weight for winter?

Joshj84 · 09-23-2006, 07:37 PM

Heyo I'm thinking about putting some kind of weight between the bed extender and my tailgate this winter since I only have a 2WD Titan. What do people think about that? Any suggestions or cool nifty things that I can put back there to weigh the truck down? I don't plan on weighing it down a huge amount but just enough to kind of give me a little bit extra traction during this winter.....I'm welcome to any Idea's whether its saying thats stupid to an actual helpful suggestion.

**redneckpapa1996** · 09-23-2006, 07:44 PM

Those 50lb bags of play sand are great and won`t slide around or scratch things up...They can be removed and reused a lot..Good luck

**Carbeaux** · 09-23-2006, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redneckpapa1996

Those 50lb bags of play sand are great and won`t slide around or scratch things up...They can be removed and reused a lot..Good luck

AND they can be spread thinly over your yard in summer to keep the soil from compacting too much!

**Titan1080** · 09-24-2006, 12:00 AM

I used a bail of straw last year. Get one early in fall the let it soak up rain. Well, up here in Washington, by late nov-early dec you got a $5 leveling kit! Last year it took me and 2 of my buddies to push it out of the bed.

**Blackbeauty** · 09-24-2006, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redneckpapa1996

Those 50lb bags of play sand are great and won`t slide around or scratch things up...They can be removed and reused a lot..Good luck

Not only that, but if you DO happen to get stuck, you'll have the sand to put under the rear wheels for a little extra traction. I used to put 8" CMU blocks in my Ford with a 2x4 across to keep them from roaming. Back near the tailgate gives the most leverage and load on the rear axle with the least amount of weight to do so. It's a matter of moment arm....

**Carbeaux** · 09-24-2006, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Titan1080

I used a bail of straw last year. Get one early in fall the let it soak up rain. Well, up here in Washington, by late nov-early dec you got a $5 leveling kit! Last year it took me and 2 of my buddies to push it out of the bed.

Man, down here hay is gold because of the drought. You might have a rancher shoot you for such a thing! LOL

BigA · 09-24-2006, 08:20 AM

I put 5 sixty pound sand bags in the back, does a pretty good job, and I get a leveled truck for four months.

electricjohn · 09-24-2006, 08:47 AM

I use snow from my driveway. Put it in and forget about it.

OMNIHUGE · 09-24-2006, 02:06 PM

They sell specific sand bags for traction. They're like 5 bucks or so each for like 60 lbs. They're nice because the bags are more heavy duty, so they don't break on accident. Home depot and Menards usually have em when the time comes.

**Titan1080** · 09-24-2006, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carbeaux

Man, down here hay is gold because of the drought. You might have a rancher shoot you for such a thing! LOL

Well, it was actually a bail of straw....would that make me less of a target?

**Carbeaux** · 09-24-2006, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Titan1080

Well, it was actually a bail of straw....would that make me less of a target?

It might, but if a cow will eat straw too, then probably not! LOL

*G-MAN* · 09-24-2006, 03:33 PM

Just fill a large cooler up with alot of beer and alot of ice. Just kidding.

Sand bags have worked good for me in the past.

06 SE Crew Cab
4x4
Big Tow
Alert Read

**jmeyer** · 09-25-2006, 11:54 AM

In my old S-10, I used to have a tractor tube I cut into thirds. I ripped a 2x4 in half, and "Pinched the ends shut by screwing the 2x4 together. I filled the tube sections up with 2b stone and sand to fill the voids. It added about 400 lbs. I placed the "C" shaped tube sections to the rear of each fender well and the third piece horizontal with the points facing the tailgate.

It was very durable, did not leak at all and did not move in the bed as they essentially locked themselves together.

I kick myself for getting rid of it, but after I got my 4x4, I gave it to a 4x2 friend.

kman · 09-25-2006, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joshj84

Heyo I'm thinking about putting some kind of weight between the bed extender and my tailgate this winter since I only have a 2WD Titan.

IMO i've always thought it better to put the weight right over or just in front of the rear axle. It may not matter a whole lot where you put the weight if its only going to be a couple hundred lbs, but that is where i would put it.

**Blackbeauty** · 09-25-2006, 01:14 PM

Under heavy or large loading circumstances, it is wise to try to center the load between the two axles. But with such a small load, it will certainly not affect the truck in an adverse capacity. The concept of loading closer to the tailgate makes sense in this case because the load on the axle/wheels is equal to the weight multiplied by the distance from the axle. So, if you have 100 pounds located 3 feet from the axle centerline, it's roughly the equivalent of having 300 pounds directly on the axle. Putting the load in front of the axle distributes some load onto the front axle as well as the rear, thereby lessening the load on the rear wheels. Physics/statics in the real world..... Next lesson: How to make awesome maple sour cream pancakes!