Does Traction Control work on wet slippery boat ramps ?

johnc18 · 01-09-2006, 12:25 PM

Are there any boaties out there who have pulled their boat out ,up wet slippery ramps with an older car (with a normal diff),and pulled the same boat out with a car with Traction Control?
Does it give you extra grip?
Thanks John

jonbays · 01-09-2006, 12:39 PM

It doesn't help much. An LSD really does help much more. You start off with it on and gently accelerate and one wheel spins a bit and it brakes the spinning wheel which kicks the other side to inch forward a bit but not much. Give it heaps and it just retards the engine and you sit there half spinning one wheel.

Mostly you will wind up turning it off to get a rocking action going where you can bounce the trailer wheels over the ledge or obstruction.

The fairmont wagons (with TC) is a good tow car but without LSD not too good for heavy boat retrieval. With an LSD it would be better for sure. I had an old 360 Chrysler with LSD and it was great it would spin them up go for second gear and get traction and lurch away slowwly then kick into first and spin but it would get anything with wheels on out really easily. Better than some pretend 4WD's that would sit there smoking the front wheels not moving at all.

aquahead2001 · 01-09-2006, 12:50 PM

Can't beat AWD or 4WD for that type of stuff, TC doesn't really help that much, but "lighting" up the rear end can also be a bit dodgy. Seen a bloke spining his wheels all the way back down the ramp one day, much to the ammusement of all and sundry.

His boat was floating well above the trailer and the boot of the car was pretty much underwater!

blownba · 01-09-2006, 01:08 PM

bs. the traction on my ba fairmont works wicked......It put the brakes on on the wheel thats spinnin transfering the torque to the wheel that has grip. never have been stuck on a ramp yet with the ba

XRQTOR · 03-09-2006, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blownba

bs. the traction on my ba fairmont works wicked......It put the brakes on on the wheel thats spinnin transfering the torque to the wheel that has grip. never have been stuck on a ramp yet with the ba

Ba's t/c dont grip the brakes like holdens do, it just reatards the fuel and spark.

Iphido · 01-09-2006, 03:01 PM

Does anyone actually have any video footage of TC in action..

EL_futuraistic · 01-09-2006, 09:27 PM

depending on how the traction control works it would either be a help or a hinderance. I definately think AWD/4WD or a LSD would be far more beneficial.

blownba · 01-09-2006, 09:38 PM

But didnt he ask if it works?? I know it works on my car, very well.

johnc18 · 01-09-2006, 11:49 PM

Thanks for the answers fellas
But talk about the answers creating more questions!!
Jonbays says it doesn't help much .He has an AU2
Blownba says his works great.He has a BA
Could Ford have got the system sorted out and working properly going from AU to BA?
Or could it be both AU and BA systems are the same ,but Jonbays system wasn't built right or somesuch?
Puzzled John

Sledgehammer · 02-09-2006, 08:19 AM

Last time I looked an AUII didnt have TC, I dont think that this is what he meant however.

xbgs351 · 02-09-2006, 09:16 AM

One trick when running an LSD is to partially put the hand brake on.

johnc18 · 02-09-2006, 11:17 AM

Just checked - the AU2 Fairmont had Traction Control as standard

blownba · 03-09-2006, 08:47 PM

oh fair enough. What a dick. I stiil haven't had any problems gettin me boat out. The handbrake trick used to work pretty good on my old car.

WOTDAH · 04-09-2006, 12:36 PM

The BA's traction control DOES incorperate the brakes as well as reduced power output

blownba · 06-09-2006, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WOTDAH

The BA's traction control DOES incorperate the brakes as well as reduced power output

damn you beat me to it. I wanted to make doubly sure before i said anything. I thought that comment wasnt right. When the traction works you can physically see and feel it grab the spinning wheel and then you feel the brake pedal pulse like crazy. Like i said never been stuck.
I saw a demo once on telly with a jag in iceland going up a pure ice hill. Without traction no matter how hard he tried there was no way he was gettin up, put the traction on and booted it let the traction take over and hey presto this thing bloody climbed an icy hill. Amazing!!!!!!!! No stock 4wd coulda done that.

ThoR_ · 06-09-2006, 04:13 PM

Me and my dad bought the best XE Eclipse in oz we rekon! 70,000kms off and old guy that passed away. Immac paint everything was perfect. At the end of the day it ot given to the wreckers with 450 on the clock did us well driving around W.A. That thing use2 pull boats up ramps without spinnings? But yet in the wet was fun hehehe