Winter weights for a pickup

[Northland]

I would be using some 2-4" long (have to see what I need) 3/8" bolts, and drilling holes through the floor and into the subframe of the bed, I will put big fender washers on both sides of the hole and put the bolt through one end of a piece of chain (probably 3-4 links long) and then I can hook a strap, or whatever to the other end.

Aaron Z

Sounds well thought out Aaron

I recently transported 12' lenghts of metal roofing in the back of my truck's 6 ' bed with the tailgate down. I used ratcheting straps across the roofing attached to the D rings and another one lengthwise. That roofing material didn't budge 1 inch on the 20 mile drive home I later used the same set-up to hold a borrowed log splitter in place.

 

[davitk]

Here's a thought for all you loose cargo police: run some lag bolts up through the bed, lay down wire mesh, then mix up and dump in eight bags of sacrete. Come spring bust it out with a mall.

 

[MESSMAKER]

I think you guys are overthinking this. 5gal buckets of sand or sandtubes work great and are almost free.

 

[Northland]

I think you guys are overthinking this. 5gal buckets of sand or sandtubes work great and are almost free.

Maybe in Kentucky that works but not up north where where the roads are ice/snow covered for up five months of the year.Buckets and sandtubes slide around in the back bed and bang around. That isn't safe either.

 

[JoelD]

I use 10 x 40lb bags of crushed gravel. Secured in place by a 2x4. I noticed much improved traction in my Dodge Ram.
In the Spring, the gravel is used to fill in any pot-holes that have formed in the driveway.

My neighbor does the same with tube sand and he's been pleased.

I guess another positive to the tube sand is having sand (if not frozen) to through under the wheels if needed.

I personnally like the idea of the sand better, I would imagine, that god forbid in an accident those tires could do almost anything.

I do like the idea that they are rubber encased though.

Still like the idea of being able to pull the bags out one by one.

Joel

 

[firefighter jim]

I've owned nothing but pick up trucks since 1989.
The were
1* 79 Datsun
2* 83 Dodge D-50
3* 86 Dodge D-50
4* 89 Dodge D-50
5* 89 Nissan
6* 92 Toyota
I still have trucks 3 5 & 6.
All 6 were 2 wheel drive.
Never carried sand bags or other extra weight in the bed of any of them.
Never had traction or handling problems on ice or snow.

L . B .

I've had many 2 wheel drive pickups in my life and they were all terrible in the snow due to being very light in the back. 4 wheel drive makes a big difference in a pickup.

 

[firefighter jim]

very true, and I don't have a problem using 4wd when it is necessary (why have it if you never use it), however why put needless wear and tear on the drivetrain by kicking it into 4wd to get out of the driveway (almost flat, and only 3x the length of the truck) and kicking it back out as soon as you are on the road when it is possible (and safer) to have enough weight in the back to keep the back end from sliding around when it gets even the slightest bit snowy?


Aaron Z

I'm sorry, but that's rediculous. Use the 4 wheel drive! Or better yet. Park the truck and walk if you're so worried about wear and tear.

 

[Northland]

Here's proof that tires are the most critical component in safe winter driving:

Watch all the videos in succession....

Be Tire Smart – Play Your P.A.R.T. - Videos

Also, some thoughts on winter driving with 4WD trucks

CanadianDriver The Four Seasons Auto Tech: Winter tires for trucks

 

[Cat_Driver]

Maybe it's me but just have he put in in 4wd - that's what it's for. Adding weight to the vehicle for 6 months will cost a lot on money in extra fuel costs for a few minutes in 4wd when needed?

All that stuff floating around the bed of he truck not tied down correctly will actually be dangerous in an accident.

 

[Ductape]

Here's proof that tires are the most critical component in safe winter driving:

Watch all the videos in succession....

Be Tire Smart – Play Your P.A.R.T. - Videos

Holy moley, these videos are more biased than the two Impalas crashing into each other. How can you do a side by side comparison with two completely different cars?? They don't weigh the same, nor have the same handling characteristics.


Back to the subject at hand....... when I drove my 2wd Nissan, I used a few hundred pounds of tube sand. Got my money's worth, as I reused the same ones the following winter. I never worried about them flying through the back window and killing me......... since I had no intentions of getting into an accident.

 

[BruceWard]

A load of firewood works well. If you get stuck at home you can burn it for heat.

 

[Northland]

Holy moley, these videos are more biased than the two Impalas crashing into each other. How can you do a side by side comparison with two completely different cars??

I don't see how the videos are biased. They clearly show that regardless of the vehicles used "real" winter tires make the vehicle brake and handle far better. That was even evident with the truck and the Crown Vic. I now know why the cops up here still use Crown Vic's all winter-they have good winter tires.

I suppose that in order to appreciate the kind of conditions that some of us have to cope with, all winter, you would have to live here.

 

[WilliamBos]

I agree 100%!!

Here's proof that tires are the most critical component in safe winter driving:

Watch all the videos in succession....

Be Tire Smart – Play Your P.A.R.T. - Videos

Also, some thoughts on winter driving with 4WD trucks

CanadianDriver The Four Seasons Auto Tech: Winter tires for trucks

 

[WilliamBos]

Holy moley, these videos are more biased than the two Impalas crashing into each other. How can you do a side by side comparison with two completely different cars?? They don't weigh the same, nor have the same handling characteristics.

Handling characteristics are meaningless on ice and snow. The best handling vehicle on the planet is nothing with out traction, because that is key. And with out snow tires, you won't have that either.

