my grams 2003 Tacoma, weight in the bed for winter?

My gram has a 2003 4x4 tacoma. What do you first geners put in the bed for weight during the winter months, if anything? I was thinking two 5 gallon buckets full of sand.

 

the trouble with the buckets idea is they will want to slide up to the cab and you want and need the weight to stay over the axle or behind it so its all on the rear. if it gets up against the cab, then the load is going to be shard by the front end and doing you no good. I don't have the need to do this in my area, but for those who do, sand bags full of sand or dirt are the best solution to use because they stay where you put them.

I wouldn't know what is a good weight to add, but I would guess you want it to be at least 200 lbs or more

 

I just think it's really awesome that your grandmother has a Tacoma, thereby making her the coolest granny ever.

 

50 pound bags of sand, gravel, etc.

 

I have a topper, so that's a decent amount of weight right there.

Then I put (3) 40-lbs bags of cat liter between the wheel wells, right above the rear axle. Seems like plenty of weight (with the topper) for traction. Plus the cat litter doubles as a traction medium if need be.

 

I use 3, 80 pound sand bags centered over the axle. Plus a topper. I say a minimum of 200 pounds to have any real effect.

 

If you can score a steel plate cut off cheap it works well, takes up almost no room

 

yup, shes pretty damn cool.

 

this is a great idea. We'll get the cheapest, heaviest bags we can find. Thanks.

 

Don't use cat litter that "clumps" it will turn to clay and be just as slick as the snow. Get the granular stuff.

 

^ Forgot to mention that.

 

and since she is a grandma she probably has cats so there is always something to use that litter for during the summer lol

 

Why put it over the rear axel? Wouldn't putting it near the tailgate give more leverage?

 

she has one cat. But its looking like we'll be spending at least $20.00 or so if I go the cat litter or play sand route. I may just use a couple heavy duty trash bags, take her truck to a sand pile, and fill the bags up. No shortage of places around here to scrounge up some sand.

 

this is what I'm going to do. So come spring, I can just slide it right out easily.

 

Centered over the axle is better, or just a bit forward. All the way to the rear will start to pull the front wheels up, or lessen the contact weight they have, which may cause steering and stopping issues.

 

you could still use the buckets if you screw them onto a piece f plywood first then fill em up or use a 2x6 across the fender wells so they cant slide around

 

I would suggest more bags with less weight per bag. I used 70-lb bags last winter and wished I had twice as many 40-lb bags. BTW, I had three for total of 210 lbs and didn't think I needed more. I got them from Home Depot right down the road.

 

no, this doesn't happen any more then when its sitting over the axle.putting 200 lbs by the tailgate gets a little more leverage so its the same equivalent of adding 225 lbs right on top of the axle, as the weight moves forward from the tailgate the rear bumper starts to rise slightly because of weight leverage.

I haul things all the time and the truck rear end sags down less when things are over the axle or forward of it

 

No, you are incorrect. Take it from those who live in a snowy climate.