Winter Weight

Hello, as we start to head into winter here in the Northeast....new Tacoma owner...I am curious if you folks add sandbags, or other weight to the back for the snowy weather? If so, just use sandbags?
Thanks!

 

Definitely no snow here in Cent. FL but I keep 2 50 lb bags in the bed under the tonneau cover when I’m not carrying anything. It does wonders for the ride quality over driving it unloaded.

 

2wd or 4wd? I have 4 and usually dont use anything, but 4 is needed if at a hilly stoplight in ice or snow. yeah its that light. But, i plow now and keep about 300 lbs back there which works well. 2wd is useless in the snow without weight

 

Secure the snow “weights” so they don’t slide around.

 

4 WD - thanks!

 

Sand is a popular option around here in the Southeast. Anything to add weight will help, sand, wood, concrete blocks, etc..

I don't use anything tho. Just throw it in 4wd and hit the road, Jack.

 

I use sandbags once it’s very clear the snow is here to stay. Helps a ton in 2. Almost never drop into 4 unless it gets really deep or the highways are extra sketchy after a thaw/freeze.
Unethical life pro tip: Once your local elections are over, drive around and liberate some “free” sandbags from political signage

 

2wd in the snow can get real squirrely real fast. It really surprised me the first time.
Switched to 4wd and it felt completely solid and planted to the road, which also surprised me but in a good way this time.
Ever since the first time I haven't worried about adding weight, I just switch to 4wd when I feel the back end start to slide around.

 

With my 2nd gen Taco, I had a Leer shell, Hi-lift and a couple other heavy-ish things adding enough weight to the back that I didn't need any sandbags added. I don't have any of that on the new 3rd gen (yet), so a couple sandbags will be going in once the snow hits.

 

Tires are literally everything in snow. Buy used/cheap rims and have a set of real winter tires, seriously. All weather tires are not snow tires. Stock tires with the silly winter snowflake are not winter tires. Best bang for your buck and safety.

Sandbags or bags of concrete are common and cheap. I just carry 1 20 liter jerry can on each side. One fuel, one water year round attached to those rough country molle rack things. Adds over 100lbs total with my shovel, axe, and traction boards. I don't have to worry about theft where I live though and I garage. YMMV.

 

I have never added weight just use 4WD when needed in the snow. It goes anywhere I ask it to!

 

Good winter tires, 100lb piece of conveyer belt in bed, full tank of gas and never drive faster than road conditions permit. Oddly enough, during or after a storm or heavy snowfall the vast majority of vehicles observed out in the ditch are 4x4 pickups.

 

Four 50 lb playsand from Home Depot laid across the rear axle. If you have 4 WD--now is the time to read up on 4 WD use.

 

I've been known to shovel a bit of snow into the bed and let that be the "weight" - it's free lol. But mostly just use 4H.

 

Usually the 4WD is fine. I use a couple of Quick-Crete Tube Sand in the bed if it is really bad out. I got them from Home Depot. They work well and you also have a way to get traction if you get stuck, just cut em open.

 

FYI you'll need about 800 lb extra weight on the rear axle just to bring the truck to a roughly 50/50 weight distribution. That's extra 800 lb that would need to be brought to a stop when you brake. It'll also push the truck over the GVWR in some cases. Having driven Tacomas north of the wall for the past decade, I just click over to 4hi when there's any accumulation on the ground.

 

I keep 2 50lb bags of sand in the bed all year long just because it helps with ride. In winter I am sure it helps a little but never "needed" the extra weight.

 

I had all this in the 2nd gen as well, now it's in the 3rd gen. I have throw 4 sandbags in if I'm feeling like hitting bumpstops on every speedbump..
Tires are the key, get Blizzaks and forget about sliding.

 

If I lived above the snow line year-round, absolutely would have Blizzaks. Agreed about tires being key for the conditions regardless. For my usage, Falken's AT3W tires have been great for me, for my weekend treks up to our cabin in the woods/snow.

 

A few tubes of sand across the bed above the rear axle. We'll get ice and 1-8" of snow at a time and the sand does make a difference.