Hey All,

New to forum and looking for help and suggestions from dedicated Ford owners. I recently acquired a 2005 F350 DRW V10 with the 6 speed manual with around 45K miles. I did my first heavy load over the weekend pulling a 28 foot boat and the truck performed well as expected while under normal driving conditions.

Here's the issue: While pulling the boat out of the water, I had a hard time gettting her started up the steep slope without riding the clutch. As a result, I torched the clutch pretty good. (had the burning smell and a little smoke)
I started in L, and it seemed alright and switched to 1 once I got some considerable forward movement. The truck was in 2WD the entire time and I didnt use the ebrake.

Am I doing this all wrong? How do you guys get started from a dead stop with a heavy load? Should I be using 4WD? Stay in L the entire time? Start with the ebrake on and release? I wanted to try again, but I was afraid of doing significan damage given the result of the first time. Is it my driving methods, or is there a bigger issue with the clutch/tranny?

All help is appreciated!

Thank you.

 

If it's that heavy, I'd put it in low range until I was on top of the slope. Use 4WD if it is wet or sandy and your tires want to slip.

Bryan

 

In granny gear-"L" (under reverse on the shifter), you should be able to pull a much larger boat up the ramp practically at idle. Once the boat is clear of the ramp, change gears to 1st and off you go.

 

Almost anytime I pull a boat out of the water it's 4wd. It will make a difference. And if your able to do the ebrake, that can help. It's hard in our trucks on a manual, when trying to clutch, and everything, and the release down low.

 

Great, thanks for the responses.

Do you think I did any serious damage using 1?

 

I would think your fine. Might have taken a little life from it, but nothing that will make a difference. But it was such a short time and only once. It's not like you just keep doing it, and you know other things to try next time.

Good luck.

 

Thanks guys.

 

Granted I have a diesel, but you should be able to launch in L and pull right away. Do not ride the clutch. Not sure on your trailer weight or grade of launch, but I can start 6000 lb from dead stop on slight upgrade just by letting clutch out steady, but quick, no slip, and no gas pedal use. I would not use "1" to start any sort of load, especially uphill. Shifting from L to 1 once moving good won't hurt anything.

Drop into 4 low if it's really heavy pull. If you have manual hubs and stick, you have 2wd low range if you leave the hubs unlocked.

 

Having put a few boats in the water over the years, sooner or later on a wet and steep ramp you are going to want to be in 4W low anyway, so just go with the big guns right out of the gate.
I wouldn't sweat the clutch too much. I have gotten that burning smell a couple times towing a very heavy tractor with my smallish F150 5sp without ruining anything, but the "damage" will be cumulative.