adding weight to you truck for winter traction & how much

OP - do you have a bed mat?

If so - just throw 3 of these between your wheel wells...they won't slide.

http://m.homedepot.com/p/Quikrete-60-lb-Tube-Sand-115960/100318522

Like someone mentioned...if needed, you can open a bag for sand for extra traction.

I keep a small river dry bag full of kitty litter in my truck all winter.

 

I've run with 4-60lb sand socks since I've had my truck. They do help. Use a 2x4 frame to keep em in place over the axle

 

If you get into an accident objects in the back of you truck don't move parallel with the bed of the truck. In a crash the front of the truck dives down toward the ground and the back of the truck rises up. Objects in the the bed move in an arc. Sifficent speed and you can launch objects through the back window.

Another thing to consider is (depending where you live) sandbags can freeze solid so you now have a 20lb piece of concrete in the back.

Forum member Jet123 suguested rubber horse mats, a safe practical way to add weight without using up space in the back of your truck.

 

The idea of sand bags is three fold in rear of the truck.

1)Soften the suspension so it is a little more compliant to keep wheels in contact like when going over rough ice
2) balance the weight distribution so that it is just that: more balanced. Helps keep the backend from breaking free and is more balanced in recovery.
3) sand can be used as traction material for you or anyone you assist in getting them going.

The amount of sand you use is sort of "tuning" your ride to suit your preference. For example: Depending on you lift - to soften the ride you may need a little more than you would use if your suspension was stock.

if it movement is a concern use ratchet straps, other than that it is a truck- just toss them in back.

 

From a fellow up upstate NY'er here...DO NOT RELY ON SAND TUBES FOR EXTRA TRACTION.(in an open bed)

DO NOT believe what you are reading about using the sand bags as extra traction! If you leave those bags in your bed, they get covered with snow....which then melts, which then freezes and turns your 80 lb sandbag into a 80 lb chunk of solid ice. It happened to me once. Breaking up frozen sand is like breaking apart concrete. If you are going to use sand bags, place them inside a tote or some other waterproof container (which then takes up 1/2 of your bed space).

My suggestion? Take it easy on the turns and use 4x4 whenever practical. It takes some getting used too driving a rear wheel drive car again. I do miss my AWD Ford Escape sometimes. 8*(

 

http://www.shurtrax.com/default.aspx

 

Grew up near Buffalo, and now live in Milwaukee...Never added weight to my trucks, though I do prefer going sideways!

Though I should mention it screwed me one time. I had an '80s S-10 with a 350 swapped that I had to get towed 70 feet. I literally paid $1 per foot.

 

There's so much over thinking and butt hurt in this thread.

Do our trucks NEED the extra weight? No. Does it help traction? Immensely.

As stated somewhere above, sandbags won't kill you in an accident. There's no substitute for fresh tread on good winter tires, but you need weight on them for traction. I have around 500 pounds in my bed at all times and can drive in 2wd where 4wd would be necessary without that weight. I still use 4wd when it's appropriate. Having power to the front helps you steer, and if you downshift 4wd helps you slow down faster with more control.

Also, dropping 5 pounds or so of air from your tires will help them grip better.

Tire chains are great when you're in dangerous conditions, such as icy mountain passes. Driving fast with chains is a terrible idea, so don't count on using them often.

I regularly commute in conditions that many folks on this forum would consider a big day of offroading (there are also many here who do what I do regularly). Be wary of the advice coming from those who drive in a little snow a few days per year.

Slow down, give yourself room to slide to a stop (ABS will try to kill you at some point), run winter tires, and put a couple hundred pounds of weight in the bed. If the sand gets soaked and freezes, it will melt in the spring - or you could not be a cheap ass and buy the dry bags of sand in waterproof bags.

 

We sell these mainly to utility, cell tower, and other remote crews who get stuck beyond tow capabilities. Easy to install, they spin/grab, spin/grab to help you crawl to solid ground - not for driving any distance. They also have an extension arm to help the wheel get up out of the muck. Customers have been happy with them.

 

All that's needed is a good set of tires, which have positive reviews for snow and ice traction, still with at least 4/32s of tread remaining and a light foot. When it snows - clear most of the snow from the truck bed, but leave a 1-2 inch. That is usually sufficient enough weight to prevent my rear from feeling like it wants to come around. Sandbags are PITA IHMO, LOL.

 

I don't. I feather the throttle for traction

 

You have 4wd, not 4 wheel stop.

You don't need weight, you need grip from proper winter tires made for use on pavement.

And a driver using mastery over their vehicle.

They will help you go more than weight. They will help you stop better, and weight can make stopping worse.

Keep in mind there are really no all season tires. There are 3 season tires and winter tires.

Certain popular offroad tires may do well in deeper fresh snow on pavement and do very well in snow offroad. But they will never do as well on icy roads, nor stopping, as winter tires.

Just think about all the winter pile up video you see on the news every winter. How much havoc is reeked from not being able to go compared to not being able to stop?

 

4/32 is the legal minimum, not what works best. Run that shit in the summer, not when your life literally depends on it.

I'm out. These threads irritate me because suddenly everyone who read about driving in snow once is an expert screaming to be heard.

 

OP asked a simple question. Weight can help in some situations, so he's asking what everyone uses. I found my sweet spot to be around 200 lbs over the axle. When i pick up sand/salt from my town barn, i might keep it in the bed (with tonneau on). I dont always have it in there, but if i have to go down my driveway in some slick conditions, which is very steep, the weight helps. I have some bags of sand i might throw in. Now people will chime in about added weight and stopping. My first goal in getting down my driveway is not slipping first of all. it helps me, thats all that matters

 

The wonder if the people concerned about weight and stopping distance ever fill their gas tank. Seems like leaving it at or below 1/4 tank of fuel would be safer.

 

I don't understand why you would position the weight over the axle vs placing it as far to the rear as possible. Wouldn't placing it further back make more of an impact for traction?

 

Adding weight rear of the axle magnifies the rear end starting to come out of line.

 

Don't air down your tires unless your driving off-road. On the road you want a skinnier tire to cut through the snow to better traction below, aired down will float and provide less traction. Just take it slow and get good tires, 4x4 when needed and be smart. Better to arrive late but alive.

 

I agree with your point about tire pressure. After 25 years of driving in snow, I've always thought skinny tires are better. It wasn't until joining this forum that I kept hearing to air down in the winter. I dropped mine to 28/29psi and after a couple 4 inch snow falls, I'm going back up to 35. Not a HUGE difference, but I feel much more comfortable at normal pressure vs less.

 

Keep your tank full. It's "free" weight. Personally, I've never added weight to my trucks. Snow tires are the way to go. They can turn a 2WD rig into a very capable vehicle. They can make a 4x4 even more capable. But the laws if physics still apply. Reduced traction makes physics even more tricky. 4x4 guys....I'm talking to you!! Never be lulled into a false sense of security by the capability of your rig....real or perceived.

Regardless of your truck and it's setup....there is no substitute for experience and common sense.

OP....a couple of hundred pounds in the bed can't hurt. Best to secure it if you can. Also, keep the weight no further back than the axle. The more weight you place south of the axle the more you increase the likelihood of the rear stepping out on you in a fast maneuver situation. Traction control can't overcome the laws of physics either.