Am I that green?

[Blaze Sr.]

I just finished my second season as a boat owner. A couple days ago I found out a couple of my boating friends always shift there truck into neutral when backing down the ramp. This is something I haven't been doing. Do all you guys do this? They say they do it to be easier on the transmission. Thoughts?

[JohnZ3]

Looks like you have an allison trans. No worries.

[ericinmich]

I just finished my second season as a boat owner. A couple days ago I found out a couple of my boating friends always shift there truck into neutral when backing down the ramp. This is something I haven't been doing. Do all you guys do this? They say they do it to be easier on the transmission. Thoughts?

Wow, been pulling boats around on trailers for 30+ years and have never (nor would ever) do that (shift into neutral). I suppose it would work, back it towards the ramp then shift into neutral. Then roll down. I can say with certainty that it doesn't harm the trans to have it in R while backing down a ramp.

[chpthril]

18 years in the auto repair biz and an ASE cert master, and towing boats since 95, the thought to shift into N will backing down a ramp, never crossed my mind. Yes, I could see that on paper, neutral is less work on the trans, but in real world, the rig is backing up any way. I just dont see is really being a benefit.

[Blaze Sr.]

Well alright then. I will continue launching my way. And let them do there thing. Thanks for your opinions.

[gcsuper]

See there. You weren't green after all.

[Ewok]

Plus, newer trailers need the reverse lights on to lockout the brakes on the trailer so it will back down the ramp. Neutral won't do that for you.

[Trash Man]

I do know many people who do this just as a safety precaution. A lot going on just in case a panic happens the outcome could be a little different??

[Stingreye]

I leave it in reverse but I also leave my trailer lights plugged in

[IDBoating]

I have always put the transmission in neutral, on the theory that I certainly do not need engine power accelerating me backwards down the ramp. Gravity and the weight of the boat and trailer are plenty. But there is no NEED to do so, it just reduces how hard you must press on the brake pedal.

[ericinmich]

Plus, newer trailers need the reverse lights on to lockout the brakes on the trailer so it will back down the ramp. Neutral won't do that for you.

Spot on, didn't think of that. I could only find a round to 4 way plug (no reverse) and there was no way to back it around without putting in the lockup plug/nickle thing.

[Iwndr]

I would think the gearing of the transmission would allow you to reduce the amount of pressure that needs to be applied to the brake pedal.

[dom w. forte]

Ive been putting my trucks in neutral to back down for years, I like to have a backup to the brakes in case they fail its faster to drive, I also put the trans in manual one pulling the boat out of the water because the trans adds additional clutches and raises the line pressure when pulling out the load.

[IDBoating]

I would think the gearing of the transmission would allow you to reduce the amount of pressure that needs to be applied to the brake pedal.

Presuming we're talking about automatic transmissions (I drive manuals), think of it this way: With the transmission in reverse, even at idle the engine is trying to move the vehicle backwards. That adds to the effect of gravity pulling the vehicle + trailer + boat backwards down the ramp. Putting it in neutral means the engine is entirely disconnected from the wheels, so your brakes need only overcome the effect of gravity, and not the additional energy of the engine trying to drive the wheels backward. It is admittedly a small amount of extra effort, but it's not zero.

In my case, putting my manual transmission's stick in neutral (i.e. out of gear) also disconnects the engine from the wheels. And if your trailer's electrical brakes require you to be "in reverse", you can put the stick in reverse (which engages the reverse switch in the transmission) while keeping the clutch pedal depressed (which disconnects the engine from the drivetrain) and get the best of both worlds. If your trailer doesn't require that, and you want a backup plan such as Dom has suggested, a manual transmission also allows you to have the stick in 1st gear with the clutch pedal depressed - thus giving you the ideal combination of zero backward engine power and the ability to immediately apply forward power by releasing the clutch.

Having this degree of control over how the drivetrain is operating is one of the reasons I always prefer a manual transmission.

[jslayde1]

I have always put the transmission in neutral, on the theory that I certainly do not need engine power accelerating me backwards down the ramp. Gravity and the weight of the boat and trailer are plenty. But there is no NEED to do so, it just reduces how hard you must press on the brake pedal.

Same here.