Thread: Truck Mags - How much weight to add for winter driving??

Have a Chev 1500 extended cab with long box so really light in back end. I was thinking of in 200lbs area. Enough?

Was thinking of trying to use AT tires through winter. Bad idea? Only going to keep truch another 1-2 years as its a 92. If really bad won't use it.

Learn to drive first?

Do they sell those tubes of sand up there? We used to get them in NH. They're great for putting over the wheel wells in a car trunk or pickup bed. They serve both to provide some weight over the drive axle, plus they come in very handy if you do get stuck. The other thing I've used was a big box of welding electrodes - but that's b/c I got those free since I worked for a welding supply company. Electrodes give awesome traction too if stuck.

Is it 2wd or 4wd?

4wd = don't bother
2wd = no amount of weight will make it good but after some experimentation I think you'll find more than 200 (like 400+) is better.

Chains, chains are good to have for 2wd trucks.

I have a shell + heavy (~350#) benches in mine and it sucks balls in 2wd.

^^^^ what he said. 200 is kinda light. And sand does come in handy for getting unstuck.

Originally Posted by lemon boy

Is it 2wd or 4wd?

4wd = don't bother
2wd = no amount of weight will make it good but after some experimentation I think you'll find more than 200 (like 400+) is better.

Chains, chains are good to have for 2wd trucks.

I have a shell + heavy (~350#) benches in mine and it sucks balls in 2wd.

I have to disagree. 4wd isnt worth crap with an open differential. If your truck has a limited slip or locking diff, dont bother with the sand. Otherwise, treat it as though it was 2wd.

Originally Posted by MrDirt

I have to disagree. 4wd isnt worth crap with an open differential. If your truck has a limited slip or locking diff, dont bother with the sand. Otherwise, treat it as though it was 2wd.

You have obviously never driven on the road with a locker.

Locker + snowy road = death

now limited slip is different.

Just throw this chick in the back and you should be fine

Originally Posted by lemon boy

Is it 2wd or 4wd?

4wd = don't bother
2wd = no amount of weight will make it good but after some experimentation I think you'll find more than 200 (like 400+) is better.

Chains, chains are good to have for 2wd trucks.

I have a shell + heavy (~350#) benches in mine and it sucks balls in 2wd.

its 2wd, next truck will 4wd. Have to check if chains we have will fit tires. HAve shell too but didn't use it much at all last winter as couldn't make it up grade of snow covered driveway.

Going out this weekend should be fine as have lots of rebar in back. For return trip was going to load up with bags of cement. 4 bags should do it.

^ careful with the cement. Once they become solid they can do wonders to your cab if you stop suddenly. Personal experience.

Hope not solid as I have more concrete to pour in the spring. Going to Wrap in HD garbage bags to keep out moisture.

Hes talking about sliding, not getting them wet. Make sure you do something to keep them from sliding. Some trucks have slots built in to the side of the bed that fit a 2x8 or something to keep the bags between the wheel wells and the tailgate.

Originally Posted by Fatty

Just throw this chick in the back and you should be fine

Beginning to sense a theme here, Fatty.

[QUOTE=DougW;983077]its 2wd, next truck will 4wd. Have to check if chains we have will fit tires. QUOTE]

Doug, my old truck was 2wd. It never failed to get me anywhere, including around 200K kms of service work up north w/o chains.
Get 4 or 500 #'s of sand in the back and you should be fine for trips between here and Golden.

Just leave your Bobcat at the end of your road.

first, get your tires sipped (cheap alternative to studs). second, instead of cement, get bags of p gravel, you can use this for traction AND extra weight. you can also use steel/iron plates, place the weight directly over your tires (between the wheel wells). and it should help. don't need 500 lbs of weight, probably half of that. if you get chains and they are the heavy duty ones, put these in between the wheel wells too

Originally Posted by matt

You have obviously never driven on the road with a locker.

Locker + snowy road = death

now limited slip is different.

Sorry, I should have been more clear. By locking I meant electronically locking as available with some off road packages. I'd be scared to death to drive a car with a fully locked diff on the streets.

Originally Posted by lemon boy

I have a shell + heavy (~350#) benches in mine and it sucks balls in 2wd.

I have a shell too plus my sleeping deck and some tools/comealong/chains. I was surprised just how bad it hooks up in snow in 2wd, with the limited slip diff. It is pitiful. In 4wd though it rails.

So what about the projectile aspect. Is seem like it is an issue whether it is sand, cement, benches, ski boots, tools, jacks, kegs, fat chics, or coolers full of beer. If there is a front end collision, isn't that going to take your head off if not secured down?

get a good stick rubber mat and spray in bed liner, it takes a LOT of force to get anything to move with this set up

How much force would there be hitting a suddenly spun out Ford Mustang at 35mph if your vehicle weighed 2,300lbs and the Mustang weighed 1,500lbs and was moving at a relative speed of 10mph?

(This is all hypothetical, and slightly tongue in check, but still a feasible example)

its a Ford, i wouldnt worry about it, just another ford off the road...if items are heavy and resting on bottom of your bed, it should move forward not up. with my bedlner and rubber mat in the truck, almost nothing moves no matter how fast i have to brake. Haven't hit anything yet with the trucks i have had sprayed-in bed liners installed, so can't comment on the impact....

One bed sized sheet of 12mm diamond plate steel. Dual purpose.

I use 6x50lb bags of sand + a canopy (100 lbs) in my 4WD 1/2T. It seems to be enough. I've only needed chains when offroad full of deer and hauling a trailer.

you could frame up something that looks like an H that would fit around the wheel wells. There's 10lbs of lumber and 10 minutes of your time to keep things in the right place

Originally Posted by XtrPickels

you could frame up something that looks like an H that would fit around the wheel wells. There's 10lbs of lumber and 10 minutes of your time to keep things in the right place

I did when I had a truck, most people don't.

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When the front end of a vehicle plows into something; it usually dives causing the nose to be lower. Therefore if an object keeps moving while the truck is stopped, it is now at head level.