traction weights in bed: how to keep them put?

In the winter I like to put 250-300lbs of tube sand (or similar) in the bed to aid in traction.

The problem is even with the bed mat, the tubes won't stay put. They'll move around when climbing/descending hills and while braking.

Does anyone have a solution to keep them put that doesn't entail drilling into that nice composite bed of mine?

Thanks,
Dave

 

Just use 4x4 if the roads are bad enough... I know it's not what you're looking for but that's what I do. If you must have weights, just use 45lbs exercise plates, they will not move on rubber bed mat.

 

Make a wood frame or D ring Bed MOD + really good straps.

 

x2 on 4x4 haha.

get a few bags of play sand. idk what tubes of sand are. the bags will stay put pretty well. plus there are tie down points near the rear of the bed you can use

 

Its close to 90 here today Dave, you must be planning early?

A couple of 2x4s sandwiching the sand tubes keep them from sliding under the tonneau for me.

 

I use steel tractor weights with a rubber mat and don't have problems with them sliding around. If you're set on using sand tubes, build a wood frame for the sand at the front of the bed and a kicker going back to the tailgate so they can't slide.

 

You're right. It got down to ~45 two nights ago, which made me start thinking about firewood, traction weights, and whether the winch on my snow plow still works. But yeah, it's hot as hell right now.

 

me and dad built a box that fit around the wheel wells and i used big patio stones last winter. ratchet strapped them down so they wont fly forward in the event of a roll over, and those suckers didnt move an inch. i had to use a pry bar to get it out cuz it was frozen and jammed between the wheel wells.

 

Get an expandable cargo load bar...about $15 at WalMart. It's a screw-type - like shower curtain rod only a lot more range - so it's not as convenient as the lever-clamp types. But it's a lot less expensive and works just great! Holds my sand bags in place real nice.

 

+1 on ratchet bar. I have a large equipment box that I keep in the back. It keeps the box from sliding forward with/wo bed mat.

 

Thanks for all the responses. It sounds like I need to decide between building a wood frame, using cargo bars, or doing the D-ring mod with straps.

Decisions decisions....

Luckily I have a couple of months until it snows.

 

Cargo bar is inexpensive, quick, and versitile.

 

Good find on the cargo bar at WW. Wasn't aware of that.

For my sandbags, I wrap them in a garbage bag to seal them from the weather, but that makes them slippery. The solution was to tape Non-Slip Shelf/Drawer Liner to them. The have moved only 3 times on me, and all 3 of those times were when I slammed on the brakes on dry pavement to avoid a collision (even the ABS kicked in on the dry pavement). Otherwise, they stay put over bumps, hills, etc.

 

a wood box would be a good idea between the wheel wells, then you can hide/protect the weights your using with a cover on it or something.

 

Cool pics. You guys down in Southern NJ got dumped on a few times last year.

Yeah, I have studded snow tires and chains. The purpose of the added weight is ballast for snow plowing and also so I can use 2wd in situations where I'd prefer 4wd but don't want to risk binding up the drivetrain. A classic example is pavement that has spotty ice and snow coverage, with lots of corners. Traction is iffy for the most part, but the tires would occasionally "grab" in 4wd when you don't want them to.

 

I got through Montana winter on iced covered roads with nothing but stock tires and 4x4. Almost lost it on a nice day hitting black ice going 70mph on highway but VSC saved me.

 

For my '96 Tacoma, I built a box about the width of the bed, that was about 7" high and about 7" deep (looked sort of like someone would make for a garden planter). I poured it full of concrete and embedded a steel eye bolt in each end. In the winter I set it in the bed and hooked the eye bolts to the tie down points in the bed.

You could put it in the forward or the back of the bed. As I recall, it weighed a bit over 100 lb.

That will work, but I have since learned that it's not worth it. The truck goes fine in 4-wheel drive in pretty deep snow.