Bed Weight for Winter Driving?

I have an 06' Access Cab 4WD that will be in some pretty serious Winter conditions shortly - conditions so bad I expect to use chains on all tires in some circumstances.


Does anybody have any quick info already (saving me the math work) were and how much weight should be placed in the bed to provide best Center of Gravity and best Polar/Area of Inertia factor?


I'm not a very smart man but smart enough to realize you don't put the weight right back at the tailgate (here's your sign - Good luck in the bottom of the ravine, Chumley), I was figuring it would be right at the forward attachment point of the leaf springs.....


Thanks

 

No such thing is best, I hope you are joking with polar inertia bullshit. You'll have to change the frame to change that.


I put 4 bags of tube sand from front of bed back. Rather not slam on the brakes and get a sand bag trying to enter the cab.

 

(Polar/Area of Inertia factor) I would not try and make this like rocket science. First off chains on the front are usually not recommended. They can damage your vehicle due to lack of clearance. Also 25 to 30 MPH is the recommended max MPH when using chains. I suggest that you use chain tensioners if you run the chains. Secondly a good set of snow and ice tires all the way around will do wonders. As for weight placement, right over or just ahead of the rear axel. A couple hundred pounds is usually enough. Keep in mind the more weight the harder to stop so don't add too much.

 

Just get studded tires and a bag or two of sand if you feel necessary.

 

Worried about snow on roads and driveway?

Step 1 - Shovel snow from driveway into bed.
Step 2 - There is no step 2.

 

I've driven in Nor'Easter blizzards in my truck with feet of snow (not inches), and I've never had to put weight in the bed. 4hi is fine, for when you might need it, 4lo is it. Other than that, drive defensively and not too fast. You'll be fine

 

I never put weight in my bed seeing how my truck is 4wd. When I had a 2wd ford I used to load it with weight. One negative aspect is the weight made the truck more difficult to stop.

 

If the weather is that bad, Id stay home and wait for the plowtrucks. You really cant put chains on the front, clearance issues. I carry chains havent used them mostly because in 4wd they go along pretty good. I use the snow in the bed trick, its free!

 

There was another post, on this forum, just recently; do a search of that. A lot of topics were discussed.

Some of the postings were on the safety of weight in the bed.

People that put loose, heavy, items in a pickup bed; need to go to an auto insurance hold area; and look a some head-on accidents. Typically ones, that had heavy loose object in the trunk of a car, or pick-up bed.

The force exerted in a head-on accident is tremendous. Something like a cement block, or any heavy metal object; have found their way into the drivers compartment.

If you think you must have weight, secure it to the bed/truck somehow. And use something strong enough to keep that weight in place, if an accident should occur.

But in saying that; I don't think you will need weight, in your Tacoma anyway.

I live in snow country PA and the pick-ups, around here don't use any weight. 4 wheel drive, YES

oldracer

 

I've never put weight in the bed in any 4wd vehicle. Just use 4wd

 

All good advise above. In my experience, slowing/stopping is a bigger problem. A big empty parking lot late at night is a good place to find your limits.

 

2500lbs

 

I heard it's not good to put chains on the front tires. I'd check into that if I were you.

 

We had a pretty miserable snow early this week, and all I did was add an 80 pound bag of sand, and let the accumulated snow stay in the bed. The rugged fail tires were sorta acceptable then as I didn't have any rear bed waggling in 2wd. I like that idea of shoveling nearby snow into the bed, I'll give that go next time.

 

First, DO NOT put chains on all 4 wheels!!! Unless you have 1.25 or greater custom spacers or offset your front wheels are too close to the steering components. You will do some major damage! Yes, even with the low-profile chains.

Second, I live in the NW and see lots of snow and ice in the winter. I have a fiberglass shell on my bed, so I throw 200lbs of sand bags in the back right over the axle. Works great!! If no shell try 250lbs of sand bags.

 

4 tubes of sand over rear axle, $16 at Lowes.

 

Thanks, I was thinking about that amount and will probably kill two birds with one stone and get the tube sand from Lowes and strap them down.


I became concerned because I assumed the access cab design provided a pretty good center of gravity - right up until the butt of the truck swung out while in 4WD the other day. I didn't expect such a violent loss of control in the back. It was worse than a primitive Ford F-150 2WD!!


I ALWAYS remove snow from the bed - I know some folks rely on it but it's an unknown factor if it shifts or starts melting....

 

If you have the Toyota bed mat the tubes of sand won't move an inch.

 

Weight in the rear helps , though I didn't do it this year . Normally I do because I don't like keeping the 4wd always on since I drive on such a mix of roads when we get snow . Main state roads are always plowed well but others aren't . So instead of switching back and fourth from 2wheel to 4 , it's just easier to keep it in 2wd .

 

Did that once!

Yesterday I had 1300lbs in it. Handled great. Got home and took 1000lbs out. I usually run with about 300lbs in the bed during winter.