I used to use a small inner tube, just filled it with water. The water would freeze and keep from sloshing around, and the rubber shell would keep it from sliding around the bed. In the spring it would melt, then I'd just pull the valve and let it drain, roll it up and put it away till next year. A small tube can weigh 200-300 lbs depending on how much water you put it it. Just remember, a gallon of water weighs 8.33lbs.

 

Sand costs $3.49 per bag. At 4 bags @ 200lbs it costs ~$14.00 compared to a $140 bag you fill with water.
I would have to say this is for guys with tonneau covers because exposure to cold weather just in an open bed will age and crack the plastic used. prob like over 4-5years I would assume. That's as long as any pool cover and water bags last around here. Also, if you've got a frozen block of ice back there...Your stuck with not being able to use the bed of your truck. Not talking of piling stuff on a slippery water bag, otherwise your talking about scratches potential holes...etc Where as sand bags can be easily moved out of the way.
I suppose if you don't use your bed(i.e have a tonneau) then a water bag would could be used. But I would never pay that much for a bag that holds water when sand bags are a fraction of the cost. Even @ $14.00 each year if you tossed them every spring, it would take 10 years to recover the cost of that water bag that renders the bed useless for the entire winter.
Some guys use their bed of their trucks. it's one of the reasons why I myself bought a truck.

 

Ha, how the hell do they get in there? I thought your supposed to lift trucks cause fat chicks cant jump?

I just go to a parking lot when it first snows and get a front end to load a couple bucket fulls into the box, it works awesome, but it freezes into a huge block in the box and getting it out when the snows gone is a pain in the ***!! But its free!!

 

And you make them sit in the back? I like it

 

Ditto, not PC but still funny. Then again 2 birds again sand bags for weight and putting under the tires for traction vs. unloading and staying warm when you get home, rofl

 

I tend to AGREE with Alaska above (AK 2500). I am a both a RESEARCHER & BEST PRICE SHOPPER by HOBBY. I spent the evening, both, seeking weight alternatives (finding plenty of reasons NOT to use unsecured sand bags, salt bags, rocks, etc). I was genuinely impressed with SHURTRAX (providing EQUALLY DISTRIBUTED & SECURED REAR WEIGHT). My findings were AFFIRMED by dozens of reviews by men, but to include one woman; a nurse who works in an Emergency Room). I'm SOLD!

Searching the NET I can tell you that BEST AVAILABLE PRICE, currently, for a full size truck is $139.99 plus FREE shipping (which is a heck of a lot cheaper than my deductible, lol). A 3-year hassle free warranty was a plus, but nicer...a once 400 pounds that takes up minimal storage space until next winter arrives (& you can place up to 500 pounds atop it while filled).

I also located only ONE customer who provided A REALLY GOOD "ADDITIONAL" TIP for when the time arrives to empty your SHURTRAX. Place your truck with the front on an INCLINE (makes sense, doesn't it?!).

Before the below link, I would also like to bring to your attention that I, as well learned WHO the man was that invented it, patented it, etc. His name is Marty J. CARTY (who has since written the book, "Do YOU Have a Million Dollar Idea?"). Yes, I'm very a thorough female, lol.

You can take a first-hand PEEK at the SHURTRAX at youtube & Happy Holidays to my Dodge Ram counterpart fans!:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4opvO...B02DF4&index=0

 

lol, you guys in the northern hills get creamed every year, but hey, it's more time to play in the snow lol. I may get some bags of sand just for the hell of it. Anything I can put in the bed to keep the bags from sliding?

 

iv tried a lot of different ways to add weight , and different amounts of weight

i have a 2500HD , so the amount will differ from truck to truck, but

what i do is gathered all my home depot 5 gall buckets, and covers
fill them with dirt from my yard , then put the lits on
i use 9 of them at appox 55lbs each
thats just under 500lbs
with that much weight in back,you have tons of traction
you almost dont need the 4 wheel drive
unless you in the real steep and deep
also the truck rides REAL nice
and when you need to take them out, there is no mess
no need for shovels,
or a need for 2 or 3 guys to help you, or drain out water, or bags breaking
just unstrap the buckets and take them out , 2 mins work
then when you done 2 mins, and they are back in
i use 2 straps , 1 around the front of the buckets
and a 3'x3' piece of plywood over the top with a strap..keep the snow off too, for easy removal


its the best way iv come up with after years of trying all kinds of methods

 

Yea, just make sure you don't get moisture in that bag or else you're left with a couple rocks in the back of the truck.

 

Thats why you get tube sand. It will only turn into a rock if the moisure freezes.


And i gotta laugh at EMJ. CT has winter? I live near the very top of maine. The winter of 2007-08, oct-may. we got a (record) total of 197 inches of snow.

One morning we got about 2 and a half feet of powder dumped on us. I was running late for work so i didnt have time to clean out the driveway or the snowbank the plow created at the end. That bank was over 4 feet because we lived on a hill and when the plow came down the hill on our side, it pushed alot into our driveway

So i figured 7,000 lbs of durango would be a b**** to get stuck in that deep of snow, cause i wouldnt be able to get my doors open. So i got a run for it.
I got goin almost 15mph before i hit that snowbank. Bam, what a huge cloud of white, I couldnt see anything

Key word mentioned above, powder. Very light and non sticky snow. I went through the bank with so much momentum i went flying across the road and up onto the snowbank on the otherside. I had to shift the front around in 4wd just to get back down (hard snow underneath the powder)

Needless to say it was much easier running the snowblower though the driveway after i cleared the bank