Weight: How much, what kind, and where

[VicR]

Got about 10-12 inches of the white stuff overnight at my house here. I grew up in Montana so I'm no stranger to snow, but sure didn't expect to see it here in the desert.



Anyway, I've been reading a lot of posts on the dangers of putting weights in the back of the truck, but I'd love to hear some solutions that people have worked out that are safe and effective. Also, how much weight do you need to put in the back to make a difference. I'm thinking not only in the 2wd, but it would be nice to have something in the 4x4 for the times that its a little slick, but not enough to engage the front wheels. And it needs to be something that I can put in and take out by myself when the seasons change.



Thanks,



-Vic

 

[Cummins Thunder]

Why not just use 4WD? You paid for it, why not use it?

 

[VicR]

My concern is that most times the roads around here are only patchy ice. I was under the impression that you were only supposed to use 4wd when they road was slick enough that the wheels could slip. One intersection might be shady and slick, but then a mile of dry pavement...



Am I being overly conservative on using 4x4? How much should I use it on patchy roads?



-Vic

 

[WBusa]

I used tube sand (from Lowes), 500 lbs. worth. The tubes are secured in a frame of 2 x 6 lumber: one in the front of the bed, on edge, from side to side, then butting into that are two 8-footers on edge running front-to-back down the bed just inside of each wheel well, and 2 short ones running side-to-side, bolted into the other two, forming a box just big enough to hold the tubes over the rear axle. The bottom of the box is plywood, drilled with drain holes and glued & screwed into the 2x6s. The top is also plywood, screwed down. The whole thing is held down by ratchet straps attached to tie-downs in the bottom of the bed, fore and aft. Takes about 10 minutes to set up in the fall, another 10 minutes to uninstall in the spring.



The extra weight makes a huge difference in handling in the snow. The setup is secure enough that any accident that would send it into the cab would have already killed the occupants before it even began to move.

 

[jgillott]

No Vic, you are not being too conservative with your 4x4 system. In fact, I have always used mine in much the same way. I don't like to keep the transfer case engaged on roads that have considerable bare spots unless absolutely necessary. Now if the roads are consistantly icy or snow covered, engaging the transfer case may be the best choice.



I don't know how your 4x4 is in the snow, but mine is, and has been since it was new, totally helpless. I'm not sure what the issue is, but without ballast in the bed, it simply will not go anywhere even in 4x4. All of my friends here have quad cab CTD's and they seem to do quite well. I'm assuming that the additional weight from the cab and the differing wheel base, must be factors in their increased comfort in the snow.



As far as ballast goes, I carry 8 60# tube bags of sand contained within a 2x4 frame. Specifically, the bags are layed side to side beginning approximately 2ft from the front of the bed and ending about a foot from the taligate. I had the bags in last year without the frame, and I was constantly crawling in the bed to reset them in the center of the bed. With the frame, they have stayed in place since I put them in at the beginning of November.



Justin

 

[DEickhoff]

Here in Kodiak we get more ice then snow. When that happens I put my 4wheeler in the back tied down. This gives me about 500-600lbs. This makes the truck more managable and driveable in questionable conditions. I do not use studs or chains on the wheels.



dawna

 

[GO 4LO]

I built a small frame that mounts between the wheelwells and chain it to the lower tie-downs in the back of the bed. Put around 950 lbs of gravel behind it aft of the rear axle. After it snowed, I shoveled snow into the bed until it was filled up, then wet it down with water till it was starting to get slushy. Probably 2000 lbs or so overall. Made it through our 12" of snow without using 4wd...

Chris

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

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[ak_fleming]

I've been reading a lot of posts on the dangers of putting weights in the back of the truck

Isn't that what our trucks were made for?



At the beginning of the winter I just throw six railroad ties in the back, the weight helps keep the back end of the truck from trying to become the front end. As far as using 4-wheel drive, I use it whenever in doubt of the road condition.

 

[JLEONARD]

I have a 2wd and I put 10 cement blocks in the bed between the wheel wells, secured by a simple 2x4 and furring strip frame. Cement blocks make hardly any mess and are easy (fairly light) to remove if I need the bed space.

Last year with 4 highway tread tires I did "ok".

This year I just put on 2 Cooper Discoverer M&S studded tires on the back and I had no problems whatsoever in our first snow this season.

Plus ... . sparky burnouts are a bonus!! :-laf

 

[CaseySmith]

I put a 55 gallon drum full of water in. Put it in empty... fill it up... . and when you need to take it out you just drain it. It is very easy to do, but don't forget a little antifreeze if it gets real cold, it will freeze. I think water weighs about 8 pounds a gallon multiply that by 55 gallons and you have about 450 pounds.

