I need some help guys...the snow is coming and I'm going to add some weight in the bed to end the constant necessity to use 4wd at every stop light on a hill. How many pounds of tubesand should I use? Is 400 pounds enough? What do you guys run?

Thanks!
Mike

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97 Bright Red, S/C, Off Road XLT, 4.6, 5speed, 3.55 LS.
Lighted Sunvisor, Bug shield, Nerf Bars, Mud Flaps,
Leer Signature Series Cap (for winter), Flowmaster 40 series,
Airbox mods, K&N, Bosch +4's, Complete Eclipse Stereo System.

 

I run 280 pounds right over the rear axle of my 4x2 and it seems to work wonders in the winter! 400 pounds sounds like a lot! Start with a few tubes and see if that does the trick. Have fun in the snow!

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1997 F150 XLT, Flareside Bed, Moonlight Blue, 4x2, SC, Auto, 4.6L, 3:08, Matched cargo cover, Blu Oval reciever hitch plug, 235/70/16 Firestone Wilderness AT's, Sliding rear window, and a big grin!

 

I have 6 70lbs bags over the axle on my pickup, lowered her a bit, but it will help a bunch in the winter.

 

I put 4 60 lbs bags in my 93 Lightning,I never had any problems. Now that I have a 99 4x4 I plan to use the same 4 bags, it should be enough.
I have a 2x6 board that is about 2 feet from the tailgate in slots in my bed liner. I just leave it there all the way in the back.

[This message has been edited by Don C (edited 12-02-1999).]

 

Make sure you have the weight either on the axels or just forward of them. If you get into a spin you will be more apt to lose control because of all the weight on the back end. I don't think you need more than 500 lbs total. I have a ARE camper shell on mine and I usually only put about 200 lbs or less and I have no problems. I have also heard that Kitty litter is good because it doesn't absorb moisture.

Stay away from any salt products unless you can keep it dry, if it get wet it can eat you bed out in just a few months.

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Want the First and Best Synthetics Available?
Lube-Direct

 

I live in NE PA and I own a 1997 F150 4x4. Since it is a 4X4 and I might use both axles to drive in a snow storm, I added 600 lbs of concrete mix right up in the front part of the bed. I put the bags in a tarp that I strapped to the front hooks on the bed walls. This will keep the bags from sliding around the bed. This put the weight equally over both axles, rather than allot of weight over the rear axle, which takes weight off the front axles. I have gone through some major snow storms and it has done a great job. I have done this since I bought the truck June 1996. good luck.....

 

A friend of mine put a few HUGE bags of cat litter just before and above the rear axle.
The reason for the cat litter, he says, is that the bags are thick plastic. He also put some 2X4 lumber in a grid formation in the back of his bed. Now, not only does the litter not slide around, he has self made partitions in the bed for tools and stuff. He tells me that his cats are always happy because he's never short of litter

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Black 98 F150 XL
2WD 5spd 4.6L Triton Engine
Reg. Cab Short Box
Air, Sliding Rear Window,
(K&N, Tonneau etc. coming soon)

 

I like to use four or five hundred pounds of dogfood. I keep it wrapped up where it will stay dry through the winter, and when spring rolls around my dogs have all the food they need for a while. I think you should place the weight in the front of your bed distributing the weight over both axles and not causing your truck to pull weight off the front. I work in a place that sits on a mountain top and I think this is the best way to go (not necessarily dog food, but the weight distribution). Good old West Virginia has some pretty good snow storms, so I speak from experience. Hope This Helps !

[This message has been edited by 4X4Bucher (edited 01-06-2000).]

 

should the......weight ...that is placed in the bed be different for long or short boxes? Or is it only important to make sure that it is not directly over the axle? I don't have limitted slip, so I'm worried that I'll slip all over the place.

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Black 98 F150 XL Sportgroup
2WD 5spd 4.6L Triton V8
Reg. Cab Short Box 3.08
Air, Sliding Rear Window,
Boxliner,

 

The best weight to use is tractor weights. They are not easy to find unless you live on a farm. The weights I have weigh 70lbs each, but I have seen them from 50lbs up to 90lbs. The best thing is that they are approximatly 9" X 14" X 1.5". Very small for their weight. I plan on building a 2 X 4 grid and keeping 3 or 4 between the wheel wells.

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stock 98 XL, Reg. cab,4.6, Auto, Tow package, 255/70R16 on styled steel wheels,3.55LS, Black with chrome grille and bumpers! MODS: custom stereo by me, building speaker box was a !@#$%. K&N air filter w/ airbox mod, a complete keyless entry system.

 

I use 6 deck blocks. These weigh 50lb each and have 2" notches cut in the top. I put 2 on each side over the axel and place a short 2x2 between them for alignment and stability. Then I place 2 at the front (cab end) of the bed on the right side to help counter the mass of me and the gas tank. I also have a 120 lb bed lid. This is my first truck and I was a little concerned about winter driving but so far we have had two modest snows and I am delighted. No problems at all.

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99, XL, SC, SB, auto, 4.6L, 255x70R16, 3.55LS, 2wd, Med Tor, Dk Grph, Raider LoRider Tonneau,

More to come!



[This message has been edited by Tiger (edited 01-13-2000).]