winter driving

[sldhead700]

Adding weight can give you more traction if needed( most of the time you won't need it) also increased stopping distances depending on the amount of weight added.

I used to add 800+ lbs to my bed of truck when plowing deep snow, it made a huge difference compared to no weight while plowing, obviously it was for a counter balance to the plow. But the point being, is there's no weightt over the bed of a truck compared to the front axle even without a plow.
But for normal driving where they actually plow the roads you shouldn't need any weight.
Going on the back forested roads to get to a cabin, maybe you will want some......


Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

[Black02Silverado]

When I was growing up in PA dad would get tractor tubes, cut them in half and fill with sand and then use hose clamps to close the ends. The rubber helped from sliding around and he could open them up if he needed to use the sand for traction.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Codman67]

Get a shurtrax about 400 to 500 pounds fill with water it freezes plus you can put a sheet of plywood over it  and still us your box 

[Nick The Great]

I always put sand in my 1999 RCSB 2WD truck.  It helped a lot.

 

For the first two winters in my 2007 CCSB 4x4 truck I did also.  But one year I didn't get around to it, and I couldn't tell any difference.  I put it in Auto when it is snowing or the roads are wet/icy.  That seemed to be enough.

 

My 2017 CCSB 4x4 is not nearly as sure footed in the snow, even with Auto 4x4 engaged.  I think it's the factory tires.  I should replace them, but I'm too cheap.  Will probably try the sand this winter to see if it helps.  

[kickass audio]

I have only gone through one winter in my Silverado but I did not put anything in the bed at all last winter. I do have a bit of weight back there with the bed cap and I think that's like 150 pounds maybe? I still unfortunately have the stock SRA's and only used 4 wheel drive when I was in really deep snow at low speed (30mph and lower). Other than that I just was used to sliding around since I love to drift in the snow so it wasn't a big problem for me.

[crushNchowda]

Lived in New England/MA all my life, travel up north to ski country on windy mountain roads, some no salt areas, lots of SNOW - VT/ME/NH etc. 

I've driven RWD(2WD) trucks like Ford Ranger, RWD muscle cars like G8 GT, & FWD cars like honda accord but have mainly been driving a 4x4 1/2 ton last 5-6 years. IN ALL scenarios above I would run snow tires - IMHO opinion if my choice for a ride up to VT in middle of Feb snow storm was between my old 350rwhp G8 GT w/ studded blizzaks & 250 lbs of ballast in the trunk or a Denali ultimate 4x4 on 22"s w/ "all seasons" or "all terrains" I would choose the G8 GT on snow tires 100% of  the time.

 

That being said - in a 2wd truck I would run sandbags in the bed - but DO NOT put them at the tailgate - jesus...physics anyone? Suspension loads? What is Porsche's handling quirk? riiiiight.

 

YOu wanna put the bags just before or on top of the rear axle, right behind the cab is fine too.

 

IMHO I would run snow tires in WI if you can afford to do so. My 2015 sierra AT 6.2 4x4 w/ 33" 275/60R20 General Grabber studded snows + eaton diff & 3" of lift is an absolute BEAST in the winter. NOTHING I won't drive through. I got a tongue lashing from NH state trooper one time for passing snow plows (you can do that in MA but not in NH) during a legit blizzard w/ 6" of snow on the hwy doing 60 mph in 4wd HI - slam on the brakes if ya want - thing just stops. Nobody was on the road @ the time trooper recognized my truck gassing up @ rest stop then relaxed when he noticed the studded snows on it.

 

You don't need weight in the back w/ snow tires - doesn't hurt - but not necessary, plus remember you're can carry up to 26 gallons of fuel too - that's a lot of weight, keep a full tank as much as possible during winter anyhow.

 

Lastly, I work in the scrap biz so little easier/more accessible for me to do this, but when I was driving my 2WD Ranger beater in winter (had snows) instead of sand bags I used a 3/4" thick 3x3' plate of steel w/ a padeye welded on it to help drag it out @ end of the season. A hole would suffice too. Takes up way negligible space in the bed, doesn't break open & spill sand everywhere, doesn't shift around etc.

[Slizzo]

You probably didn't need the ballast in the G8 with the snow tires. I know because I had one, with non-studded snow tires (Michelin X-Ice Xi2).

 

But, I bought end of Jan and didn't do anything special; just put the truck in Auto when it was snowing out.

[vinemann12]

I installed a (225+ lb) Topper on my 2016 RCSB along with BGF K02's...

Topper is a heck of a lot more expensive that sand bags,, but at least it keeps my stuff dry..

