Evening everyone,

Newbie to the forum and just purchased my father in law's 98 Ram 2500 Cummings. It isn't 4 wheel and with winter coming up can anyone point me in the right direction on the best way to add weight to the bed? I really don't want a bunch of cement blocks sliding around in the back.

Thanks,
Mike

 

I use sand bags.

Some use cement bags (quick crete) but these can be corrosive.

I built a framework (just a couple 2X4's) to keep the bags on top of the axles (between the wheel wells) and from sliding around.

Works real good.

 

welcome to DF, contrats on the truck.

cant help you on the post since I'm in CA... we dont get snow here.

 

I also do the 2x4 thing and use pieces of concrete(broken up sidewalk) they are flat on side and don't slide too much anyway.

 

Go to a local carwash and ask them for an empty soap drum. Build a frame out of 2 x 4's that will hold the drum over your back wheels. While the drum is empty put it in the frame you built. Fill the drum about with water leaving room for the water to expand as it freezes. Then cap the drum. At the end of the winter let the ice in the drum melt then empty it.

 

5 gallon buckets with lids filled with sand

Inexpensive to buy, easy to load, easy to unload. You can also just fill the buckets with water and let them freeze before putting the lids on, but if you drive with the buckets filled with just water, you WILL feel the water sloshing around.

 

3 - 8 foot pieces of railroad track. Yard track is usually 110-125 lbs per yard, and main line is 132-145lbs per yard. My best friend who is also an engineer with me, puts 3 - 8 foot pices in his Chevy. He has them spaced evenly, and uses angle iron to make sure they are secure in the bed. I think he found 110 rail. So if I remember math, he has 24 feet, or 8 yards. That would be 880lbs? Whatever it is, it works EXTREMELY WELL for him in a foot of snow.

Just an idea.

Good luck.

 

I used bags of sand I bought at Home Depot when I was in MN for winter. I had this bad mental image of solid objects careening through the window through the back of my head or into the person in front of me, in a panic stop or rear-ender...so the bags seemed safer.
But I see "stylinconcepts" has a bladder-type thing for this purpose in their latest catalog - may want to check into it too...

 

Sand bags are a best bet type of thing. Put the weight up against the front of the bed. Yes the weight is not directly over the wheels, but you will not be fishtailing as easy either. The farther back you put the weight, the easier the truck will fishtail. If you do get stuck you can all ways cut open a sandbag and use the contents for traction. If you haven't driven in the snow much, or if your area gets a lot of snow, snow tires are a good idea also.

Hope it helps,

Steve

 

Take my g/f's sister. All you need to do is let her graze from a KFC bucket. Better leave a 55 gallon, Mt. Dew drum with a crazy straw too.


Here's her pic. Let me know if youn want her #




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Or if you think she won't be heavy enough, her mom, and aunt also work for the business.



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