Snow and Winter help

Just get a good ol flatbed that weighs 1500 pounds and some dick cepek mud countries. Never had any issues in Iowa with it. And you bed becomes much more usable. But I know for most its unpractical.

 

looks like I'll be buying a few sand bags and finding a way to secure them so they don't slide around

 

Good idea, I've carried sand bags in the back of most of my trucks for ~40 years- from Home Depot, Fleet Farm or Farm and Fleet, etc. Have an ARE topper and by the time I build a sleeping platform and pull out drawers in the back will not need the sand bags. Right now have a pair of new raw steel sliders in the back, and the damn rear sags so will be putting air bags on it. Spent some time using a wire wheel and brushes cleaning up the rust\welds on one of the sliders today but it started to rain and then turned to snow, it is that time of year.... I have several friends that just leave the snow in the bed all year for extra weight, but you would have to be a bit further North for that.

 

Your truck weighs over 4000 lbs... It doesn't need weight. Don't drive like a dipstick and you'll be fine

 

Well isn't that helpful... These trucks are light in the rear end. You obviously have never traveled an icy highway with gusting winds...

 

My leer cap works good for me. Didn't always have one but weight does help a bunch. Can't wait for winter wheelin'!

 

I thought it was a weight distribution thing like more weight in the front end of the truck vs. less in the back end. Am I wrong?

 

Exactly right. The Tacoma has a light rear end.

 

I've got a buddy that takes trips up to Cleveland Ohio in the winter and he says a lot of hardware type stores sell 80 pound sand bags for a few bucks and that works great.

 

I use

KONIG XB-16 255 Snow chains, set of 2

These and 3 bags of sand from Lowes over the axle. It doesn't snow much down here but we tend to get more ice storms which makes for shit driving. Got around just fine this last winter and then in March in Colorado it snowed every day we were out there.

DC PreRunner BTW.

 

the more weight you add the more weight you have to stop!

I use 4x4 a lot when it is icy instead of carrying extra weight, I do have a cap though.

 

rubbermaid tubs with sand inside u can always open the lid and get some out when u need to strap them down somehow u dont want a 50 lb projectile in the case of an accident.i have a trailer mat that is 5/8 thick and weighs 80 lbs two of those would make a difference and still have the bed to use

 

Okay thanks for the replies looks like it's sand bags and figuring out a way to stabilize them in the truck. appreciate your help all.



Hey if I leave the truck right there at my age I can dunk a basketball.

 

couple bags of sand over the wheels and snow tires. works well.

 

You don't need weight, you need to learn your vehicle in different conditions.

I always find an area during our first snow storm to get used to winter again. Donuts, power slides, drifts ect.

Learn the limits, and don't drive like a dick head. Theses trucks are some if the best in the snow, even with street tires, but don't let it go to your head. If you use your truck, your weight changes. The worst driving will be when it's empty, so get used to driving it that way.

 

This. X100.
I'm in central NY. Lots of snow and ice. Never had weight of any kind in my 1988PU, 2000 Extracab Tacoma, 2002 Tundra or 2012 DCSB Tacoma. Learn to drive it. You'll never regret it.

 

x 1

Yep

Couple of my sand tubes from last year got rips, so I dumped them in a rubbermaid tub with lid and strapped in place. That's how I'll roll this winter.

 

My camper shell and sleeping platform give me plenty of weight in the back

 

Got stuck today trying to get outta the parking lot at work after the truck sat for 14 hours .
Brand spanking new [FONT=&quot]P265/65R17[/FONT]- Goodyear Ultra grip Ice WRT Winter tires with Studs , no weight in the box yet .
The truck was in 4x4 and i was gentle on the throttle .The tires froze into the ground and I was able to break free and moved about 3 feet but then the tires started spinning and I was going nowhere .
I havnt installed my 3/4 inch steel plate in the truck box .
I was hoping for better results from one of the best rated winter tires but with little to no weight in the rear , I was screwed and had to put my tire chains on .
I will pass on more info about these tires throughout the winter but I will admit I am not too impressed so far

 

DO NOT use anything that you wouldn't want coming through the back window if you took a header into a ditch or a head-on collision (metal weights, cement blocks etc) Use Sand, kitty litter, or even gravel.

And for all the posts saying you don't need extra weight.... extra weight over the rear tires improves traction. There is no question about that. Do you absolutely need it? No. Can you drive for years without needing a seatbelt? Sure. For $20 worth of sand, if you could improve your traction (and thus safety), why wouldn't you?