Weight in the rear for winter

Andy Seibel · August 16, 2016

I tossed two big bags of sand in the bed. Had a tow strap and chains. Never needed any of it.

This is what everyone should do, honestly. In Addition to a shovel. I always keep a shovel in the truck when its snowing.

If you are ever stuck, you can dig out, use the sand for traction and use the strap to either rescue yourself or someone else. None of these things are necessary to drive on a highway, but you always see those storms that shut down roads, etc. If I'm ever caught in one, I want to be the one rescuing women and children, not the one stuck spinning my tires in a ditch.

crushNchowda · August 16, 2016

buy a snow tire/wheel set - your stock rims won't get messed up, & both sets of tires will last twice as long since you're swapping yearly

The only people who say there's no need for snow tires or that they're "all terrains" are "great" in the winter are people who have never owned a vehicle equipped w/ proper snow tires or don't live in a real winter weather climate.

When I had 2WD trucks I would put 250-300 lbs of tube sand in the bed & ran studded blizzaks - no problems.

On my current 4WD CC 6.2 sierra I run michelin snow tires (non-studded) & w/ the extra couple inches of clearance I gained w/ the leveling shocks there is NEVER a time I don't feel confident driving in the winter - which is important for me since my wife & I are avid skiers, you know when there's blizzard conditions & the plows stagger on the highway nearly blocking the whole road & theres slush piling up on the sides of the road & the plows still don't get the first few inches of hard pack on the road & everyone is white knuckled w/ their hazards on doing 30? Or maybe you see some A$$holes in their SUV's or trucks thinking 4wd or AWD means snow doesn't exist & they're off to the side stuck in a ditch?

Yeah well on those days I turn the opposite direction heading north to the mountains doing 60+ in 4WD hi (DO NOT DO THIS IN 4WD AUTO!!) passing the plows w/ my middle finger waving & a big grin on my face.

truckguy82 · August 16, 2016

buy a snow tire/wheel set - your stock rims won't get messed up, & both sets of tires will last twice as long since you're swapping yearly

The only people who say there's no need for snow tires or that they're "all terrains" are "great" in the winter are people who have never owned a vehicle equipped w/ proper snow tires or don't live in a real winter weather climate.

When I had 2WD trucks I would put 250-300 lbs of tube sand in the bed & ran studded blizzaks - no problems.

On my current 4WD CC 6.2 sierra I run michelin snow tires (non-studded) & w/ the extra couple inches of clearance I gained w/ the leveling shocks there is NEVER a time I don't feel confident driving in the winter - which is important for me since my wife & I are avid skiers, you know when there's blizzard conditions & the plows stagger on the highway nearly blocking the whole road & theres slush piling up on the sides of the road & the plows still don't get the first few inches of hard pack on the road & everyone is white knuckled w/ their hazards on doing 30? Or maybe you see some A$$holes in their SUV's or trucks thinking 4wd or AWD means snow doesn't exist & they're off to the side stuck in a ditch?

Yeah well on those days I turn the opposite direction heading north to the mountains doing 60+ in 4WD hi (DO NOT DO THIS IN 4WD AUTO!!) passing the plows w/ my middle finger waving & a big grin on my face.

I used to do that, I was just as arrogant as you about snow driving. Looking at all the wussy's doing 25mph on the highway. I have no problem intentionally getting sideways or doing 360 spins at 50mph in the snow.

Then one day in vermont, my vehicle hit a random patch of slush, hydroplaned directly off the road. I had 0 control of it.

I like hauling ass in the snow as well, it's going to bite you though, it's inevitable

Donstar · August 16, 2016

Anyone with 12.5 wide tires find they tires are too wide for snow? I stayed narrow and went tall with snow in mind. But miss the aesthetics of a wide tire

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What size tires are you using?

bassJAM · August 16, 2016

The truck weighs 5500 lbs right? That's like 1350 on each corner. Or about 1300lbs per square foot of foot pad from the tire

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You'd be correct IF the balance was 50/50. But trucks carry most of their weight on the front tires, sometimes up to 60%.

All of my trucks have always been 4WD, and I still like to add 200-300 pounds to the bed if I know it's going to snow. I've never gotten stuck in 4WD, but weight in the bed still gives a more planted feel in the snow.

Several years ago I did snow removal for a couple winters. With over 2000 lbs of salt in the bed of a truck, you can pretty much go anywhere you want in 2WD in the snow!

Andy Seibel · August 16, 2016

Then one day in vermont, my vehicle hit a random patch of slush, hydroplaned directly off the road. I had 0 control of it.

slush, ice, snow, all very different for driving. I think slush is the worst, Because it will actually change the direction of the vehicle. Ice just makes you go straight. I once hit a patch of slush around a curve on an otherwise clear road. I fishtailed on the asphalt at 60 and was looking for a place in the ditch to try to park it between the trees. I somehow held on and straightened it out. That got the heart beating.

