Bed Weighting for Winter Traction

I've got 3 bags of sand (70lbs each) that I use and have owned for 9 years now. I've used them on several trucks. Last year I used them in my 07 taco. I've always used them for safety sake as I've never doubted the tacomas abilities in snow. They do give the truck a more stable feel on the slick stuff.

This year, I'm not gonna use 'em. The extra 210lbs does suck up gas mileage when you're driving it around for 3 months.

So, we'll see how it goes. I'll have to adapt my driving habits knowing the weight won't be there.

Note - I have a nice grippy bed mat that keeps the sand bags in place (over the axle). Without the bed mat, those sand bags shift to the front of the bed.

 

Agreed! I had 3x60lb bags in the first year I had the truck. When they slid up against the cab it was like they weren't even there. Keeping them back against the tailgate had a small effect at least (probably needed more, close to 300lbs maybe).

 

You're just a post whore. That's all.

 

This is really a recipe for loss of control. Think slingshot. Any weight needs to be as near center of balance as possible so that, in a slide it doesn't take control of the vehicle. Put 100# just in front of the rear axle, find a large icy parking lot, and do something stupid at 20 mph to start a slide. If the front end "plows" but the rear is squirrelly, move the weight back a few inches; if the back end swings around and takes the front end with it, move the weight forward a few inches. If you try this without weight and find your truck is as perfectly balanced as possible, and you still want a bit more traction that can't be gained with a change of tires, make sure any weight you add is at the center of gravity. By the way, do this test before you put on studded tires.

 

If you worried about the stuff cracking, you could try getting crazy and do stuff with rebar or whatnot.

To prevent the rope from going bad, there's stuff made from plastic, or there's braided steel cable.

Not sure what the weight to size is, but what about treated lumber? We always had old railroad ties in the yard to fence off flowerbeds, and they are 20+ years old.

another option might be steel I-beams, stuff like that

EDIT: alright, my ideas do eliminate some bed space Didn't think of that

 

That's why we have 4*4, if it gets questionable - lock it in!!

 

I have that too, and the 60lb bags I had slid around anyway. Got a little moisture in the bag somehow so the sand froze and they became chucks of ice sliding/rolling around the bed. Can't remember if I had my bed cover on at the time or not.

 

Do you really need to add more weight? Do you really want to increase your fuel consumption with gas selling at record highs? I've managed two nasty winters (nasty like only a few would know) with nothing in the bed. I switch to 4WD when I need some insurance or else I ease up on the accelerator and brake pedal and life goes on.

 

What is this snow you speak of? Stop talking in cryptic toungues.

 

Isn’t the point of having a 4 wheel drive to avoid having to do things like load the bed with concrete or install tire chains?

 

http://www.tacomaworld.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/2294/cat/500/ppuser/112 5 times a day, everyday on a good day.

 

Because every little bit helps.... It's for safety really.

I personally don't ever worry about the trucks capabilities. It's the *overall winter package* that I prepare for. Having the extra weight makes the truck feel more sturdy, easier for engine braking, helps keep the ass-end in track (following the front end), and peace of mind.

 

use sand bags. people have been using them for a long time for several reasons. usually two 30 pounders in the very back right up against the tailgate is more than enough, if you put them in there when they are warm, they'll mold to the bed and not move around too much.

-They are cheap
-they are easy to find/make
-if you get stuck in snow or ice, you can rip one open and grab some sand or gravel from it to get you un-stuck.
-they don't weigh too much.
-they are easy to get rid of, or store in the summer time.

If you are on an icy road, more weight makes it harder to stop. the concrete looks like a waste of time, money and fuel, plus you'll have these concrete blocks kicking around for the rest of the year.

plus you live in the states how much snow could you possibly get in a year, 12 inches? Where live, it's not uncommon for it to snow up to two or three feet in one night during the winter, and the lines on the roads are only visible from around May until the end of October.

 

Instead of buying a big roll of wire mesh, use metal coat hangers.

 

Well I guess I should see how this whole 4X4 thing works in the snow first. The nice thing about the Subaru symmetrical AWD was that I just threw my studded snow tires on and drove like I did all year round. I saw plenty of trucks and SUVS off the road and flipped on the way to work. These people are the weekenders and tourists afterall and probably don't know what all the fancy buttons do in their Jeeps and Land Rovers. It's really fun to see the employees and locals of the mountain race around in their Metro beaters and 2WD trucks all winter long. Those are the GOOD winter drivers there. The priority of me having to be at work (or play) increases as the weather gets "worse." I say that subjectively because you will never here me bitch about snow on the roads because if it's on the roads it's probably on the mountain!

I do like the idea of sand because I can always spread it down for traction. Kitty litter or gravel also.

 

If you are 4x4 I wouldn't worry about putting anything in the bed. As long as you don't drive crazy you will be fine. Hell I drove my old X-Runner in about 4 inches of snow on stock summer tires and it was fine. (not something I would want to do on a daily basis)

 

Weight in the back is more for when your in 2wd. Honestly, with snow tires, you'll get around fine in 2wd. Its just you can go faster, less tail wagging, and pass easier w/ 4wd. Your truck should easily handle the biggest Pittsburg dump w/o issue.... Just get out early and avoid the all the lux SUVs which may have all the 4wd gizmos but no grip w/ their fat performance tires.

 

I have come to conclusion that it is more the "gizmo" behind the wheel that has to do with it. I drove past all of these people with a RWD BMW in one blizzard and shot past a stand still line up the hill to the gate. Buddy at work drove his WS6 TransAm year round. We had to push him out of Dead Man's Bend one year but it wasn't terrible