I don't know how many of you guy's have a water softener but. I went down to our local feed and grain store where I buy my salt and picked up an extra 10 - 50lb bags of salt and put them over the rear wheels of my truck I think the extra weight there will help me in the snow with traction. I examined these bags for tears and rips as I do not want the salt in the bed of the truck. I have a good liner and the bed of the truck is covered and does not leak. I also have these bags trapped with 2x6 inserted into the liner to keep them contained over the wheels. I bought 20 bags altogether and the guy gave me a 10% discount so I lugged 10 bags to the basement and after the winter I will take the other 10 bags down there.

 

Just remember that they become 50lb projectiles when involved in a collision if they are not secured down to the bed! I am retired or retarded {some say both} from a Fire Dept. and have seen what small objects such as a cleanex box in the rear window can do to a persons side of the their head at a collision at just 40 mph,it took off the whole right side of the scalp and ear,now think what a 50lb sack of salt will do, Goodluck and secure it down is my 2 cents, Rick

 

Thanks Rick I have them banded to a pallett it fits right between the wheel wells.

 

I just invite my girlfriend to go with me more often

 

It must be hard to make her stay over the wheels!

 

Edited by Moderator.

 

Good idea with the salt, as long as the bags don't get brittle over the winter. I cut a pair of railroad ties to fit lengthways in the box, then slid them in under the fifth wheel hitch to keep them secured. Might have to try that with the girlfriend, though.

 

Made my own weight for the back of the truck.
Had some extra concrete on a job one day, made up a box.
4' by 4' by 6", bent up a piece of rebar , stuck it in the concrete with a loop to hook a chain to.
One free 900lb weight.

Rich

 

I did the same as Rich, except bolted two pieces of angle iron to the concrete slab to form an H, the legs strattle the wheel wells, then tie it down. It helps having a forklift to put it in though.
As for unsecured ballast, had a friend who would have not spent six weeks in the hospital if it wasn't for the frozen solid 50 pound sandbag that came though the rear window and hit him in the head in what otherwise was a minor slide off the road on ice.
Stupid idea to have anything in the back that can fly out.

 

Previous comments about items in the bed becoming projectiles not withstanding, I've been known to leave a load of fresh hardwood in the bed during snow months. Can't burn it yet and it's plenty heavy enough.

 

I have two rear wheel weights for my tractor, lift them in one at a time, bolt them together and then use ratchet straps to tie them down. I hope two 1500 lbs straps will hold 300 lbs of weight in the event of a sudden stop .

Duane W.

 

Even in case of a light crash it won't hold. You have just 10gs limit.
On my Toyo I mounted some weights to the frame rails. that way they are out of the way when loading the vehicle, and they won't come in in case of a crash.

Just my 2c

AlpineRAM

 

I heard of a guy one time that took a 6" steel pipe cut 5-6 feet long, filled it with tire weights and then welded a cap on the ends. He then welded a drawbar to it and stuck it in his receiver hitch during the winter months. Gave him 500 pounds or so (I guess) of weight back there and it was secure.....plus you have basically a solid steel bumper back there for the idiot that rear ends you. If I had the materials and a welder that's probably something like what I would do.

 

Dang! That's a pretty good idea! And it leaves the bed open for other stuff as well. Time to talk to the brother in law. He's a welder and I'm sure he could whip something together fairly quickly.

 

If you have access to old train rails, a short piece goes a long way. A drawbar welded to a piece would work well for weight, and one heck of a rear bumper guard.

CR