, other than scream when I roll down the hill backwards.

I thought my husband could walk/run along side the jeep and when/if it got dicey, then he could throw a rock under a tire to stop the downward direction. The driveway is about at a 45 degree angle and is wide enough for two cars in most places. The uphill side of the driveway is all bank and trees/rocks and the downhill side is more of the same.

For Chewrocks: Re: Mountain View, AR. I was raised in Salem, OR and have lived all over the U.S. (military spouse). Mountain View is in the Ozark mountains, which have deciduous trees, with some pine and a lot of cedar. The Ozarks are not as tall as the Cascades but are gently rolling mountainsides with views over all the mountains into the valleys. The town has no freeways or even four-laned roads to get to it. The town almost has a 'Mayberry' appeal, meaning kids playing in the downtown area which is built around the courthouse, while the adults sit and listen to hometown music with the intruments you mentioned. It reminds me of life back in the 50's and 60's. Mountain View area is not crowded and real estate is still a good bargain. Take a look at www.outdoorproperties.com to get an idea of the real estate. Lots of local craftsman make and sell their wares, such as homemade brooms, soap, knives, etc. Hope you get to visit sometime!

[airduds]

The rock (or log or whatever) is a good plan. Put it in 4-lo and chances are you'll be fine.

One thing to remember, in your situation if you apply too much brake, your front tires will lock before your rears and you won't have any steering.

[Divinitous]

What if you tried this in reverse? Would be better to have the boat pulling the jeep rather than pushing. I'd much rather have the boat get a nice dent on it than have the jeep endup doing down the hill next to the boat. Also you'd be able to straighten yourself up with the front brakes.

[paul olllllllo]

as crazy as it sounds i like the idea of doing it in reverse also, if you decide you cant make it, put it in drive and go.

[Divinitous]

Originally Posted by paul olllllllo

as crazy as it sounds i like the idea of doing it in reverse also, if you decide you cant make it, put it in drive and go.

Also if you really have to bail then you wouldnt have to worry bout a trailer running you over. Heh.

[D`Nyed]

Originally Posted by RHDlady

Yesterday I towed our fully loaded 17' aluminum fishing boat with a 60 hp engine (about 2K pounds) three miles up and down some steep hills to the river. I put it into 4-wheel going down the very steep, quarter mile, gravel driveway and had no problems on gravel or on the road (in two-wheel). But.....I chickened out taking the boat back up the driveway because I didn't want to start sliding backwards, etc.

Question: Do you think I could have made it up the steep, 1/4 mile, gravel driveway without any problems?

Due to tight parking for the boat at the cabin, I would love to use my jeep to manuever the boat into its parking place plus take it to and from the river without doing a wheelie or anything else too exciting like slide off the steep driveway!

If you made it down without a problem then you'll make it up just fine.

The limitation on jeep's towing capacity isn't for the lack of power or traction for pulling it's the limitation of the small weight and wheelbase for braking when towing a heavy load. If your jeep was able to go down the grade with the boat pushing behind it and stay under control then you'll be fine going back up. If, for some reason you lose traction for accellerating up the grade then you should be able to safely brake and back her back down the hill since you've already done that once.

Of course... if you get killed then I'm wrong.. and I'll say I'm sorry so take my advice with a grain of salt

[dieseljeep]

If I understand the question correct I agree if you got down you'll get back up. I also would guess if the Jeep can climb up the hill w/o the trailer it would likely do it with it. The tires slipping would be my concern & tongue weight seems to help eliminate that.

[thesherm]

why would applying the brakes lock the front before the back?

[lunneborgc]

when the jeep is facing up hill and rolling backwards your weight distro is mostly over the rear tires. put on the brakes (more weight shifted to the rear) and the front tires are more likely to lock up. - Chris

[airduds]

Originally Posted by lunneborgc

when the jeep is facing up hill and rolling backwards your weight distro is mostly over the rear tires. put on the brakes (more weight shifted to the rear) and the front tires are more likely to lock up. - Chris

Plus the tongue weight of the trailer.