 

Zero issues with snow,,, other than the idiot who cant drive and uses bald tires that usually fly's by...

 

Cheers---K

[crushNchowda]

21 minutes ago, Slizzo said:

You probably didn't need the ballast in the G8 with the snow tires. I know because I had one, with non-studded snow tires (Michelin X-Ice Xi2).

 

But, I bought end of Jan and didn't do anything special; just put the truck in Auto when it was snowing out.

near perfect 50/50 weights dist. + studded snows + ballast + Mechanical limited slip + stability & TC + ability to start from dead stop in 3rd gear (gobs of TQ & tuned) = amazingly capable winter vehicle

 

I kinda needed the ballast my G8 GT was stalled & running a "baby" DOD delete cam setup + LT headers no cats - HILARIOUS the looks I'd get billy goating that boat up snow packed ski country roads and/or drifting it like a boss sounding like a nascar w/ skis on the roof

[garagerog]

Lastly, I work in the scrap biz so little easier/more accessible for me to do this, but when I was driving my 2WD Ranger beater in winter (had snows) instead of sand bags I used a 3/4" thick 3x3' plate of steel w/ a padeye welded on it to help drag it out @ end of the season. A hole would suffice too. Takes up way negligible space in the bed, doesn't break open & spill sand everywhere, doesn't shift around etc.

Edited 14 minutes ago by crushNchowda

 

Did something similar many years ago and being in the scrap business you might appreciate this. I grew up on a farm in Eastern Wa. state that can get a fair amount of snow some winters. Anyway I ended up living in the city and had a 2wd 81 C10 Silverado with an open differential that was absolutely awful in the snow. My Dad still being on the farm had a lot of junk laying around so we used a Case wheel tractor with a farmhand and a chain to load a rolled up length of sprocket roller chain off an old iH crawler into the bed between the wheel wells, had plywood under it. Probably was in the neighborhood of 400-500 lbs, but at any rate it was enough to make a world of difference in rear wheel traction.

[300 Blackout]

Nice looking truck.

I’ve driven a K2XX 4x4 in Michigan winters since they were first released. Never needed any weight in the back. Most of the winter I stay in 2wd. I use Auto when road conditions are variable from dry to wet/snow. I use 4hi when there’s a lot of snow on unplowed roads. I would use 4lo to get out from being stuck, but that is yet to happen. Between the 3 trucks I’ve driven, the tires had a significant impact on winter traction.

[FarmKid92]

I bought snow tires for my 2015 last year, what a difference. But my options were do it right and suck it up and buy snows and rims, or take off the crappy Bridgestone Duellers that came on the truck, that still have half their life left, and put on Defenders instead. I still want the Defenders once the Duellers are shot, especially since the Duellers will break lose pulling away on from a red light on wet pavement.... But after a winter on snow tires, I get it, there really is a difference.

 

I always had weight in the 2wd '98 I drove before, but never have in my 4wd.

[15 Z71]

I think the Bridgestone A/T's hook up pretty good in the snow.

[crushNchowda]

13 hours ago, FarmKid92 said:

I bought snow tires for my 2015 last year, what a difference. But my options were do it right and suck it up and buy snows and rims, or take off the crappy Bridgestone Duellers that came on the truck, that still have half their life left, and put on Defenders instead. I still want the Defenders once the Duellers are shot, especially since the Duellers will break lose pulling away on from a red light on wet pavement.... But after a winter on snow tires, I get it, there really is a difference.

 

I always had weight in the 2wd '98 I drove before, but never have in my 4wd.

LOL I know what you mean. I just roll my eyes & shake my head when AWD/4wd noobs think the drivetrain will save them from a ditch. My mic drop analogy usually goes like this - I'm into muscle/sports cars - how well do you think a Vette would do @ the drag strip or road course w/ "all seasons"? Bahahhhahahah - now, we are still talking dry/prepped pavement there, yet the difference between R compound racing tires, high performance summer only, and/or DR's/slicks over "all seasons" on dry pavement is extremely obvious & significant. Now take that same thought process & apply it to all season tires vs. dedicated snows in sub 40 degree weather, on poorly maintained state roads, in slushy/sleat/snowy/icy conditions.

 

nuff said

[L86 All Terrain]

I carry about 500L of coloured fuel in my work truck, and my personal 1/2ton I don't drive in the winter. With that said, I recommend sand bags as others have said they can be used for traction in the event of you getting stuck. Remember, sand has moisture in it and WILL freeze to a solid block if you are in a colder climate like the Minnesota/Canada. Call a local snow plowing contractor to buy some salted sand for your sand bags or add some water-softener salt to your bags so they will pour when you need them to.