Add Ballast to Your Ford During Winter?

By -

Ballast

Looking for Better Traction During Winter Driving? Is Adding Weight to the Bed the Best Option? Share Your Tips in the Forum

Winter is here and it’s your responsibility to make sure your Ford truck is up for Mother Nature’s challenges. That brings us to this week’s important question: Should you add ballast to your Ford during winter?

Add Ballast to Your Ford During Winter?

While getting gas yesterday, we saw two trucks in the same gas station with sand bags in the bed, and that got us wondering. How many people add ballast to the bed of their Ford truck to help improve cold weather traction?

This has traditionally been something that folks with rear-wheel drive vehicles have done to get better traction in snow. Having more weight over the drive wheels helps the vehicle dig through snow and slush more effectively. Therefore, the truck is more stable and safer to control. However, we have also seen 4WD truck owners add weight to the rear of the bed. This is to help get better traction when they are driving in rear-wheel drive mode only.

So for our newest “Question of the Week,” we want to know if you have before, currently do, or plan on adding ballast to the rear of your Ford? Keep in mind that adding ballast or having 4WD isn’t a replacement for proper winter tires. They are mere small tweaks to ensure a smoother take off.

Chime in with your thoughts on the forum. >>

"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.

"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.

"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.

"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.

"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

How to Guides

View All >
Roush Gives the 2024 Ford F-150 Visual and Performance Overhaul
Slideshow: Roush never disappoints when it comes to their takes on Ford vehicles.
Read It
Ford F-150 Lightning Purchase Turns Into a Nightmare for Owner
Slideshow: Luckily, the automaker was willing to help.
Read It
Top 10 WORST Excuses to NOT Buy a Ford Truck!
Slideshow: Ten worst excuses for not buying a Ford truck or SUV.
Read It
5 Reasons Why the Ford Bronco Is Experiencing a Sales Slump
Slideshow: For two straight quarters now.
Read It

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:06 AM.