Winter is coming! Where do I put my sand?
I've heard conflicting ideas on where to place
sandbags in the bed of pick ups. I have a full
size Dodge Ram Quad Cab 4X4 with the short bed. My
main question is where exactly in the bed should
sand bags be located - behind the rear axle,
directly over the rear axle, or ahead of the rear
axle? Also, how much weight is enough to gain
traction without sacrificing mileage?
sandbags in the bed of pick ups. I have a full
size Dodge Ram Quad Cab 4X4 with the short bed. My
main question is where exactly in the bed should
sand bags be located - behind the rear axle,
directly over the rear axle, or ahead of the rear
axle? Also, how much weight is enough to gain
traction without sacrificing mileage?
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I hope you guys are kidding.
Brumie,
I'm with devontie, as close to directly over the wheels is best for balance. The idea is to put as much weight on the drive wheels as possible without putting weight where it might be a control liability (too much weight too far back might give your rear end too much inertia and be harder to control when braking/turning). Only problem with putting the weight directly over the drive wheels is that it is not as convenient putting the weight in and taking it out, and might be more of a hassle to deal with in the narrowest part of the bed.
I have a canopy now, and I think the weight of it gives me pretty good balance. Therefore, I haven't been loading up any extra weight back there. I always used to put it in the very back, mainly just for the convenience.
Drive safe.
Where is the object going to go when you stop abruptly?
Be careful guys and drive safe.
Rich
I DO have 4-wheel drive, however, I'm looking for weight for stopping as well as traction. I wonder though, would the weight actually do more harm then good.
My firs vehicle was a rear wheel drive Buick Regal. The 240 lbs. of sand in the truck did make a difference. That was when I was living in PA. Now that I'm in Missouri the tough winter driving is only occasional. I never used any sand in the 4X4 Ford Ranger I had but am wonder about the Dodge. I did notice that the Ranger would spin out a lot even on just wet roads, and braking going down an incline was touchy at times.
I know cautious driving is the common sense approach to all of this, but I've been told sand bags are a must for winter driving. Thanks for all the posts so far and those yet to come!!!!
Don't see much snow around Gilbert area.
I bought 6 60 pound sand tubes at Home Depot, and I keep 4 right over the rear axle all winter. The other 2 I throw in when we are expecting a big storm. I have a 2 wheel drive F-150 and with this arrangement I never had any trouble.
Some method of securing this to the truck bed is a good idea to keep it from sliding around or from flying out in an accident.
most trucks are wayyyy heavy on the front, putting the sand far back transfers some of the front weight to the rear....
As far as where to put sand bags, I've always heard over the axle, but I can also see putting them at the back of the bed being as effective. Either way, you're pushing down on the rear axle. If you put the bags in front of the rear axle, some of the weight will be absorbed by the front axle, which defeats the purpose.
Originally tried weight all the way in the back of the bed.
The first time that traction was lost going around a corner, it did a 720 degree spin.
Luckly it stayed on the road and did not hit anything.
Seems that there is more centrifugal force when the weight is all the way back.
Ryan
I always put 600-700 pounds in my two-wheel drive, depending on bag breakdown, in a half and always got around ok. In my 4x4(yes, too light in back for my comfort) I would place less than 500 lbs.
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