How much weight do you put in the bed of your Dak? Not sure if it makes a difference how much if you have a 4x4 (as I) or 2wd.

First winter with a 4x4 truck, had a Jeep GC for several years and just filled the tank as full as possible. Just curious about tips for pickups. I plan on using sand tubes I think.

thanks

 

I put 200 lbs. of sandbags in the bed. That, plus the weight of the topper (150 lbs. or so) does the job. I have a 2wd and live in PA and didn't have a problem at all last winter.

 

I was kind of thinking about 200-250 .. Around here (S. Illinois) they seem to sell them mostly in 50#, so maybe 5 of them. $2 apiece if you buy them in the next month or so. Then they go up to $5 or more the closer Dec/Jan comes , which is our snowy time.

 

I just borrow them from my pastor. He's got a couple dozen up in his barn and don't get used anymore. They were used in a traveling theatre type group, so the bags are a bit more heavy duty.

 

I put 250lbs in the bed for this winter. (Canadian winter) I have 4X4, coupled with some decent tires, I should be great. I will also have to get back into the habit of filling up way before empty like I do now.

 

my dad uses 2 5 gallon pails full of sand bungie corded in at the back, last year he put them in the from by the cab, idk if it matters, but he has only had one problem since he bought his old dak(96), and that was with his current 03, he did a full spin and landed in the guardrail facing traffic on 287 going to work bc of ice, all that happened(luckily) was a busted headlight, not to scare you as this was on a hill, but he usually doesnt have problems, and neither do i with my durango

 

Use at least 300 lbs of sand or salt placed as far back as possible in the bed. Salt or sand are the best because if you do happen to get stuck, you can just break open a bag, pour it on the tires and get on your way.

 

As long as I have had a 4x4 I have never put any weight in the bed of my truck and never had any traction problems. Even with my last truck (2000 chevy silverado Z71) that didn't have a limited slip rear like my dakota has. As long as you don't stomp on the gas you shouldn't have any problems in snow. When I had a 2wd truck I used a big bag of peet moss and poked a hole in the top and filled it with water and let it freeze. Then in spring just put the peet moss on your garden.

 

I have never used weight in any of my 4x4's, honestly I don't think it's necessary at all (and Maine gets pretty decent winters). Just make sure you have decent tires and you're good to go, I didn't even use weight in my 2wd but that was a little dicey on occasion...

 

Well Marc, it is my 5th Dakota's so far, 4th 4X4 and never had any sand for traction aid in any of them except for the 1995 2X4 318. Especially the new TRX 4 AWD No need for weight in the box... Short Box, big cab, weight is well balanced. Thrust me the winter we have here in Northern New Brunswick and Quebec are about the roughest it gets south of the 60th.