I just picked up a 2001 F150 with the 4.6L V8, but it is 2WD only. I'm going to be living in the Indianapolis, IN area so I should see some snow, but not terrible amounts. How much sand should I throw in the back?

Also, I've been living in the South Bend area for the past few years and driving a V6 Camaro. How do you think driving the RWD F150 in the snow will compare with driving the RWD Camaro?

 

This will be my 3rd winter. 04 XLT 2WD 4.6. I've never thrown anything in the rear end. I can say keeping the tank full helps.

I'm only a few hours east of you.

 

2wd in the snow/ice is going to be tricky for you the first few times. Up here where I am at there are many guys who put either old weights or bags of sand near the tailgate for added grip. When I had my last 2WD F150 and it there was bad driving conditions I would call whomever owed me money and have them sit in the bed. This did two things, A) Gave me at least 150-200 lbs of weight for traction and B) Made sure that their debt was going to be promptly paid. “Bubba” had a bad and cold winter last year, good thing is that I notice that he is paid up to date as of now. But really nothing can beat the actual human weight over, lets say, sand. If you need more traction on one side, just tell them to move over to one side. The more money they owe, the more snow drifts you drive through and pot holes you purposely hit. Very effective! If you want to rent “Bubba” this winter, just let me know.

 

I live in Calgary AB and we get snow all winter. I have a 2WD and i throw about 300lbs of gravel over the wheel in the center of the bed. I heard its bad to put it near the tail gate or to close to the front. Although i cant remember the reasoning. Putting the gravel in the back has always helped me get better traction from a complete stop.

Alex

 

We just throw a 400 pound hunk of steel in the back.

 

I would put 200-300lbs between the wheel wells, It's better to have it right over the wheels for traction. I would imagine that if you could handle a Camaro without too much trouble, you should be fine with the truck, it's got to be hard not to spin the back tires out with the power a Camaro puts down.

 

Last winter I put 350# of sand in the back of my 2WD. I'm going to have to find something this weekend that cant rip apart and get sand all over my Bedrug.

I can certainly think of a few days last winter where I would not have been getting anywhere without that extra weight! Pittsburgh is pretty hilly... and they're not the best at salting/plowing the roads here if it gets more then a couple inches.

 

I throw about 350-450 lbs in the back. I took a innertube from a tractor (rear wheel) cut it up into 3 pieces, fillled them with some gravel, and tied the ends with some twine.
I put them right over the back axle, and since they were rubber they didnt slide around to much, unless they got frozen stiff (which they often did), then they slid around a bit.
Made a huge difference for me. I could barely get going after I turned the corner out here in the boondock, then with the wieght, world of difference.

I see 70 lb sandbags everywhere cheap, I would think 4 or 5 of them would do the trick.

Sure slows the truck down. After I took mine out, I just hit the gas to accelerate what would have bee moderatley fast with the wieght, but it ended up taking off like a bat out of hell. I just kinda sat there like".......DAMN". I guess I got a little used to the less power with the added wieght.

 

5.4L 2wd but I use two sand bags right next to and between the wheel wells.
I find that gives me the most traction to the rear with out feeling like it is counter balancing the weight of the motor in the front for steering. Like if I move them to the tailgate. This truck with street tires is definatly better than my 2wd, 4cyl, S10, ever thought about being with all terrain tires. I couldn't put enough weight in it.