How many lbs do you put in your bed for winter driving?

3 sand bags, 40lbs each. I found 5 bags too much weight. It makes a huge difference. I don't need 4x4 with Wildpeaks. With KO2s I would slide all over the place.

 

I can take either of these to Outback steakhouse... that count?

 

4c4 helps you got but not stop.

 

One of the reasons why Outbacks are so good in the snow is intelligent front-to-rear weight distribution.

 

correct thats why i put 200lbs of sand over my rear wheels on the tacoma

 

I keep my fuel tank full and some winter essentials in the bed (tire chains, shovel, brush/scraper, tow strap, jumper cables).

Good tires have always been a priority to me. It's too bad I have to worry about all the idiots running bald all seasons and driving as if it's a dry summer day.

 

No additional weight save for tonneau cover and tools.

In my 55+ years of driving I’ve driven a GMC Sonoma and a RAM W250, both 4x4, in winter conditions with no extra weight and no issues.

Drive to conditions, use 4x4 when required, keep adequate stopping distance.

 

Leer topper and hockey gear, the topper is 200-300lbs so its perfect for snow.

 

Those were duratracs, not studded. Was a good tire in the snow, just not very good on unplanned black ice on a slight corner at 40mph.

 

So you’ve never been in an accident or gone off the road? Good thing you know how to drive!

 

Sorry, still wondering....do you own winter tires now?

 

True, snow tires help you stop, weight I would suggest doesn't. If you get sliding and you are heavier then you have more inertia which would require more biting surface from the tires.

Personally, in an ideal world you would run snow tires and increase distance between you and people around you while driving.

 

I have the factory Toyo tires on mine. Haven’t added weight or anything. Don’t really plan on it. It goes good in the snow, just gotta drive slow and plan ahead for stopping. I’ll have sand in the back of the truck but not an excessive amount.

 

accident, sure. who hasn't.

due to snow. once, when i was 17. i grew up driving rwd in the winter. learned snow tires help the most along with proper car control.

 

Common sense is no longer common.

 

Last year I had 6 sand bags as I had the factory Goodyears on my 17 TRD Off Road DCSB. Reason being was going to visit dad while driving over the snow covered road of a high mountain pass with lots of snow on it, even in 4wheel, the rear end was too light. So got 6 sandbags. Way more stable going back over at the end of my visit. Since then, I switched to Falcon Wildpeaks and carry a lot of gear back there, so the sandbags, not required, but will be keeping a couple in case a traction aid is needed on ice.

 

4WD helps stop a little better vs 2WD too. This has been shown in tests, there are vids online as well.

 

Engine breaking yes. Emergancy breaking no.

 

2wd here, and live in n. Texas so winter tires are a waste for the 2 to 4 days a year of possible slick roads. Rubber mat and hitch receiver add some to the back but impending bad weather I add 2 80 lb tractor weights and a 40 pound pail of cat litter for 200 added weight. They come back off after the bad weather.

 

Pro Tip:
If you add weight, you increase stopping distance. That's just physics so don't argue it.
Now, if you are stuck. Then weight can help get you unstuck. With me so far?
Adding weight just for driving can give you a bit more stability but at the expense of longer stopping distance and stock weight distribution.
You will also make your truck get less mpgs.

Is it worth the trade off? That is the question you should be asking.
Most winter accidents are caused by people going too fast for snowy roads and not being able to stop because of slick conditions. Is weight going to help you slow down for curves and stop quicker?

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