Weight for Winter Traction
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Junior User
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Nome, Alaska
Weight for Winter Traction
I'm trying to plan ahead... What do you use to carry extra weight in the bed to give additional traction in snow/ice? Might consider keeping weight during warmer months to smooth the ride if it wasn't too unhandy to remove when it's time to haul or tow. Neat and tidy counts extra. 
Looking for 500 pounds or so [suggestions on that welcome as well] for a 2003 SCab SB F250 4X4. My GF will be up front, so that's out -- plus she ain't even close on the requirements by a whole bunch -- just in case she reads this [and suggestions re inlaws not helpful
]. TIA
RR
Looking for 500 pounds or so [suggestions on that welcome as well] for a 2003 SCab SB F250 4X4. My GF will be up front, so that's out -- plus she ain't even close on the requirements by a whole bunch -- just in case she reads this [and suggestions re inlaws not helpful
]. TIARR
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Joined: Apr 2003
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From: Kent, Wa
Weight for Winter Traction
In my 86 f250 diesel dually, I fill up both tanks on it and only run off the front tank. Then I also move the spare tire from the front of the bed to next to the tail gate.
by my calculations of and the density of diesel fuel between .85g/mL adn .9 g/mL which is approximately 7.5 lb/gal... and there being 20 gal of fuel behind the rear wheels, this adds about 150lbs to the back of the truck...
with this added weight, my truck handles nicely in the snow.
also in pullman, I see alot of guys putting several bags of sand into the beds of their truck for added weight, also the farm boys put a bail of hay, but that just seems messy to me.
-Sarge
by my calculations of and the density of diesel fuel between .85g/mL adn .9 g/mL which is approximately 7.5 lb/gal... and there being 20 gal of fuel behind the rear wheels, this adds about 150lbs to the back of the truck...
with this added weight, my truck handles nicely in the snow.
also in pullman, I see alot of guys putting several bags of sand into the beds of their truck for added weight, also the farm boys put a bail of hay, but that just seems messy to me.
-Sarge
Last edited by mike_wsu; May 5, 2003 at 07:44 PM.
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Junior User
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From: Nome, Alaska
Weight for Winter Traction
Good idea on the dual tanks -- use that on old F150 but only 1 tank on the F250, sadly. May have to stick to the sand bags.
FishnTechn: Tube Sand?? Something prepackaged? LOL
I'm just guessing -- is that a real fine sand or what? Don't think they have it here. I may stick to 800-1000 lb of mine tailings but would need a good container. I reckon I can find a source for sand bags somewhere!
Thanks
RR
FishnTechn: Tube Sand?? Something prepackaged? LOL
I'm just guessing -- is that a real fine sand or what? Don't think they have it here. I may stick to 800-1000 lb of mine tailings but would need a good container. I reckon I can find a source for sand bags somewhere!
Thanks
RR
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Weight for Winter Traction
Last year in my 4X2 I used 2 55gal drums full of water and then filled the bed with snow. It was easy for me because I could load load it with my tractor. My neighbor used cinderblocks. Evertime they called for snow he would load it up. I would just smile as I loaded up my truck.
Steve
Steve
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Joined: May 2003
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From: Dairy Country, NY
Weight for Winter Traction
I have been using tractor weights for years with all my trucks. They are very heavy and don't take up much space. I found that sand bags tend to freeze to my bed and tear apart if I try to move them. Since I have never puchased the tractor weights (they are some old ones we had in the barn) I don't know an exact price, but they last forever.
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From: Nome, Alaska
Weight for Winter Traction
Whoa -- that's a lot of woman, No? Maybe even F450 material! Looks like she has a forklift problem. 
Good idea on tractor weights, although they will be hard to find in my area [3 tractors that I know of, one of those an antique with steel lug swamp "paddle" wheels and the others mount backhoes]. If I can't find something like tractor weights (usually carry several bottle jacks), guess I may have to go with sandbags in the winter -- but considering a removable water tank of some sort for the remaining four months of the year.
RR
Good idea on tractor weights, although they will be hard to find in my area [3 tractors that I know of, one of those an antique with steel lug swamp "paddle" wheels and the others mount backhoes]. If I can't find something like tractor weights (usually carry several bottle jacks), guess I may have to go with sandbags in the winter -- but considering a removable water tank of some sort for the remaining four months of the year.
RR
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From: Billings MT
Weight for Winter Traction
Another use for old milk jugs, cut the top off, but leave the handle and fill with concrete. I think you end up with about 15 lbs a piece and can be moved really easily. We used them as anchors for trot lines.
Also, those 5 gal paint buckets, or soap buckets from CostCo or Sams Club work well with concrete in them. They get a little heavy, but with concrete you don't have to worry about sealing them up or anything.
Also, those 5 gal paint buckets, or soap buckets from CostCo or Sams Club work well with concrete in them. They get a little heavy, but with concrete you don't have to worry about sealing them up or anything.
Tuned
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From: Fort Fun
Weight for Winter Traction
I picked up (well, not literally) a sheet of 1/2 thick plate steel. It is 4' x 6'8" and fits perfectly in the bed of my 00 F250 SC SB 4x4. I had two holes tapped into it and I thread in some 1000lb eye bolts. I hook up to it with a piece of heavy machinery and put it in or out with ease.
It stays in all winter cuz it does help the ride, but I take it out in the summer cuz it helps with the abysmal fuel milage. It is really nice because I can still put just about anything in the bed that I otherwise could (less one sheet of 1/2" plywood) and I don't have to worry about sand tubes breaking and spilling sand everywhere. (Same with salt bags)
I don't need to take it out to tow because the only real towing I do is the boat in the summer when it is out anyway.
It may not be practical for eveyone, but it sure it slick for me!
Big
It stays in all winter cuz it does help the ride, but I take it out in the summer cuz it helps with the abysmal fuel milage. It is really nice because I can still put just about anything in the bed that I otherwise could (less one sheet of 1/2" plywood) and I don't have to worry about sand tubes breaking and spilling sand everywhere. (Same with salt bags)
I don't need to take it out to tow because the only real towing I do is the boat in the summer when it is out anyway.
It may not be practical for eveyone, but it sure it slick for me!
Big
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From: Nome, Alaska
Weight for Winter Traction
Now if I only knew whether they make it for F250 and how much it cost...
The Great Truck Weight:
http://www.freeformplastics.com/Truckweight/gtw.html
RR
The Great Truck Weight:
http://www.freeformplastics.com/Truckweight/gtw.html
RR
Tuned
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 491
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From: Fort Fun
Weight for Winter Traction
Looks like it could be a big hassle. Not that 500# of plate steel is easy to load/unload, but it sure it quick (if you have the machinery). The Great Truck Weight would be great for a suburbanite that doesn't have a lot of room to store sand tubes or cinder blocks or a sheet of plate steel!
I wonder how well it will stand up to stuff being thrown into the bed of a P/U.
AHH. The free market system (well sort of...it is made in Canada-not strictly free market. No flames please! just stating a fact!
)
Big
I wonder how well it will stand up to stuff being thrown into the bed of a P/U.
AHH. The free market system (well sort of...it is made in Canada-not strictly free market. No flames please! just stating a fact!
)Big