alex dougherty
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scare of my life
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gary s
Well-Known Member
i towed these 2 with a 91 ford escort (manual trans) for years and had only 1 problem.
the ramp was a very gradual decline and the water started coming thru the back doors and soaked the carpets and computer under the drivers seat. flushed/replaced the computer and was good to go again.
btw, after all the years the frame was so rusted from the salt water.
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the ramp was a very gradual decline and the water started coming thru the back doors and soaked the carpets and computer under the drivers seat. flushed/replaced the computer and was good to go again.
btw, after all the years the frame was so rusted from the salt water.
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ZoNiE
Active Member
Just a few things: I towed my 17 foot boat, launching at least every 3 weeks for over four years with my '01 2WD ST. Never a problem on the slimy ramp, until I let a neighbor who invited himself along, launch me in the boat. After I backed the boat out he floored it. Tons of white smoke and probably left a few mm of rubber on the ramp. Came to the boat and told me his Tundra was a better truck. Idiot. I nearly left him on the dock.
Rule # 1: EASY DOES IT on the throttle. If you can't keep your foot out of it, Use "3" instead of "D" and the truck will start in 2nd gear(fords only) and you will have less wheel slip. If you have a manual, use 2nd gear instead fo first if you have to, and feather the clutch some.
Rule #2: INSPECT an unfamiliar ramp BEFORE you use it. Watch other users for problems. Go elsewhere if you think you cannot use the ramp, Don't sink your truck. Back tires in the water and exhaust is OK, but if you are past the front door, the ramp is too shallow.
Rule #3: Unplug your trailer wires before you back into the water. Lamps will not shatter if they get wet if they are cold. Not sure how the PCB's in the newer LED lamps hold up. I have never seen a "Submersible" tail light stay dry inside.
Rule # 4: Work with an experienced driver before you do this again. Not to sound like an old curmudgeon, but you said you only had your license for two weeks and you are ALREADY TOWING and trying to LAUNCH WATERCRAFT? Sorry, but you really need much more practical experience driving WITHOUT a trailer before you start towing PWC's to the lake. You may think you can handle it, but do yourself and others around you a favor, get some more experience before you do this again. It seems that you don't even know how to put your truck into 4WD Low. If it will not go into Low anyway, you should have already known this before you needed it to save your truck. You're close call with disaster should tell you this is the result of lack of experience.
I say this to help you, not to chastise you. My own son has been driving my old ST for 2 years now, and still, I don't think he should be towing anything, and he is not as of yet.
My wife has been driving for 30 years and she won't even tow a trailer.
Please take this advice constructively.
Enjoy your ST safely.
Rule # 1: EASY DOES IT on the throttle. If you can't keep your foot out of it, Use "3" instead of "D" and the truck will start in 2nd gear(fords only) and you will have less wheel slip. If you have a manual, use 2nd gear instead fo first if you have to, and feather the clutch some.
Rule #2: INSPECT an unfamiliar ramp BEFORE you use it. Watch other users for problems. Go elsewhere if you think you cannot use the ramp, Don't sink your truck. Back tires in the water and exhaust is OK, but if you are past the front door, the ramp is too shallow.
Rule #3: Unplug your trailer wires before you back into the water. Lamps will not shatter if they get wet if they are cold. Not sure how the PCB's in the newer LED lamps hold up. I have never seen a "Submersible" tail light stay dry inside.
Rule # 4: Work with an experienced driver before you do this again. Not to sound like an old curmudgeon, but you said you only had your license for two weeks and you are ALREADY TOWING and trying to LAUNCH WATERCRAFT? Sorry, but you really need much more practical experience driving WITHOUT a trailer before you start towing PWC's to the lake. You may think you can handle it, but do yourself and others around you a favor, get some more experience before you do this again. It seems that you don't even know how to put your truck into 4WD Low. If it will not go into Low anyway, you should have already known this before you needed it to save your truck. You're close call with disaster should tell you this is the result of lack of experience.
