How much weight should I put in the back of my pickup for the winter months? I'm thinking of sandbags but if thats not the best let me know. Thanks

 

I run 500 pounds of cinder blocks in a frame I made that fits over the wheel wells so the weight is right on the axle and can't shift around. Sandbags get wet and freeze, then they slide around once they're a solid chunk. The best trick I've seen is to get a thick steel plate cut to fit around the wheelwells. A customer of mine did this, he's got a piece of 1/2 inch plate about 4 feet long and as wide as the bed notched to fit over the wheelwells. He says it weighs 800 pounds, he's got a loop welded on it so he can hoist it out with a crane. It's sweet because it takes up basically no room in the bed. He runs a structural steel shop and has access to steel and cranes, probably not something your average Joe can use.

 

Why don't we all just move in next to Hoss and never deal with snow again!

 

I have a fifth wheel ball in my bed but I could cut a hole around that and weld loops around the hole so its not taking up any other room that the ball wouldn't. I would make the plate a little smaller so its not soo heavy. I have an 855 John Deere Tractor with a bucket. I wonder how much weight that can lift? Also where am I gonna get a piece of steel that big?

 

[quote author=Cumminsdude link=board=10;threadid=21210;start=0#msg199106 date=1066699698]
I wonder how much weight that can lift? Also where am I gonna get a piece of steel that big?
[/quote]
Beats me on both questions, like I said, the guy runs a structural steel fab shop. Sure beats my setup as far as space goes, though.

 

Look into something else cumminsdude, unless you have alot of bucks to blow on steel. A 1/2 inch steel plate 4' x 8' is going to cost you hundreds of dollars. Your 855 will handle the weight without a problem though. We used ours to move 1400lb round bales when our Case was busy with other things. I like sand bags, but they are bulky.

 

Thats what your 4X4 is for and with a 7200 lb truck why the extra weight. You just got to be smooth!

 

Thanks for all the help. I know but this is my first winter with her and I dont want to do anything to hurt her!!! Any other ideas are welcomed but so far sandbags sound the best. Maybe i'll build a frame for them. Thanks again.

Does anyone know if Home Depot has these sandbags? Or how about Tractor Supply? Just trying to find someone that has them.

 

Cumminsdude- get good snow tires- the weight in the back will help you accelerate on slippery roads. Only a good tire will give you the chance to stop before the trouble hits you.
Also care for a good mount or tiedown for the ballast you use- wouldn't want that stuff going through your back.

Just my 2c

AlpineRAM

 

Very good Points. Thank you.

I bought Cooper Discovery M+S tires so I hope they will do. They will have to do because they cost me $600 and I can't afford anymore. Thanks again for the advice.

 

Srigs has a very good point, but old habits die hard for me.

I use a steel plate 50" x 15" x 1 3/16" that I bolt down to the bed. It weighs about 250 lbs. I bought BFG AT KO's so I'm going to try it without the plate.

I used to use concrete patio blocks that I bolted down with a piece of angle iron across the front. I think the ones with rebar weigh about 70 lbs. each. It was in a Chevy 1/2 ton that didn't have enough jam to slide them back. :

BTW, mild steel weighs about 490 lbs per cu ft. A 4x8x1/2" sheet tips the scales at about 650 lbs.

 

[quote author=tmiller24 link=board=10;threadid=21210;start=0#msg199073 date=1066697451]
Why don't we all just move in next to Hoss and never deal with snow again!
[/quote]

Hoss gets snow but not as often as CumminsDude would get.

 

[quote author=tmiller24 link=board=10;threadid=21210;start=0#msg199073 date=1066697451]
Why don't we all just move in next to Hoss and never deal with snow again!
[/quote]

No....Hoss doesn't like that idea.

 

[quote author=tmiller24 link=board=10;threadid=21210;start=0#msg199073 date=1066697451]
Why don't we all just move in next to Hoss and never deal with snow again!
[/quote]

HMM?? Hoss on a daily basis or snow for 2 months?? I think I'll take the snow. ;D

 

[quote author=berner link=board=10;threadid=21210;start=0#msg199224 date=1066741051]BTW, mild steel weighs about 490 lbs per cu ft. A 4x8x1/2" sheet tips the scales at about 650 lbs.
[/quote]

Unless I'm reading my steel manual wrong, 1/2" steel plate weighs 20.4 pounds per square foot. This means a 4x8x1/2" steel plate would weigh....wait a minute 652.8 pounds.....which is what you just said....so I don't know why I'm writing this anymore. : My initial calculation was much higher than your 650 pounds so I was going to correct you....but now I suppose I should feel kind of silly and delete this. Oh well....more ammo for the Hossites. ;D