Extra Weight in the Bed?

[develand]

With winter approaching, how many of you put extra weight in the bed of the truck? I have a '14 4wd Regular cab with Toyo AT2 tires. Even though I have 4wd, I do not want to become dependent on it. It has been awhile since I had a truck, and it really needed extra weight in the back to get around.

How do these do in the snow?

 

[mtofell]

I never put any weight in my bed..... with 4WD there is really no reason.

 

[roastpuff]

I just put 4-5 small sandbags in the back. Probably only about 150lbs in total extra.

 

[drittal]

200lbs of sand bags.

Sand is nice. If you get into a pickle you can open one and use the contents as a 2nd traction aid.

 

[Padilen]

I have 3 left over from Jeep, and will get 2-3 more.
And there is a reason.

 

[develand]

I was thinking like 3-60b sandbags. Our winters in KS are really hit or miss, usually we either get a decent pounding, or it just blows by.

 

[crazy_luck]

I usually get 2 5 gallon pails and fill them about 3/4 full with sand and I have a 3rd pail with 2 20 foot logging chains as well as a 15 foot come-along ratcheting winch - the chains add about 90 pounds alone...

 

[MADDOG]

Yeah, I do about 250 pounds of sand in the back.

The AT II tires aren't bad but they aren't snow tires. Having the weight over the rear wheels helps with traction but your best option is to slow down, keep a safe distance and take your time getting where you are going.

 

[Andy578]

i don't put any in. had no issues last winter even with those garbage stock tires

 

[Raist11]

So far, in a Saskatchewan prairie winter where we already got hit with a crap load of ice.. I haven't used any sand and it's been fine. Of course, when I want to really get going I switch into 4wd. After the initial hit of snow I got new tires though (old ones were cupped and crap from previous owner). This meant a set of Duratracs that are apparently snow rated so that gives me some extra advantage.

Honestly, I've always been fairly skeptical about the whole sandbag thing. I personally wouldn't worry about it as much with a 4wd, and just exercise throttle control when in 2wd.

 

[dhay13]

in 30 years of driving 4WDs in snow i have never put anything in the bed. no need with 4WD IMO. and our Pittsburgh winters can get pretty nasty at times

 

[clh1220]

I've only put weight in the back of a 2wd. I don't get why you don't want to get used to it. That's what it's for, to use in bad road conditions. I put mine in 4 auto if there is any snow on the road.

 

[Padilen]

35 years of driving 4WD ! Plowing for many of them. Guess it depends on your road commissions care of the roads. Ours are snow packed for about 5 months. We had our first sticking snow lasted from last Saturday yesterday. My dirt road was an ice rink. Main roads were bad until Monday when heavy usage worked a lot off. Refreezing at night =black ice. Weight in the back and you'll not need 4WD that much. 4WD will help get you going on ice but it's harder to handle. 4WD will not help you in stopping.

 

[clh1220]

35 years of driving 4WD ! Plowing for many of them. Guess it depends on your road commissions care of the roads. Ours are snow packed for about 5 months. We had our first sticking snow lasted from last Saturday yesterday. My dirt road was an ice rink. Main roads were bad until Monday when heavy usage worked a lot off. Refreezing at night =black ice. Weight in the back and you'll not need 4WD that much. 4WD will help get you going on ice but it's harder to handle. 4WD will not help you in stopping.

Actually it will help you stopping if you're using the transmission to help you slow down. I downshift allot if it's slick.

 

[BigRed4x4]

I put 240#'s of sand in the back of my truck. They come in 60# tubes for $3.95 per tube at home depot. I don't look at like I need it to start or stop but more for during acceleration where you're on dry pavement and you tires catch a patch of ice. I've had the back end come around more than once and when that happens at 40-50mph you better be paying attention. With the sand in the back there is less slippage and a quicker bite if your back end starts to get squirrelly. Also if you find yourself stuck you can open one of the bags and pour it under your tires to help with traction. It doesn't hurt anything have it back there and for less than a case of beer why not?

 

[02Steve15]

I usually don't put sand in the bed. Tried it with my 02 even though I really didn't need it with the 4x4 and all it really did was make my gas mileage worse.

I can see the point of having one bag in the bed for traction purposes if you find yourself jammed up on the road, but other than that I wouldn't add up weight in the back if i have 4x4.

I think putting weight in the bed also depends on how bad your winters are too.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Padilen]

Actually it will help you stopping if you're using the transmission to help you slow down. I downshift allot if it's slick.

Can you even find sticks ?
But we use to drop from d-2-1.

 

[Thatdude596]

never that's for 2wd bums

 

[freedhardwoods]

I see most people in this thread mention 100 - 300 lbs when they add weight. Carrying sand is a good idea for emergencies. As far as weight goes, technically, every little bit helps, but 300 lbs isn't very much.

If I wanted more traction in slick conditions with my old, 8,200 gvwr 2wd, I would add around 2,000 lbs. That makes a noticeable difference.

Weight gives you traction no matter how many wheels are pulling. 4,000 lbs would be about right for me in my new 4wd with 14,000 gvwr.

 

[dhay13]

a guy i used to work with used to fill his bed with.......SNOW! he used to get a loader at work and dump a couple of buckets in the bed. figured he wouldn't have to worry about taking it back out and it would stay there as long as he needed it