How many lbs do you put in your bed for winter driving?

Just got my 2018 SBOR but hoping with the Undercover Ultra flex cover, 2 sets of Fire Dept turnout gear, airpack and rope rescue gear that will be more than enough extra weight. Should be over 300lbs

 

This one made me LOL literally!

 

I have 4 70-pound tubes of sand in mine. It helps quite a bit, but you still have to be careful.

 

Just my ice fishing gear. . But honestly I used to throw sand bags in the back but it’s not needed with all the traction control now, also the truck is pretty balanced as is. It’s the most sure footed vehicle I have ever driven other than my AWD bmw 3 series with winter tires. Just yesterday I watched a Minnesota state trooper, and another pickup truck spin out and go in the ditch in front of me on the interstate. The Tacoma traction started making noise (which pretty much warns you that you are on ice) I let off the gas and the truck stays straight as an arrow. Honestly this truck is a machine in winter. I’ve driven it in 3 winters now in really nasty conditions and I’ve never felt like it was going to let me down it’s saved my butt more times than I can count.

 

Lol

 

This much weight. Not debatable.

 

driving pickups for 30 yrs, never put nothing in bed, not needed, thats whats the 4-wheel drive is for,,, put it in before you fly off the road, so many people think they dont need to put it in 4-wheel drive, there the ones you see in the ditch or off the highway stuck,, too late then.. too funny

 

Changing the tumbnail pic...

 

I am really suspicious of this. The videos I have seen online are of a Jeep Cherokee which is known for terrible rear brakes. In my old Cherokee it's not possible to lock up the rear tires. In that 4x4 helped a ton stopping because it balanced the front and rear stopping power. I would like to see this same test in a modern vehicle like the Tacoma with good rear brakes.

 

Yup that's the terrible example. That video is essentially showing a a vehicle braking all 4 tires stops better than a vehicle braking only the front two tires.

 

All depends on YOUR usage and needs. 4WD won't totally keep the rear end from slipping, sliding or fishtailing. If YOUR driving habits and conditions require some weight, add it. It won't hurt anything. And may prevent something. Personally, I agree with putting a tube over each wheel.

 

I drove in 6 inches of snow today nothing in the back of bed I have a cover on though. And it did fine

 

6 tubes of 60lb tube sand. Plus snow tires. I did this for every truck I have driven in Northern Mi.

 

The other thing...I would strap them together and have them sorta locked in over the rear wheels in the bed.

 

Foot of snow today, no weight In bed, no problem. Been no weighting it for 40 years.

 

One thing to consider, I only used 4x4 when extremely bad conditions. Normal snow, ice I left in 4x2 and relied on tube sand and snow tires. Your mileage will differ but in Northern mi I swear by it. Snows go on nov 1st. Come off April 15th.

 

Also drove like an old person.

 

I use a ShurTrax water bladder that fills up the bed with about 300lbs of water in it. I have used this bag since 2010 when I bought my 2wd F150. my Taco is the 4th truck it has been used in. I do have 4wd and Nitto Terra Grapplers and 28 years of driving experience. Up until today I have never needed 4wd in anything. we got hammered with about 13" of snow yesterday/today. I had to use 4wd just to get out of my own driveway. and my driveway is flat. 2wd simply wouldn't get it done today.

 

I usually run (3) 70 lb bags of sand. Necessary to have because i don't want to stay in 4 wheel drive when the roads are only slick in some spots. And if there is a snow flake on the ground with 2wd and no weight in the rear the tires want to slip, and that is with good snow tires.

 

I love how everyone says they don’t need additional weight because they have a 4x4 or know how to drive in the snow with x years of experience... That’s great for you, however for those that are “new” to snow and especially ice, they probably should add some weight to the back of their truck if they don’t have dedicated snow tires. Yes experience is probably one of the biggest factors for driving safe in the winter, but if “some” weight helps a 2x4 truck why not put some in a 4x4 if actually in winter conditions.