Anybody have a “sandbag” set up. 4x4-4x2, non studded/extreme weather tire winter driving thread,

I made a bed mat out of 3/4 inch stall mat from tractor supply (100lb) then add the 160 lb ladder rack, and 160lb rock sliders and I don't think I need anymore .

 

Michigan winters here. I run snow tires (Cooper Discoverer M+S), and usually throw 4 60LB bags in the bed. Didnt feel like getting new bags last year, so I just filled the bed with some cinder blocks I had laying around. You really dont need a ton of weight, I just find a couple hundred pounds help hold the ass end down, especially around tight curves.

Either way, its nothing like the 800lbs+ that I used to throw in the bed of my old Cummins in the winter to keep the tires from spinning when taking off from every single stop light.

 

And this is why Toyota have the famous taco lean, lol.

 

2016 4x2 Access Cab 2.7 SR - I live in the NE Ohio Snowbelt and have a steep uphill driveway to tackle. My Tacoma remains in my attached garage all winter which isn't heated but usually above freezing. I use the ShurTrax bladder and fill it as close to its 40 gallon capacity as I can to achieve about 320 lbs of low-slung traction weight over my drive wheels. I swap my standard radials with Nokian Hakka LT3 studded. The combo works very well and ShurTrax is easy to drain, roll up, and store away in the Springtime. Pretty inexpensive too. The bladder rarely freezes solid so it remains a slushy waterbed for most of the Winter. Its tough enough to load non-sharp-edged cargo (or step on) atop, but if I loaded up regularly, I'd consider building a plywood floor deck just above it (4" height) in my bed. The baffled bladder has grommets built in to strap down securely to the bed floor. Its nearly impossible to move around when filled, anyways. Interestingly, the motion of the water slush acts like a recoil damper when driving over rough surfaces and smooths out my ride a bit. The 2.7 auto moderates the drive wheel torque to manageable levels and I rarely experience wheelspin. My ski equipment nestles snuggly between the wheel housing and side of the bladder when I transport myself to the ski slopes, which is an added bonus. I don't have to store sandbags or weights throughout the rest of the year.

 

Used to put 4 sandbags across the bed between the wheels wells of our 2nd gen and again on the 3rd gen. Now with the canopy, JackAll, recovery gear, and toolbox I don't need so many - in fact last year I didn't bother and had zero issues. Blizzaks help of course.

 

4 concrete blocks (8"x8"x16"), about 150 lbs.