Should I add weight to bed?

I've never bothered. just drive sane in the snow. Really.. a 4x4 with extra weight? If you have traction problems.. 4x4 will fix that. If its Ice.. nothing you add will change your traction.

What's the point? I could see if it was the old locking hubs, but not on an on the fly system.

I lived on a road growing up in up state NY that was not plowed (snomobile road in winter). Never did I or my family members weigh down the truck bed. That was something for old poor folk in caddilacs back then..

 

The tires that came on my truck (that are on there now) are the worst tires I've ever had in my life... with 4x4 I can get around fine, I never was getting stuck but it was squirly as hell. Now that I added a few sand bags, I haven't had problems since and it is nice not having to counter steer every 2 seconds while my duratracs get here.

 

Adding weight is usually not an issue when trucks have a bed made of metal , but I've found a bit of weight in our composite beds helps on snow , in 2wd or 4wd .

 

This phenomenon is what I am very concerned about with my '11 and her Dunlop AT20s... Will they be hockeypucks like the girlfriend's Goodyear Eagle RS/As?

If so, I'll probably toss in a couple sandbags. Strange question, but do people steal sandbags much out of trucks?

 

The stock Dunlops suck balls in the snow , the first time I got stuck 2 years ago they were history .

 

Could they work with sandbags? Supposedly someone predicted ~96" of snow this season, no idea on validity.

Otherwise I am looking into Firestone Destination A/Ts. I really want them, but that's another ~$800 to fork out. Working out a way to make it work :-\

 

I have heard many complaints about the stock dunlops in the snow. My truck came with some steel radial a/p's or something like that... Showing up on ebay for 30$ for a new tire. Needless to say I can't wait for my tires to finally get here

 

Where I am in BC , I'm on the coast and we usually get heavy wet snow . In those conditions the tread on the Dunlops loads with snow and you might as well be driving on slicks . If the snow was powdery and dry it might be better , but that isn't the type of snow I usually deal with so I can't say for sure .

 

OZ-T Have you driven with the Hankooks in the snow yet?

 

I was at Ace today and saw they had sandbags, so I took the plunge and got 4 60lb tubes. 240lbs lay across my rear axle. She already drives more smoothly with the rear tires getting noticeably better traction.

$20 for substantial traction gain is $20 well spent.

Now a matter of if I need better tires (like Destination A/Ts). I have to get chains regardless due to CA law requiring all vehicles to carry them... Anyone know good ones for reasonable prices for 265/65/R17?

 

I don't add any weight. 4 winter tires will do more than anything you can put in the bed. 4X4 is good for moving forward but doesn't do jack for stopping. I'm running Yokohama Geolander i/t this winter. I usually run Nokian but figured i'd try some thing different to compare.
http://yokohamatire.com/tires/geolandar_GO72.aspx

 

Yeah, almost no snow last year, I hope we change that this year!
I just have the rugged fails, they dont even like the rain - I am looking for new tires but have not picked a set yet.

 

They advertise 10% less than steel. Figure the average bed steel would be about 150-200 lbs.. I don't see that as a big deal.

Whatever floats thine boat however. It's been a few years since I've even seen snow, and where I grew up, you would be in 4wd for months straight sometimes, unless you happened to need to go to the interstate, and even then only on nice days when the snow clearing budget was balanced.. 2wd was for summer.
If its iffy just use 4wd, but whatever. Up to you.

Of course if you have a cap its the same as bags, and if you don't, the snow and ice act as weight.

 

I was laughing when you first chimed in with the snow advice from Hawaii before I read that you grew up in NY . haha

I find that an extra 100 lbs or so helps a lot on the heavy snow we get where I am , that may not be the case where the snow is dry like back east or the prairies .

Stay home in front of the woodstove can also be an attractive option .

 

The best chains for winter weather are the V-bar ice breakers, positive traction. If you put 4 of these on, you will go around anyone and everyone. I always pimp these because they are unbeatable, period. Check your state regs, because some states have outlawed them due to road damage because they are a bit aggresive. (near the bottom of the link)
http://www.superior.co.nz/snowsweat.html

 

First, thank you for the recommendation. I don't think I'm in the market for chains recommended for "adventure operators, ski field services and emergency vehicles" but at the same time, if I had great tires, chains of that magnitude may be the only useful chains...

Where did you get those chains, because their "stockist" shows only New Zealand dealers?

 

I seen Eastern Washington as a location listing and since that side of the state can sometimes see sever icing conditions,,just thought I would put that out there. With Eastern Washington listed (or Nothern CA),, the local Les Schwab tires should be able to fix you up. I just put the link up there to show you what you would be looking for as far as design.

Those would be a good get-you-thru chain if you have less of a tire.

Obviously there is a reason why Emergency services are listed, they must get thru without fail. just saying.

Best bang for the buck,,imo.

 

Where might one buy those chains from in America (stores in Eastern Washington would be nice, too). Otherwise, internet retailers are good.

Have any other suggestions for less expensive chains (I'm assuming the v-bar chains are way more expensive) that may be less aggressive. What about those auto-tightening chains that Autozone sells for $150?

 

http://www.truckntow.com/t-tirechains.aspx
Here ya go. The online purchase will be more versus buying local if you can,,with the shipping weight/fees included.

 

I usually just throw a couple of chains in the back for towing people out..and it adds some weight to boot.