Do you put weight in back of your truck?

My personal opinion here, but if conditions are bad enough to be driving in 4 wheel drive, I don't think you'll have to worry about going too fast for the 4 wheel drive. As long as you don't try to turn a sharp corner you'll be fine. Just remember, 4 wheel drive doesn't help you stop one bit.

 

I put six 50 pound bags of gravel from Lowes in the back. I think it really helps.

 

I know 4WD doesn't mean 4 wheel stop, but wouldn't it help a little bit more? I mean, if the front brakes have the majority of the stopping power (and are more powerful than the rear brakes), then wouldn't having the rear wheels linked to the front help? As in, the front brakes are now applying the same force to the rear wheels through the drive shafts, differentials, and rear axle? Just something I've been wondering about for a while since it's always seemed to me that the rear brakes never really do much. At least on my car they don't. I can lock up the brakes and only leave tire marks with the front wheels.

 

Picked up three 50 lb bags of sand this weekend. What are you guys using to keep the bags from moving around? I don't have a bed mat. I'm thinking about using some drawer/shelf liner or something under the bags.

 

Bed mat helped some, but when I had them I didn't have a bed cover. So as soon as any snow or ice got on the bags they slid around like blocks of ice. Even with the bed mat. You'd be better off strapping them down or building a box.

 

I'll build a box - that's a good idea. Does anyone have any plans for one? Need to be able to let the water and snow melt through, or should I just build something with a cover?

 

I hope that somewhere in this thread, someone has told the OP not to use concrete blocks. In the event of an accident - not at all unlikely in winter driving conditions - they can become projectiles and join you in the cab. That's definitely a Bad Thing(tm).

I'm not sure 60 lb bags of sand are much better. I have weight prepared consisting of a Brute box with one tube of sand. I have also made a net of 1/2" nylon rope to hold this box at the back of the bed. (Yes, I know the weight past the rear axle will increase the angular moment of inertia, but I don't think that is necessarily a bad thing, particularly if not carried to excess and I don't plan to use more than 100 lb.) I'm going to see how our Prerunner does with real winter tires on four corners before I consider adding weight. So far with only a light dusting, they have done great! I chose the Rubbermaid Brute to keep the sand dry so I could spread some for additional traction should the need arise.

If you add weight, please consider what is needed to hold it in place in the event of an accident, not just for normal driving. If it shifts during normal driving, it will be annoying. If it shifts during an accident, it could kill you or others.

 

Good point, I can remember years back in a buds 2wd S-10 with studs on the rear, turned the wheel, but truck went straight, and into a tree at about 10 mph. Sacks of sand luckily were against the cab, but futher back could been missiles.

 

I'll be driving to S. Lake Tahoe this weekend, and right now the weather looks like crap. This'll be my first time driving in snowy/icy conditions and I'm pretty nervous. As far as I know CalTrans keeps Hwy 50 pretty clear unless it's snowing while I'm driving in which case I'll be f'ed, but if I get some sand bags where do I put them? Against the cab? I have 4wd but should I get some chains as well?

 

W/ the Dcab, I just put them in the front of the bed behind the cab.

As for driving, take it slow. Namely accelerating and turning the wheel. Give yourself more space between other cars, and when the road is nearing snow covered, put it in 4hi to help prevent the back from fishtailing.

If you can find a safe place like a wide empty back road or big lot, go and play in 2wd and 4wd, get to know the braking, turning, and accelerating limits of the truck.

 

+1!

I can't agree more! Especially the bit about practicing. If you can find a snow covered parking lot without any obstacles to practice turning into the slide, threshold braking, avoiding wheel spin on take off, and countering tail spin you'll be a better driver all around.

Manual guys can start in 2nd instead of 1st to cut down wheel spin, but being an auto you won't have that problem.

Just practice so when you slide or start to spin you instinctively flick the wheel the right way to correct rather than freaking out. And use small movements of the wheel. No just yanking the wheel half a turn as the front wheels will just start sliding and you won't turn.

The ABS on these trucks tends to make the wheels skip like a flat stone over water when you hit snow and the ABS kicks in. So be prepared for that and learn to press hard enough on the brakes to slow down, but not enough to make the ABS engage. I've gotten in such a habit of that I pump my brakes by flexing my toes or rocking my foot back n forth an inch or so even in good weather. Second pedal push always seems to apply more pressure anyway for some reason.

Also, since you're 4wd, if you slide straight instead of turning around a corner you can usually blip the gas and use the front wheels to pull you back around (assuming 4wd is on ).

 

"""" The ABS on these trucks tends to make the wheels skip like a flat stone over water when you hit snow and the ABS kicks in. So be prepared for that and learn to press hard enough on the brakes to slow down, but not enough to make the ABS engage. I've gotten in such a habit of that I pump my brakes by flexing my toes or rocking my foot back n forth an inch or so even in good weather. Second pedal push always seems to apply more pressure anyway for some reason. """""


What??????

 

Yeah. It's annoying as hell. Take your truck now to someplace with loose terrain (snow, ice, sand, gravel will all work), get it up above 10mph and slam on the brakes (like you're supposed to push and hold with ABS) and see what happens.

Driving on a nasty mix of snow and slush I almost slide through several intersections on the way to an interview when the ABS kicked in. And I was coasting under 10mph preparing to stop for stop signs. The brakes locked because of the lack of traction on snow, ABS let the tires roll, brakes grabbed again instantly locking, ABS then released again.... All as ABS *should* be doing to allow you to maneuver while braking, but making it utterly impossible to stop the truck in time. Completely useless and seriously dangerous at the slow of a speed. I ended up turning on the locker to shut off the ABS so I could at least lock the tires up if needed to stop. But the thing is, with the ABS off I can push the pedal further, harder, and stop faster without locking up the brakes so I think the ABS is a bit too sensitive. Also, I left the ABS kill switch on one day before my wife took the truck. She almost gave herself and her mother whiplash tapping the brakes that day. Mind you, she didn't lock the brakes or skid the tires either. The brakes were just that much more powerful. I think I called her and told her about the switch later when I remembered.

I now have an ABS kill switch just for this. Some people say "that's not right! Take it to the dealership!". But LOTS of people on here and TN have described the same situation. A few have gone to the dealer and been told everything's ok and it's normal. So I didn't waste my time and just did the switch.

 

this is my first truck,i do some highway driving so im going to put 70 pounds by each wheel well, i had one sand tube but just picked up another one

 

One weak spot with ABS is WRT loose material on the road. Best braking is achieved when the wheels lock and build up a wedge of loose material which provides traction. Unfortunately ABS detects wheel lock and momentarily releases the brakes, allowing the tire to roll over the wedge and compromising braking. This is one of two select situations where ABS is likely to produce less braking than without. (On ice you may feel like ABS is not applying any braking, but it will apply braking up to the limits of available traction. There just isn't much traction available.)

 

Thanks. That explains it nicely. Where I live there are lots of dirt roads, and "paved" roads they like to slap a layer of oil and gravel over so I deal with a lot of loose material even before winter sets in. Also, I try to offroad when I can.

That also explains why ABS is shut off with the locker I suppose. If you're stuck enough to need it then ABS is probably gonna make things worse.

 

on my way to get some 50lbs sand bags to use on snowy icy road conditions even with 4x4.

 

I got 5x60= 300lbs in sand bags. helps more in 4x4, don't really notice much in 2wd. maybe its not enough weight?

 

I just purchased some this morning. Coming out of my driveway I almost hit the neighbor's car that was parked on the street.

 

hey would rather be safe then sorry i use 2 70 pound bags, im new to trucks so i will see