Pickup truck drivers, how much weight do you use in the back for driving in snow?

[Rich3077]

Hiya,


I just got a small pickup a couple of months ago, 97 Ford Ranger 4 Cyl stick shift and I was wondering how much weight I should use in the bed for snow traction?
I am currently using 500 Lbs in sand bags and I think that may be a tad to much..
but without it this thing slides all over the place.

I just took my first decent length trip since adding the bags and traction
was good, but I noticed that I used much more gas than normal.
That is not good because I bought the thing because of the good gas mileage... well
that and I got a good deal on it.


So how much weight should I use? And how much do you use? I am in Michigan
so snow can be severe at times.

Thanks

Peace
Rich

 

[cmv]

I put in 350 pounds in the back of my brother's truck when I used it in the snow. I think 500 is a bit much but this gives you the chance to test it out in a snow-filled parking lot. Get cracking and lets us know of the results.

(edited for clarity)

 

[paintballwebs]

I have a 98 ranger v6 3.0L and I use 350lbs. I live in Milwaukee, WI and have never really had problems with that much, although 500lbs sounds like alot. I would test it, as cmv said, with different weights and see what is best for your vehicle. I would also like to know what works best for you.

 

[shekondar]

280 (4x70 lbs), 2000 4.0L V6 Ranger, 2WD
It still slides around a bit...

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

Why would you buy a 2WD pickup?
I used to have an S-10. Never had to put anything in the back.

 

[Rich3077]

Originally posted by: Whoozyerdaddy
Why would you buy a 2WD pickup?
I used to have an S-10. Never had to put anything in the back.

Because I wasnt really looking for a vehicle when I bought it.
I have a 4 wheel drive SUV and I hate it because it sucks gas.
My brother was selling the Ranger and its in perfect shape.
Even had new tires/shocks/brakes so I bought it to save money on gas.

I really like the vehicle a lot.. its just that I have never had a vehicle
that handled this badly in snow before. The rest of the year its a great vehicle
for my needs.


Peace
Rich

 

[cmv]

Originally posted by: Rich3077

Originally posted by: Whoozyerdaddy
Why would you buy a 2WD pickup?
I used to have an S-10. Never had to put anything in the back.

Because I wasnt really looking for a vehicle when I bought it.
I have a 4 wheel drive SUV and I hate it because it sucks gas.
My brother was selling the Ranger and its in perfect shape.
Even had new tires/shocks/brakes so I bought it to save money on gas.

I really like the vehicle a lot.. its just that I have never had a vehicle
that handled this badly in snow before. The rest of the year its a great vehicle
for my needs.


Peace
Rich

Now is the perfect time to buy another vehicle -- a FWD automobile for the snow! Well, maybe not the perfect time but consider adding another vehicle to the stable. After putting in the 350 pounds of salt in my brothers truck it was very stable but before that it was horrible. More than an accident waiting to happen if you catch my drift.

 

[wfbberzerker]

Originally posted by: paintballwebs
I have a 98 ranger v6 3.0L and I use 350lbs. I live in Milwaukee, WI and have never really had problems with that much, although 500lbs sounds like alot. I would test it, as cmv said, with different weights and see what is best for your vehicle. I would also like to know what works best for you.

where in milwaukee?

 

[conehead433]

One dead body per inch of snow on the ground.

 

[Conky]

I have a Ranger extended cab and I don't add extra weight. Haven't had a problem getting around the Chicago area... they clean the streets off pretty quick here.

 

[Rich3077]

Originally posted by: cmv

Originally posted by: Rich3077

Originally posted by: Whoozyerdaddy
Why would you buy a 2WD pickup?
I used to have an S-10. Never had to put anything in the back.

Because I wasnt really looking for a vehicle when I bought it.
I have a 4 wheel drive SUV and I hate it because it sucks gas.
My brother was selling the Ranger and its in perfect shape.
Even had new tires/shocks/brakes so I bought it to save money on gas.

I really like the vehicle a lot.. its just that I have never had a vehicle
that handled this badly in snow before. The rest of the year its a great vehicle
for my needs.


Peace
Rich

Now is the perfect time to buy another vehicle -- a FWD automobile for the snow! Well, maybe not the perfect time but consider adding another vehicle to the stable. After putting in the 350 pounds of salt in my brothers truck it was very stable but before that it was horrible. More than an accident waiting to happen if you catch my drift.

LOL I have never had three vehicles before, and to be honest keeping
up two vehicles is stretching my money a tad. I wish I could afford
one more vehicle so I would have one for each occasion.

What I should probably do is trade in the SUV for a mini van, but I am
upside down on my SUV loan so its not a good time.
This is my first and last SUV.. they are not for me.
My wife actually bought the SUV then became unable to work so I kind of aquired
the vehicle and the note. I would not have bought it myself.. although it is a nice
vehicle exept for the gas mileage.

