I have a question about how much weight you should have in the bed of your truck for snowy/icey conditions.

I have 200 lbs. right now and want to know if more is over kill or doI not have enough.I seem to be getting around good (especially being a 2wd) but want to know if I can get around better.

Thanks for the input
Brad

 

I carry about 300- 400lbs in the bed total (sand bags + misc + tonneau). I have tried more and less weight, and found this to be about the best amount for good balance and feel with my truck. The bulk of the weight (sand bags) are positioned directly over the rear axle. You should never put the weight at the end of the bed by the tailgate as that will have a pendulum affect when you do start to lose control of the rear. It will want to swing out harder, and be more difficult to bring back in, if all your weight is out to that far point. Keeping it over the axle keeps you center of gravity more to the center, but still puts the weight right over the wheels where you need it.

 

Silver_dodge

How do you keep the sand bags over the axle? Mine always seem to want to slide around that is why they are in the rear and I put a 2x6 across the back to keep them by the tailgate. I do agree with what you are saying so I will get a couple more sandbags and try to figure a way to keep them over the axle.

 

It will depend some on what type of material you have on your bed for a bed liner. If it is slick plastic, or you have no bed liner (just paint), it will be hard to keep them in place. But, here is what I do (and this is assuming you use the tube sand bags that weigh 60-70lbs each). I first lay four bags in a criss cross pattern like this, making sure the outer ends of the bags are against the ends of the wheel wells.
[IMG]local://upfiles/9095/F6BD5DE3AA1C4BD29277BF1B54818833.jpg[/IMG]
Then, I put two bags over top of the criss crossed bags either horizonatlly or vertically.
[IMG]local://upfiles/9095/DA89D1AE4DFB46BCAB835C64D5763D15.jpg[/IMG]
What you end up with is basically a unified bag formation that can only move as a whole, not individual bags moving. But, it is prevented from moving as a whole because the tips of the bags are against the wheel wells on each side (marked in blue), and the bags on top keep the criss-crossed bags held firmly down (points marked with red). I have never had this move on me when I stack them this way, and I have a plastic drop-in bed liner.
[IMG]local://upfiles/9095/B166475E7BA940AAAAECE6A1E48B7188.jpg[/IMG]

 

I haven't really needed any extra weight in my Dodge... but the other two brands of trucks I've owned in the past both need extra help.

-You already have one 2x6 so you have a good start. What you need to do is get a couple more 2x6's.
-Put one on edge in front of and the other behind the wheel well.
-Then cut two boards and run them along the inside of the wheel wells and screw them to the boardsgoing across the bed to form an H-pattern

I alwaysbought four 80# bags of sand and had pretty good results.

Then in the Spring I would use the sand around the yard for various projects like new sidewalks or refreshing the kid's sandbox (otherwise known as the neighborhood kitty litter box).

 

Yup, that would work too plus you have the added weight of the lumber. But my method is still better because I drew cool little pictures.

 

Perhaps somebody has a little too much free-time on their hands?[sm=confused06.gif]

 

Perhaps somebody has a little too much free-time on their hands? [sm=confused06.gif]

 

where you put the weight is up to you, see how you and your truck do. as for me, i stay home

 

where do you get your sand bags from?