Adding weight to bed for ride comfort

[JPudenz]

This may sound silly to some of you but the ride comfort of my dually unloaded is really harsh on the freeways with epansion joints here in town. I have read nearly every post on this board I could find about ride improvements, I installed the KORE Bilstein 5100 shocks, I have my duals air'd to 45psi, my fronts are around 60psi. I have looked at the full KORE system but do not like the idea of removing the overloads because I tow a heavy fifth wheel, if I did i would have to have airbags in addition. I have looked at Kelderman (too expensive) I have looked at Road Tamer (you have to drill the frame). I also looked at Roadmaster however they do not have an offering for the 2500/3500 yet. I will continue to look until I find something.



In the meantime what can I put in the bed to add some weight and smooth out my truck. Something easily loaded and unloaded for when i am towing. It would be nice if whatever it is could be secured, in case of an accident I would rather not be de-capitated.



Thanks for your help!!!



JJ

 

[Diesel Nut]

My steel flat bed added a bit of weight and ride comfort, but I reversed it by going to 19. 5s and 35's air up for milage. Oh, and I love towing with a flatbed!

Oo.

 

[Turboman]

Find you a couple of plastic 55 gal barrels. Fill them with water, when you need to remove them drain it out. That would be about 900lbs. Be sure and strap em down. I do this in the winter for traction in snow and ice, rides good. Once we set a 1400lb tractor weight over the ball hitch and I could go through any depth snow I wanted in 2wd only.

 

[RACE427]

Buy a Transfer Flow in the bed fuel tank, carry extra fuel and the weight will smooth out your truck's ride. Have the best of both worlds. Works for us at our school.

 

[sag2]

I carry three or four 50# bags of water softener salt at the tailgate. I have the tonneau cover so it stays out of the weather. It is enough weight to make a considerable difference. They are easily moved to the wheel well area if you need to load something.

 

[Carlsummers]

Last Monday, I put 8 80lb bags of QUICKCREET in the bed of mine, and I was amazed how much more comfortable the truck rode.....

 

[Patriot_RAM]

1. Take the quickcreet out of the bags.

2. Add water

3. Smooth

 

[ohnoitsyu]

1. Take the quickcreet out of the bags.

2. Add water

3. Smooth

And don't forget to scribe your initials and date.

 

[Rider]

Go to the local Lowe's or HomeDepot and ask for "tube sand. " It comes in 50-lb bags and is double-sacked. Easy to move around and won't rust the bed like salt or make funny shapes if it gets wet (concrete).



I've gone with 200-2000 lbs, experimenting, and landed eventually on 600 lbs. I've got a different truck, though.



Best of all, it's cheap... and if you get stuck, it might come in handy for traction.

 

[Bschneider]

Why not buy new shocks that'll soften the ride?

 

[JHardwick]

Why not buy new shocks that'll soften the ride?

This may sound silly to some of you but the ride comfort of my dually unloaded is really harsh on the freeways with epansion joints here in town. I have read nearly every post on this board I could find about ride improvements, I installed the KORE Bilstein 5100 shocks, I have my duals air'd to 45psi, my fronts are around 60psi. I have looked at the full KORE system but do not like the idea of removing the overloads because I tow a heavy fifth wheel, if I did i would have to have airbags in addition. I have looked at Kelderman (too expensive) I have looked at Road Tamer (you have to drill the frame). I also looked at Roadmaster however they do not have an offering for the 2500/3500 yet. I will continue to look until I find something.



In the meantime what can I put in the bed to add some weight and smooth out my truck. Something easily loaded and unloaded for when i am towing. It would be nice if whatever it is could be secured, in case of an accident I would rather not be de-capitated.



Thanks for your help!!!



JJ

 

[Carlsummers]

1. Take the quickcreet out of the bags.

2. Add water

3. Smooth

Would work, but had to pour a small slab for standby generator. Florida and constant availability of electricity just don't happen together.....

 

[Elite1]

I have a large zip up golf travel bag in the far back of the bed, I keep 4-90 lb. bags of gravel in it plus 4 big chains and binders, I use for cinching down equipment I tow. I would guess I have between 500-600 lbs of weight, I also cut a piece of 2x4 so that it keeps the bag from sliding when I hit the brakes... it helps the ride alot on the concrete freeways... if I don't have the weight back their the ride is brutal, the truck really bounces. btw: the asphalt freeways and highways are no problem even with no weight.

 

[dieselpilot1969]

Was there not a guy who actually did that?

 

[_Hyde]

I hauled 2 batteries that weighed about 1,000# each the other day. Much more better ride. I've found that it really doesn't take a bunch of weight to smooth out the ride on these trucks.



Hyde

 

[JimScott]

My truck rides real smooth with 10 bales of hay (about 75# ea).

 

[geusterman]

I think the only reason the KORE Race suggests losing the overloads is for travel offroad. I run the Race with overloads. In fact I have heavier overloads coming. I use spacers to add the camper so overload travel is taken up right away but when empty there is plenty off cycle room. The Fox's with the overloads in place work real well hauling heavy on washboards etc. 5 gallon buckets are handy and securable. George

 

[DMuller]

Adding weight to bed

I used a 21'' tube from a highway truck, clamped the ends with flat bar and filled with sand. Its like a big sauage,doesnt slide around cause its rubber and not to hard to remove when I go to tow my 5ver.

 

[RMarkey]

I agree with the fuel tank if you need it and if it's financially feasible, if not, I use the "tube sand" from Home depot, real cheap, real easy to remove. If you want to get fancy, and you don't plan on moving it much,there is a company I read about somewhere, that has a rubber floor liner that you fill with water and it is made just for adding weight to truck beds. Mostly for winter applications I imagine, but why not all year 'round. And you'd always have water in case of emergency that way. Sorry I don't remember the company or where I saw it, I just remember it and thought it was kinda cool. Personally, I use the sand bags, that way if I'm camping somewhere windy I can also weight my tent down so it doesn't blow around.

 

[10-9jc]

This should be good for an LOL -

Manhole Covers!



Seriously - recall old timey drag racer (Gene Adams)

used manhole covers in back of car "way back when"

for ballast.



Recently saw a story in the paper about a local

city [Hermosa Beach, CA] buying "customized"

manhole covers - had the city logo,

as I recall - from a foundry in So. CA.



Been looking for the name of the foundry (jotted it

somewhere). Can't help wondering if they have

any "seconds".



Flat. Won't use up a lot of bed space.

Have at least one point (hole) to anchor it,

and darn heavy. Maybe a frame of some sort to

keep 'em from sliding around in the bed.

Stand 'em on edge, roll it in - roll it out . . . .

just don't drop on your foot/toes!!



Any city yard folks out there - how much do they

weigh? Good or bad idea?