basic question re driving with empty bed
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basic question re driving with empty bed
I have never owned a truck before but need one now to haul stuff for job two days a week. The rest of the time the bed will be empty. It will be a short bed. I will be using it as my daily driver.
What are the downsides to an empty bed? Does it make for poor handling? What about in wet weather or snow? Thanks in advance.
What are the downsides to an empty bed? Does it make for poor handling? What about in wet weather or snow? Thanks in advance.
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RE: basic question re driving with empty bed
some claim an empty bed with the tailgate latched decreases gas mileage. Good arguement for a tonneau cover I guess. the tailgate does provide structural strength by holding the sides together and not allowing them to wobble. not a concern for a brand new truck but we have all seen older trucks with the side walls behind the rear wheels not square to the bed. even in cross winds, the cab is a greater obstacle to the wind than the bed. If you have ever ridden in a truck with snow or loose debris in the bed, you will see the air flow is circular from both sides of the cab with some debris buildup right behing the rear window. You do not indicate the weight of the load you will be hauling AND I am not trying to discourage the purchase of a truck as I have owned 4, 2 when I really did not need them for hauling; but a trailer (open or closed) pulled by a sturdy car could be a solution at about 5% of the cost.
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RE: basic question re driving with empty bed
If you are concerned with low grip in wet or icy conditions add some weight to the bed. Some bags of sand or similar substance will work. It will also smooth out your ride for day to day driving. About 250-300 pounds of weight over the wheel wells ought to do it.
Trucks are trucks. They don't handle, drive, feel like a car. Some are better than others, but at the end of the day, they're still all trucks.
Trucks are trucks. They don't handle, drive, feel like a car. Some are better than others, but at the end of the day, they're still all trucks.
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From: Camp Pendleton
RE: basic question re driving with empty bed
The bed is going to hop a little bit going over certain bumps, and you won't have a whole lot of traction in the wet and snow, but some 50 lbs. sand bags will fix that problem, and if you're that concerned about having a smooth ride just leave weight in the bed, my old wheels and tires from my Durango in the bed of my truck has smoothed the ride out a bit.
RE: basic question re driving with empty bed
Doc, are you sure you're going to med school and not maniac (mechanic) school?
He hit it on the mark! I usually load mine with 400-500 lbs in sand bags for winter driving. I also have a fiberglass cap on mine. Keeps the bed dry instead of full of snow so its not essentially useless in the winter. Just put the weight over the axle or to the front of the bed so its out of the way. If you've never driven and LSD pickup in the snow, take it real easy until you get the hang of it, the truck really likes to swap ends when going around street corners and such. Just remember, Doc, you'll like this, "More Total Mass Forward=longer stop time".
Have fun with it--enjoy a few parking lot doughnuts!!!
He hit it on the mark! I usually load mine with 400-500 lbs in sand bags for winter driving. I also have a fiberglass cap on mine. Keeps the bed dry instead of full of snow so its not essentially useless in the winter. Just put the weight over the axle or to the front of the bed so its out of the way. If you've never driven and LSD pickup in the snow, take it real easy until you get the hang of it, the truck really likes to swap ends when going around street corners and such. Just remember, Doc, you'll like this, "More Total Mass Forward=longer stop time".
Have fun with it--enjoy a few parking lot doughnuts!!!
Captain
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RE: basic question re driving with empty bed
I always keep 3-4 or more bags of sackcrete in the barn. Here in Texas it may not rain for quite a while (such as now) and when it does, the oil comes to the top of the road and can cause fishtailing in the truck. A few hundres lbs in the rear helps to stop this problem. Used to carry 800#'s in the back of my Ford F-250 HD. Only way to keep the ride smooth unless I had a backhoe on the pintle hook.
I let the sackcrete harden while in the back - still in the bag of course. Keeps the sliding around to a minimum. Then when you put it back in just align it with the groves in the truck and it rides well. Like others said, give yourself more stopping time.
I let the sackcrete harden while in the back - still in the bag of course. Keeps the sliding around to a minimum. Then when you put it back in just align it with the groves in the truck and it rides well. Like others said, give yourself more stopping time.
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From: Curtice, OH
RE: basic question re driving with empty bed
ORIGINAL: rakram
some claim an empty bed with the tailgate latched decreases gas mileage. Good arguement for a tonneau cover I guess. the tailgate does provide structural strength by holding the sides together and not allowing them to wobble. not a concern for a brand new truck but we have all seen older trucks with the side walls behind the rear wheels not square to the bed. even in cross winds, the cab is a greater obstacle to the wind than the bed. If you have ever ridden in a truck with snow or loose debris in the bed, you will see the air flow is circular from both sides of the cab with some debris buildup right behing the rear window. You do not indicate the weight of the load you will be hauling AND I am not trying to discourage the purchase of a truck as I have owned 4, 2 when I really did not need them for hauling; but a trailer (open or closed) pulled by a sturdy car could be a solution at about 5% of the cost.
some claim an empty bed with the tailgate latched decreases gas mileage. Good arguement for a tonneau cover I guess. the tailgate does provide structural strength by holding the sides together and not allowing them to wobble. not a concern for a brand new truck but we have all seen older trucks with the side walls behind the rear wheels not square to the bed. even in cross winds, the cab is a greater obstacle to the wind than the bed. If you have ever ridden in a truck with snow or loose debris in the bed, you will see the air flow is circular from both sides of the cab with some debris buildup right behing the rear window. You do not indicate the weight of the load you will be hauling AND I am not trying to discourage the purchase of a truck as I have owned 4, 2 when I really did not need them for hauling; but a trailer (open or closed) pulled by a sturdy car could be a solution at about 5% of the cost.
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RE: basic question re driving with empty bed
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RE: basic question re driving with empty bed
Hey Gone Fishin, Judging by my student loans, I'm definitely in medical school and not mechanic school! LOL
. Most of my mechanical knowledge I just pick up by tooling on things. I have rebuilt 2 stroke engines, replaced head gaskets, etc. I just enjoy wrenching on stuff.
. Most of my mechanical knowledge I just pick up by tooling on things. I have rebuilt 2 stroke engines, replaced head gaskets, etc. I just enjoy wrenching on stuff.
