Adding Weight to Bed for Traction in snow
 

Anyone have experience on about how much weight to add to the bed of the truck to help with traction in snow & icy conditions? I have 4WD if needed, but I still want some traction from the rear. I installed new mud, snows and studded tires, and I will be adding 30 lb concrete cylinders to the bed. I will be locating the cylinders between the rear axle and the cab of my truck. I was told NOT to put the additional weight to the rear of the rear axle. My plan is to add somewhere between 900 and 1200 lbs. Any experienced thoughts?

So far...you've been given some good advice. The only thing I would caution about is if you get into a bad accident...all of those concrete cylinders (and pieces of) will become projectiles. In our area (Western NY), most guys use bags of sand for weight. If you get into an icy condition, and cant get out...the sand can be used as a traction aid under the tires. In an accident, the sand will do alot less damage sir. :-X22

I use about 500lbs. of sand bags but i might add another 200lbs or more this year. With 500 i still spin the tires way too easy while i am plowing. I may have missed something but why would you want to put the weight towards the cab and not towards the tailgate?

For one it keeps weight on the steering. It's a little more balanced.

As for your application, you have a bunch of added steering weight hanging on the front of your truck. So, you probably have less of an issue placing all the extra weight at the tailgate. Which then, gives you a better balance.

I will be getting bagged sand this year, and adding about 500# or so. These LB CC trucks are very light on the rear end, and can come around in a hurry.

Now that I'm saying all of this. I think tomorrow I will swing by the scale and see just what the two axles weigh.

Thanks, that makes sense. Since we only get about 5 snows per year i usually take the sand out as soon as i unhook my plow.

Now, as for those concrete cylinder torpedo thingies.

I am worried about my sand bags coming toward the cab. Those concrete cylinders coming into the cab? How fast can your family duck? Sadly, the seat belts will hold them in the up right position.

How well can you secure them? And do you have a Headache rack for protection?

I was told that by putting the weight to the rear of the rear axle, it would lessen the weight in front and compound the whipping effect during a spin out.

Im gonna voice my opinion here.....Ive owned my fair share of small 2wd trucks and have put weight in the back of them and it helped me get going and that was great..... Until I had to stop fast!! I dont recommend putting weight in the back of your truck if you can avoid it. When you talk about putting 500 + pounds in your truck ontop of what it already weighs your brakes dont work as good as they normaly do. I just stopped putting myself in the situation of having to get up and go in a hurry. If your truck is 4WD, USE IT thats what you got it for right? Worse case scenario get a set of snow tires. Thats what I did and let me tell you guys.... WOW it makes a hell of a difference. I got Yokohama Geolaner I/Ts they were expensive but well worth the money GEOLANDAR I/T G072 Winter Performance Tires | Yokohama Tire Corp. Mud tires work gread in deep snow but are horriable with small amounts and an A/T tire will never compare to a snow tire

Tires will be the biggest benefit to the snow traction. But not all aggressive tires are the best.

BFG A/T KO tires are very good for snow.

I dunno. I have had my superduty for five years now and never put anything in the bed other that the 5th wheel hitch that is there all year round. I do have 4x4 and will use it when roads are slick but ice is ice and no matter what you have in the bed will stop it from sliding around on you if you hit a good patch IMO. Common sense and throttle control will help prevent that from happening and tires too to some degree. Some feel it makes a difference putting weight in the back but with these trucks I just don't see the benefit.

Sand can also be taken out of the bags and used for traction...

The sand coming out of the bags for traction is a very very good idea. I might throw a couple bags of it in my truck.

Steel road plates would do a very fine job adding weight.

Atleast the ones we have at work would work perfectly fitting in my bed.

Weight for 2wd Ranger
 

i have good results with 5 bags of 80lb concrete mix over the axles of my 2WD Ranger. Plus, I always have good tread depth on rear tires and if the roads are ice covered, as they often are in NC, I just stay home. You need studded tires, chains or a Sherman tank to navigate ice. 4wd = 4wskid on ice. Be safe!

5 year old resurrection.

I put just 1 2wd Ranger in the bed. Handles great in the snow.

Really the 91 gallon fuel/tool box works fine.

I stick to what I said 5 years ago.....