I just got my 09 RAM last week and winter here in Canada is slowly showing its ugly face. In the past with my other truck (Dakota) I added several hundreds of pounds in weight to my truck in order to improve traction. My question is with this new suspension is it more stable without weight or should I keep doing it?

Thanks

 

A set of snow tires would be your best money spent. I put a set on my wife's Subaru for the winter, it is amazing how much better it hooks up, but more importantly stops. As long as we live in the snow belt she'll have a set for winter. And you won't hurt anything with weight in the rear... but it won't help as much as snow tires.

 

We haven't seen any snow here yet, but it's coming and I've always put four 24" patio stones in the back. I chain them down by running two chains in a cross pattern from each corner and they fit between the two boards I've got in the bed. It's around three hundred pounds and I know it makes a difference. I don't think with an LSD, 4x4 and traction control it's a huge difference for some but with the 3.55 open and no weight I've slipped around in the deep stuff. As well, I put some snow rated LT tires on recently and think they will make a difference compared to the stock SRA's. As expected, I did notice a difference in gas mileage and oil change intervals but it's a small price to pay.

 

I put 400-500lbs of sand tubes in mine and have good tires. Funny thing is that the truck rides a lot better with that much in the back even in the summer. The tubes are easy to remove if I need to haul a snowmobile in the bed.

 

being in texas, i don't have much experience with adding weight (disclaimer) but im not sure i would want 24" guillotines/sledge hammers flying around in case of an accident. the sand tubes are pretty easy to use and very cheap. jmho

 

every truck rides better with some weight over the rear axles. most of the weight is up front with minimal from the middle back. designed for payload and towing.

floor your truck in the rain or snow and it will spin. add some weight and your better off. (not instant hook up like a tubbed dragster, but you get what i'm saying)

I always throw several bags of sand right against the tailgate when Im not hauling blowers and gas. and put the wait as far back as possible, over the axle and forward is a waste.

and you dont even need to buy bags from home depot for like $5 a piece. just head to your local gravel yard and fill some buckets up of gravel or sand for half the price. however convenience may be worth the few extra bucks. my local guys are literally walking distance to my house, so its easy for me.

 

And if you do get stuck, the sand is very handy to have on hand...

 

I grew up in upstate NY and always put sand bags in the back, between the tire humps to the tune of about 250-300 lbs. I'd get bagged sandbox sand and put each bag in a super-heavy duty plastic bag.

The nice thing about carrying sand is that if you do get stuck, you can open one and use the sand for traction...

 

I'm still amazed at the quality of the traction control of this truck -- it really works!

A few (3) 70# bags of sand, placed over the axles, 2 on the right, one on the left, will improve the ride, and aid traction a bit. If you really neeed extra traction, pull em back tight against the tailgate, to multiply their effect.... keep your gas tank full for an added benefit of weight for traction.

Those of us who have driven older 2WD trucks, really appreciate the new traction enhancement systems.

And, as said before, the sand can really come in handy if you ever need it!!!! While, 200# in the back, won't have much effect on mileage.

 

http://www.shurtrax.com/

Used it for 4 years in CO and now Tahoe region. Best and safe method in addition to being able to use your bed for carrying stuff.