Adding Weight To the Bed For Winter Traction

[Uncle Gump]

Seems I use to just shovel some snow in it... if that wasn't enough... I would get a tire spinning in first gear... get out and start pushing. When it found some traction... run like mad to jump back in the driver seat.

 

[Curious Hound]

Seems I use to just shovel some snow in it... if that wasn't enough... I would get a tire spinning in first gear... get out and start pushing. When it found some traction... run like mad to jump back in the driver seat.

uncle Gump

 

[Uncle Gump]

I remember that day well... a true butt pucker moment!

 

[Dirtman]

I literally did something like that in my old cavalier. I hit the brakes to slow down coming around a corner on a steep hill and it locked up, abs did nothing. I must have skid for 50 yards, couldn't stop, couldn't steer, heading right for a brand new mustang. At the last second I threw it in reverse and slammed on the gas. I stopped about an a foot short of smashing into the mustang. I had really terrible liability insurance at the time, I would have been screwed if I hit that thing.

When it was over I found out the guy in the mustang was actually stuck and had been trying to get out of the way but couldn't move. We both got out and practically hugged each other lol.

 

[8thTon]

I find it's best to put the weight right behind the cab on my Ranger.

I did this back in 1985 in my 2wd GMC S-15..... that was a long time ago... I guess I just forget how advantageous it was.

PS: Back then I ran the skinny factory tires and wheels in the snow... and kept the Cragars in the garage.

View attachment 52755

If you drove one of those in the winter, by Spring of '86 there was just few plastic bits, 4 tires and pile of ferrous oxide!

 

[HenryMac]

If you drove one of those in the winter, by Spring of '86 there was just few plastic bits, 4 tires and pile of ferrous oxide!

We lived in Ohio, and I had it undercoated at Ziebart with a lifetime yearly re-application when I 1st bought the truck. Every year they inspected the truck, added more undercoat and waxed / buffed detailed the truck at no charge. They did a great job, year after year after year.

In 1993 I sold the truck. It had some rust bubbles just starting to show on the drivers side rocker panel.

It was my daily driver and had 130,000 miles when I sold it. Mostly interstate driving.

But people who didn't get the undercoating... I agree with your post. They rusted out pretty quick.

Contrast that to my 02 Tacoma TRD 4x4 that I sold to buy my 2019 Ranger. 17 year old truck, no body rust and 175,000 miles.

 

[JohnnyO]

When I had Rangers I built a box out of 2x4's to hold sandbags over the axle. 2x4's in front and behind the wheelwells all the way across the bed and two more 2x4's next to the wheelwells screwed in to connect them. Kept the sandbags from sliding around. Sport Tracs carry more weight over the rear and extra weight isn't necessary.
Biggest thing is tires though. If you live someplace where you get a crap-ton of snow and ice just get a set of four dedicated snow tires for the winter like Blizzaks. Been running them on the wife's cars for 15 years and she won't roll on anything else. Vastly safer in bad weather and your other tires will last longer so it ends up not really costing any more.

 

[racsan]

I have dedicated winter tires on everything now, last winter the hhr only had them on the front, I finally got 2 more rims and yesterday got 2 more so it has winter tires on all 4, the back can pass the front on a front-drive. The ranger has blizzacks, the escape has arctic claws and the hhr runs summito ice edge. The blizzacks I bought used on rims, great tread but according to the date code they are 10 years old, tend to break loose and spin on wet pavement, I think this is the last year for these tires, the ranger doesnt see much winter driving as I like to keep it out of the salt, I like to have it ready though as a backup, if theres a lot of snow Id rather have it out then the car. I’ll have to put some fresh rubber on it before next winter. The escape seems to go through anything (so far) Ive really been impressed with it so far.

 

[Blmpkn]

I usually run 2 or 3 5-gal buckets full of sand for weight, but now with the steel flatbed on its heavy enough to not have to bother.

 

[JohnnyO]

I have dedicated winter tires on everything now, last winter the hhr only had them on the front, I finally got 2 more rims and yesterday got 2 more so it has winter tires on all 4, the back can pass the front on a front-drive. The ranger has blizzacks, the escape has arctic claws and the hhr runs summito ice edge. The blizzacks I bought used on rims, great tread but according to the date code they are 10 years old, tend to break loose and spin on wet pavement, I think this is the last year for these tires, the ranger doesnt see much winter driving as I like to keep it out of the salt, I like to have it ready though as a backup, if theres a lot of snow Id rather have it out then the car. I’ll have to put some fresh rubber on it before next winter. The escape seems to go through anything (so far) Ive really been impressed with it so far.

I have Arctic Claws on my daughter's Fiesta, they seem to do well and don't cost a ton. The Jeep Wrangler she used to have came with Firestone Wintermasters, two were pretty worn so I got two new ones, they did well and cost less than Blizzaks. If someone is on a tight budget I'd recommend the Arctic Claws or Wintermasters without hesitation.

Firestone makes Wintermasters in the OE size for the new Ranger.

 

[sgtsandman]

I have Mastercraft Courser MSR (Owned by Cooper) tires on my 2019. So far they seem to be pretty good. I haven't added weight to the truck but it's a Supercrew, which moves weight aft, and it has a fiberglass cap that adds weight. So far, weight doesn't seem to be needed as a result.

The 2011 has Kelly Snowtrakker ST/2 tires (owned by Goodyear) that have also been very good. That also has a fiberglass cap and added weight from a wooden platform and gear stored under the platform. It did need weight added that the gear and platform took care of.

It seems that if you have the Supercab, you will need weight. With the Supercrew, maybe not but it won't hurt.

 

[JohnnyO]

I have Mastercraft Courser MSR (Owned by Cooper) tires on my 2019.

Half of Beaver County rolls on Mastercrafts. My AXT's are essentially Cooper A/T3's which are a highly-rated all-terrain. I had Mastercraft HSX's before that are more of an all-season tire but they were cheap and I was on unemployment. Wasn't happy with their winter performance even with 4wd.

 

[sgtsandman]

Half of Beaver County rolls on Mastercrafts. My AXT's are essentially Cooper A/T3's which are a highly-rated all-terrain. I had Mastercraft HSX's before that are more of an all-season tire but they were cheap and I was on unemployment. Wasn't happy with their winter performance even with 4wd.

When it comes to the Mastercraft, I like the tread pattern better than the Cooper offering. Not that it mattered, Center Exit Tire only had Mastercraft in the size the 2019 needs.