[mikewchandler]

Good tips everyone. Winter is over pretty much here in Arkansas. But a few bags of sand will probably stay in the bed year around. Will likely add a few more next winter.

 

[TwoWheelsDown]

That's what I was wondering...where the trade off is b/t weight, traction, gas mileage and space used in the bed?? I do have a bed cover, fyi. It doesn't weigh much though...probably 40lbs.

The rule of thumb I've heard is that every 100lbs of static weight decrease fuel economy by 1%.

I have a topper (160lbs) with an integrated tool box that has probably another 120lbs of stuff inside, and a bed mat (30lbs). Only problem is I have a pretty noticeable driver side weight bias since that's the side with myself, the fuel tank, and the tool box. It's pretty easy to do a one-wheel-peel when making right-hand turns with a full tank of gas.

 

[OutdoorEh]

It’s a personal choice. I live in the mountains and it’s a long winter here. Do I need the sandbags, no. Do I like them, yes. Do they help my daily drive up to the ski hill where I work, yes.

 

[ssundet]

When I lived up north I used to use sand bags. If it rains and freezes however, they will become ice block battering rams. I damaged the bed of my Tacoma very badly and ruined a tailgate just stopping and going with iced sand bags just getting home one day when it rained then froze.

I used pool salt after that, bonus is you can put it down on your driveway every once in a while. Could leave it in the bags or put it in 5gallon buckets with lids. You could also buy a Plano box and put whatever heavy things you want to in it and strap it in.

Also, our brakes SUCK as it is lol. So be careful out there with the extra weight.

 

[Harleyryder]

I put a few bags of sand in the back (60lbs each). Not sure of all the pros/cons. I think the 120lbs isn't going to make too much of a difference but it gives me a little something to use if getting stuck and needing traction, a little weight in the bed and takes up a small amount of rake. When going off roading, I'll also take my traction boards and those 2 things are better than nothing. Anyone else do that? If so, how much weight do you carry around on the daily?

I run 3 50lbs bags above my rear axel on a king cab pro4x, living in Alberta, we have long winters, and they do help leaving stop signs, and also good to use when stuck. I run a bed bar in front and behind them to secure them from moving around at all. I also run a hard cover roll up on the box, but did notice the bags helped out after throwing them in.

 

[AzureApe]

I use my bed extender to hold the bags in place. Also I would recommend not using cinder blocks as they can bounce out. One of the many reasons to use sand bags is that you can cut one open to pour on the ground to give yourself traction in snow/ice if you get stuck somewhere. Can't do that with blocks or rocks or other heavy items.

 

[mikewchandler]

I've been experimenting with how much weight if any to carry. Seems that I don't notice the 2 - 60lb bags too much, which is the point I guess. I have noticed going over bumps to be a little less jarring and takeoff to be a little less responsive. Very slight differences. When I carried significantly more weight, it was way less responsive and I didn't like it (i.e. 600lbs). So, makes sense that the happy medium is likely around 200-300lbs in the winter.

Having them freeze would suck. I do have a bed cover, so that helps with the freezing rain part. I definitely won't do blocks or bricks. It's sand bags or salt for me (if anything).

Really good tips. I figured the northerners would have the best winter tips.

 

[AzureApe]

I haven't had an issue with the bags freezing really. They can, yes, but sand is far less water-absorbent than other types of soils; its particles are too large, so water just flows through and out. Don't carry salt, as that's just asking for rust. 600 pounds is way too much for daily driving. You're right that the weight will help compress the rear springs and smooth out your ride, provided you don't carry too much of it.

 

[mikewchandler]

I haven't had an issue with the bags freezing really. They can, yes, but sand is far less water-absorbent than other types of soils; its particles are too large, so water just flows through and out. Don't carry salt, as that's just asking for rust. 600 pounds is way too much for daily driving. You're right that the weight will help compress the rear springs and smooth out your ride, provided you don't carry too much of it.

Yep. I only did 600 pounds for a week so that the AAL would settle a little. Good tip though.

 

[AGHRMatt]

I put a few bags of sand in the back (60lbs each). Not sure of all the pros/cons. I think the 120lbs isn't going to make too much of a difference but it gives me a little something to use if getting stuck and needing traction, a little weight in the bed and takes up a small amount of rake. When going off roading, I'll also take my traction boards and those 2 things are better than nothing. Anyone else do that? If so, how much weight do you carry around on the daily?

That's a tried and true method for extra traction both from the weight and from sprinkling sand on a slippery surface. I'd recommend having a bed extender in place to corral the sand bags so they don't shift around.

 

[shift_RUSH]

When/if sand bags freeze they become super-heavy hockey pucks. Securing them then becomes vital.

 

[Suprtek]

I generally only want to carry extra weight for traction when snow is around but I don't want to store sandbags the rest of the time. So when I want the weight I buy a few extra bags of salt for my water softener and keep them in the truck. That way they get used when I'm done with them.

 

[mikewchandler]

I've tried 2 bags of 60lb sand all week and it felt pretty good with minimal changes. I added a 3rd bag for a total of 180lbs the past few days and it feels a little different, slower take off but nothing major. Just trying different weights to see how it affects driving, stopping, the rake, etc... I'll likely take them out in the coming days but thanks for everyone's thoughts. I will likely add them next winter or when off-road. Still not sure if I'll go all the way to 300lbs like a few suggested but 120-180lbs has felt just fine. Interesting to fiddle with for sure...

 

[Thorin87]

I have 4 x 50lbs rubber gym/ horse stall mats. I like it because they don't take up much space, provides an even distribution of weight, low center of gravity, and don't move around. You can also pull them out and use them as a traction mat.

 

[Pacer6]

Reading all of your responses was nostalgic and interesting. In our family car, about 60-65 years ago, my father would add a couple of old truck cylinder heads to the trunk of the car for winter traction.

 

[Doc1187]

Traction is the answer to driving in the snow.3 or 4 tubes of sand placed between the wheel wells,in a 4"x 4" frame. no matter what tires you have.
You dont have to constantly switch to 4 wheel drive.
Years ago all vehicles were rear wheel drive. People used to fill up gas tanks.
Place tools bags, bags of sand etc.

 

[grunzasr]

Just consider their trajectory in a head on crash... where your truck stops but the 60lb bags continue on through the back window, and keep going. Don't keep them near the gate, where unfortunately they do the most good smoothing out the ride.

I've got 200 lbs of sand in four 50lb bags strapped to a 2x4 across the bed (left to right). The 2x4 is slotted into the bed liner a little behind the wheels in my 1st gen Frontier. I figure if the crash is hard enough to break the 2x4 I'm probably no longer in a position to be concerned.

 

[GreyFox]

Traction is the answer to driving in the snow.3 or 4 tubes of sand placed between the wheel wells,in a 4"x 4" frame. no matter what tires you have.
You dont have to constantly switch to 4 wheel drive.
Years ago all vehicles were rear wheel drive. People used to fill up gas tanks.
Place tools bags, bags of sand etc.

Agree. Most of our vehicles are/were front wheel drive or AWD (front wheel dominate) for the last 15 years or so. So getting a pick-up which is old school rear wheel drive is a learning curve for me. I grew up with rear wheel drive cars, so it was a familiar curve to get used to again.