I posted this over in the main Ram forum, but apparently no one pays any attention to those threads...

So I ask again, to those of you in the north that get snow, how much weight do you put in your bed to help with traction in the winter?

I currently have 300 pounds in mine, and it doesn't seem to do anything.

 

I dont put any weight in mine. Skinny tires and and 4wd work well enough for me.

 

I run 400 lbs of sand tubes plus a larger fiberglass cap, maybe 300 lbs

 

I used sandbags, but they ripped all the time and were a PITA to store for summer.

I made myself some tubes out of 4" ABS plumbing pipe, cut them 5.5' each, glued a cap on one end and filled it completely with sand. Glued on another cap on the end and presto! A sealed sand tube. Made about 6 or 7 of them for the bed of the truck. Don't really use them anymore, but they worked great. Easy to store too! Just build a basic rack in the garage, or just leave them outside. No water will get in!

That's my tip of the week. Lol.

 

I should put something back there.
Haven't gotten stuck yet.

 

i drove in this jersey snow for the first time in this truck the other day. truck was all over the place. then again my tires are basically bald. 4wd made it a lil better. also reduced weight of truck by pulln out spare. so i know that cant help

 

I lived in Maine for 10yrs never put any weight in the back. Used 4wd never any issues. Putting that much weight in there is really gonna suck down the mileage.

 

Weight in the bed of a truck has been proven to be more of a double edge sword than you really want while travelling in slippery conditions...

It puts more pressure down on the surface of the road, but it also increases your forward inertia.

We put on winter-rated tires in the winter, and don't need anything in the bed. Granted, I have a bed cover (retrax) but it's not needless inertia added to the truck in my books.

We've lived in Northern Alberta for the last 7 years using the above, and haven't had any issues, both in my current 3500 and my 1500 QCSB that I had from 07 to 2011.

 

Keep good tires on the truck and slow down. Winter ballast isn't necessary with 4wd.