Transmission question

[Bennick16]

Is putting a manual transmission truck in gear at the boat launch enough to hold it in place? The ebrake is worn to where it won't hold the truck even on the smallest of inclines. I've done this on shallow launches like the Lin coulee launch on potholes but want to know if it could hold up to steeper ones like Blythe launch and the blue heron park launch while I'm in the process of finding the time to fix my ebrake.

[jackelope]

Do you mean putting it in park?

[Bennick16]

Do you mean putting it in park?

It's a manual transmission so I mean putting the car in 1st and then turning truck off.

[Special T]

Possibly and a good wood block would be cheep insurance... Remember that you would need to make sure the tail pipe isnt under water when you pull this maneuver you could suck some water some place it shouldn't be.

On most pickup truck the E brake adjustment is just a pice of thread all with a yoke holding the cables... Pretty easy to just crank that up some.

[jackelope]

Chock the wheels for sure.

[huntnphool]

Do you mean putting it in park?

It's a manual transmission so I mean putting the car in 1st and then turning truck off.

 I wouldn't trust the compression of the engine to hold it in place, that's basically what you would be doing.

 Rear brakes on your truck can't be more than a couple hundred bucks, I'd think your truck, boat and trailer are worth spending the money now on.

[Bennick16]

Possibly and a good wood block would be cheep insurance... Remember that you would need to make sure the tail pipe isnt under water when you pull this maneuver you could suck some water some place it shouldn't be.

On most pickup truck the E brake adjustment is just a pice of thread all with a yoke holding the cables... Pretty easy to just crank that up some.

  Was playing with that yesterday when changing out my leak detection pump. It looked as though it had already been tightened all the way.  I will have to look into it more.

[Bill W]

I had one try to go down the ramp up at Banks.     That wouldn't have been pretty.  It was a manual transmission and a bad emergency brake.  I think I had the camper on the truck also.

[jackelope]

What kind of truck?

[Bennick16]

What kind of truck?

I have an 04 dodge Dakota. Compression checks are great. Had them done at the dealership. But I'm at the very least going to get a chock

[Skillet]

If it's a 4x4, put it in low range and chock the wheel until you can get it fixed. 

[Woodchuck]

Please fix the e brake or at a minimum have someone else in the cab standing on the regular brakes or risk landing on you tube. 

[luvmystang67]

I've had my manual transmission truck turn over while rolling backwards in first gear.  It'll hold in most circumstances, but on a big hill I would definitely not trust it.

[rtspring]

I would get my truck fixed before I launched or recovered any boat!!

[zike]

In the distance past, it seemed like I used reverse. My Pathfinder putting it on the dolly if I used the ebrake it wouldn't release the rear wheels. It would release if I drove it. So I used a stick against the brake pedal.

[Bennick16]

I should also note that my boat is a small aluminum 14 footer it and the trailer doesn't weigh much.  I am planning on getting it fixed this or next week. But until then low 4x4 and chock it up sounds good.  Worst case scenario, I'll post the link for you guys.

[DRobnsn]

If it is a cable style park brake system it may be as easy as putting a bit more tension back in the cable. Look under neath to see if it has a adjuster before the cable splits off to each caliper/drum.

Also if you get new brakes installed make sure you mention the park brake issue. If you have drums it may not matter much but if they are disks the park brake is a separate system inside the brake disk hub (drum style) and it may get overlooked depending on where you take it. 

[jackelope]

Should be rear disc brakes with top hat style rotors, park brake shoes on the inside I believe.

[follow maggie]

I would just fix the brakes and not have to worry about it. A few bucks at napa and a couple hours of time, done.

[Brad Harshman]

Sounds like you got your Dakota fixed and you're using it.  Lucky your motor didn't seize after you sucked water through your intake.  Get your emergency brake fixed.  You'll be happier with your truck if you can keep it dry.  If you're in Moses and need a hand shoot me a PM.  I'd be happy to help.

[Bennick16]

Sounds like you got your Dakota fixed and you're using it.  Lucky your motor didn't seize after you sucked water through your intake.  Get your emergency brake fixed.  You'll be happier with your truck if you can keep it dry.  If you're in Moses and need a hand shoot me a PM.  I'd be happy to help.

Yeah took it in, compression was good changed the oil then changed again 200 miles later. Learned my lesson. Thanks for the offer.