Launch ramp fiasco

SEA3PO · Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2007 4:05 pm Post subject:

I have only had experience with two ramp sinkings...... one was the parking brake did not hold and let go, that was fairly easy as the car was still on the ramp....all needed there was to hook a cable and pull er up. The other was on the Sacramento River where the guy had picked up his boat from a storage place and launched it....he did not set the lock on the trailer hitch and as the boat lifted off, so did the trailer on the ball....the current took the trailer down river.... only went several hundred feet until it snagged on the bottom...in about 12' of water...but fast current....that was a job getting that one out.

Joel
SEA3PO

drjohn71a · Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2007 4:26 pm Post subject:

My kid brother had taken his brand new Chevy 4x4 Z71 on a canoe trip with friends. He was waiting for them to get to the ramp, so drove his new pickup down the ramp to peer around the bend of the river. The front wheels went over the end of the ramp. He tried to back out, but those old 4X4s would not engage until you'd rolled 10-12 foot or so. As such, the truck just slowly slid into the water as he burned rubber trying to back back up the ramp.

'Sunk clear up to the roof.... less than a week old brand spanking new truck!

John

CAVU · Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2007 4:55 pm Post subject:

Joel,
Your story makes a good case for always attaching the safety chains anytime you move the trailer.

Wefings · Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2007 5:46 pm Post subject:

Flapbreaker, aside from hooking up the strap to retrieve the boat and vehicle, the diver gets the wallet out of the truck !
Marc

SEA3PO · Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2007 5:59 pm Post subject:

You been watching way too close....

Joel
SEA3PO