Despite the fact that we'll reach 90 degrees today here in the Motor City, winter is on it's way. This is the first winter I will experience with a pick-up truck. I'm wondering what I should expect in terms of handling on the ice and snow, and also if any of you put weight in the back of your truck. If you do, what do you use for weight, how much weight, and where do you put the weight?

 

right over the axle, dont know how much and i use anything that is heavy

 

2wd or 4wd?

Sandbags are ideal as they won't become an unnecessarily dangerous flying hazard in the event you get in an accident.

Anything smaller than an ext cab 4x4 will definitely need weight in the bed, and 200-300lbs will make a big difference in traction but a good set of tires will also be necessary if you want to be able to stop effectively.. which is actually the bigger problem. To that end dedicated winter tires are best but an aggressive all terrain is also good as long as it has a narrow profile, meaning those 10.5 and 12.5 tires that many like make the worst winter tires.

 

truer words have never been spoken, that said i love the way my mastercraft a/t2s look, and even though they are wider they still work decent in snow and ice, even with my 2wd er cough couch 1 wd

 

Oh yeah - sorry. I should've learned by now to include the specs for my truck: '96 F150 4x4, 4.9 straight 6, manual 5-speed. Why would a narrow profile tire be good in the snow? I would think you would want a wider tire for more traction?

 

no, it floats on top and never sinks down and bites, that being said my buddy has an avalanche with way wide tires, like 15 inch wide ones, its a beast in the winter, stops well and when that thing spins the tires it cuase its on ice

 

I forgot all about winter. My 12.5s and open 3.08 rear are going to get me stranded. I need to get the ball rolling and do this 4x4 conversion. We don't really get snow here though.

 

Sand bags are good as already stated. Plus the sand can be used for traction if needed.

I've had fiberglass toppers on most of my trucks so I've pretty much left it with that. But even my first truck ('85 F-250 standard cab) wasn't too bad with no added weight. It just needed 4WD pretty often.

 

I use rock salt because when I carried sand it was always frozen when I needed it. Then when winter is over I dump it in my water softner

 

Actually joe, by now you should have those specs in your signature, that way you won't need to re-post them everytime you ask something, to do so just click the "User CP" button up there, then click on the "Edit Signature" button and fill in the space.

With snow you either have to get slim-profile tires or monster-size tires, that's what's used in Iceland out on the field, 40-44" tires on specially modified Ford and Toyotas.

 

i don't use any added weight.
at 9,000 lbs on the 88 and 79oo lbs on the 02, i don't need it.

and if you know how to drive it is not really needed either. i go places in my crown vic that others with 4X4 get stuck in.

 

I always thought this was a cool idea:

ShurTrax All Weather Traction for Car, Truck, SUV and CUV's Shurtrax Store

I've never tried it or seen one in person, but it makes sense. I may go the rock salt route this winter, ext cab long bed trucks are kinda iffy when it's really slick out.

Once you get used to driving it and correcting for oversteer and skids you'll be fine. Find a large, empty parking lot and put the truck into some skids to learn how to recover and get a feel for how it behaves.

 

seen those, cheaper just to throw some random stuff in there or some sand, i know one guy who filled his bed halfway with water and let it freeze

 

Using gravel or sand bags for weight is a great deal. They have the added benefit of being useful if you have to cut one open to put under a tire or two if you're stuck. Kitty litter would work the same....I suggest whatever is most cost effective in your area.

As to tires? I had Cooper Discoverer STT's on my F-250 CC and (and they were wide) and only had to use 4wd when the snow got deeper than 14 or 15 inches. Remember ground clearance needs to be considered as well. I also put pretty beefy Discoverer ST's on my brides expy and they do well too. These tires are siped (sp?) for added traction on ice.

You don't necessarily want to cut down through snow as it allows more traction than the ice under it. Remember snow shoes are wide for a reason. Wind polished ice is way more of an issue than snow.

 

if it snows enough thats enough weight in the bed, if not thats why god made 4x4