Weight?
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Lynnwood, WA
You should put the sand to the very end of the bed in a 2WD truck; also, there are lots of differences between snow and snow. IMHO, the worst is the one that falls on a relatively warn road, then piles up a couple of inches, so there is a snow covered slush.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Coutts Canada
What psi are the tires at? Might want to drop them down to the 25-28range for a bit softer contact patch.
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New User
Joined: Aug 2005
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Yea I was thinking about that, there at 33-35 right now, but I dont want to lower them now becasue when im driving on the street it will hurt my tread wear, so I guess when the next big snow storm hits I will.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: central ohio
remember outside temperature will affect tire pressure. if you air them up to 30 at 70 degrees and dont do anything more, at 25 degress the tires could be at 20 psi (i forget the formula for pressure drop vs ambeint temperature) it makes it hard to choose a specific pressure, the temp has floated here lately from 0 to 28, its 19 right now.
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2005
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Originally Posted by FritzBlitz
Yea I was thinking about that, there at 33-35 right now, but I dont want to lower them now becasue when im driving on the street it will hurt my tread wear, so I guess when the next big snow storm hits I will.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: GR, Michigan
Sliding a bit with the rear is not a bad thing, if the rear gets more traction that the front you can end up pushing the front tires instead of having directional control. Every vehicle has different needs, it depends on many factors such as tire width, tire tread, open or LS or locked diff, vehicle weight bias, etc. A dually will need a lot more weight than a single. I always put the weight at the rear of the bed, you need less weight that way to get the same added grip. I normally experiment in 100 lb increments until the rear has slightly less grip than the front.
One thing to try, if your truck has the spare under the rear on a cable, drop it down and place a couple of those 25 lb weight lifting weights in the wheel, put the lift cable throught the center holes in the weights and then through the wheel. Be careful winding the tire back up into place as you have about doubled the weight for the little winch to lift
This adds 50 lbs nice and low at the rear of the truck and this weight will not shift around in the event of an accident. Be careful what you place in the bed for weight, it can be come a projectile and go through your rear window in a front end collision. That might hurt . . .
One thing to try, if your truck has the spare under the rear on a cable, drop it down and place a couple of those 25 lb weight lifting weights in the wheel, put the lift cable throught the center holes in the weights and then through the wheel. Be careful winding the tire back up into place as you have about doubled the weight for the little winch to lift
This adds 50 lbs nice and low at the rear of the truck and this weight will not shift around in the event of an accident. Be careful what you place in the bed for weight, it can be come a projectile and go through your rear window in a front end collision. That might hurt . . .
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Atlanta GA
In my 1997 Ranger (4x4) for snow and ice I use to air down to 20 psi, for the snow storm, and keep 600 pounds of sand bags (laid even inside green bags) in the bed for winter. Pretty much go anywhere even with Firestone Wilderness ATs.
As for lower pressures, what gives more traction, a hard round wet slippery donut or a softer tire that will conform to the irregular surfaces of the road and ice without spinning. A great plus is a radial tire will spread out and grip a lot more then a bias in snow and ice and the sides will give a lot more traction.
As for lower pressures, what gives more traction, a hard round wet slippery donut or a softer tire that will conform to the irregular surfaces of the road and ice without spinning. A great plus is a radial tire will spread out and grip a lot more then a bias in snow and ice and the sides will give a lot more traction.
Last edited by rebocardo; Dec 10, 2005 at 11:25 AM.
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
Originally Posted by The SnoMan
I do not agree with the reduce pressure. I have had better luck with higher pressures.
Post Fiend
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From: Coutts Canada
35psi vs. 25psi (assuming both would have something like 400lbs of weight in t he bed) will make a big difference, granted it might not be as noticeable in some vehicles, but imangine one of those rubber laytex gloves, blow it up and fingers get hard and smooth (thus providing no grip), compared to a rubber laytex glove that just has enough air to give it shape, the fingers are soft and grippy (thus more traction) the same holds true for a tire (they are made out of fairly similar compounds too).
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