Has anyone ever used one of those bed bags you fill with water? I was thinking of buying one of them. Here's the scoop. I went and bought a dakota because I always wanted one and my sportage was dead, At the time I was pretty desperate and short on cash. I came across this nice dakota at a decent price with very very low miles on it. There's a few things I cannot stand with it. 1) Automatic, I hate automatics 2)Standard cab, If I had the time to look around a bit or the money to buy the one I wanted I would have got a quad cab. 3)It's only 2wd, You would think that since I live in the pocono's I would have been smart enough to buy a truck with 4wd, NOPE! well, after giving the long explanation I need to ask whether I should just stick to sand bags in the bed plan or should I purchase one of these expensive water balloons for the back of the truck? I'm getting nervouse here. The *** end of this truck seems to be pretty light. Don't get me wrong here, I'm not afraid to drive in the snow by any means. I always made it a point to get out and buzz around in the snow on purpose with my sportage in 4wd. I love to drive in the snow. I do plan on getting new tires, BFG AT/KO's. Ok enough rambling on about nothing. Suggestions appriciated.

 

I would go with sandbags and stick them right over the rear axles. I built a wooden frame around the axles to keep the sandbags from moving around and I was impressed at how much more traction I got. I put four 50lb bags on mine.
________
Full melt bubble hash

 

As for winter tracton I wouldn't do water it will freeze and just be a general pain I would think. I agree with the sandbags. As for tires I havent had any expirence with those BFGs I would suggest something that has penty of siping in it, and a rubber compund that is pretty soft to begin with.

 

where in the poconos are you?.... and yea your better off with sandbags... put them up clsoe to the cab though.. so you dont fishtail like crazy from what ive heard... yea... dakotas arent what you call on when snow is on the ground... just gotta drive easy with em.. thats my 2 pennies...

 

i dunno if i would put the weight up close to the cap. i would keep it right above the rear axle as to get all the weight on the wheels.

 

I live in Wind Gap Pa. In the summer I will be moving to Reeders, About 5 minutes from Camelback mountain. Nope, dont ski. I was reading about the bed bag and it ties down to all four corners and I think it said the total weight added to the bed is like 400 pounds and it has baffles in it and it also said that it does freeze but it can also be used all year round for offroad traction as well. I guess I'll stick with the sand bags anyway though, that way if I did get stuck then I use the sand under the wheels also. How much weight is recomended 200 pounds 300, 400. I'm afraid of having a lot of weight sitting on my rear leaf springs for 4 months also. those things are tiny and thin. Eventually I want to get the air bags to help with weight. Not only the sand weight but also in the summer time with plywood, sheetrock and other crap.

 

this will be the first year for me i got mine off ebay they are called shur trax ill let you guys know but i don't for-see any problems other than when it isn't frozen the sloshing around

 

shur trax is a nice sys, it evenly puts weight on the back of the truck. the doen fall is if you need to use the truck bed its in the way. sand bags over the rear wheels is better that way you can remove them if neededtem

 

3 70lb bags strapped to the front of the bed work perfectly. Eliminates the front wheels sliding when trying to turn and give you better rear traction. Also lowering the rear tire psi a couple pounds doesnt hurt either. First winter I had teh dakota I tried tying them to the rear axle area. Truck would just slide when I tried turning. Also if you do hit something, with them at the front of the bed already, they wont become missiles towards the rear window.

 

The Shur Trax system says you can load 400lbs on it. It also has a X shaped thing in the middle to prevent sloshing. FYI