My family always just threw whatever they could find in the back for weight. Wood, cinder blocks, whatever. I find it wierd to pay for bags of sand. Of course around here they go for $15 per bag. So if you wanted 500 lbs of sand your going to pay $150, assuming 50lb bags.

 

Shovel the snow from the driveway when it snows and throw it in to the bed! Free weight that will empty itself as the temps rise... Lots of people do that around here.

Regardless, I am also confused why the OP is having such difficulty with his Cooper Discoverer AT3s. I have them in 285/70-17s and am pleased. They aren't the absolute best snow tire I've ever used, but with this season's record snow falls in my region, I haven't really had any problems with them.

They are Load Range E, and I run them at 50psi. I normally have no weight in the bed, besides the fiberglass bed cover. I do recommend weight in the bed as any tire will struggle weightless in a truck. Don't get overzealous with the accelerator, and use your 4x4 when you need to. And stay away from ice of any flavor. No tire does very well on ice (studded not included).

-JT

 

I ended up with 560lbs of sand bags. It helps some. But wow is gas mileage dropping.. Oh well its only for few more months.

 

While I'm at it. I had to take the diesel out in the snow covered roads (50% on road), with those Hercules Terra Trackers. They suck in 2 wheel drive (4 wheel they're ok). K.

 

Our roads are just a sheet of ice at the moment. Driving on them is interesting to say the least. My truck sucks ***** on that crap in 2wd...... Need to fix the 4x4 and see how that goes.