Peace
Rich

 

[Demo24]

Originally posted by: Rich3077

I just took my first decent length trip since adding the bags and traction
was good, but I noticed that I used much more gas than normal.
That is not good because I bought the thing because of the good gas mileage... well
that and I got a good deal on it.

:roll:

obviously

 

[Rich3077]

Originally posted by: Crazyfool
I have a Ranger extended cab and I don't add extra weight. Haven't had a problem getting around the Chicago area... they clean the streets off pretty quick here.

Yeah I guess I should have mentioned that my truck is a regular cab with a short bed.
This makes for a very light vehicle.
I live in Detroit. Only the main streets get salted. Side streets get nothing.. not even
salt. I recently moved back here from the burbs and I miss having clean streets to drive on.



Peace
Rich

 

[cavemanmoron]

enough to keep traction,
varies per vehicle.

My personal 1/2ton Dodge with a 7 1/2' snow plow,i have about 900 lbs in the back.

Truck I drive at work,5-7 tons.It has a 9 foot plow,and a side wing.{Or 2 wings}.

My buddy at work has a 2001 or so ranger,he has 300 lbs in his truck with
studded snow tires.

 

[radioouman]

I haven't put any weight in the rear of my Dakota 4x4 yet, but I'm thinking about it for this year.

 

[Rubycon]

2000 pounds?

 

[paintballwebs]

Originally posted by: wfbberzerker

Originally posted by: paintballwebs
I have a 98 ranger v6 3.0L and I use 350lbs. I live in Milwaukee, WI and have never really had problems with that much, although 500lbs sounds like alot. I would test it, as cmv said, with different weights and see what is best for your vehicle. I would also like to know what works best for you.

where in milwaukee?

Eastside, near Oakland and Locust, if you are familiar with the area.

 

[JonTom]

our maintenance guy lines his bed with housewrap and pours a 2inch slab of concrete/cement. this is for snowy hill climbs and stuff, really only uses it for work trucking around the valley (not for long distance). the cement doesn't slide around and essentially the entire bed is still usable and flat. works great and he's never gotten stuck that I know of...

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Originally posted by: Rich3077
Hiya,


I just got a small pickup a couple of months ago, 97 Ford Ranger 4 Cyl stick shift and I was wondering how much weight I should use in the bed for snow traction?
I am currently using 500 Lbs in sand bags and I think that may be a tad to much..
but without it this thing slides all over the place.

I just took my first decent length trip since adding the bags and traction
was good, but I noticed that I used much more gas than normal.
That is not good because I bought the thing because of the good gas mileage... well
that and I got a good deal on it.

With your vehicle, 500 might be enoguh. You have asmaller engine, so the torque (whcih is the biggest problem) isn't as great as my V8.

Having said that. I used to use 700 pounds in my full size truck. It was as good as 4 WD (but not at the cost of 4WD )

As for fuel economy, I'm at the point where I don't weight down my truck unless I know a storm is coming. I curretnly use about 400-500 pounds in a full size Chevy w/V8. And yes, it's 2WD.

Bottom line, the more you use, the better!
So how much weight should I use? And how much do you use? I am in Michigan
so snow can be severe at times.

Thanks

Peace
Rich

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Originally posted by: Whoozyerdaddy
Why would you buy a 2WD pickup?
I used to have an S-10. Never had to put anything in the back.

Hahahaha. Ever notice the vihicles in the ditch are either 4WD or AWD?

When I drive my 2WD truck, I know it's 2WD. And I have NEVER had an issue.

Better yet, why buy 4WD? It costs more, eats gas and reduces the amount of weight your truck is rated to carry in it's bed. All that for an extra $2K!

my cost: $0 .... I'm using some cynder block that are lieing around. And could probably win a race in 8 inches of snow.

 

[Rudee]

Get a hay bail and throw it in the back. That'll be fine.

 

[JayHu]

I have about 200 lbs in the back of my 94 ranger. I have 4wd but I rarely use it. I have a pretty new set of winter tires on it too, so that helps a lot.

 

[Farbio]

we have a 1ton chevy crew cab w/ an 8' plow and 6 plastic tubs in the back filled with sand...i'd estimate each tub about 200-250 lbs and it gets around just fine, only slid a lil bit when over some ice yesterday

 

[iluvtruenos]

Originally posted by: IHateMyJob2004

Originally posted by: Whoozyerdaddy
Why would you buy a 2WD pickup?
I used to have an S-10. Never had to put anything in the back.

Hahahaha. Ever notice the vihicles in the ditch are either 4WD or AWD?

When I drive my 2WD truck, I know it's 2WD. And I have NEVER had an issue.

Better yet, why buy 4WD? It costs more, eats gas and reduces the amount of weight your truck is rated to carry in it's bed. All that for an extra $2K!

my cost: $0 .... I'm using some cynder block that are lieing around. And could probably win a race in 8 inches of snow.

Yea, because most people are too retarded to understand that 4WD/AWD does dick when you're braking.

 

[Cattlegod]

just drive it in reverse.