Add weight to back really help in snow?

I have a 4x4 Tacoma V6 and we have been getting a lot of snow the other night i was coming home from work and i have to cross a mountain going up the mountain was fine in 4 wheel drive but when i went down the mountain the back end of the truck kept sliding around on me, i was only going about 2 mph but i think there was ice under the snow.

Would adding a few bags of sand to the back help solve this? If so how many pounds? It is a regular cab with goodyear wrangler tires i think they are all season (31x10.5R15LT)

I'll be needing a new set of tires by next winter. I only use my truck anymore for bad weather, towing, moving stuff etc so i think i will get snow tires next time any suggestions?

 

I use weight and think it helps quite a bit. I have 3 70lb sand tubes now, but in a pinch you could always just shovel a bunch of snow into the back. But your example sounds like one of those where not much of anything can help.

 

There's a recent thread about this. Not hating on you, just FYI.

I'm kind of a fan. Made a big difference with my old 2wd Nissan pick-up. Might be overkill for my OR Taco. I think it might help make your rear end behave better, if that's your issue. It won't work miracles. Being in OK - ice is actually a problem we deal with a fair bit. Most of our winter precip seems to be sleet/freezing rain. As I said - i could tell a huge difference in my old Nissan, so I've always done it. I use 40lb bags of compost or topsoil. 2-4 bags. In the spring I can always find a use for the dirt...

Since I'm in OK - I don't have much snow tire experience/advice. Happy with my Revo 2s though.

 

Search " Do you add weight " there is about 20 pages of debate on this subject there

The answer is yes it helps if you ask me though

 

Absolutely.

I live in the Inland NW and deal with my fair share of snow. I have to travel up some pretty steep roads to get to work and often times they are covered with a combo of ice and snow. Coming down the roads after work is always an adventure.

I have 3 x 50lb bags of sand. I place one parallel to each rear wheel right against the wheel well and one perpendicular to them closer to the cab (short box / dcab). If I were you, I would place that third bag directly over the real axle (parallel to the axle and perpendicular to the other two. Basically, form an "H" over your axle.

In re: to your ass end swinging around - do NOT use your breaks to slow the vehicle down. It sinks the front end causing your ass to rise and potentially float to the front. Instead use your gears to slow down - if you're driving an automatic dropping it from drive to "2" will significantly slow you down by making the engine "do the breaking" for you and will give you greater control. If you're driving a manual, you probably already understand this concept.

Finally, I would suggest getting your tires "siped". It costs ~$15 per tire. Essentially the tire tech will put tiny cuts in the tread of your tire perpendicular to the tire wall. These cuts do not damage your tread (they actually increase the life of your tire). The cuts work by increasing the surface area of your tire this definitely helps on icy conditions. I recommend them over studded tires any day.

So:
1) 3x50lb sand bags arranged in an H formation over real axle.
2) Use transmission / engine to break when going slow downhill vs using wheel breaks.
3) Get tires siped.

Stay safe.

 

Just realized this was in the 1st Gen forum. If you are driving a smaller truck I bet you'll notice an improvement. Again - you won't be bulletproof, esp on ice - but I'll bet it will be better esp in a smaller / lighter truck.

 

Yes.
I added it so I wouldn't have to be switching 4 wheel on and off all the time just to get up a slick hill or side street.
I have one of those water bag things so I don't really know how much I weight I have in there, depends on how much I fill it.

 

Most certainly....although, it can also depend on your tires, tire pressure, & conditions.

For the most part, when my truck was 'newer' and my tires were fresh....I didn't need any weight back there. The truck did very well without it.

As time passed, my tires have 30k miles on 'em and there's only 1/4" tread left. They are really starting to suck even in the wet. So...last year and this year I put 150lbs of sand in the bed. That extra weight really does suck up the gas. When there's a storm brewing (a lot of snow), I'll also make sure the gas tank is full (more weight).

Another thing I'll do, is make sure my tires are about 2psi lower in the rear tires than I normally run.

 

i think my truck handle perfect without anything in the back .. do you really need to ask just figure it out on your own

 

I not only have the weight of a SnugTop canopy but also carry a couple of sandbags...pickup trucks are generally light in the back end and useing some extra weight over the rear axle is always a good idea in the winter.

 

Yes i seen the 20 pages about this

There where SUVs and they seemed to have no trouble at all obviously they weigh more than my tacoma so i am thinking more weight would have helped.

But more weight means harder to stop.

Any suggestions on some snow/ice tires? Same size as stock.

 

Duratracs are awesome in the snow and ice. And they are just a great all around tire. A little on the soft side if you do a lot of highway miles though.

 

Weight pushes the tires into the snow/ ice so it grabs better. No grabbing, then no traction... and sliding happens.

 

These guys use weight....ha ha

 

Must work in the sand too...

 

you dont have to be so snotty about it...straighten up

thats what i do ..plus the winch and all my other crap in the back.....

or get A Tract

 

I use 150 lb. of sand in the bed. I think it does help, but only under certain conditions.

 

if we all did that, there would be no need for a forum.

 

150-200lbs in the back and 4 BFG AT/TA/KO's,,problem solved.

 

The only problem I see with adding weight is it cuts into gas mileage, and its a pain in the ass to load and unload, better off just buying som edecent tires and slowing down.