Sandbags in pickup bed, placement?

Sandbags: Where to put them for best traction

  • Directly over the wheels, DUH.

    Votes: 146 54.1%

  • As far back as possible, leverage!

    Votes: 90 33.3%

  • It doesn't (bleeping) matter!

    Votes: 34 12.6%
  • Total voters
    270
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At the tail gate , it will add more weight to your rear wheels with less bags that way.
 
I run a 2x4 across the back(behind wheelwells)and have a couple 100lb patio stones back there.They don,t slide around.
 
Ideally, i would say over the rear wheels, but then they can slide around.
So i would put them between the rear wheel tub and the tail gate, that way they are out of the way and won't slide around so much.
 
I had a friend in high school with a LRE, he hung a piece of railroad rail (about 200lbs) on the frame right behind the rear bumper. It helped a little.
 
if you are only putting a couple hundred pounds the further to back will give more of avantage due to leverage but if you place too much back there you will lighten the front end and lose control and brakes will tend to lock up on the front resulting in lack of control. Speaking from experience from hauling large loads of hay.
 
It would be interesting to see how much weight is taken off the front end by
putting the bags near the tailgate instead of over the axle. I'm sure not much.
 
I have a 2wd 92 Dakota. I have 4 50 pound bags of sand over the axle and run studded snow tires. HUGE difference in traction on snow.
 
I guess I should clarify.
97 Ram 1/2 2wd 5.9 5 speed, lowered.

As it is right now, with the 12 inches of snow, I am pushing more with the front tires then the traction I have. I have 200 lbs in the rear, and wondered if it made a difference where the bags are located.

(Joking), I'm not sure that a little front end lift wouldn't be a good thing, right now.
 
I cant say on placement. Always just through a few hay bales in the back of my truck when I am on my way home. My truck is a short bed so it only takes three to fill up the whole bed.
 
From a physics standpoint I can see the advantage of placing them as far back as possible, but I really don't think it will make that big a difference.
The best load-carrying location is directly over the rear axle; my 5th-wheel hitch is located directly over the axle.
 
wouldn't it be safer to just leave the truck in the driveway instead of risking life and limb or domolishing a pefectly good mopar lol?
 
shafer said:
wouldn't it be safer to just leave the truck in the driveway instead of risking life and limb or domolishing a pefectly good mopar lol?
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A mans gotta get to work.
She's a little rag tag, to be sure, but she is reliable, paid for, and strong. :evil4:

yellowdartdave said:
Better yet.............get a 4x4 OR move south.
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I am in KC, and smack dab in the middle of the "Snownami" or "Snowpacalypse" as some refer to it. We seldom get over 3-6 inches in one bout, and that only happens 3-4 times a year. This was a legit 12 inches, and I live at the bottom of the street, up hill both directions.

It was a challenge getting up the street, but once moving, she goes fine with the sand bags, I just want to put them in the best spot. I don't anticpate anyone having hugely concrete evidence that one is better than the other, but it makes for a good discussion.
 
Weight directly over the axle always worked best for me. Also invest in a GOOD set of winter radials for best results.
 
Over the axle. I like in northern Wisconsin. I have sand bags(4), that go
in every winter. I put them right over the axle.
Make a box to fit tight to the wheel wells. 2x4s or 2x6. Use long drywall
screws to put it together. Hang on to it for next winter.
I have a 2wd Dakota, I can go anywhere with this and a set of winterforce
snows on it. They are like Blizzacks.
Take it from one who deals with it every winter.
It's just the 3 months of hard sledding in the summer. LOL!
 
My Dad used to just get loose sand dumped in the back of the truck , pushed towards the back of the bed. And there was always a shovel back there. We lived in the middle of a hill and all the neighbors knew about the sand, so they would often help themselves to it when they got stuck.
 
Over the wheels so you don't lighten up the front as was posted earlier. And here in southern Wisconsin, close to Chicago it's being called SNOWMAGEDDON. LOL. Here is a pic of my car after it was pulled out by........what else? A big bad *** Ram diesel, courtesy of the next door neighboor. He has always had a Mopar truck since I moved in.
 

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briankaplan said:
Over the axle. I like in northern Wisconsin. I have sand bags(4), that go
in every winter. I put them right over the axle.
Make a box to fit tight to the wheel wells. 2x4s or 2x6. Use long drywall
screws to put it together. Hang on to it for next winter.
I have a 2wd Dakota, I can go anywhere with this and a set of winterforce
snows on it. They are like Blizzacks.
Take it from one who deals with it every winter.
It's just the 3 months of hard sledding in the summer. LOL!
Click to expand...

I have heard the Blizzack's work good. Winterforce too? I just have plain old radials on the back of my 2 wd Dakota and with a couple sand bags it gets around pretty good. My 14 year old asked me where I learned to drift. Rear wheel drive cars in snow country I guess. LOL
 
I put most things against the cab to distribute the weight between front and rear. And I had no clue as to why you were asking this, never heard of the "sand bag trick" for snow. lol
 
I learned that 2x trucks are nearly worthless...the hard way.
when I had a 2x, I went and bought 4 concrete bags left them out in the weather and let em harden up than tie them down over the axle. Still got crap for traction but could atleast pull it in my driveway.
 
If you want to be able to go in the snow just get a set of tire chains. I keep a set in the back of my 2 wheel drive F-150 and they have gotten me where I have always need to go. I live in the mountains and have gone up some pretty steep roads with 10 inches of snow, had nowhere to park, parked in the yard with 10 inches of snow, backed out, and drove away later with no problems. I have surprised people with where I could go with a 2wd and chains
 
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