2nd Gen Dakota Tech 1997 - 2004 Dodge Dakota Tech - The ultimate forum for technical help on the 2nd Gen Dakota.

Winter setup

Old Nov 27, 2008 | 12:05 PM
  #1  
batman13's Avatar
batman13
Thread Starter
|
Grand Champion
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,597
Likes: 0
From: N.Ridgeville, OH
Default Winter setup

ok, some of us dak guys are lucky enough to live in snowy/icy winter locations...AND drive 2wd trucks
so heres how i have my traction control set up





250 pounds of used sand trap sand from work in a nylon bucket,
over/behind the axle, the heavy end of the bucket is over the axle, (theres 3 cinder blocks under the sand for a base)
strapped down, it dont move at all. and the sand is prepped to be rock hard even when dry
 
Reply
Old Nov 27, 2008 | 01:17 PM
  #2  
bpark8824's Avatar
bpark8824
Champion
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 3,300
Likes: 2
From: Plattsburgh, NY
Default

I used to throw a couple rail road ties (we cut them at the sawmill my father manages) and the bed liner had a perfect cut out to nail a 2x4 across them and they wouldn't move an inch. Worked awesome.
 
Reply
Old Nov 27, 2008 | 01:25 PM
  #3  
RoaminGnome's Avatar
RoaminGnome
All Star
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 786
Likes: 0
From: Southern NH
Default

My dad used to use 80lb concrete pucks in a wood frame that hugged the wheel wells. Seemed to work pretty well for him, I just use my 4wd
 
Reply
Old Nov 27, 2008 | 01:44 PM
  #4  
wingerak92's Avatar
wingerak92
Captain
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 516
Likes: 0
From: Grande Prairie AB
Default

I had 6 sand bags from the local trucking ocmpany haha. i think i paid 36 bucks for am all too
 
Reply
Old Nov 27, 2008 | 04:46 PM
  #5  
jonnymagnum's Avatar
jonnymagnum
Grand Champion
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,645
Likes: 3
From: ontario, canada
Default

I used to put about 200-250lb sand bags over the axle on the 88 dak when I used to winter beat it. and I never got stuck at all.
 
Reply
Old Nov 27, 2008 | 06:04 PM
  #6  
xskylinedx's Avatar
xskylinedx
Record Breaker
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,031
Likes: 0
From: Vermont
Default

I made a box out of pressure treated wood that I put about 250-300 pounds of sandbags into. Last year was my first year with the truck in the winter and with the sand it was the difference of night and day. I'm not sure what the 'perfect' weight amount would be, I just went with half the payload capacity.
 
Reply
Old Nov 27, 2008 | 08:09 PM
  #7  
batman13's Avatar
batman13
Thread Starter
|
Grand Champion
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,597
Likes: 0
From: N.Ridgeville, OH
Default

250 seems perfect for me, when its nasty out in the winter its, no worse than summer rain traction.

and i like to play on ice so it works great, plenty of control


and the 100+ pounds of tools in the box probably dosnt hurt
 
Reply
Old Nov 27, 2008 | 08:38 PM
  #8  
bpark8824's Avatar
bpark8824
Champion
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 3,300
Likes: 2
From: Plattsburgh, NY
Default

Honestly tires is the deal breaker. You can have all the weight in the world but it won't do any good if you have bald tires. A good set of snow tires can really make a difference.
 
Reply
Old Nov 27, 2008 | 08:56 PM
  #9  
batman13's Avatar
batman13
Thread Starter
|
Grand Champion
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,597
Likes: 0
From: N.Ridgeville, OH
Default

yea, very true,
but the best snow tires in the world do no good without enough weight to keep them planted

my tires have a very high snow/ice rating. but they are hardly any good without some pounds on them.

its like offense and defense, you cant win games without both of them
 
Reply
Old Nov 27, 2008 | 09:23 PM
  #10  
bpark8824's Avatar
bpark8824
Champion
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 3,300
Likes: 2
From: Plattsburgh, NY
Default

I still think tires make a lot more of a difference than weight. Slap on some studded snows and you will get grip w/ or w/out weight.
 
Reply

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 03:17 PM.