[oldschoolrods]

Hey guys, just had a few questions about driving my 2wd pickup in the winter. First, I'm probably gonna invest in a set of tires for the back. Would some wider snow tires give me better traction or am I better going off with the skinnier tires I have now? Secondly as far as adding weight to the bed, my idea was get a piece of wood and stick it behind the wheel wells, then load that space with 75 pound bags of sand from home depot. Is that a good plan or is there better things to use for weight? Thanks guys.

 

[crazy larry]

when i had to keep weight in for snow traction, (thats happened once in my life....) i used a half a load of firewood....

i'd go with a wider tire. but i like wide.

 

[oldschoolrods]

I like wide tires too, apparently the old guy that I bought my truck off of didn't. lol I was also thinking of maybe a junk engine or something, theres gotta be some old dodge engines that could be used for something :thumbup:

 

[crazy larry]

a dodge motor might cause your bed to start rusting.....

 

[stepside454]

skinny tires are better in snow....less snow for the tires to have to push...Skinny snow tires that is.
try to keep your weight right over the axle, so that way if you were to go into a spin...the weight that youd have behind the axle can really make your spin worse. I just lay 3 or 4 tubes of sand between the rear tires .

 

[tm454]

Is the truck standard or automatic? Weight over the axle will help...say at least 100lbs worth of sand.


Tazz


Rat Rods Rule!

 

[schnitz]

For my 2 wd Chevy 5 speed (ext cab, see my gallery), I have 30 X 9.5 15 inch BF Goodrich All Terrain TA K/O tires and then use snow packed over 250 lbs of sand in 5 gallon buckets to get traction. It has worked really well for me, except when the snow melts. I just make real sure that the weight is ahead of the rear axle. I've been in 10+ inches of snow (on flat, un-driven on parking lots) and had no real problems. I'm with stepside454 on the narrower tire being better. Also, on ice, it doesn't make any real difference if you over-extend your or your truck's drivability. I simply mean, DO NOT drive faster than the road allows. Digging yourself out of a ditch is no fun. Been there, done that.

I forgot to mention, the buckets are strapped securely to the bed of the truck.

 

[poncho62]

Put a couple of 24x24 patio stones in the bed for extra weight. Doesn.t take hardly any room, so you can still carry a load if yo want.

 

[Wmarden]

I have used both bags of sand and old heads.

 

[oldschoolrods]

Thanks for the advice guys. I might look into the patio stones, and the truck is an automatic.

 

[M&M CUSTOM]

The most effective placement is BEHIND the rear axle, I won't get into physics about this but it can be proven easily.

I would also recommend the skinniest, most aggressive tread you can find, and if you are allowed in your area, studs.

I personally use a snow/ice recommended tire with studs on every one of the vehicles I own that gets driven in the winter.

 

[oldschoolrods]

I dont live all that far from you, I believe we are allowed studs here up until a certain date. May look into that, thanks for the tip on the rear axle.

 

[poncho62]

I was wondering why the Penn roads are so torn up................we havn't been allowed to use studs in 30 years.

 

[oldschoolrods]

Between that and the fact PenDOT is famous for doing crappy work. I think they build em that way to insure they have a job, soon as they finish one road, they gota go patch it up again.

 

[schnitz]

The most effective placement is BEHIND the rear axle, I won't get into physics about this but it can be proven easily.

I would also recommend the skinniest, most aggressive tread you can find, and if you are allowed in your area, studs.

I personally use a snow/ice recommended tire with studs on every one of the vehicles I own that gets driven in the winter.

It must just be the way my truck is balanced then, but mine gets deeper into the snow with the weight ahead of the axle. Then again, maybe the 6 foot box and toolbox have something to do with it. I guess I'll experiment in a few weeks when we get our first snow. M&M, would you PM me with the details, if you don't mind. Or just post them. I need to learn more here. You got me curious, please don't leave me hanging.

 

[johnsongrass1]

The most effective placement is BEHIND the rear axle, I won't get into physics about this but it can be proven easily.

I agree, But I won't get into physics either.

Wieght behind the rear axle can and will give what we circle trackes call "pendulum affect." Once that extra weight gets moving it's not easy to stop it. If you have the room to keep it sideways till you can get the rear back in line it's not a big deal. But if you are in traffic or have a big ditch or looming curb coming it's probably going to cost you.

 

[Ghetto Jet]

A skinnier tire is better: Why? The thinner the tire the more pressure is being placed on the ground. Try to get a mean looking snow tire, and throw some sand bags in the bed, try to keep them past where the back wheels are. If I remember correctly any weight you place past the rear tires has the same effect as double the weight placed before them.

 

[M&M CUSTOM]

Us lucky victims of PennDOT are allowed to use studded tires from November 1st to April 15.

Yeah, I'm not that far North of you, but once you go from route 8 to 62 in Franklin, you slow down A LOT, thanks again to PennDOT.
Only about 3 hours north of you though.

 

[gahi]

where i live there is snow on the roads for 6 months out of the year. Most people use sand bags, that way when you do get stuck you rip one open and throw the sand under the tires. Also sand isn't as deadly in an accident like a rollover, which is common around here in the winter. Another good one for weight is a heavy sheet of steel bolted to the bed, still leaves the bed open for snow to collect in. If you use anything thats solid make sure its well secured, a stone or heads off a motor could come right through your rear window.

Gary

 

[USA1]

I agree about securing weights. A friend of mine was almost killed when he ran into the ditch and a cinder block came through the back window. Since then I have used sand bags or softener salt bags. Or better yet strap a 3 or 4 wheeler in the back. If you get stuck you can still unload and roll.