How much weight to put in the bed for traction?

Hey everyone!
Next weekend I am going to be heading back up to Northren Alberta. The road conditions at times are different then what I am use to driving in compared to the south of AB/BC. I've never had carried weight in the bed of my truck in the 2 years I have owned them. I don't want a repeat of 2 weeks ago because I am sure that no weight in my bed contributed to me spinning out and hitting a snow bank.

So I am wondering how much weight should I carrying in the bed? I figured that carrying 8 55LB sandbags would be enough but I am not sure.

Any advice would be great. Thanks everyone!

 

I think 8 55lb sandbags will definitely be enough haha.

 

My 200 lb cap works wonders , so I would say 200-300lbs

 

That sounds like enough--I have never needed the extra weight.
I do know that extra weight will IMPROVE TRACTION.
When hauling firewood-rarely needed 4X4 when loaded-Only when empty. I believe many just load about 200#.
Is 440 excessive?? Give you a bump for more replies!
BUMP!
There you go 200+/_

 

No extra weight will help on ICE-Slow cautious driving is the only remedy.

 

I use 6 X 50 Lb sandbags. Works great for me.

 

Yeah! I have a folding Tonneau Cover and it's not that much weight at all. I figured that 3 per row, 2 rows high, with 2 on top. I know that 6 will be able to fit under the Tonneau I am not 100 percent sure of the last 2. I don't really use my bed in the winter time so it's not a big deal of space. It's just about traction.

 

Well when I had spun out I was going up a hill that was complete ice(doing 30-40 km/h under the speed limit). I figured it was just enough to get up hills and by the time I got to the top I would be going slow enough to go down the other side.

 

200-300lbs will help a lot.

 

I have a single 80 pound bag I keep in the bed, which definitely helps me without robbing too much gas mileage. I took it out for last week since we had 40-50 degree weather, then today when we got 2" of snow I was wishing I had left it in the back. I was reminded of how aweful the stock tires are even with plenty of tread as my truck slid down a minor grade at 5 mph while trying to stop. I'm going to burn them after I get replacements.

 

Well the sad thing about this is that I have dedicated winter tires. I don't know how much they were going to do since that it was -31C outside and what I was driving on was a skating rink. I'll take snow, snow and ice any day compared to just straight ice.

 

Yeah....just put an obese American in the back....they're not hard to find.

 

I know we don't have the ice you guys have, but I notice a difference with just one fifty pound bag, so the more the merrier. Just put it as far back as possible to have all the extra weight on the rear axle.

 

With shitty tires... I used to use 3 - 75lb sandbags in the bed and I'd lower my tire pressure slightly.

Gas mileage will suffer.

 

i got 300lbs in sand and winter tires. makes a big difference in traction when it's icy, and when it's -30 it's always icy.

 

Haven't had to use anything in awhile as I was without Tacoma. However solved that yesterday with the purchase of a new to me 08 Access TRD Off Road.

In my 05, what I would do is use 24x30 sidewalk blocks . The beauty of those is they take nothing away from your cargo area.