Tacoma Hunkering Down for Winter - Bed Weight
#1
Contributing Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: JACKSON
Posts: 1,263
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Tacoma Hunkering Down for Winter - Bed Weight
First Pickup I have ever had - getting ready for another NE winter....what does everyone use to keep their yota straight and true in the snow? How much weight? :xmas13:
#4
Contributing Member
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Los Alamos, NM
Posts: 1,105
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Without a shell or anything else in the bed, I'd say you'd need around 250 lbs. 3 or 4 sand "sausages" should do the trick, they usually weigh 65-70 lbs each.
#5
Contributing Member
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Helena, Montana
Posts: 511
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
4 x 50 lb. of sand, centered over the rear axle. The dogs hate it because it messes with "their" truck bed space. I've heard that you should scoot the weight all the way to the front of the bed, but right over the axle seems to make more sense to me.
#6
Contributing Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: JACKSON
Posts: 1,263
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
yeah - sand was my first thought - so I went to home dept and lowe's they didnt have anything but literally plastic bags of sand. I've heard about these sand tubes but cant find em...
How do you guys secure the sand/tubes so they dont slide around?
How do you guys secure the sand/tubes so they dont slide around?
#7
Contributing Member
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Los Alamos, NM
Posts: 1,105
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The idea behind the sand bags is to use dry sand in a somewhat sealed bag, so it won't get wet and freeze. I'd call some smaller locally owned lumber/hardware stores and see if they have them. Typically, they are a plastic lined woven fiber tube, thats sewn closed on both ends, and not over filled. This way, they conform to the bed and don't slide around. A regular burlap "gunny" sack will let the sand get wet and then it will freeze rock-hard and either freeze to the bed or roll around like a 60-lb bowling ball.
Trending Topics
#8
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 319
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I use the sandbags too. The ones I got were 80lbs, I think. I used 4 or 5 last year, can't really remember though. I've also heard that putting them up against the cab is the best place to put them, even though over the axle makes more sense. You might need to build something to hold them in place as they will slide around on a factory bedliner, because they will most likely freeze. I just used two bed bars to hold mine from sliding. This year I have a shell, so I still might throw 2 in the back.
#9
Contributing Member
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Helena, Montana
Posts: 511
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by nees1212
I use the sandbags too. The ones I got were 80lbs, I think. I used 4 or 5 last year, can't really remember though. I've also heard that putting them up against the cab is the best place to put them, even though over the axle makes more sense. You might need to build something to hold them in place as they will slide around on a factory bedliner, because they will most likely freeze. I just used two bed bars to hold mine from sliding. This year I have a shell, so I still might throw 2 in the back.
#10
Contributing Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: SLC, UT
Posts: 5,862
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
When I had my Ranger, I put 200 lbs (approx 5 bags) of water softener salt in the bed. The reason I used this is because it is heavy, sealed in a plastic bag, and my parents have a water softener, so it didn't go to waste (its also good for ice melt)
#11
Contributing Member
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Helena, Montana
Posts: 511
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by SLC Punk
When I had my Ranger, I put 200 lbs (approx 5 bags) of water softener salt in the bed. The reason I used this is because it is heavy, sealed in a plastic bag, and my parents have a water softener, so it didn't go to waste (its also good for ice melt)
#12
Contributing Member
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Shepherdstown WV 25443
Posts: 1,071
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
huh..fill me in!
Ive never heard of any one with a 4x4 adding weight to the rear of their truck. I used to use bags of gravel in my old 2 wheel drive for weight and if I did get stuck I could pour it out in front of the wheels, but with 4 wheel drive Ive never thought about hauling around added weight. Huh, why would you reccomend it with 4 wheel drive??
#13
Contributing Member
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Helena, Montana
Posts: 511
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Ilovemountains
Ive never heard of any one with a 4x4 adding weight to the rear of their truck. I used to use bags of gravel in my old 2 wheel drive for weight and if I did get stuck I could pour it out in front of the wheels, but with 4 wheel drive Ive never thought about hauling around added weight. Huh, why would you reccomend it with 4 wheel drive??
Last edited by ewarnerusa; 11-01-2004 at 09:16 AM.
#15
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: SW Ohio
Posts: 300
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by GodwinAustin
First Pickup I have ever had - getting ready for another NE winter....what does everyone use to keep their yota straight and true in the snow? How much weight?
#16
Contributing Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: JACKSON
Posts: 1,263
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by EnolaGaia
I try to keep 'em over the axle or in front of the axle. I don't know if it's an old trucker wives' tale or not, but I always heard you want to avoid having the extra weight rear of the axle...
ANYONE?
#18
Contributing Member
I used the sandtubes, 8 of them. My neighbor uses concrete. He poured a 1" layer of reinforced concrete on the entire bottom of the bed. Added about 150lbs, it doesn't move around, and he lost no bed space. It also provides a bit of protection for the bed. Not an option for everyone but an option nonetheless.
Last edited by toy283; 11-15-2004 at 09:34 AM.
#20
Registered User
Join Date: May 2004
Location: 100 miles offshore as much as possible, & Springfield Oregon USA
Posts: 3,291
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by GodwinAustin
Well, does anyone know if this is actually an old wives tale or not? Is there a reason to put the weight in FRONT of the axle instead of directly over it?
ANYONE?
ANYONE?
Yeah, actually there is a valid reason. No it won't take enough off the front axle to affect steering. The reason it's suggested to put weight up against the cab is that weight all the way in the back carries more inertia when cornering - it would make the truck more prone to the rear end sliding out in turns and if it does slide - more inertia to make it harder to recover. Moving the weight forward only reduces its effectiveness as a traction aid a little but reduces its intertia a lot.