First time at the boat ramp!

First time towing and at the boat ramp today. Overall it went very well, super easy to tow a small jetski, the only time I feel it's weight is during breaking, otherwise I can't even tell it's pulling it.
I didn't disconnect the electrical plug going to the trailer, but wondering if that's waterproof, like can it be submerged under water? Otherwise for next time I would unplug it if that makes any difference really.

 

Just pulled them out of the water, same as launching, but easier. I unplug mine to prevent popping taillight bulbs

 

I always unplug my lights prior to launching my boat. Why risk it?

 

It depends on the trailer's lights. If they are sealed then you can leave the umbilical plugged into the trailer. If they aren't then the bulbs (if you're still using bulbs) will break because they are hot. If they are LED then it probably doesn't make a difference. The trailer lights should be sealed or you'll eventually get corrosion in the sockets. I converted the ones on my boat trailer to LED but even the OEM set was sealed and so are the marker lights on the side of the trailer.

If you're asking about the connection to the 4Runner then no. I've never disconnected the umbilical from my 4Runner when launching/recovering. I have a separate connector for my 4Runner that plugs 1 end into the 7-wire socket on the 4Runner and the other end plugs into the trailer harness. I do have sealed lights on the trailer, LED and bulb.

 

My trailer does have the LED lights all around and it plugs into the 4 pin on the 4Runner side. Everything seems to be sealed properly, but just wanted to make sure I'm not missing anything. My concern is where it gets plugged into the 4Runner plug (the 4 pin plug).

 

I have the 7-pin connector but even in previous years I unplugged only when I had the old boat trailer that had the bulbs. After blowing out a bunch of bulbs because they were hot I learned to do that. You do have to remember to reconnect after recovering your boat. With LEDs the worst case would be you would blow a fuse. I have a bass boat so my connector never gets in the water, so I don't unplug anything. Do you have to back down the ramp that far that your 4-pin is in the water?

 

If you are backing in far enough that the plug is getting submerged, you are backing in way too far.

 

Weather sealing on the 4-pin receptacle is a rubber flap on the lid. It doesn't look like there's any sealing if you have the lid open and a trailer plugged in:



I would shoot some dielectric grease or Fluid Film in the trailer connector, and unplug it before submersion.

Have you done the rear differential breather relocation?

 

Dielectric grease impedes a good connection. You're not supposed to use it on the metal connection parts, only the rubber areas. It's primary use is on spark plug boots to prevent the spark from going anywhere but to the spark plug.
Dielectric: insulating material or a very poor conductor of electric current

 

^Yes in this case it's to keep water out. I only thought of this because Toyota applies dielectric grease to the trailer connector at the factory, at least on the two Tacomas which I've bought new.

 

Probably silicone grease, a semi conductor. Grease does not conduct electricity very well, if at all. If the amperage is high enough then it will arc through it, but I can only tell you that a dielectric grease's purpose is to prevent conductivity, or at least reduce it. I clean my connections with tuner cleaner or contact cleaner. WD40 displaces water but doesn't conduct but it seems to evaporate, leaving a residue that you can clean with contact cleaner.

All that being said, I never disconnect my trailer plug. I'm sure with it being behind the rear wheel that water will soak it in a rainstorm. Electricity follows the path of least resistance so if the plug and socket are connected then electricity will follow that path.

 

I learned how to drive forward in the desert and I learned how reverse worked by backing down boats on launch ramps in Lake Havasu because my mom was too drunk to do it. I've seen thousands of people launch boats from shore, water, and in the driver seat. I would guess 98% of the time the trailer plug is still plugged in. If you're blowing a fuse, then there is something else wrong with the wiring.

 

This time I didn't go that far down, but perhaps some other ramps may require to go further, not too sure at this point.

I figured some ramps may require for me to go further down, depending on their slope right?

I never heard of the rear differential breather relocation?

 

^Been done for decades to increase the fording depth of the rear axle. 3rd gen how-to (same parts work on 5th gen): https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...cate-3rd-gen-4runner-version-pictures.403152/

With 5th gen it isn't practical to relocate the breather to the fuel filler cap. A convenient location is just in the cavity behind the left tail light: https://www.4runners.com/posts/154154

 

I use di-electric on all the lights on the dump truck .Once or twice a year. It prohibits corrosion, like we have in the salt belt, it lubes plugs for ease of connection and helps with electric connections.

 

Never seen a boat ramp which even required getting the back wheels wet, in over 30 years of launching boats.

 

Look for scuba mod !

Here is a link:
https://www.4runners.com/threads/saker’s-ebony-build.25629/#post-343198

 

I launched at Houghton Lake, MI back in the early 90s. They had a drought and it's a shallow lake anyway. The "hole" is only 17' and the rest of the 20,044 acres is less than 10'. Obviously at drought it's even shallower. I backed my '89 Toyota pickup down the ramp and into the lake over 100 yards from shore and still saw daylight under the keel. I finally pushed the boat off the trailer. It still wasn't deep enough for me to put the motor down (no power tilt). I had to put a 2x4 under the motor to be able to start it and move off. During the early spring in Ohio the water on the reservoir I fished was up into the parking lot. The 89 pickup's exhaust was bubbling in the water. We weren't even at the ramp, just the road that leads to it. So yes, shallow conditions do exist.

 

^^^^ This. I work at a marina and literally launch & retrieve hundreds of boats each year from jet skis to 44' high performance boats. I've also trailered my own boats to all sorts of launch ramps over the past 50 years. I think I've gotten the back tires of the truck wet once. In fact, with our ramp customers, the number one thing that gets them in trouble is backing in too far.

As for disconnecting the trailer wiring prior to launching, I've never done it and never had a problem.

 

I have towed my boat with 4 different gen 4Runners and only occasionally got the rear wheels wet and that was on very long shallow ramps. Never unplugged the connector.