Weight in the rear for winter

sdeeter19555 · August 17, 2016

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.

Bought a parts truck a guy had used bags of salt as weight, the whole front of the bed was rotted off and the frame directly undeneath that area (where it dripped down) was practically rusted in two...

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Brian S. · August 17, 2016

Bought a parts truck a guy had used bags of salt as weight, the whole front of the bed was rotted off and the frame directly undeneath that area (where it dripped down) was practically rusted in two...

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Wow, sounds like he basically had road brine eating the truck.

I really don't think back end weight is necessary. I live in Wisconsin where we get a lot of snow, and I just use 4 Auto on days the roads might be slick. I use 4 auto driving off road ice fishing every week in the winter, on frozen lakes and down unplowed dirt and gravel "roads".

Having the front axle turn on when rear tires slip trumps sand bags any day.

Thomcat · August 17, 2016

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.

But sand alone won't melt ice. Not all salt bags are equal.....ones available in Walmart break just by looking at them, but local Martin's has salt in heavy duty sealed bags with a built in handle that can withstand a lot of abuse.

Brian S. · August 17, 2016

But sand alone won't melt ice. Not all salt bags are equal.....ones available in Walmart break just by looking at them, but local Martin's has salt in heavy duty sealed bags with a built in handle that can withstand a lot of abuse.

Sand will give you traction on top of ice though, and in 4 Auto I don't think you even need that.

I drive around all winter on frozen lakes, there is no road or traction to be found. I don't carry sand, it's all snow and ice. I've gotten stuck once on the ice when I tried to plow through some pretty deep drifts.

I don't think having bags of rock salt is going to help because how often is it the case where the only spot you need traction is right under your wheels? You can't melt the whole road home.

Basically if you can't get around in a 4wd truck on streets and highways, you shouldn't be driving.

JerryCanada · August 17, 2016

Lots of tires are rated mud and snow (pretty much all A/T tires). From my understanding only the tires with the mountain and snow flake logo have passed the requirements for a winter tire.

Sbaer2012 · August 17, 2016

Lots of tires are rated mud and snow (pretty much all A/T tires). From my understanding only the tires with the mountain and snow flake logo have passed the requirements for a winter tire.

I believe I have an icicle on my tires...I have good year wrangler AT/S. Do you or anyone know if these are solid winter tires? I have 4x4 but never had a truck as my primary winter car.

JerryCanada · August 17, 2016

I believe I have an icicle on my tires...I have good year wrangler AT/S. Do you or anyone know if these are solid winter tires? I have 4x4 but never had a truck as my primary winter car.

Now this is strictly opinion and I can only talk about the winters I experience. The Wrangler AT/S is an all season tire. Will probably fare well in snow and slush but not on ice. Winter tires are made of softer rubber (reason they don't last if driver in summer) which will give you a better traction on ice and probably match or exceed in snow and slush.

Z45 · August 17, 2016

When I had a 1992 Silverado 4x4 Short Box that I used for snow plowing I added a 4x6 ft steel plate in the bed for ballast and traction. I left it in for many years. I think it was about 1/4 in thick. I got of a salvage guy for $20, he had lots of used steel plate. It was estimated to be about 300 lbs.

Sbaer2012 · August 17, 2016

Now this is strictly opinion and I can only talk about the winters I experience. The Wrangler AT/S is an all season tire. Will probably fare well in snow and slush but not on ice. Winter tires are made of softer rubber (reason they don't last if driver in summer) which will give you a better traction on ice and probably match or exceed in snow and slush.

thanks I just don't know if I can justify dropping another grand on snow tires if these wranglers will be more then sufficient...I live in new York.

Waaazooo · August 17, 2016

thanks I just don't know if I can justify dropping another grand on snow tires if these wranglers will be more then sufficient...I live in new York.

As long as you're not trudging through 12-14" of snow you'll be fine. On a stock height truck your limiting factor (as long as your tires aren't bald) is that you only have 8" of clearance under the nose of your truck.