 

[WBusa]

At the risk of being obvious, or annoying, or repeating previous threads, I need to speak up against unsecured loads in the bed (55 gallon drums, railroad ties, etc. , unless well-secured). Several years ago with my old ricer truck I just threw bags of sand in the back in winter, unsecured. Got into an accident once... minor, except for the frozen-solid bags of sand going airborne and one of them darn near taking my head off on its way through the cab and out the windshield. Once you've seen that happen you'll not ride again with an unsecured load. Yes, sure, we all do it sometimes, but when you're talking winter weight over the wheels you're talking a load that's back there 24/7, for months on end, during the most hazardous driving period of the year. Very different kettle of fish from throwing a dozen sheets of drywall in the back for a 20 minute ride home from Lowes... and much higher probability that the durn things will kill you. WHATEVER kind of weight you use, PLEASE secure it! Your kids/wife/mother/whatever will thank you, as will the paramedic who doesn't have to scrape your brains off of the road. No foolin, guys.

 

[JLEONARD]

WBusa...

Don't appologize to me ... ya got my attention last year. I mended my ways cause you pointed out the obvious (to me)!!

Jay

EDIT add. . the reason in addition to what you said was that one day on the way home from work in the middle of summer there was a car a few hundred feet in front of me that swerved to the median, then at almost 90 degrees went into and a little over the barracade and started down the embankment... ended upside down against a tree.

I stopped as did others and ran to help.

Driver was fine although dazed... . but he was a lucky SOB... . he had 3 loose 5 gallon pails of joint compound the were splattered all over the interior... . but didn't hit him!!

Made an impression on me for sure. But I'm easy.

"Hope you feel lucky... . well do ya?"

Jay

 

[Forrest]

Got about 10-12 inches of the white stuff overnight at my house here. I grew up in Montana so I'm no stranger to snow, but sure didn't expect to see it here in the desert.



Anyway, I've been reading a lot of posts on the dangers of putting weights in the back of the truck, but I'd love to hear some solutions that people have worked out that are safe and effective. Also, how much weight do you need to put in the back to make a difference. I'm thinking not only in the 2wd, but it would be nice to have something in the 4x4 for the times that its a little slick, but not enough to engage the front wheels. And it needs to be something that I can put in and take out by myself when the seasons change.



Thanks,



-Vic

Hey Vic ... wasn't that something? :--) About 3:30 in the morning, our patio cover buckled in the middle. :{ That wet stuff in combo with what fell in the days before ... . Anyway, I use 4wd w/o weight in the back & am really stable. Ice or un-plowed, works great. Where the roads into Reno have been a combo of clear & un-plowed or icy, I just leave it in 4wd. No problemo yet.

 

[DCaswell]

That sur trax would turn into a 340lb missile in an accident, especially here in the great white north. Warmed up to 0f today. Would also be a pia if you need to carry anything in the truck.

 

[WBusa]

Don't appologize to me ... ya got my attention last year. I mended my ways cause you pointed out the obvious

I know the thread you're talking about, Jay, but that wasn't me... different driver, different incident. Just goes to show how common such incidents are. Anyway, glad to know yer keepin it screwed down tight these days.

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

That sur trax would turn into a 340lb missile in an accident, especially here in the great white north. Warmed up to 0f today. Would also be a pia if you need to carry anything in the truck.

I guess you missed the whole POINT of sur trax.



LW-0048 (Price: $99. 99) This 56" x 48" x 3" product (40" between wheel wells) fits Compact-Size Pickup Trucks (short & long bed). When filled with water it adds 270lbs of weight to aid in various driving conditions. When strapped down (grommet holes provided) this product answers the safety concerns of current devices such as sandbags, concrete blocks, and other potential projectiles. In Step-side Pickups, simply fold ears under before filling.

 

[MThorn]

We used to have a guy here selling conveyer belting from a mine somewhere . it was a good inch thick, rubber with half inch steel cables running through it, he cut it to fit truck boxs, it made an industrial strenght bed mat plus added a lot of weight! its the best weight I have seen for a truck box. I have also seen guys take a stack of used grader blades cut to length and bolt them up under the frame of their truck.

Monk

 

[VicR]

Originally Posted by VicR

I've been reading a lot of posts on the dangers of putting weights in the back of the truck

Isn't that what our trucks were made for?



Sorry - should have said 'unsecured' weight. I was reading a post - can't remember if it was tdr or dtr, about a member who hit a tree and had all of the unsecured weight in his bed join him in the cab. Messed him up pretty good too.



Forrest - that was a pretty impressive snowfall for Reno. I did get a chance to go play in the 97 a bit Friday morning. Did pretty good in 4x4, but not much go in 2hi. Let me know if you need help with the patio cover!



-Vic

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

don't forget a little antifreeze

Make sure you are using either a non-toxic form of anti-freeze or disposing of it safely. Most anti-freeze is VERY toxic and sweet tasting to wildlife and pets.