 

[Ductape]

Handling characteristics are meaningless on ice and snow. The best handling vehicle on the planet is nothing with out traction, because that is key. And with out snow tires, you won't have that either.

So..... you think a vehicles weight doesn't matter? I also say things like spring rates,shocks, and such make a difference. For all we know, the MB has traction control. Comparing a Crown Vic with all season tires to a Benz with Snow Tires is hardly a good side-by-side comparison. Perhaps I should go into the advertising business and make videos of how Massey Ferguson tractors are far superior to John Deere by comparing a 50hp MF to a 33hp JD ???

Beyond using two completely different vehicles.......

If I'm driving the Crown Vic and intentionally let it spin out in a corner, yet the driver of the MB compensates when the rear end starts coming around....... how is that a scientific comparison?

THATS what I'm saying. No doubt snow tires are going to generally be better in the snow. That series of videos is bunk though.

 

[Northland]

For all we know, the MB has traction control. Comparing a Crown Vic with all season tires to a Benz with Snow Tires is hardly a good side-by-side comparison.

Huh? Did you actually watch the videos? The Mercedes does in fact have traction control-they actually mention that specifically.

Who do you think the series of videos is biased against? All-season tires? There are several makes and models of vehicles used and each one is switched to/from snow tires. They all had much improved handling. How can you argue that?

Why would the auto protection agency rig all the tests? You think they intentionally skidded all the all-season tire equipped vehicles off the road and slid through them all through the pilons to prove that snow tires are better in winter conditions then all-season tires?

 

[Northland]

Handling characteristics are meaningless on ice and snow. The best handling vehicle on the planet is nothing with out traction, because that is key. And with out snow tires, you won't have that either.

Agreed-much like my tractor sliding sideways on ice/snow inclines before I got chains on all four tires.

 

[dodge man]

Duct tape, I'm guessing you didn't watch all the videos, because the swap winter tires on the Crown Vic and put regular tires on the Mercedes.

 

[WilliamBos]

Exactly what is the worst weather you have driven in? The vehicles can weigh 50 tons, with out traction, they are useless.

So..... you think a vehicles weight doesn't matter? I also say things like spring rates,shocks, and such make a difference. For all we know, the MB has traction control. Comparing a Crown Vic with all season tires to a Benz with Snow Tires is hardly a good side-by-side comparison. Perhaps I should go into the advertising business and make videos of how Massey Ferguson tractors are far superior to John Deere by comparing a 50hp MF to a 33hp JD ???

Beyond using two completely different vehicles.......

If I'm driving the Crown Vic and intentionally let it spin out in a corner, yet the driver of the MB compensates when the rear end starts coming around....... how is that a scientific comparison?

THATS what I'm saying. No doubt snow tires are going to generally be better in the snow. That series of videos is bunk though.

 

[Ductape]

Huh? Did you actually watch the videos? The Mercedes does in fact have traction control-they actually mention that specifically.

Who do you think the series of videos is biased against? All-season tires? There are several makes and models of vehicles used and each one is switched to/from snow tires. They all had much improved handling. How can you argue that?

Why would the auto protection agency rig all the tests? You think they intentionally skidded all the all-season tire equipped vehicles off the road and slid through them all through the pilons to prove that snow tires are better in winter conditions then all-season tires?

I was probably laughing though the mention of the traction control. I wouldn't say they 'rigged' the tests, I'd say they 'over dramatized' the results.

In the braking tests, were the driver's reaction times exactly the same?
Did they switch drivers in the cars when they switched tires?
Did both vehicles actually brake at the same point, or did one hesitate?
Did the driver with the all season tires allow their car to spin?
Did the driver with snow tires correct their car when it got loose?
Did the driver with the all season tires put their foot into the throttle in the turn while the driver with the snows eased up on the throttle?

For the sake of argument, lets reverse the results. Are you going to tell me you could not possibly maintain control of a car with all season tires while i spun out the car with snow tires? You couldn't brake at the marker with the all seasons, while I hesitated till beyond the marker with the snow tires?

In this day and age, they couldn't come up with any mechanized or computerized tests for traction? Did you ever hear about NBC rigging a Chevy pickup with model rocket engines to ignite the outboard fuel tank in a crash test? Was there an agenda there? Did you see the video posted on TBN of the two Impalas crashing? Would you say it was NOT intentional that the 59 was hit just outside the frame rail?

Who are they trying to benefit? I'm guessing themselves.

Exactly what is the worst weather you have driven in? The vehicles can weigh 50 tons, with out traction, they are useless.

Here in New Hampshire we regularly get snowstorms in the 12 to 18 inch range, and certainly not unheard of to get 2 feet or more in a storm. Perhaps you've heard of a 'Noreaster"? I've driven commercially for 25 years. I have been in the 24 hr. towing in dustry since I was 17.... with 12 yrs. owning my own towing service. In that time I was on call 24 hrs / day , 365 days / yr. I've driven for days straight at times, helping municipalities keep roads clear during snowstorms. I've seen many, many fatal car accidents. I owned my own tractor trailer (80,000 lbs.) and ran from New Hampshire to Michigan regardless of the weather. I'd estimate I've driven 2 million miles commercially without an accident that was my fault (i've been hit by other drivers several times). I've got a motorcycle license and I've even done some auto racing. I could go on and on about my driving qualifications, but hopefully you grasp what I'm getting at.

I stand by my assessment that the videos were made to advance an agenda, no different than the Impala crash video, no different than NBC's chevy pickup side crash test.