Should I add weight to bed?

Was wonder if i should add some weight to the bed of my truck? This being the first winter with this truck I want some input on how it handles in the snow with and without weight. I am thinking of getting the Shurtrax thing but sandbags maybe a cheaper alternative.

$60 ShurTrax SHULW0036 LW-0036 All Weather Traction Aid for Auto/SUV, Black

http://www.amazon.com/ShurTrax-LW-0036-Weather-Traction-Auto/dp/B000BV9M9S/ref=dp_cp_ob_auto_title_3

 

It's a personal preference if you want to add weight. If you're overly concerned about gas mileage, you won't want to add the weight (it decreases gas mileage).

I would highly recommend getting yourself a couple sand bags to have just in case. Because afterall - it all depends on YOU and how you expect the truck to handle in the snow. Tires & the conditions also can vary.

I've done both. My truck - with mechanical LSD does great in the snow without weight. For slightly better traction, I will decrease the pressure in the rear tires by a few pounds. Last year was a horrible year here in PA (lots & lots of snow). My stock tires are getting old & thin (30K) and I put weight in the bed last year because the truck is starting to handle differently with worn out tires.

Go to Home Depot or Lowes or other hardware/home center and get some sandbags. The ones I have are about 70lbs each (??) and I've had them for 10 years. They are starting to require some aid from duct tape to prevent the sand from coming out on the corners.

 

Keep it simple...throw a couple hundred pounds of sandbags in the back and call it good

 

How about you just wait till it snows, then fill the bed with SNOW. Then when the snow melts, there is little to no clean up, and it is free! You also get a little bit of a workout!

 

Although it works, Do not buy the ShurTrax it is only good for one year, after that mine kept leaking.

 

I put my Snow Blower in the bed. Then go make some money.

 

About 300lbs in the back will give you excellent traction for the snow and ice. I have some commercial truck brake drums that am going to eyebolt and fill with quickcrete and toss in there. In the past I have taken commercial truck inner tubes and muffler clamped the end and then filled with sand. they wrap nicely around the wheel tubs in the bed and stay put.

Mega chevys and Fords need about 1000lbs+ in the back to be effective, otherwise they are just a big ice skate and why we always end up pulling them out of the ditch. (the curse of the extra long wheelbase)

 

But your garage is wet everyday... And where do you carry anything?

To the OP. I drove my truck with no weight through 6 feet of snow 3 years ago and 8 feet 2 years ago, no problem. But it is a matter of personal preference.

 

i throw my wife in the back of mine lol

 

I carry 6 35lbs sand bags in the back of mine. If you try to keep them closer to the tailgate, they will be more effective vs at the front of the bed. Something to do with the lever effect I think.

 

Definitely sandbags when in snow/ice. I stack mine up right over the axle between the wheel-wells. The Tacos do ok without weight but they do alot better with it.

I'm not sure abou the other poster's "lever effect", that seems like it would make the front lighter = no steering.

 

I doubt 6 sandbags is going to affect the front that much.

 

I have cinder blocks that are filled with concrete. You can add nice handles by bending a piece of rebar and stick it in the wet concrete. They are easy to lift in and out when they are needed. They sit stacked in the garage when the weather is decent.

 

You don't put so much weight in the bed to affect the steering. But, you do need the weight farther back or it doesn't do any good.

 

I do the same thing... 3 70 pound bags...

 

Yeah i think sandbags are the option i will use cheaper and from the sound of it far more useful than a frozen block of ice in your bed

 

just use 4x4 to take off and switch is back before you have to make any turns

 

I did this one year except I didn't fill it myself... it fill itself while it sat in the driveway during a snow storm... I just left it and the stock dunlops with no LSD did just fine.

 

I just recently put 4 60 lb bags in the bed. Made a pretty big difference actually.