before it starts snowing, how much sand do you guys put in the bed of your trucks for traction? is there a certain number of bags that work best?

can i get sand bags at lowes or home depot?

 

i put 2 IH tractor weights in the back of mine, they weigh 110lbs each and seem to do a pretty decent job. Yes you can get sand bags at blowes or hoe depot.

 

I usually put five 50 lb bags in mine

 

i used 4, If you wait places might start putting them on sale

 

well, i can get the sand for free at work and was just wondering how many bags would work for traction.

 

Interesting, I've never put any extra weight in my truck for traction. I've always just locked it in 4wd if I started slipping. I know that the guys with 2wd can't do that, but why wouldn't you if had a 4wd? Forgive my question, I'm a NC transplant who lives in Ohio. Never dealt with snow in NC, and that's the way I've always dealt with it up here.

 

FAQ sand - I just use .... SNOW !!!





MG 'effinD

 

agreed. when you shovel your driveway just throw the snow in your bed, works like a charm

 

I built a 3 sided box about 4'x4'x18" out of scrap plywood left over from my front porch. It fits nicely between the wheel wells. In the winter I keep anywhere from 250 - 350lbs of a sand / salt mix in the back of the truck, the salt helps keep the moist sand from freezing up. I use it occasionaly for my driveway, clints driveways, walkways etc. and it provides me the necessary weight for winter traction. I have also used it many times to assist others who need some additional traction. I have helped a few 18 wheelers who have been stuck in parking lots. sometimes a little sand is all the need to get rolling.
I think in 30+ years of driving 4x4 vehicles I have used the 4x4 twice for "over the road" travel.
I mostly use it to get me in and out of some of my tougher steeper driveways, added traction to get me out of a parking lot and onto the road so I am not sitting there spinning my tires with traffic bearing down on me. Once I am on the road and rolling I shift out of 4x4 for I no longer need it. it's done it's job.
Pickup trucks can be pretty light in the A$$ on winter roads. The added weight of sand is a huge help.

 

Before my plow I never used weight, the 4WD did the job quite well. Now that I have my plow I have like 300-400 (Not exactly sure, and not too concerned about it) that I put in there when the blades on to keep her level, and so it doesnt spin nonstop in 2 wheel.

-Matt

 

I've never had an issue with it. I just leave it without weight, no biggie so far.

Jon

 

this might be a dumb idea but ever try a blow up air mattress and just fill it with some water? not full so if it dose freeze it wont rip out the seems but just the right amount for traction? when i went to the great lakes in the winter for some hunting the rent a car dude gave that idea to me? so just wandering who else did or dose that?

 

So I have about 6 sand bags... Not sure on the weight but I got them at home depot and there were only like 3.50 already filled

 

I suppose the idea has some merit to it in the simple fact that it would add some weight to the rear. But. IMHO It is the most ridiculous idea I have ever heard of for use in a winter climate. Any amount of water is going to freeze in the back of a truck when the temps get to be 20 degrees +/- for days on end or how about single digit temps at night.
I suppose you could add a little non toxic antifreeze to the mix to prevent freezing. The other concern I would have is all that water sloshing back and forth every time you started or stopped or took a corner. I wouldn't want that weight throwing off the handling of my truck on clean dry roads, never mind snow covered slippery ones.
I will stick with my sand. It has worked for me for 20+ years.

 

they actually make something to put water in the bed for traction. i dont know what its called but you can even put stuff ontop of it and it supposedly will hold like 2-300lbs ontop of it..

i guess my truck bed will eventually fill with snow, never really thought about how much weight that would be though.