Winter driving - weight needed in rear of pickup
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RoyJackson
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I normally use about 200# of sand bags blocked at the wheel wells. This is in a '92 Ford Ranger with a 7' bed..4x4, of course.
If 700# works for you..use that much. However, with that much weight, your fuel economy will take a pretty good hit.
I like sand bags because they're reusable, year after year..unless you need the sand for traction sometime.
However, even just using a topper type cap works pretty good..that, and some common sense!
If 700# works for you..use that much. However, with that much weight, your fuel economy will take a pretty good hit.
I like sand bags because they're reusable, year after year..unless you need the sand for traction sometime.
However, even just using a topper type cap works pretty good..that, and some common sense!
tracdoc
Platinum Member
Is your pick-up 2WD or 4WD? For 4WD, 700# sounds beefy. When I was living in CT, I managed pretty well with 4WD p/u, using 2x80# bags of playbox sand placed around each wheel well. That's a total of 320#. For a 2WD p/u, more weight is better up to the point that fuel economy starts to suffer. With crude oil at $55/bbl, that could get expensive. I would start with maybe 3x80# around each rear wheel, and see how that works, moving up in 50-80# increments if needed. Me thinks that a total of ~500# should do it.
WVBill
Veteran Member
I've been using four 70# bags of sand (Long-thin bags called "tube sand" around here).
I put them all the way in the back of the 6 foot bed on my Ram 1500 4WD (mostly driven in 2WD).
I find, though that eventually the bags tear and I get sand all over. So this year I'm considering using four 80# sacks of concrete mix and letting them get hard from being out in the weather.
Does a fully hardened 80# sack of concrete still weigh 80 pounds?
I put them all the way in the back of the 6 foot bed on my Ram 1500 4WD (mostly driven in 2WD).
I find, though that eventually the bags tear and I get sand all over. So this year I'm considering using four 80# sacks of concrete mix and letting them get hard from being out in the weather.
Does a fully hardened 80# sack of concrete still weigh 80 pounds?
bontai_Joe
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700 pounds sounds like a lot, but if it works, you are not exceeding the limits of the truck. I use 2 big bales of peat moss during the winter and it gets tilled in the garden in the spring. Sand is good too. I would recommend AGAINST using hardened cement bags, steel bars or cinder blocks, because heaven forbid you are in an accident resulting in a severe sudden stop (hitting a tree for example) those things will become missles and possibly end up in the cab with you. Much better to use something that is soft enough to mush up when it slides forwards in your bed.
WVBill
Veteran Member
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I would recommend AGAINST using hardened cement bags, steel bars or cinder blocks, because heaven forbid you are in an accident resulting in a severe sudden stop (hitting a tree for example) those things will become missles and possibly end up in the cab with you. )</font>
Good point, joe. I think I'll just stick with the sand bags. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
Good point, joe. I think I'll just stick with the sand bags. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
btolle
Platinum Member
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Does a fully hardened 80# sack of concrete still weigh 80 pounds? )</font>
Should still weigh 80# when dried out but when they first get wet they will leak some lime onto your pickup bed and your paint won't like it. Could end up with a lot of rust.
Fortunately we don't get much snow or ice in SE Texas but I would think that sand (and a small shovel in case you needed some of the sand for traction) would be much better.
You might try putting the bags of sand in trash bags so the original paper sandbag won't get wet and fall apart (maybe even double up on the trash bags for more abrasion resistance). That might solve the "sand all over the place" problem.
Bill Tolle
Should still weigh 80# when dried out but when they first get wet they will leak some lime onto your pickup bed and your paint won't like it. Could end up with a lot of rust.
Fortunately we don't get much snow or ice in SE Texas but I would think that sand (and a small shovel in case you needed some of the sand for traction) would be much better.
You might try putting the bags of sand in trash bags so the original paper sandbag won't get wet and fall apart (maybe even double up on the trash bags for more abrasion resistance). That might solve the "sand all over the place" problem.
Bill Tolle
Personally, I go with sand.
To avoid spilling or leakage of the sand, I get some good sized inner tubes and cut into lengths (manageable when filled).
I then cap the ends:
Use wood (1x3" or 2x4", whatever's laying around) on both sides of the end (laid perpendicular to the tube). Drill through all and put in a couple 3/8" bolts. I put regular nuts on one end of the tube, wing nuts on the other so I can loosen or remove to dump the sand if needed for traction.
To avoid spilling or leakage of the sand, I get some good sized inner tubes and cut into lengths (manageable when filled).
I then cap the ends:
Use wood (1x3" or 2x4", whatever's laying around) on both sides of the end (laid perpendicular to the tube). Drill through all and put in a couple 3/8" bolts. I put regular nuts on one end of the tube, wing nuts on the other so I can loosen or remove to dump the sand if needed for traction.
L
LarryRB
Guest
I see and hear this each winter season as these city slickers start moving into this area,, they all have the idea to place cinder blocks in the trunk or pick up bed for weight,, Works great until, you get stuck. Sand/salt/cinders work when stuck,,.,cinder blacks are hard on the tires when trying to get out /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
