Tacoma Ballast for Winter Conditions?

I have 2 narrow-ish cargo boxes secured beside the wheel wells using the stock rail system tie-down points and a cargo bar. 3 pair of skis fit straight in, in between the boxes. Inside the boxes are recovery gear, snow chains, winter survival stuff. Also bottles of water that mostly stay frozen but useful if there is a power outage and our well's water pump shuts down.

 

You seem to be saying that you use the rear locker in 2wd. I thought the rear locker could only be activated in 4lo.

 

There’s an electrical mod for locker anytime

 

A bag or two of cat litter is multi purpose. At the end of the season, just donate the litter to the "Cat Lady" at work.

 

Are there any negatives to engaging locker "anytime"? In stock form the truck has to come to a stop to engage the locker.

Also in another post you imply that you rarely use 4x4. You are aware that Toyota recommends engaging 4x4 monthly for a certain number of miles, aren't you?

 

I engage it while moving, not while turning, but in a straight line up to about 30mph. Same as I do if need to go into 4HI (I know the manual says it’s ok up to 60 but I think that’s pushing it)

I off-road every weekend, like serious off-roading, so I think it’s getting it’s exercise lol. I was just referring to when on-road.

 

Yeah but how long do you really need to be in 4x4, the rest of the time weight not needed. Alaska or the states that have snow every week would be different though.

 

Just make your wife sit in the bed by the tailgate. Not only does this add winter ballast, but has the added advantage of her being right there to hop out and push if you do get stuck.

 

Invest in winter tires.

Also, increased weight means longer stopping distances.

 

I bought some of those 60lb sandbags then another pack of empty sandbags. I divvied up the weight into 15lb sandbags that I wrapped in duct tape. I use them as ballast in the truck during the winter and they serve a dual purpose of a few of them going into a backpack to carry around and get myself in shape for summer backpacking season and fall hunting season. I keep them in a storage container along with chains and other winter necessities.

 

A 16-ounce Pabst Blue Ribbon in the beverage cup holder.

 

My god man, at least pick a Heineken or Stella! That stuff will rot your gut!

 

Heineken? It's always out of date and tastes like skunk weed. The one time I got a fresh one it was great. Always make sure you get a can short enough so that if a cop pulls up alongside you, your baseball hat will be able to cover it up.

 

Really? Wow, that's never happened to me. Yea, stale beer sucks for sure.

 

A few 60-70 lb tubes of sand from your Home Depot or Lowe's. I usually get 2 seasons from each tube before the tube starts to fray and leak sand.

 

What have I become..... It's like 63 degrees outside I'm wearing a hoodie and feel chilled.
I suppose if I got into some real cold weather I'd have a cardiac.

 

I don't use weight. If I'm driving in a snowstorm or slick rain, I'm in 4hi without issue. If not, I'm back in 2wd.

My Duratracs help!

 

Never needed extra weight in my bed, I’ve found that my Lomax trifold cover along with my normal gear in the bed works just fine with 4hi to get me through most midwestern snow storms.

 

Invite you obese friends to ride in the back seat, when you need extra weight. You don't have to tell them why you want their company.

 

I would be curious if anyone has suggestions to minimize rear end hop and stepping out when encountering winter time raod ripple/ washboard.

It gets pretty bad on these back roads on the uphills. The Taco is about 10 times worse than my old Isuzu Trooper, and 100 times worse than the Audi A8.

I can't think that weight alone is the cure, but.....

Comments welcome.