Adding Bed Weight for Winter Driving

[kmwisinski]

Does anyone add extra weight to the bed of their truck for the winter? If so, how much weight do you add? How much is too much without sacrificing MPG and/or wear and tear on the suspension or tires?

 

[chopperman1]

Never have and live in New England. The heavier weight, while it may help adding traction, certainly reduces stopping distance.

 

[SniperDroid]

I used to keep about 500 pounds of corn for the deer feeder, from October to January. Never got a deer, but buddies hunting near the feeder raved about how well the deer were fed.

 

[stevenP]

When I used to drive my ruck in the winter, I would usually add about 400 lbs of playground sand in bags.

 

[JayLeonard]

When I lived in CT I used to put 4 cement blocks just inside the wheel wells, 2 on each side held in place by a simple 2x4 frame. It was just enough to help with traction.

 

[crash68]

If the truck is 4X4 you shouldn't need any extra weight in the bed. Adding some won't hurt either, if you do use sand. Then you can use it for added traction if needed

 

[Tulecreeper]

I've heard of it being done, but never personally known anyone who did it. If you live somewhere where you regularly need extra traction because of ice/snow, you need to move south.

 

[crash68]

just noticed that @kmwisinski doesn't live all that far away. If your tires are three peak rated, that will handle just about any weather Michigan in that general area will throw at you, if it doesn't you probably don't need to be on the road.

 

[Dean2]

Have lived in big snow country all my life. Added weight in rear wheel drive vehicles for winter. Never have done that in a 4x4 or front wheel drive. The extra weight makes stopping distances longer by a bit, but in rear drive, especially open diffs, it was worth the trade off. Sand or kitty litter, also had the benefit of being good traction material if needed.

 

[Rebob0510]

My brother used to have a 2wd Ram and he used to put around 200 lbs of tube sand in the back for traction. In my 4wd Rams I have never used any ballast for traction in 24 year of Upstate New York winters. Home Depot or Lowes should have bags of sand that are about 80lbs a piece and they are fairly cheap too

 

[blue ghost]

Have 4x4 still put 75 lbs on each wheel well with an empty bed.

 

[Fatbob Frank]

I used to but after I got a PW I quit cause this thing feels like it's got plenty of weight already...

 

[GTyankee]

The last time that i spent a winter in the snow was 1966
my vehicles were 50's & one 1962 Ford, all had Open differentials & a crazy driver behind the wheel.
Bags of sand & sawdust in the truck , oops trunk, right next to a set of chains.
Yes i had a shovel or 2 & an axe to break up the frozen sand in the bags.

Everyone had to be self dependant back then.
The only phones were in peoples houses & you had to be polite, when you knocked on peoples door !

 

[Wild one]

The last time that i spent a winter in the snow was 1966
my vehicles were 50's & one 1962 Ford, all had Open differentials & a crazy driver behind the wheel.
Bags of sand & sawdust in the truck, right next to a set of chains.
Yes i had a shovel or 2 & an axe to break up the frozen sand in the bags.

Everyone had to be self dependant back then.
The only phones were in peoples houses & you had to be polite, when you knocked on peoples door !

Sounds like you had the occassional walk GT,lol. Those days taught us how to drive in adverse conditions,and if you didn't learn fast,you learned to shovel and fairly often walk to a strangers door,lol

 

[Rebel4Mo]

Just let the snow pile up in the bed!

 

[Sol-Invictus]

When I had a 2WD I carried a 4wheeler. Not just for weight but to go get someone with a 4WD everytime I got stuck.

 

[dhay13]

Always had 4x4's so never had to but used to work with a guy that would jump on his tractor and fill his bed with buckets of snow. Had the extra weight until he didn't need it. Nothing to remove or store cause it would melt

 

[MarMar1]

I use two bags of water softener salt and then use it in my softener in the spring.

 

[Dean2]

I use two bags of water softener salt and then use it in my softener in the spring.

That works, and makes good traction material but if those bags spring any kind of a leak you will get some very severe rust issues.

 

[GTyankee]

I made a correction in my last post, back then i only had cars.
I bought my first truck in 1970 or '71, i kept that 1956 Chevy 3200, ( longbed, 1/2 ton ) until 2016.
When i sold it, the only original factory equipment on it was the Sheet Metal & even with that, the 4 Cab Corners had been replaced.
I still have dreams about that truck