Not one of the better efforts I've seen....

Too bad Trooplewis wasn't there to photo this. Would have been much better....


Hope it ain't Troop's rig...

Something I've noticed around here --and I can't figure it out why people are so stupid--but it's like NOBODY uses their park brake on the launch ramp. I can hear the CLANK of trannys all day around here, and if I'm close to the ramps it's not uncommon to hear (usually the wife) say "I can't get it out of park!"...

Wouldn't doubt for a second that the RV driver did the same thing...

Why are mistakes usually so danged expensive?

Brakes failed? I tend to believe more about operator failure. Didn't put the brakes on to start, left it in reverse.

I hate putting vehicles in park without engaging the brake first and letting it roll just a little. Actually, I hate taking the transmission out of park when all the weight is being held in park. The clunk bothers me.

DeAnza cove is right there about 1/4 mile east of campland by the Bay in Mission Bay. If I didn't have to work all day I'da been there with my camera!

With diesel prices as high as they are, things like this make me wonder if it wasn't an "intentional accident" to get the insurance company to buy the motorhome.

There was a fire in this area a few weeks ago where the only things that were burned up were two motorhomes that were parked side by side in the driveway.

In this investigation of the one that went in the drink I'd sure be checking that motorhome for signs of things missing. People in those situations often remove valuables and sentimental items before burning them or (in this case) putting it into the drink.

I'd also be checking to see if they were current on their payments, had changed any of the insurance on the coach, etc.

On many of these "tow vehicle sinkings", I'm betting using the parking brake is the wrong thing to do.

The parking brake works on the rear wheels only - which are often submerged and on the slippery part of the ramp. You want to keep your foot firmly on the brakes - which locks the front wheels - and will keep the boat from dragging the tow vehicle in. I know this first hand.

Another...

http://forums.capmel.com/tool/post/capmel/vpost?id=2922999&trail=15#4

You bring up a good point about the parking brake and how it works. For that matter, park works the same way. I found out the hard way parked in my driveway that was covered with snow. Let off the brake and the truck slid down the driveway in 2wd.

I launch quite often by myself, but I don't get out of the truck until the boat is floating. So, I don't believe pulling the truck in is a likely scenario.

That being said, I will likely pop it into 4wd just in case. In 4wd, Park will hold all 4 wheels since the t case is engaged.

Good reminder.

Looks like some people just know how to have more *fun* than others . . .

Does that mean you disconnect the bow cable from the trailer before you back down the ramp? If so are you not risking droping the boat on the ramp? That one scares me more than sinking the TV.

With respect to the emergency brake, on steep ramps, my front wheels will chatter, sort of slipping down the ramp when using the brakes but when I engage the emergency brake, it stops. I attribute it to essentially adding braking since you are locking up the rear which is only getting 40% of the hydraulic pressure vs the fronts 60%. Works for me.

Umm, I launch by myself all the time as well. If you disconnected the bow strap before launching and floating the boat off, you would have to swim to get the boat!

You disconnect the bow winch when you are standing on the trailer tongue, just before you jump in over the bow.

I tie a rope to the tailer with enough slack to float the boat compleatly but not until the stern is in the water. Not had to swim yet.

I keep the bow strap connected with about 2 feet of slack. I will have the boat floating but wont disconnect the strap until engine is running.

About

I would wager that during AT LEAST 60% of boat launches, and 90% of boat retrievals, the driver leaves the tow vehicle. This means they're at the mercy of rear-only brakes. I know a vehicle can slide down slippery ramps, I've seen it happen, but never at our ramps. It's rare, and even more so with heavy vehicles with dual rear wheels. Regardless, the driver should make sure the vehicle isn't sliding before he gets out...

As for the weight of the boat & trailer dragging the truck down the ramp, anything under water weighs 8x less than on land, so it's unlikely that would be a factor...

Concerning 'bullets statement about "Park" holding all 4 wheels when 4WD is engaged, so will the park brake! In 4WD the front wheels won't turn if the back wheels won't turn. Putting the truck in 4WD is great advice, just USE THE PARK BRAKE! Your transmission's little half-inch thick parking pawl was never intended to hold a vehicle on a hill.

And--there's a right way and a wrong way to apply the park brake. The WRONG way is to put the thing in park, THEN apply the park brake. Slack in the drive train can still put the full weight of the vehicle on the transmission. The right way is to set the park brake, release the foot brake, insure the park brake is holding the vehicle, THEN put the trans in park. Your transmission will thank you!