96 F-250 351W Extended Cab 3.55 rear 2WD sporting new Yokohama Geolander A/T-S tires

I live in Illinois where it will snow one week and be 50 degrees the next. I'm looking to put some weight in the bed of the truck for the entire winter as I never know when snow and ice will appear. I do a combination of driving every day from bumper to bumper to unplowed, country roads - 'up hill both ways'. Most people do the sand bag route but I'm thinking of putting a small load of gravel in the back, spreading it out, then throwing down a sheet of plywood so I still have a useable bed (plus the gravel will be great if I get stuck and can be dumped in the driveway when spring comes). Anyways, how much weight do you think is necessary while hopefully not sacrificing gas mileage TOO much and without making it so heavy I can't stop it. Thanks in advance,

Chris

 

I used to run 600lbs of sand over the rear tires.

I have seen guys w 1" thick 4x8 road plate as weight, you loose almost no bed space but still have weight low certer of gravity

 

Back when a drove one of these trucks in the winter. I put 600lbs in the bed of my f150. That might be right for a 250, but in retrospect, it was probably overkill for the truck I was driving.

I like the idea of the 4x8 road plate, although I always tried to keep the weight right over the rear axle.

 

If you do the gravel, you'd have to put something at the tailgate opening to keep it from falling out of the gap between the tailgate & bed. Also, I think the gravel would do a real good job of sanding down your bed by the time spring rolls around.

 

I agree with thecheif. I think loose material in the bed is NOT the way to go. I would use something that is one peice and doesn't take up the whole bed. There used to be big water or sand bag made for this.

 

I'm using 300 lbs of sand over my axle this winter. Last winter I used 700 or 800 lbs of block. Too much weight. I'm using sand this year because it's safer.

 

I had only 300# last winter and it wasn't enough. I'll be looking to add probably 5-600# this time around. The road plate sounds like a really good idea.

 

I'd say that 300lb is probably good for a RC/SB f150. If it's a Longer f150, then 400 would be wise.

I'd say 500-600 in f250's. my problem with 600lbs in my 95 was that if it was really slick out, I could be at a dead stop, then put the truck in gear (with my foot on the break) and the rear wheels would start pushing me along. Needless to say, I needed to adjust my rear brakes.

Speaking of which, this is probably a really good idea for anyone looking at the upcoming winter. Adjust your rear brakes so you have 4 wheels to stop you rather than two. This is even more important as you add weight to the bed.

 

I like the Quickrete tube sand Quikrete 1159-70 Sand Tube 60Lb
It comes in 60 lb bags that have a heavy nylon outer shell with a heavy plastic inner lining, it's a mix of course and fine sand. They usually stay dry so if you have to break into them mid winter they are not a frozen block, and they stack well enough. I like them stacked up against the cab wall of the bed, in case I have to slam on the brakes they have no place to go, plus I have 4X4 and don't mind the load shared between front and back axles. I buy 10 bags, but would not hesatate adding 5 more if thought I wanted to, if I need a couple I have them to dig into. If there is a couple left at the end of the year I throw them to the back of the garage for next year.

 

For several winters I just shovelled snow in the bed when I needed weight. It worked and I didn't have to unload it when it got warmer out. Just a thought.

 

I use to put those big grey patio stone plates, ~500 pounds of it makes a great difference.

 

If It's cold enough,,,, Works 2.

 

I've always put my truck cap on that's fiberglass and add's 400lbs or so then i usually follow that up with sand bags. only been stuck twice once was i ran it into a snow bank, and the other was i had to stop on a steep hill and started to slide backwards. I've also tried the snow in the bed too but it always seems to melt enough that it compacts and moves forward and back while stopping and going. im in the same boat as you expect mines a 91 f-150 2wd

 

FYI your truck cap does not weight 400lbs unless it is a steel contractors cap. Closer to 200lbs. Cuz i can pickup and mover my 8' fiberglass cap by myself, no way i can pick up 400lbs and that ackward

 

Idk, but you need less wt in the bed if u put it right at the tailgate than if over the tires.



That said, I never added wt to the rear of any rear wheel drive vehicle. I always just make sure tires are good, and sometimes have them sipped.