Am I going to have trouble towing or launching a 21’ bass boat?

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Silverado with the 4.8 V8.

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What year? I had a 2006 4.8 with the 373 rear end and it didn’t tow my 19’ bass boat worth a crap. The 4 speed transmission didn’t help.

I can only tell you of my experience with the 06 4.8. I had a 2wd. There was one evening in Henderson where I returned to the boat ramp as the sun was going down. I had launched at McGee's landing. It's not exactly a steep ramp. Well, I was the only one left in the parking lot. I trailered the boat and put the truck in drive. Started up the ramp when all of a sudden I came to a dead stop and started spinning out. Tried backing up and coming up the ramp at different angles thinking there was a pot hole on the ramp under the water. No good. Got out of my truck, took my shoes off and walked down into the water thinking I'd find a log or something lodged under my trailer tires. Nothing. Couldn't figure it out. Mosquitoes were eating me alive and there was nobody around to assist. Still couldn't get the boat up the ramp. I called someone to come help. Before they got there I was suddenly able to get up the ramp. Like magic.

That night I decided to never be without a 4x4 from here on.

That damn truck struggled to pull my boat out of even the shallow grade ramps.

I had a similar experience at the New Roads launch. I got out to see why I was spinning, and noticed catfish slime covering my tires! Someone had cleaned catfish and dumped the guts all over the ramp.

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That’s exactly what I’m worried about. It’s going to be even worse than you with the 410 rear end. Tough pill to swallow when I’m about to dump a pretty petty on a boat

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Actually the lower gears should give you more control coming up the launch. You don't have to gas it as hard to get torque.

If you ever find yourself spinning just one tire in a situation like pulling a boat up a launch, try engaging the emergency brake about half way. If you have a limited slip differential that should make both wheels spin together.

Pulled around a 17' bay boat with a 94 Chevrolet 2 wheel drive with a 4.6 v6 and it did fine. You'll be fine. You won't be able to go 80 up the sunshine Bridge or anything but it'll pull the boat easily.

Install a rear locker. They are not that terribly priced.

That would give you the ability to lock the rear diff from the cab.

Eaton makes a good electric locker

I pull a Stratos 201 Pro with a 1990 F150 with a 302 and a 5 speed. I swapped to 4.10 gears and a factory limited slip from an Explorer and don't have any problems. If your current 19' boat is Fiberglass then at most you may be adding 500 lbs with the Phoenix.

You should be fine a lot of people will tell you to get a 4x4 or something bigger. Dont. Most of the people telling you this don't even have a boat. I have a PHOENIX bass boat and I live in south louisiana. That being said the boat ramps are not too steep. But I do fish Toledo and Raburn As other northern lakes. That is what D1 & D2 are for. This will gear down your truck and make your tires bight harder while trying not to spin out. Lastly that 4.8l Is powerful enough. that boat will cost you 75k brand new dont need to spend another 65+ on a new truck. unless you want too. To each his own. Have fun FISHING!Lastly that PHOENIX you will fall in love with!

Extra heavy set of truck nuts work wonders at the ramp for traction control.

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Going from a 175 Evinrude 2 stroke to a 250 SHO is going to eat up a lot of that.

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This might not mean much. The Yamaha Sho 200, 225, and 250 all are exactly the same size and weigh the same. The only difference is the ECU card.

I pulled my bass boat with a 2WD truck for years. Only got into trouble once. I continued to fish in the rain until the lightning came. Back tires kept spinning on the wet steep ramp. Lucky for me two guys came and got in the back of my truck and I was able to get it out. I did not buy a new truck immediately but I was much more conscious to the situation from that point forward. My next truck years later was 4WD.