Weight in the bed? Snow is coming.

[kstruckcountry]

Drive in the snow without it, then add 200 pounds or so. You'll notice a difference in how it hooks up, I bet. It definitely won't hurt anything, and the sandbags are cheap. Gotten about 3 feet of snow here over the last week, and I haven't regretted it.

 

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[bdbake01]

If all around winter performance is what you're looking for, then a good set of snow tires easily trumps all. But, with 4wd, definitely not necessary for all but the worst arctic conditions.

 

I have a 4wd, but that said, I still carry a couple of bags of sand year round plus a tow strap because as someone mentioned, comes in handy! I've used it for lots of reasons, even stuff like unplanned releases of liquid hydrocarbons (I have Pontiacs at home). Plus, at least to me, an extra 100lbs or so in the very back takes the edge off the rear end twitchiness without a load. May just be me. As for mileage, between my fat @$$ and my fat right foot...well I've got 99 problems, but the added weight of that sand ain't one!

[kstruckcountry]

If all around winter performance is what you're looking for, then a good set of snow tires easily trumps all. But, with 4wd, definitely not necessary for all but the worst arctic conditions.

 

I have a 4wd, but that said, I still carry a couple of bags of sand year round plus a tow strap because as someone mentioned, comes in handy! I've used it for lots of reasons, even stuff like unplanned releases of liquid hydrocarbons (I have Pontiacs at home). Plus, at least to me, an extra 100lbs or so in the very back takes the edge off the rear end twitchiness without a load. May just be me. As for mileage, between my fat @$$ and my fat right foot...well I've got 99 problems, but the added weight of that sand ain't one!

Kind of my thoughts... I have winter rated all terrains, 4x4, and the sandbags. I have to really stomp the brake to get ABS to intervene. You really can't have too much traction.

 

One aside with the tow strap, as I found out the other evening: make sure you have a shackle for the strap. Many vehicles don't have a tow hook, they have a loop, which can render a strap useless if it won't fit through the loop.

 

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[Sierra706]

Kind of my thoughts... I have winter rated all terrains, 4x4, and the sandbags. I have to really stomp the brake to get ABS to intervene. You really can't have too much traction.

 

One aside with the tow strap, as I found out the other evening: make sure you have a shackle for the strap. Many vehicles don't have a tow hook, they have a loop, which can render a strap useless if it won't fit through the loop.

 

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You can get a tow strap with hooks on the ends.

 

Also an axle strap is good if you plan on towing minivans out of ditches. Ask me how I know

 

 

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[cbrsilv15]

Good tires make a world of difference.

[Andy Seibel]

Just to beat a dead horse- the sand bags are not required, but will slightly increase your rear traction. That being said, everyone needs to adjust their driving to the conditions. You cannot drive or accelerate the same on snow covered roads as you can on dry. Trust me, I have some experience in snow, new/old vehicles, truck/car, 4wd/Rwd/Fwd, stock weight/extra weight from plow & ballast. One thing I know for sure is 4wd won't help you stop. Only thing that helps stopping traction aside from better tires, is loading down with more weight.

 

But as long as you are driving with safe limits, you shouldn't need extra weight to take-off or stop. Some days (maybe 4 days a year around here) the roads are just $hit and no-one should be out driving.

[BlueCrayon]

I have 2 really heavy duty plastic bins strapped up against the cab because I haul around smokers/fryers/camping gear and just wanted somewhere to store more stuff so I threw 3 x 100lb steel weights inside for the winter....definitely noticed a small dfference but nothing terribly significant. The bins themselves weight about 50lbs each so i probably have 400 extra lbs. Problem is between that plus winter gas and cold weather, my gas mileage dropped from around 19 to only around 15. I might just take it out, like others have said the weight doesn't help much, using 4wd is all you really need. I've run snow tires on everything I've ever owned and was considering that too, but with it being a lease, so far decided not to invest the $ although still considering buying cheap black steel wheels and snows and just planning on getting another gm when the lease is up.

[Ravenkeeper]

I've seen guys throw a bail of hay or two in the bed of their truck.

[Sierra Boy]

I like to keep the tank FULL for added weight...it helps for around corners but other wise...as stated, 4w auto will do great. I have an HD truck if that makes a difference in weight.

 

Sierra Boy

[bigardo]

Got rid of the Wrangler SRA's and Put Cooper AT3's on and makes a huge difference in the snow and mud. But MPG suffers a little as well. I had 200 pounds in the bed but the tires were the big difference.

[SilveradoSaver]

I don't add weight to mine and have had no issues. My dad used to add weight to his previous truck, but it was 2WD and it did make a difference.

 

Just shovel some snow into the bed for weight. It'll melt at the end of winter... Problem solved!

[Showtime417]

You can get a tow strap with hooks on the ends.

 

Also an axle strap is good if you plan on towing minivans out of ditches. Ask me how I know

 

 

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Tow straps with hooks = Missiles if the strap every breaks. I would never risk someones safety with a set of straps with hooks.

[Sierra706]

Tow straps with hooks = Missiles if the strap every breaks. I would never risk someones safety with a set of straps with hooks.

If the hooks are both attached to a tow loop or hitch then they will not fly off. Unless the loop or your hitch comes off

 

 

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[Brian S.]

Trust me, my feelings weren't hurt.

 

Regardless, I appreciate the input from everyone. Seems that there are two pretty clear camps when it comes to adding weight or not. I'll see how the first snow goes in the new ride and go from there.

 

I think you'd need a LOT of sand. Truck weighs 5000lbs, a couple hundred pounds of sand is like air to a 6.2l Silverado.

 

You're going to break them loose all the time with a 6.2, you need auto 4 in my opinion.