1999 to 2016 Super Duty 1999 to 2016 Ford F250, F350, F450 and F550 Super Duty with diesel V8 and gas V8 and V10 engines
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Winter bed weight

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
  #1  
Old 11-23-2016, 03:41 PM
acf6's Avatar
acf6
acf6 is offline
Post Fiend

Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Manchester, CT
Posts: 13,710
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 2 Posts
Winter bed weight

Does anyone run weight in their bed during the winter? With my crew cab long bed, even with brand new toyo MTs, i dont have much traction in 2wd...and i dont feel like driving around in 4x4 all the time if its snowing. I think because there is hardly any weight on the rear axle with the truck being so long.

I was planning on just buying some sand bags that hopefully can be reused, but was wondering what weight people run. 500lb seem like enough?
 
  #2  
Old 11-23-2016, 04:21 PM
sxrfun's Avatar
sxrfun
sxrfun is offline
Elder User
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Ontario , Canada
Posts: 661
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts
You have a 4x4 but you don't want to use it? lol......I don't put any weight in mine...but I use the 4x4 option......I've heard of others putting 5 0r 6 bags of softener salt in the back....they are 88 lbs for the bigger bags, so that would give ya in the area of 500 lbs give or take...so yeah should be enough.
 
  #3  
Old 11-23-2016, 04:23 PM
acf6's Avatar
acf6
acf6 is offline
Post Fiend

Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Manchester, CT
Posts: 13,710
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 2 Posts
Its annoying if there is 1" of snow. I only need it to get going from a stop, then im fine. Id rather just put some weight in my bed and actually be able to navigate around. If im driving in a major snow storm then yeah im in 4x4 the whole time. Even in 4x4, with an open front end, its not overly useful when im up in vermont. If i have my snowmobile (about 600lbs) in the bed, then im fine...so just wondering is 500 is still a useful amount.
 
  #4  
Old 11-23-2016, 04:29 PM
sxrfun's Avatar
sxrfun
sxrfun is offline
Elder User
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Ontario , Canada
Posts: 661
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts
I hear ya.....I'm just to lazy to put the weight in and out......the salt can be used in the spring if ya have a softener at home as well.
 
  #5  
Old 11-23-2016, 04:31 PM
acf6's Avatar
acf6
acf6 is offline
Post Fiend

Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Manchester, CT
Posts: 13,710
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 2 Posts
I do not. I have manually locking hubs so i dont always drive around with them locked, just if i know theres going to be a big storm or im going to be offroad
 
  #6  
Old 11-23-2016, 04:44 PM
seville009's Avatar
seville009
seville009 is offline
Logistics Pro
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,795
Received 33 Likes on 26 Posts
I put about five 80lb tubes of sand in my F350 daily driver; definitely helps. In my F350 plow truck, I have eleven tubes plus about 300 lb of stuff.
 
  #7  
Old 11-23-2016, 05:14 PM
xr7gt390's Avatar
xr7gt390
xr7gt390 is offline
Cargo Master
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: North West Indiana
Posts: 2,666
Received 57 Likes on 27 Posts
I don't put any weight in mine, but it could probably use some. I do use the electronic locking rear end more than I use 4x4. It seems locking the rear end give me good enough traction to be the first person away from the light.
 
  #8  
Old 11-23-2016, 05:30 PM
mark224's Avatar
mark224
mark224 is offline
Senior User
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Northern NY State
Posts: 137
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
I've never needed weight in any truck I've owned , I go by the make it walk don't talk rule. In other words soft on the gas at the corner, but the tube sand will give you enough. Make sure you put it over the axle to get the most out of it. Plus if you need to you can get out and put some of the sand under the tire to get traction.
 
  #9  
Old 11-23-2016, 05:32 PM
acf6's Avatar
acf6
acf6 is offline
Post Fiend

Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Manchester, CT
Posts: 13,710
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 2 Posts
I certainly dont "need" any weight with 4x4...but i dont see the point in driving around in 4x4 everywhere. Id rather just add some necessary traction to the rear end of an empty truck bed. My plow truck is a crew cab short bed and with some bags of ice melt and other tools, it does ok...but my truck is pretty bad
 
  #10  
Old 11-23-2016, 05:42 PM
163junk's Avatar
163junk
163junk is offline
Senior User
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Western NY
Posts: 398
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I have a 4x8 sheet of 1/4'' diamond plate for mine, my buddy has 2 sheets of 1/2'' plate 2x6.5 in his short bed. Heavy to move twice a year but works.
 
  #11  
Old 11-23-2016, 07:04 PM
ligito's Avatar
ligito
ligito is offline
Posting Guru
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Oregon
Posts: 1,229
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Add the weight and be happy.
Works with 2WD, too.
 
  #12  
Old 11-23-2016, 07:17 PM
Misky6.0's Avatar
Misky6.0
Misky6.0 is offline
Lead Driver
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Ouray, CO
Posts: 5,419
Received 12 Likes on 9 Posts
I've got a steep 12% gravel driveway. Every SUV/minivan vehicle can make it in 2wd, but our F350 SC long bed requires 4wd, when empty. Even with limited slip rear both rear tires spin and the rear end hops up and down. Stop, put in 4wd problem solved.
 
  #13  
Old 11-24-2016, 08:09 PM
FordBlueHeart's Avatar
FordBlueHeart
FordBlueHeart is offline
Logistics Pro
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Mesick
Posts: 3,551
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
I've got 8-10 48# bags of play sand in 5 gallon buckets in my bed. This is the first time I have put weight in the bed. I did it originally to overcome the leafspring hop due to worn out shocks. It's only snowed a couple inches last week, but it definitely made it easier to drive in 2wd.
 
  #14  
Old 11-25-2016, 05:37 AM
don123's Avatar
don123
don123 is offline
Laughing Gas
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 1,046
Received 4 Likes on 2 Posts
I'm carrying about 600 lbs in tools and a 200lb ARE truck cap and that works great for plowing. 500lbs will definitely help. I put 2- 4'x8'x5/8" sheets of plywood on top of my tools and secure everything with heavy duty ratcheting straps. I know a guy who put a bunch of sand bags close to his tailgate without securing them. Then when he smashed into a tree at 45mph the sand bags went right through his back window and killed him. Make sure you secure whatever you put in the back!
 
  #15  
Old 11-25-2016, 06:45 AM
Chuck's First Ford's Avatar
Chuck's First Ford
Chuck's First Ford is offline
Postmaster
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: very South Texas
Posts: 4,392
Likes: 0
Received 15 Likes on 15 Posts
I use an OLD bar-bell weight lifting set.. cast iron... about 600 pounds.

I have 2 wheel drive. second truck. but been using weight lifting set in station wagons since the 1970's....

who need 4x4 on pavement.. drive like you have an un-cooked egg under your foot. and weight in the back, and behind the rear axle.

I truly enjoy the E-Locker rear end. but several of my old wagons had posi-traction.

Motor Safe.
.
 


Quick Reply: Winter bed weight



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:33 AM.