Sandbags in Your 4x4 Longbed?

Campershell ftw...200lbs, and keeps your crap dry too. Most all the other ideas are good tho. OP is better prepared then most, if he is carrying all that gear daily... that includes me at the moment. but I live innew messico. it snowed...6" here. >>>> 3' at Wolf Creek,Co.

anyone heard of carrying kitty litter to use for traction as well? not a bad idear. maybe more $$ tho.

 

Neato

 

I have a Leer cap now , this will be my first winter with it .

Cat litter is a good idea , works well on icy patches

 

I have a canopy but I also put 4 sandbags in the box.

 

Good to know

 

I see at lot of opinions! lol. I am of the opinion that weight is needed, I still have my GMC 2500 if it gets bad but I will be driving my taco mainly. Here in Colorado BFG All Terrains are the preffered tire and I already have them on my trucks. (And I always carry chains and a shovel as I said. I live at 7000 feet in a county where only 20000 people live and only 2 snow plows, the roads are frequently unmaintained and dirt) The statement that you won't always be in 4 wheel drive is very valid but poses the question: Whats worse, loosing gas milegae to 4 wheel drive sometimes or always to 200 lbs of sand in the back?

 

i find weight helps greatly with packed snow/ice driving at highway speeds. a little weight + studded snows makes for a very sure footed 4x4.

 

I have to agree extra weight in the bed helps but if you are buying snow tires you might want to consider minus sizing your tires as well. I have a TRD Sport with the 17" rims. I went down to a 245/70/17 instead of the 265/65/17. This really helps when you are driving in 2 wheel drive (most on road winter driving) and gives more bite in 4 wheel drive.

I have to agree with kitty litter as well. It does give better grip than sand in my experience. It does not hurry to carry a shovel and tow strap as well. Having said that I have never needed a tow but have pulled many people out of a bad place in the snow.

It is far easier to find a tow vehicle than a tow strap. Same goes for battery cables I always carry a set. They fit nicely behind the seats of the double cab.

 

second the BFG ATs, cables and strap. I carry those year round. I am working getting on a hi-lift jack and some other recovery gear soon.

heres a possible 'mountain myth' I remember from living in Nederland Co for part of a winter. (plenty damn cold there) Some of the local mechanics at the Ski area said to skip paying for fancy de-icer wiper fluid, and use rubbing Alcohol instead. or just to add the ETOH (alcohol) to your wiper reservoir to help it not freeze. can anyone quantify this one? fact or fiction, lol. I am pretty sure it works, but is it bad for our rubber lines or ????

 

i'd say it works on the ice, but i second the concern on the rubber, both on the blades and on your lines...

 

Toss some weight, 4hi will still lower mpg.

 

Who cares ?

I'll take staying on the road versus saving $5 a week

 

Hmmm....I will have to keep researching that one.

 

Air matress filled with water in the bed works pretty good too if you need to add some weight.

 

But useless if you need some extra traction. Where with a sandbag or kitty litter you can sacrifice it for traction.

 

Alot of places carry low temperature washer fluid that has stuff mixed in to lower the freezing point.

 

This.

 

Yep, I was agreeing with OZ and laughing at what he said to whippersnapper. I drive in a good amount of winter conditions, not six months straight though.

 

Not to mention if you are in snow , that air matress is a huge block of ice waiting to come through the back window if you do put it in the cabbage .

 

Here in Alberta, people make their halloween costumes to fit around a snow suit...for a reason.