Bed Weight Suggestions

I took sandbags and filled the old Costco laundry detergent plastic totes with the sand. I can ratchet strap them in the bed during winter and if I am stuck I still have the sand for traction.

 

Just some insight:
You hydroplane because your tires suck, not lack of weight.
If your ride quality is too rough or jarring, you need to fix two things: Tires (common theme so far eh?) are too heavy and springs are too heavy. Lighten them and you get ride quality.
Last, adding weight is THE MAIN CULPRIT for poor efficiency, measured in mpgs! That's just basic physics man. You add weight, you use more hp to do the same amount of work. Even a few hundred lbs will affect your mpg by several tenths. Add four hundred lbs and now you are dropping your mpg by 1-2 mpg. More than that and you start to go up to 20% less.

Good luck, but adding weight to improve ride quality is like the worst solution ever. But, it's your truck.

As many mpg threads that are started here I need to write an article and post it on why we get the mpg's we do (hint: weight, drag and engine efficiency) and what they can do to maximize their efficiency.

 

Not modding our trucks would be a good start. But where's the fun in that?

 

my thoughts exactly. There are other things to look at to cure the issues you are having. Job one being get a set of tires that are good in the wet. AT3s have exceptional wet weather handling. Doing the chalk test on your tires will help you figure out the correct tire pressure for ride quality and best wear.

 

BBW in the back?

 

The problem is not that lol. It's understanding the basics, like the thermal efficiency of our engines being around 26% haha. Adding weight, adding drag, adding rolling resistance, etc. I genuinely think people truly have no clue about the basic. Baaically just do an educational post so they know what to expect when the mod.

 

If that's what you want and have the money you can't beat a steel rear bumper. It adds recovery points better departure angle (hidden hitch style) can have bsm and backup sensors and gives you your whole bed. Plus the rear bumper is total plastic crap.

 

Go ahead, I'd read it.

 

A guy asks a simple question and ends up getting scolded because some guy wants to talk physics....yay Tacoma World!

 

Hey mine was a legitimate suggestion.

 

As were mine. Whatever his reasons, OP now has some options to choose. I'd still like a basic overview of the things @hiPSI mentioned.

 

I'm using these and like em a lot. They are filled with sand and holding it without a problem, but are designed for gravel. Sewed them shut and they last a looooong time. Can be made as heavy as you want. Mine are 25 lbs each. 5 of em and they soften the dakars just a tad. They also hold things from sliding around. They also dub as traction on snow, mud and slick rock.

 

Where did you get those? Im intrigued

 

https://www.whitecap.com/shop/wc/p/caltrans-black-gravel-bag-8-oz-262gbctblk

https://www.whitecap.com/shop/wc/sand-gravel-bags

 

Thanks!

 

I think a CBI swingout will be great, install it, realize it weighs too much, then get bigger leaf springs...

 

Get a large Ice chest and fill it with sand. That way the sand stays dry and you can use it for traction if you need it. If you get a sealed Ice chest you can fill it with water. That way if you want to load something you can just dump the water and the weight is gone.

 

Why don't you just get a tool box and load it up with what you think is best? Then you have weight from stuff that you can use for other purposes. I have my $99 toolbox with my jack, recovery gear, etc. in it.

 

Truck cap.

 

Only states that have water quality regulations will have them. CEQA, yay California. I get em at water components and building supplies in San Rafael, ca. Otherwise, try online searching "non woven geotextile bag". http://www.psiyes.com/bagged-goods/nonwoven-gravel-bag.html