I say this to help you, not to chastise you. My own son has been driving my old ST for 2 years now, and still, I don't think he should be towing anything, and he is not as of yet.
My wife has been driving for 30 years and she won't even tow a trailer.
Please take this advice constructively.
Enjoy your ST safely.
ZoNiE
Active Member
Just a few things: I towed my 17 foot boat, launching at least every 3 weeks for over four years with my '01 2WD ST. Never a problem on the slimy ramp, until I let a neighbor who invited himself along, launch me in the boat. After I backed the boat out he floored it. Tons of white smoke and probably left a few mm of rubber on the ramp. Came to the boat and told me his Tundra was a better truck. Idiot. I nearly left him on the dock.
Rule # 1: EASY DOES IT on the throttle. If you can't keep your foot out of it, Use "3" instead of "D" and the truck will start in 2nd gear(fords only) and you will have less wheel slip. If you have a manual, use 2nd gear instead fo first if you have to, and feather the clutch some.
Rule #2: INSPECT an unfamiliar ramp BEFORE you use it. Watch other users for problems. Go elsewhere if you think you cannot use the ramp, Don't sink your truck. Back tires in the water and exhaust is OK, but if you are past the front door, the ramp is too shallow.
Rule #3: Unplug your trailer wires before you back into the water. Lamps will not shatter if they get wet if they are cold. Not sure how the PCB's in the newer LED lamps hold up. I have never seen a "Submersible" tail light stay dry inside.
Rule # 4: Work with an experienced driver before you do this again. Not to sound like an old curmudgeon, but you said you only had your license for two weeks and you are ALREADY TOWING and trying to LAUNCH WATERCRAFT? Sorry, but you really need much more practical experience driving WITHOUT a trailer before you start towing PWC's to the lake. You may think you can handle it, but do yourself and others around you a favor, get some more experience before you do this again. It seems that you don't even know how to put your truck into 4WD Low. If it will not go into Low anyway, you should have already known this before you needed it to save your truck. You're close call with disaster should tell you this is the result of lack of experience.
I say this to help you, not to chastise you. My own son has been driving my old ST for 2 years now, and still, I don't think he should be towing anything, and he is not as of yet.
My wife has been driving for 30 years and she won't even tow a trailer.
Please take this advice constructively.
Enjoy your ST safely.
Rule # 1: EASY DOES IT on the throttle. If you can't keep your foot out of it, Use "3" instead of "D" and the truck will start in 2nd gear(fords only) and you will have less wheel slip. If you have a manual, use 2nd gear instead fo first if you have to, and feather the clutch some.
Rule #2: INSPECT an unfamiliar ramp BEFORE you use it. Watch other users for problems. Go elsewhere if you think you cannot use the ramp, Don't sink your truck. Back tires in the water and exhaust is OK, but if you are past the front door, the ramp is too shallow.
Rule #3: Unplug your trailer wires before you back into the water. Lamps will not shatter if they get wet if they are cold. Not sure how the PCB's in the newer LED lamps hold up. I have never seen a "Submersible" tail light stay dry inside.
Rule # 4: Work with an experienced driver before you do this again. Not to sound like an old curmudgeon, but you said you only had your license for two weeks and you are ALREADY TOWING and trying to LAUNCH WATERCRAFT? Sorry, but you really need much more practical experience driving WITHOUT a trailer before you start towing PWC's to the lake. You may think you can handle it, but do yourself and others around you a favor, get some more experience before you do this again. It seems that you don't even know how to put your truck into 4WD Low. If it will not go into Low anyway, you should have already known this before you needed it to save your truck. You're close call with disaster should tell you this is the result of lack of experience.
I say this to help you, not to chastise you. My own son has been driving my old ST for 2 years now, and still, I don't think he should be towing anything, and he is not as of yet.
My wife has been driving for 30 years and she won't even tow a trailer.
Please take this advice constructively.
Enjoy your ST safely.
