adding weight to truck bed to aid traction

[5.0]

Another vote for snow! Find some guy in a lot with a bobcat or something and have him dump a bucket or two in there. You don't even have to load it, then it melts away.

 

[Mac]

Better to add weight and loose mileage and be able to go. Firewood in the back - bad idea. Had a guy a work who spent three weeks in the hospital because of it. Wood came right thru the back window. Most hardware stores sell those tubes of sand but salt or bags of fertilizer will work.
Dave

 

[kkjb4x4.0]

Patio slabs work well and don"t take too much bed space.

 

[5.0]

but salt or bags

Hmmm, you could also use the salt to melt ice if you or someone else is stuck... cool idea.

 

[mhughes165]

the snow in the bed is a awesome idea and all, but that doesnt work in states where it is illegal todo so(NJ)

 

[88_Eddie]

get two 80lb. bags of concrete from lowes, you'll have 160lbs. of weight back there for less than $10.

 

[Iron Ranger]

Definitly use sand bags. They shouldn't slide around your box too much and you can re-use them every year. Snow may not be the best idea because your drain holes will be blocked when it is time for the snow to melt.

Plus if you think it's rusty now, just wait a few winters with packed snow. Then we'll have to build a flatbed.

 

[CHKNFKR]

My vote is for sand, preferably in a water proof bag. i also like to flip them about once a week just to make sure they haven't frozen solid. i think its been said in another thread, but i'll say it again, as long as you have the weight in the med it doesn't really matter where it is in the bed. some like it as far to the rear as possible, some like it directly over the axle, the safest place is up against the cab. not only does it have no where to go in the event of a wreck, it also adds weight to the front to help keep the truck pointed the direction you want it.

 

[RustedRanger]

The last couple years I have been using firewood stacked against the front of the bed below the level of the window until it levels the truck out or just a little lower in the back. Added weight does cut down mpg but mostly with city driving. Long ago I had a Pontiac LeMans a 90 I think,one of the small fwd ones and the whole car was so light it did horrible in the snow. I took several of those 2.5 gallon water jugs and bungied them on the front bumper and kept the tank full and it did ALOT better. BTW It had already been wrecked so the bumper cover was gone so it was easy to strap the jugs on I also adjust my headlights when I have weight in the back so I dont "bright" people and risk a ticket.

 

[mn_smokeater]

ahh so i shall go hunting for the sandbags.

used to know all this but musta slipped my mind.

 

[Andres629]

Most service stations have them sitting out front to buy.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Better to add weight and loose mileage and be able to go. Firewood in the back - bad idea. Had a guy a work who spent three weeks in the hospital because of it. Wood came right thru the back window. Most hardware stores sell those tubes of sand but salt or bags of fertilizer will work.
Dave

+1 on the weight, you don't get good milage if your spinning everywhere either.

I don't think a flying sandbag would feel much better than anything else though.

 

[schaffer]

Jegs and summit sell big bags you can fill with water that lay flat in the bed.

 

[CHKNFKR]

+1 on the weight, you don't get good milage if your spinning everywhere either.

I don't think a flying sandbag would feel much better than anything else though.

As long as you keep the sand dry it won't freeze. in the event of a collision it will slam into the cap and the bag will bust open, sand will go everywhere. while there will still be a dent in the back of the cap, there will not be a hole. that's the difference.

 

[TheTopher]

I don't think a flying sandbag would feel much better than anything else though.

Unless Chuck Norris was throwing it.



and this is just my opinion, but I think if you're going to use an actual object for weight versus snow, the weight needs to be above the rear axle or behind it.


I understand forward weight aids with braking and handling, but those can both be overcome by driving a little slower, which you should be doing in snow anyway. I want my weight towards the back to shift the center of gravity closer to the rear wheels to give me better traction, especially from a dead stop. Since that's the biggest problem in snow that cannot be fixed by driving technique. Just my opinion on the matter.