Adding Weigth During Winter
Adding Weigth During Winter
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 256
Likes: 0
Yes, I have an XLT Supercrew with the 2wd and I threw in 2 tube sands weighing 75 pounds each in the bed. I was told it helps keep traction, but I was in about 7 inches of snow today and I think the extra weight helps the bed swing away from you more often from more weight. I might take the sand tubes out to see how big of a diffence it is in the snow. There expecting about 10 more inches of snow here overnight into to the day tomorrow and I think the truck handles great in the snow! I think the more weight you put in the bed, the more you will spin in circles if the bed gets away from you, but I'll have to test that out for sure though.
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 984
Likes: 0
From: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Sand is a great addition. I recommend adding the weight in front of the rear wheels, rather than behind them. This will help keep the truck balanced, rather than off-setting it's normal center of gravity. The other bonus of sand is that you can always hack open a bag and use it for traction under the wheels, should the need arise. Normally, I just back up to a snow pile, and shovel a bit of it into the box for the winter.
Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,430
Likes: 2
From: NH
Don't know about the 04-05 models but I put some(filled the bed completly) early 80's generation computers(heavy steal ones that are only good for boat anchors) in the bed of my 72 F250 4x2 one year and I did not spin or get stuck again after. In all my 4x4 trucks I did not bother with weight in bed.
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Tuned
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 441
Likes: 6
From: Madison, WI
i use 3 75 pound sand bags. One word of caution, however. Make sure you tie them down, or make them a permanent (for the winter) attachment to your truck. I've seen first hand what a runaway sand bag can do to the back of a driver's head when he hits another vehicle at 65mph. Let's just say that the sandbag ended up about 20 yards in front of the vehicle, after going through the back window, through, the windshield, and through the drivers head.
Sandbag weight is good but be careful with anything that you put in the back of your truck.
Sandbag weight is good but be careful with anything that you put in the back of your truck.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,542
Likes: 22
From: Murphysboro, IL
I have a 2004 F-150 4x4 and have no need to worry about extra weight. I have had any 4x4 trucks and have never had a problem. But, through the winter is when I quail hunt and I have my dog box in the back of the truck from about mid October to mid March and it weighs about 250 lbs. so I have weight in it for the winter in a technicla sense but it is in their other than for traction purposes. I'm not really sure if 250 lbs. would actually make that much difference, it made a slight difference in the 4x2 ranger I use to have this in so I doubt it will make a diffrence in my F-150.
My uncle use to carry a scoop shovel in the back of his truck for his winter weight, whenever it snowed he'd load the back of his truck with a hefty amount and down the road he'd go, when the snow melted off it drained out and left his truck bed clean and empty.
My uncle use to carry a scoop shovel in the back of his truck for his winter weight, whenever it snowed he'd load the back of his truck with a hefty amount and down the road he'd go, when the snow melted off it drained out and left his truck bed clean and empty.
Last edited by Birdhunter1; Dec 14, 2004 at 03:33 AM.
New User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by BMWhitesel
Get a 4x4 then you don't need to worry about adding extra weight.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
From: Angelica, NY
I just got my 05 STX SuperCab 4X4 w/ a 6.5 ft box and put 6-60lb tubes of sand in the rear. 360 lbs I figured wouldn't be too much. I work from midnight to 8, and get to travel the roads well after the road crews have quit for the day. So at times the roads are somewhat untreated. Last week we had some snow late so the roads were a bit icy and snow covered. I was very impressed with the truck. It didn't spin a wheel (or at least not enough to bother) all the way to work. That was in 2 wheel drive too. I'm not sure if the extra weight helped, or these Ford's just handle super. So far (other than the mileage) I love the thing. And this is coming from a long time GM guy.
Super Moderator
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 8,547
Likes: 6
From: MA
I have (5) 75lb. sand bags that I picked up at the local hardware store for a few dollars each, placed at the front of my bed. mjbesen, I have actually found the opposite to be true. The lighter the bed, the more apt your are to swing it around (magnified with a limited slip rear end). But hey, thats just my opinion, and we know what opinions are like 
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Elder User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 922
Likes: 1
From: san diego
just used my truck in snow and ice for the first time. 4wd was all i needed, i was going to get some sand but there was no point roads were completely glazed over and i was driving around fine in 4wd; couldnt even get it started in 2wd. i even pushed it a few times to see how well the truck would do.