Just because you didn't need the sand bags doesn't mean they wouldn't have made a diff. hell, I don't need them, but when I put them back there I can notice a big diff.
You should try it with the sand bags and then remove them and drive without. I bet you'd rather drive with them.
The worst conditions to drive in around NY is the beginning of a snow storm. The roads are covered and are super slick. Once there gets a few inches on the ground, you can hang in the grooves of other cars and maintain a straight line. Anytime before that, you can slide all over the place. I think that low accumulated storms are worse to drive it than heavier acumulated ones. Just my .02

 

I use the ShurTrax works great.

 

I use water softener salt bags too. 4-5 50lb bags gets the job done.

 

I still use my bed in the winter time. I run my snowblower up in there and I still do housing projects when there's snow on the ground. Just because it snows doesn't mean I'm gonna render my truck useless. Sand bags can be removed in 30sec.

 

Didn't say it works for all but it does work for me. I guess it all depends how you use the truck. I could not fit a snow-blower in my truck anyways since I have a cap and that is what I have a trailer for. But you would be amazed how strong that rubber is.
Also I had friend get seriously hurt from a sandbag when he got in a accident and the bag went through the back window but fluke accidents can happen on anything.

 

i was thinking about the same thing, a 2x4 through cinder blocks that would attach to the little hooks on the side. but i figured id save myself the time and just threw some bags in the back.

 

same here, not to mention that thing costs what $100? where as 4 bags of sand costs $15?

 

I think they are $200??? Your also stuck with a solid block of ice back there the entire winter. Once you fill it, that's it until spring time!

 

i could have sworn they were 200 too until i just looked it up and saw it for 100 thats why i edited it. i know for a fact they use to be 200 something because a friend of mine wanted on but once he saw the price just went with bags.

 

When I had my 2wd I made a box that fits in on either side of the bump in the bed and a lid toped it off. In the box there were about 8 cinder boxes. This box ended up weighing around 300 pounds. With the box I also had 200lb in sandbags. To equal 500lb in my bed and I could still fit my little snow blower back there.

Now I have 4wd and I wanted a little bit of weight back there for when the roads aren't to bad but want some extra traction without going into 4wd. So I put 140lb of sand bags in the bed.