The point is, you have to always drive within the limits of the conditions. no amount of weight will help you stop when you are skidding. in fact it will make you slide further into the ditch or hit the car in front of you harder.

there are a million 2 wheel drive cars on the road, we with 4x4 trucks have a advantage in accelerating over them. but steering and stopping we're not that much different. (i know weight and tires matter, but you get my point)

SouthpawHD · August 16, 2016

This is what everyone should do, honestly. In Addition to a shovel. I always keep a shovel in the truck when its snowing.

If you are ever stuck, you can dig out, use the sand for traction and use the strap to either rescue yourself or someone else. None of these things are necessary to drive on a highway, but you always see those storms that shut down roads, etc. If I'm ever caught in one, I want to be the one rescuing women and children, not the one stuck spinning my tires in a ditch.

I had to use my strap last winter to rescue MYSELF! Literally got stuck at a local eatery after a freak snowstorm and the drifts froze and I got the rear pumpkin stuck. Had to ask the plow-driver to pull me out and he was driving a Ford If I wouldn't have had my strap, I would have been forced to sit for a long time... My point is that it can happen anytime, anywhere and to anyone.

Dale_K · August 16, 2016

I had a co-worker who always shoveled the driveway and put the snow into the open bed of his pickup. It added weight but emptied itself when it melted. He had an old truck and I guess he wasn't worried about scratching it.

Here in my part of Arkansas you need snow traction about once every 5 years. One year I did buy about 10 bags of mulch to add weight. Figured it would be good for traction if I got stuck on a hill. Never needed it but the flower beds were happy when I emptied the truck out.

Thomcat · August 16, 2016

I had a co-worker who always shoveled the driveway and put the snow into the open bed of his pickup. It added weight but emptied itself when it melted. He had an old truck and I guess he wasn't worried about scratching it.

...............

Made that mistake once with my 2WD Colorado. Problem was some of my buddy co-workers hopped in and used the snow and nearby branches to construct a pornographic snowman in the bed facing the front of the building. Had to respond to a whole bunch of sexual harassment complaints and they reassigned my truck to a parking space at the rear of the building.

Sbaer2012 · August 16, 2016

since you guys seem to be pretty well versed in this stuff...I have these brand new good year wrangler AT/S that are rated for mud/snow but I was wondering if I should get an actual set of snow tires for my truck?

I have 4x4 so im not really worried but will the wranglers be sufficient and good in the snow?

Chevor · August 16, 2016

I run 235s in winter.

Brian S. · August 16, 2016

4WD - 2 #40 bags of sand and 2 #40 lb bags of salt stored behind wheel wells, not so much for weight but traction if you or someone else is stuck on compacted snow or ice.

Personally I don't even like putting those bags of salt in the bed to fill the softener. They're not always 100% sealed, and salt and metal = rust.

I would do sand if I was going to do this.

BlueCrayon · August 16, 2016

Tires do mean a lot....I drove a 97 Z28 through a couple winters until I got a winter car because I was really young and bought my dream car and didn't really think it out too clearly....I put 200lbs sand in the hatch and nice narrow blizzaks plus with the posi, I never once got stuck! Drove home from work in the infamous 2000 Buffalo storm that shut the city down for several days. sometimes plowing through several foot snow drifts.

As much as I am a huge snow tire proponent, I did notice you do get to a point with vehicle size/weight where I don't feel they help nearly as much. Like I said above I've had several smaller SUV/trucks like Rav4, cherokee sport and even an old nissan pickup truck and they all benefited greatly from snows, but my explorer with whatever stock Michelin all seasons that come on it will go through anything and stopping seems fine too. I feel it's the weight difference.....even with snows, my cherokee I feel would get pulled around in slush and drifts, but the explorer would just stick down to the road.

Debra in Cali · August 16, 2016

This is what everyone should do, honestly. In Addition to a shovel. I always keep a shovel in the truck when its snowing.

If you are ever stuck, you can dig out, use the sand for traction and use the strap to either rescue yourself or someone else. None of these things are necessary to drive on a highway, but you always see those storms that shut down roads, etc. If I'm ever caught in one, I want to be the one rescuing women and children, not the one stuck spinning my tires in a ditch.

Yep, I need to add a shovel to my toolbox. It can be used for snow or mud in the winter and help put out fires in the summer. We have constant fires in my area in the summer. If the locals can start a fire line before the local fire department or Cal-Fire can respond then it is much easier to get it under control with minimal damage. Most fires start right next to the highways from someone dragging chains, tossing out a cigarette, or car issues. Many times locals are the first responders to try and save our mountains.

sdeeter19555 · August 17, 2016

Anyone with 12.5 wide tires find they tires are too wide for snow? I stayed narrow and went tall with snow in mind. But miss the aesthetics of a wide tire

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They are ok, unless you have a lot of snow or slush on the road, and then they will float.

I ran 33x12.50x16.5s ATs in summer and a set of 255x85x16s ATs in winter...that was a great tire for winter. I could plow through deep slush in the center of the road without floating.

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