Winter Ballast
Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,082
Likes: 93
From: VA/NH
I was thinking about using plate steel. I wanted to put a piece like what they use in road construction to cover up a working hole for the night. Then I could throw my bed mat over it. I think it's something like $2/lb now though. Fisher recommends 600 lbs for my truck, so $1,200 just isn't happening. I just don't want to use blocks, sand, cement, ice etc because I actually use the bed of my truck and I don't feel like humping all that in and out when I need it...
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,498
Likes: 3
From: Windsor, Colorado
Originally Posted by redford
I'd sure hate to see what would happen if you ever got in a serious accident with that much steel loose in your bed. 
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
From: Louisville, KY
Originally Posted by sgthawkusmc
I was thinking about using plate steel. I wanted to put a piece like what they use in road construction to cover up a working hole for the night. Then I could throw my bed mat over it. I think it's something like $2/lb now though. Fisher recommends 600 lbs for my truck, so $1,200 just isn't happening. I just don't want to use blocks, sand, cement, ice etc because I actually use the bed of my truck and I don't feel like humping all that in and out when I need it...
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 5,078
Likes: 0
From: Rural WV
Re; Winter Ballast
I used to keep buckets of dried cat litter (speedy dry will work too) instead of sand. If traction becomes a problem, open a bucket sprinkle the cat litter in the wheel path and instant traction!
Since then, I've substituted the cat litter with wild bird seed. Cat litter turns to mush when it gets wet...bird seed just continues to be wet bird seed.
The bonus is the birds love it and there's no mess to clean up!
MSgtG
92 F150 SC
03 F250 King Ranch Crew
Since then, I've substituted the cat litter with wild bird seed. Cat litter turns to mush when it gets wet...bird seed just continues to be wet bird seed.
The bonus is the birds love it and there's no mess to clean up!
MSgtG
92 F150 SC
03 F250 King Ranch Crew
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 23,174
Likes: 1,678
From: Stephensville WI
Originally Posted by msgtg
I used to keep buckets of dried cat litter (speedy dry will work too) instead of sand. If traction becomes a problem, open a bucket sprinkle the cat litter in the wheel path and instant traction!
Since then, I've substituted the cat litter with wild bird seed. Cat litter turns to mush when it gets wet...bird seed just continues to be wet bird seed.
The bonus is the birds love it and there's no mess to clean up!
MSgtG
92 F150 SC
03 F250 King Ranch Crew
Since then, I've substituted the cat litter with wild bird seed. Cat litter turns to mush when it gets wet...bird seed just continues to be wet bird seed.
The bonus is the birds love it and there's no mess to clean up!
MSgtG
92 F150 SC
03 F250 King Ranch Crew
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 23,174
Likes: 1,678
From: Stephensville WI
Originally Posted by mudmaker
I really dont think it would cause much of a problem.
I've seen a guy beheaded because he didn't secure a front-end loader properly on a ramp truck, panic stop at 40 sent the loader bucket into the cab. Also, a teenage girl was killed a few years ago while riding in a car that hit a ditch, a 15 pound speaker in the back of the car flew forward and hit her in the head.
600 pounds of 3/4 sheet, sent free if the truck is rolled, could do serious damage to buildings, cars, people or anything that gets in it's way. Can you just imagine it skidding down the road at 35 MPH, or maybe even the sidewalk?
If you rearend someone with a 600 pound sheet of 3/4 inch steel loose in your bed, where do you think it is going? It will try to go though your bed wall and through your cab. You are in for a real rude shock if you think the sheet metal of the bed or the cab is thick enough to contain the sheet of 3/4 inch steel.
What ever you use for ballast, PLEASE SECURE IT.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,082
Likes: 93
From: VA/NH
It's going to go into the back of your bed unless it has somewhere to slide. Maybe if you roll you'll have a problem, but I'm not seeing it coming out otherwise.
edit: I just noticed you did say if you rolled...However, think about all the tools etc guys carry around unsecured. I don't think I'd worry much about a sheet of steel. Debatable though I suppose.
edit: I just noticed you did say if you rolled...However, think about all the tools etc guys carry around unsecured. I don't think I'd worry much about a sheet of steel. Debatable though I suppose.
Last edited by sgthawkusmc; Feb 15, 2007 at 02:24 PM.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
From: New Jersey
Just my two cents here. I have to agree with Redford, What ever you use, Please secure it. Just seems to me to be a responsible and prudent thing. I know most of us with the Big trucks feel bullet proof in winter weather. However there is always the "what if" factor and "that other driver" factor. Personnally I love the idea of using the bird seed. I think I will change from sand and cat litter. Thanks for the idea.
No matter what you do, do it safely, while having fun.
No matter what you do, do it safely, while having fun.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,372
Likes: 14
From: West Cornwall, CT
I use 12 70# tube sand bags tied down onto a half size hardwood pallet. The pallet is a bit wider than the space between the wheel wells so it stays in position well enough. I used the rear corner tie down points for some extra security.
The pallet of sand bags was really meant to be a counterweight when the snow plow was attached but seems to work well for driving in snow. I load it when the weather looks crummy and unload it when the truck bed is needed for something else. A tractor front loader does all the hard loading and unloading work.
This might be a bit more weight than is really needed, but these SD trucks don't seem to know when they are carrying an 800#+ load.
It does smooth out the ride too.
Lou Braun
The pallet of sand bags was really meant to be a counterweight when the snow plow was attached but seems to work well for driving in snow. I load it when the weather looks crummy and unload it when the truck bed is needed for something else. A tractor front loader does all the hard loading and unloading work.
This might be a bit more weight than is really needed, but these SD trucks don't seem to know when they are carrying an 800#+ load.
It does smooth out the ride too.
Lou Braun
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 23,174
Likes: 1,678
From: Stephensville WI
Originally Posted by F-16mechanic
Hope this doesnt turn into an services agruement......
