Sand bags

[bigdog85]

I'm in Saskatchewan and i run either a M/T or rugged terrain year round and in winter i run about 350-400 lb of sand bags in my truck it makes a huge difference in the amount of time i need to use 4wd to get going on ice

 

[SouthernBornRebel]

I put a few bags of ice melt and a sand or two over axels, they're light in the a** anyway on dry ground... I run mine in 4x4 Auto a bit, sometimes 4x4 Hi, never really had to use 4x4 Lo, altho I do cycle mine thru all a few times a year...

 

[Bigskyroadglide]

I carry kitty litter, it's cheap, I use it for oil spills in the garage so I always have some, it's backup for the wife's forgetting to buy it at the store and if I'm traveling it's there to help others out, the same as the tow rope I have in the truck, along with the shovel and various other items.

I've never had to use it for me, but have used it for others, I also keep food, water space blankets and several other items just in case. I have a winter and summer set up, they get changed out around October and April.

Does not take up alot of space. Bed still usable

 

[Taifun7]

I vote for sand in the bed , I run a fair amount of weight around 500 lbs. it's all personal preference IMHO but that weight with a good pair of A/T tires and you should be good to go.
I ran the same combination in the 2500 diesel with no issues.

 

[Capt Derek]

2023 Ram 5.7 4x4

I was wondering , do we still want to put sandbags in the bed for those snowy days? I live in a particularly snowtastic area and was wondering if we still needed to with modern trucks.

I put 500 pounds of them on my 3500, too much torque on wet roads to not use the extra traction it provides.

 

[bjayscanlon]

Darn it, I forgot to buy my sand bags at Farm and Fleet. Must be gettin old.

 

[Happy_Camper]

I'm in the mountains of Colorado (Steamboat Springs) and I haven't put sandbags in my trucks for years. I did use them when I first moved to CO, and then I found myself chiseling frozen sandbags out of the bed when I needed to haul something. You know what weighs a lot? A full tank of fuel, which coincidentally sits right in the same area. I top off my tank when we have a big storm coming. I have chains, traction mats and a shovel for when things get serious.

 

[skidoo]

Im actually quite sad that the US dosent offer this. As I would love to export all my guns and live free like GOD intended in one of the great southern states.

And if some future president wants to take the guns away, at least you might put up a constitutional fight. I worked in Tampa FL for a few weeks one Jan. Temp was mid 70's, so I went to the beach, but strangely I had it all to myself. Had to shovel about 10" of snow today, but thankful there was no hurricane with it.

 

[Grams]

Im in the works of applying for my retirement visa in Costa Rica

Kenuckistan is now an epic ******** and Im looking forward to leaving it.

Best Part is after 3 years I can burn my Canadian passport and become a full time resident . **** this country.

Im actually quite sad that the US dosent offer this. As I would love to export all my guns and live free like GOD intended in one of the great southern states.

No such-a-thang…”free” in the Southern States. Neighbor woman died because no doctor will perform surgery to remove a dead fetus because of the religious-nuts who run this place.

 

[Mando Mark]

If your bed is empty, yes.

I have a fiberglass cap on my Ram Quad Cab 4x4, and don't put any additional weight in it. But sand can't hurt.

 

[Magfan2]

Full gas tank is a great tip for a variety of reasons in Winter. Had my full sized spare, and my 200lb. adult son in the truck (I usually ride alone) quite a difference in rough road feel.

 

[star_deceiver]

.
We just killed 80k Canadians with MAID so far. .

If you want the freedom to do what you want in this world, you should have the freedom in how you leave this world.

Also, be careful with Costa Rica. You can’t just switch your Canadian $$ that easily down there. Converting your pension and assets is a pain. It needs to be changed to US first, then to Colon. There’s more hoops than you want to be a expat. You get double charged. Nice place to visit, sure wouldn’t live there.

A 6000lb empty truck will still have about 2500lbs on the rear wheels. Better tires solve most problems.

 

[DILLIGAF]

Im quite aware of everything, We have a CF Veteran expat FB page dedicated to Costa Rica. My Canadian forces pension is a non-issue. And the amount of money you save compared to this Kenuckistan ****hole is quite mind-blowing.

