Does anyone know of or use anything other than sand bags in the rear of their truck for a little extra weight in the winter? I seen there is a product that lays in the bed and fills with water, has anyone used this and if so would it stand up to the cold Canadian winters(-40degC) I dont want to use sand bags as they could end up being a deadly projectiile. Any sugestions would be appeciated.

 

Around here, I see a lot of old tire tubes filled with sand or crushed gravel. I have used: tools, jacks, jack stands, lumber, hay, a water tank, kitty liter, snow, and old tires and wheels for weight with good results. As for projectiles, just drive smart and slow down or stay off the roads when you do not need to be out. Any object not tied down or secure can become a projectile during an accident.

Shawn

 

I've always used "dried" sand in bags. That way, when I required traction I could through down some sand (instead of it being frozen into a large lump, dried sand was still spreadable). Kept 10-15 80 pound bags in the bed of the truck. Again, most anything that doesn't get bolted down in the bed of the truck will become a projectile... So if you are serious about it, you could put some bolts through the bed of your truck and bolt some plate steel to the bed?

 

I use old pieces of railroad track they stay right where you put them

 

I use 300 lbs of sand bags across the rear of the bed. I put them in a tarp to keep dry, and secure with a couple of cargo straps. It makes a big difference.
There was a company in Idaho that used to bolt a4'x8'x1/4" steel plate to the bed of all their trucks for winter traction.

 

Cement patio walk stones 24"x24" weigh about 75lbs each get ten or so . still lay flat so you can still use bed. Like said before unless bolted down anything in the back can become a projectile

 

I drive a Mega, so really the rear axle is pretty heavy already, about 3400 pounds. I still put 8 bags of softener salt in the back. I then use that up over the summer and replace it again in the winter.

 

Someone on here filled thier bed with wet concrete and let it dry. You could do that. Make sure you tell everyone when you do it though.

 

Hav'nt had many sand bags move even once frozen. They tend to stick nicley to the bed of the truck, even before the bedliner.

 

Fill it with snow. when it gets warm, you won't have to empty it. :-)

 

I too used 4 24"x30" patio blocks they weigh 110Lbs each.

 

I think it was Hoss that did the concrete. Worked really well for him. If you want a gooseneck or fifth wheel hitch make sure and frame around spots in bed for it. I wish I could see pics of Hoss's set up. He really seemed to like it.

 

There's these too:

http://www.shurtrax.com/shurtrax-fullsize-stlw0056.html

Looks like a nice alternative. You can stap it down to keep it safe and it's easy on the back to load and unload.

That said ... the concrete would be pretty awesome ...

 

Talk to our good ol'member Hoss... I think he still has his concrete beadliner business.. Actually come to think of it, I think he sold the rights when he baught Cummins back from Ford..

 

Unless I had a 2wd, I am not sure that I would recommend additional weight in the box... It does help in the "go" traction, but you have to stop the weight too. I learned that the expensive way by nearly running an MGB over with my lifted, 33" shod trying to stop on an snowy road... I had a 2' x 4' x 2" thick plate of steel in my box I (against the front). Even then tt moved ahead enough to dent the box front at the floor... that was all breaking force as I barely touched the MGB. Without the extra weight I would have been able to stop. BTW, that '76 W150 had better brakes than any vehicle I have had since - by far.