Does a non E-locker just drive one wheel?
I’m placing an order this week for a 2020 CCSWB Limited. We launch a 27’ boat weighing about 8-9k total.

Would a standard rear end pull it out without spinning on a textured ramp? My current truck has a limited slip and never spins. I would “assume” it would spin a little even before the LS kicks in..
My wife drives the truck at the ramp, and I would rather not have her behind the wheel on dry pavement with the 4X locked.
If it’s not needed, I’d rather not order it.
Thanks.

 

I rather have it and not need it, then need it and not have it...

 

Get it. Put it to lock as your backing down the ramp. That way it had time to engage and it’s lock for when you pull out. Then once trailer is on level ground just turn off.

 

I would also get it you have to pull the switch out to engage it and it disengages automatically over 20 mph. It works pretty good on the boat ramp I think I’ve used it in a f150 a bunch.

 

4x4 makes it redundant, but my wife may make it necessary.🤣

 

I don't have a boat but I do sometimes have to pull my brother's boat out of the water. I have no qualms about using 4x4 at the ramp. I'm going in a straight line in 4x4 to pull out. After I've cleared the water, I'll switch back to 4x2.

I used my e-locker in the snow quite a bit last year. It worked great. In Colorado, a rear axle without a locker or limited slip wouldn't resell as well as one with either of those two features. My prior truck had an e-locker also.

 

Not necessarily. Open diffs, so 4x4 is actually 2 driven wheels. With the locker, you get 3 driven wheels. On a slick, wet, slime covered boat ramp, 3 is better than 2 (that acctually holds true for most conditions where other than dry solid ground).

 

Boat ramps are one of the perfect applications for the e-locker. I think for maximum "wife prevention" you'd want to be in 4Lo AND have the axle locked when you back down the ramp AND when you pull forward. That's "three-wheel-drive" as least.

 

I use 4wd too, and if launching by myself, put a wheel chock on the front tire as well. My boat is a little heavier than just a 'lake boat'.

 

There is no such thing as an "one-wheel-drive" differential, that is an extremely common misconception. Equal torque is always applied to both halfshafts, but that's limited to maximum torque at the ground of the wheel with least traction. Until one meal breaks free, torque is always equal. An E – locker would be useful if one wheel was on wet pavement and the other drive, but otherwise the end result will be the same. If you have a few minutes, check out the below video:


I think low range is overkill unless the truck didn't have the torque to pull the boat in high range, and from experience with weights far above the OP's boat, I think it's unnecessary. At the end of the day, locked differentials and four-wheel-drive will each place a great deal of strain on dry pavement, but only when the wheels are turned. If the wheels are straight nothing can bind, so I wouldn't worry much about it. The systems are all pretty robust, I can't recall hearing of somebody breaking something after leaving four-wheel-drive engaged on dry pavement.

I suppose to answer the OP's question directly, I don't think the e- locker would add any value for the OP's situation. The nice to have an kind of fun to play with, but I can't imagine he would have any issues getting that boat out of the water.

 

I don't disagree on the physics of the situation, but there are cases where one side of the boat ramp is covered in algae and the other is not. Unequal traction is a pretty common issue.
My main reasoning for 4Lo is the slower movement of the tow vehicle and less need to use the gas pedal, not because I think the truck won't have the power to pull the load. I use 4Lo often when backing my camping trailer into a site if it's uphill, although it's not "needed".

 

And 4 low will prevent the locker exceeding 20 MPH and unlocking right when you need it. I would also put traction control off and or Sport Mode. Just my experience on really slipery surfaces, the traction control brakes to much in 2H or $h and slows you down to a dead stop. In 4 low TC is off, Locking Diff stays locked.

 

But pulling up a boat ramp isn’t to the maneuvering challenge that backing an RV is. I’m normally doing 5–10 mph at the top of the ramp and looking for a place to park and install the rear straps. Having to come to a stop, shift to neutral, and then 2WD before proceeding adds complexity to the process. 4-Low is also much more “jerky“, which is not a characteristic you’re looking for when pulling a partially-secured boat out of the water.

 

Low range is only needed if you have a gas truck. Just kidding boys!

 

That cuts me deep.