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Sbaer2012 · August 17, 2016

As long as you're not trudging through 12-14" of snow you'll be fine. On a stock height truck your limiting factor (as long as your tires aren't bald) is that you only have 8" of clearance under the nose of your truck.

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I got a two inch level and I removed the valence....I have have approx. 8.25 inches of clearance LOL gotta get my dues.

sdeeter19555 · August 17, 2016

Dedicated snow tires have a softer rubber compound and a load more DEEP siping. Out west, you can even have new tires siped for extra snow traction.

I run dedicated snows on my cars, had a set on a prior truck (studded cooper M/S in a 265x70r17 LR E) but that was nearly a grand in tires. I've been ok with all terrain or all season tires for most instances, only had the snows when I traveled cross country in winter months.

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crushNchowda · August 17, 2016

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

If the pavement is covered w/ snow & you are running snow tires AND have 4WD - believe me my friend, doing 60 is just as safe as doing 30 in a FWD elantra.

Everything is relative & depends on the capabilities of the vehicle you're driving, regardless of what the laws/speed limit is. Case in point - I have a Z06 vette, and if I were to buzz by a cop doing 90 on the freeway, more than likely I'll get pulled over & cited. However on that same highway it is completely legal & commonplace to have tractor trailers cruising @ 75-80mph - never getting pulled over despite also speeding since they're going w/ the flow of traffic, trucks w/ gross weights near or exceeding 100,000 lbs - wrap your head around that - Day in & day out you're traveling alongside vehicles that outweigh you 20:1 - they WILL NOT stop in an emergency situation & will easily lose control taking out anything in their path if an emergency maneuver is required. This is in perfect weather, forget about snow.

Given 250' feet of space, would you trust your life standing in the highway as a 100,000 gross weight truck bears down on ya @ 65mph hoping he'd be able to stop in 250' before hitting you if need be? What about my Z06 @ 90mph?

You know the answer, like I said, it's all relative.

waumo1 · August 18, 2016

If the pavement is covered w/ snow & you are running snow tires AND have 4WD - believe me my friend, doing 60 is just as safe as doing 30 in a FWD elantra.

Everything is relative & depends on the capabilities of the vehicle you're driving, regardless of what the laws/speed limit is. Case in point - I have a Z06 vette, and if I were to buzz by a cop doing 90 on the freeway, more than likely I'll get pulled over & cited. However on that same highway it is completely legal & commonplace to have tractor trailers cruising @ 75-80mph - never getting pulled over despite also speeding since they're going w/ the flow of traffic, trucks w/ gross weights near or exceeding 100,000 lbs - wrap your head around that - Day in & day out you're traveling alongside vehicles that outweigh you 20:1 - they WILL NOT stop in an emergency situation & will easily lose control taking out anything in their path if an emergency maneuver is required. This is in perfect weather, forget about snow.

Given 250' feet of space, would you trust your life standing in the highway as a 100,000 gross weight truck bears down on ya @ 65mph hoping he'd be able to stop in 250' before hitting you if need be? What about my Z06 @ 90mph?

You know the answer, like I said, it's all relative.

Given equivalent tires on both vehicles, the first statement is dead wrong.

The rest I agree with.

SouthernSilveradoGuy85 · August 18, 2016

Given equivalent tires on both vehicles, the first statement is dead wrong.

The rest I agree with.

This past winter My '14 had no problem going 70 on the interstate which was covered in just snow. And I still have the SR-As on the truck. I might have still went too fast for the conditions, but the truck felt comfortable and stable. The only time it didn't was because of me. I was holding the wheel with 1 hand and I sneezed which my hand moved the wheel just a tad but I had no problem catching it.

I found out just how much 4x4 helps over normal 2wd when I had the previous truck which was a '98 Z71. We had snow and then ice on top. The driveway was just ice. It has a slight incline, but not real bad, just enough to tell by just looking at it. Well I went to back up on it in 2wd just seeing and it didn't budge. Didn't give it a lot of throttle, just spun. Put it in 4hi and with the same amount of throttle and it backed up there like I was in 2wd on concrete, never spun even a little bit. And at the time it even had the cheapest tires I could find which were highway treat and was only $400 (that was tires, balance and install).