So how much weight does one put in the back of the truck (4x2) to ensure best possible traction on a snowy/icey road? I'm guessing around 400lbs directly over the axle... is that to much?

 

hatric...I suspect your inquiry might generate more guesses and myths than fact. There are too many variables/unknowns involved (even too many to list as examples here) to provide a reasonable answer. Tire traction is a voodoo subject.

 

I can't tell you exactly how many pounds, but 400 sounds a little high. I put enough firewood behind the wheels (easier to keep in place) that I can start to feel the added weight, but it doesn't change the handling too much. Of course the more weight you have, the more traction, but remember you have to stop all this weight too.

 

How much? I'm guessing, but 150 to 400 pounds sounds good to me. I use 4 of the 70# tubes for a total of 280 pounds. The weight will effect your MPG. How much so, I don't know.

You are RIGHT in that it should be directly over the axle. Place it forward of the axle and you lose some of the advantage that you're trying to obtain. Placing it to the rear "might" help place more weight over the drive wheels, but I don't advise doing this.

The aditional weight at the rear of the bed could be dangerous should you get into a spin. The weight at the rear could exagerate a minor slip (spin) into a major one. I'm going from memory (and a poor one at that) from my Army winter driving in Alaska, but low center of gravity and weight closer to the drive wheels is best.

How about some AK, MT, ID, WY, CO, ND, SD, MN, WI, MI, NY, New England or Canadian experts weighing in on this one...