Weighing Down Bed for Winter

[razor1]

Not for winter only, but here in Florida I use 3 concrete blocks because of the oily asphalt roads here in the rainy summer.

 

[JoeCo]

Nothing, not even the 4x4 usually. Turn the t/c off and give me some wheel spin and counter steer.

Although I did just buy Brandons 4x4 switch, but that was really more for a just in case I need it scenario (really don't like the way the 4x4 "works" in the higher trim level trucks). I'll certainly try it out when we get some good snow so I know what I'm working with, but old habits die hard. My first winter driving when I was 16 was a doozy for snow fall, I had an 85 Caprice and I learned how to go everywhere with rear wheels spinning and counter steering, in control of the vehicle. In that thing, it was the only way to get around.

 

[Jim Bowker]

I use sandbags that are secured with multiple straps. I don't want them becoming missiles in the even of a car accident. I have 4wd, but that doesn't do squat when braking or cornering.

 

[leroys73]

When I was younger I had a camper shell on it. I loaded it up with beer and covered with a tarp. By Spring it was empty. LOL

 

[michaelm_ski]

Never have. I would find it annoying having something in their that i would have to move all the time when i need the bed.

I say just buy good tires and drive smart.


Sent while firmly grasping my redline lubed RAM [emoji231]

I agree , If the roads are too bad stay off of them BUT if you must go out make sure your tires are good enough for the weather .

 

[GrumpyOleMan]

Growing up in Minnesota, I stacked hay bales (the old fashioned kind you could throw around) sideways in back of my 2WD F100. they fit just right and with snow tires on the back I could go just about anywhere...anywhere prudent anyways.

 

[muddy12]

Just playing devils advocate here, but.....
Saying you should never need to add weight is like telling a drag racer that there is no need to move the battery to the back, or try in any way to move the weight bias(center of gravity) more towards the rear/ closer to the center of the vehicle.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[tomb]

Nothing for me either-keep the tank full-only use 4wd auto-and dont take the corners too fast!!!

 

[Mike Garvey]

I've for years have put 3 or 4 bag of water softener salt in bed. 160 lbs make a big difference in traction in sloppy/slippery roads. Plus in spring I take it and use it. Pays for its self.

 

[gofishn]

Just move to Texas. No snow tires, no weight to add. We accept out of staters... as long as you aren't from Cali!

But the Beef tastes bad.
Not enough Corn in their Diets.

 

[Quyonmob]

2wd, yep, I hate being the fool stuck on the road at a stop sign. Just make sure it’s anchored so it doesn’t come through the back window and decapitate you if you hit the ditch. My auto shop teacher in 99 ended up with a snow blower almost all the way in the passenger seat in his c20, through the back window.

I put nothing in my 4x4 trucks. I commute 400mi/wk on 2 lane roads in Ontario. Most aren’t plowed for me in the morning. I usually only go for 4x4 leaving snowed in stops. I ran my ‘05 Camry through 50cm (~20”) that fell in a 12hr work shift. A lot of it is the driver and machine working together.

 

[Ramcharger84]

Sand bags and/or snow.

 

[Marshall]

I use to use salt as well, till I needed it in the house. yrs ago I had a steel 1/2" 4x4 ft plate I would bolt in the work truck, it did not interfere with the loads.
that was 2 wd days, make a huge difference, don't know what the weight was, used the front end loader. We had summer tires or hard rubber traction tires, great in mud , snow, on ice, terrible.
Last 3-4 yrs I am running ice , snow tires with factory studs in the winter.

 

[utahbill]

Hey all,

Just wondering what you guys use, to weigh down your beds during the winter.

I have a 2017 1500 hemi, and I live in Maine.

Thanks, in advance,
Jeff

How a friend did it.....put his spare in the bed, then added loose sand, threw in a shovel, forgot about it.
then it rained, then it froze....then he got a flat. Lucky he was close to home, and his neighbor had a spare spare so he could get into a heated garage.......

 

[utahbill]

I use to use salt as well, till I needed it in the house. yrs ago I had a steel 1/2" 4x4 ft plate I would bolt in the work truck, it did not interfere with the loads.
that was 2 wd days, make a huge difference, don't know what the weight was, used the front end loader. We had summer tires or hard rubber traction tires, great in mud , snow, on ice, terrible.
Last 3-4 yrs I am running ice , snow tires with factory studs in the winter.

Because my driveway layout forces me to slow and turn tightly where I turn in. If I lose momentum, I slide back into the street. That is a 2017 4x4 Ram. Going to try some weight in the back this winter... wife's front wheel drive Impala does a better job.

 

[Louiex]

I have an 2005 1500 2 wheel drive. I use 5 gallon buckets filled with course barn lime. This can be used to help get unstuck or spread on driveway or sidewalks to make slippery spots gritty for traction. Will not hurt lawn or landscaping. Louiex

 

[Tom Halligan]

I purchase tubes of QuickSand. Believe they are 80lb bags made of a durable plastic that holds up all winter, Can even use the sand in them if you get stuck.

 

[Jim Bowker]

Near my house, there's one sharp turn that needs to be taken at a very slow speed. With sand in the back, the truck makes the turn easily, even with snow. Without weight, the rear end breaks loose quite easily on that corner. When leaving our neighborhood, there's a hill with a stop sign at the bottom of it. With no weight in the back and slick conditions, the anti-lock brakes engage repeatedly in the rear. With a few tubes of quicksand in the bed, the tires don't slip. 4WD is great for some things, but really doesn't help in these situations.

I'm a belt-and-suspenders guy I guess - 4wd, good tires, weight in the back, and don't drive like an ass.

 

[tcburch]

Hey all,

Just wondering what you guys use, to weigh down your beds during the winter.

I have a 2017 1500 hemi, and I live in Maine.

Thanks, in advance,
Jeff

If you feel you must, use some tubes of sand which we use for diverting water in gutters. Fairly light so you can move them around if need be.

 

[440scout]

Adding weight to the truck bed makes a huge difference for adding traction in slippery conditions! Heres an example: During the days after the Xmas blizzard of 1982 here in Colorado (3feet of snow) we used the company truck, a 1980 chevy 1/2 ton long bed 2WD with factory limited slip which could'nt get out of its own way, so we loaded cinder blocks in all areas of the bed until they were visable above the bed rails, close to 1000 pounds and what a difference! We were able to get to all our buildings to make sure the walks were shoveled. That was an extreme example of how adding weight to the truck bed aids traction. Most of the time all you need to do is switch to 4x4 and you are good to go but adding weight over the rear tires greatly helps with traction. This post is based on my experience of snow driving in over 35 winters here Colorado.