I just got back from the Philippines, that's were my best friend just retired at. It's crazy how much cheaper everything is there as well. He gets top notch medical treatments for next to nothing. The amount of money he saves on taxes paid for his house in 3 years...lol.

All we are in Canada is tax slaves.

 

[Marshall]

Back when I still farmed, I had a bit of plate steel, 4ft sq , about 1\2 or 5\8" thick.
I never used it in the Rams, but my little work/ dog trucks in winter I bolted in the back end of the box, 2wd truck, it make huge difference, and never interfered with loads.
I never weight it, but it was loaded with a winch or the loader.
I had a few 5 gallon pails of sand around as well, there was a nice sand pit near me , so just load up with the bucket if I needed some.

I have done sand bags and usually cussed them when froze down and in the way.
I made wood sand boxes that fit behind the wheel wells, and where not in the way.
One time some one offered a good bit of cash as he was not into making stuff, so he has them now.
My free sand and used plywood got expensive in the city.
I did use some expense paint to match my truck, black.

PS, I know a reloader that bolted a couple large steel ammo cases in the back of his truck and filled them with old wheel weights he used for bullet casting, back when they where easy to find.

 

[diymirage]

Lots of good advice here but here's my 2 cents and experience
We live near the Hudson Bay in Northern Canada so know lots about this topic. With snow rated tires on we'll maintained roads in winter with good driving habits.. no you do not need sand bags. But with that said having sand bags handy for extreme days is a great idea. For me on extreme days I put it in 4Hi because I'm using the bed of truck regularly and don't want sand bags in the way.
One thing I am thinking about is building cement filled containers that fit over the wheel wells for a smaller commuter truck that my wife uses and that way we still load and unload without loss of bed use

I'd consider something like this

https://www.amazon.com/POETRYXIAO-Lockable-Password-2019-2023-Waterproof/dp/B0C6GYQKTP/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?crid=3G2243QRG5BE3&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.wprEPfDiM862XbQZgpMxpPjNxmRzV14fTmBqD0hTaxM9zO6rDVrmCNz_-UdHIMl1yK2LdzHUYsQ0PQ9wlZN2qf1q1l6wt1rXP4cZnfJ36yT9l6wJkwzWK-auW5A2NpBzpc7Hj0qp9hGf4HeuGd7oBGBITIdyYDNz5dHC70LH--HfzGFw9uG8suwsLIdpoVuEV2oKjx_AkSCO_zwL4Q1wmA.yRM30CMGCyWqdxA9NGZ_J7cleJ_NsalM_qlO7eGeT7o&dib_tag=se&keywords=swing+out+wheel+well+tool+box+ram&qid=1766885763&sprefix=swing+out+wheel+well+tool+box+ram%2Caps%2C281&sr=8-6

 

[Grams]

My RamBoxes are full of tools… about 400 lbs of ‘em…and forward of my cargo-divider is a heavy floor-jack because I hate those little sheet-metal-screw-jacks Ram puts under the pax seat. No problem on traction.

 

[BenchTest]

I'm in the mountains of Colorado (Steamboat Springs) and I haven't put sandbags in my trucks for years. I did use them when I first moved to CO, and then I found myself chiseling frozen sandbags out of the bed when I needed to haul something. You know what weighs a lot? A full tank of fuel, which coincidentally sits right in the same area. I top off my tank when we have a big storm coming. I have chains, traction mats and a shovel for when things get serious.

That area used to be part of my service territory. I've made the run over Rabbit Ears quite a few times when the snow was coming DOWN. It got interesting more than once.

 

[Marshall]

Well said.
I run winter studded ice tires on their own rims and for stopping and turning ,its makes a huge difference, as well as starting. but control is what I am after.
We seem to be driving on icy roads most winter here.
City will spread sand, but don't use salt,
Hi way's do if needed.

 

[rule18]

Gents, please keep the political talk off this Forum. Everybody knows the RF rules (for those newer members, have a look here). Thanks.

 

[Docwagon1776]

I just got back from the Philippines, that's were my best friend just retired at. It's crazy how much cheaper everything is there as well. He gets top notch medical treatments for next to nothing. The amount of money he saves on taxes paid for his house in 3 years...lol.

When I was contracting in the ME, there was a small but significant amount of guys who planned to contract for 5 years then retire forever to the Philippines. Of course, most of them had married a LBFM who was happily spending their money already.