Adding weight for winter?

I did a quick search and didn't find anything, so this is the first truck I've ever owned. I have the TRD OR DCSB. I'm wondering...do you all add weight in the bed for winter, or just use 4WD when you need to?

If you add weight, just sand bags, or something more fancy?

Don't beat me up! LOL

 

Stone bags. They don’t get as waterlogged when wet.

Or get a set of sliders, and some skids.

 

Most of your weight is over the front axle. This means it is very easy (compared to a car or SUV) to break the rear tires loose.

For sure you will want to plan on weight in the bed if this is your first truck.

I use sandbags because when I’m done with them I just dig the sand into my garden in the Spring and I’m not trying to store old patio stones etc.

Also, as soon as you get the first snow, take the truck to an empty parking lot and do some donuts. Well, try to break loose and then try to recover. Carefully. It’s fun and will teach you when the truck is going to break loose and how to recover.

I’ve had the truck swing the rear end on a patch of ice in heavy traffic and recover fast with no accident because of my instinctuve reaction gained from playing in snow.

Good luck. Have fun.

Go Browns!

 

Just eat a butt load of little Debbie snacks, cheese cake, and eat at McDonald’s every day. You’ll be fine!

 

Thanks. How much weight should I add?

 

I have that part covered!

 

Thanks. I have a tonneau cover, so that won't be an issue. That said, I have literally TONS of landscape rock that I'm going to remove from my landscaping. Any ideas on bags to use for that?

 

I noticed snow traction significantly improve after adding a rear cap. And that's only around 300lbs fully loaded.

 

I have driven Tacomas since 96 & have never added weight. Live in Mass. & we get snow. As the previous poster said, just get used to how your truck feels in the snow. Tires make all the diff.

greenpants....mike

 

You mean like with extra cheese?

Any type of nylon bags. Or just double, triple up on some glad hefty bags. Keep it from breaking/tearing from the winter cold. I would use nylon bags myself.

 

I use 4, 30 kg (66 lb) bags. YMMV

 

5 gal buckets?

 

Man, those will slide around like a ho in heat...

 

That’s why you tie them in...

 

Bed mat

 

The few times I have felt like I needed top add weight over my 22 years of Tacoma ownership, I just shoveled the snow from my driveway into the bed as it adds considerable weight and goes away on it'd own as weather improves.

 

Not sure how they roll them, but I’ve see where they use chicken wire fence and make rolls (sand bag alternative)
They must wrap the stones 3-4 time then wire tie it together along with folding the ends so everything stays inside

 

My taco goes places in 2wd that my old 2004 crew cab diesel chevy never dreamed of. If you have a posi rear end then I wouldn't worry. If the conditions are slick at all I run 4wd just to exercise it. If you save 4wd for the blizzard it won't engage when you need it the most. Even in summer when the roads are wet I put it in for a long straight away down from my house. All of these actuators etc need to be used. My buddy went two years in his ford without using 4wd... When he hit the switch in a blizzard? Nothing!

 

Smart Man , Keep things simple , I like your thinking.

greenpants....mike

 

They are less manageable and take up more room than bags.