The particulars:
ABS brakes. 4-wheel discs. 4,500 pound Chevy Silverado 4x4. Long bed. Auto tranny. 4.8 liter engine. Lots of snow and ice driving experience. Will be putting on 4 decent snow tires when the weather report tells of the first real snow to hit us. Truck is a 1/2-ton version but has the towing package that adds, I believe, either an extra leaf spring or thicker than non-towing version leaf springs. Torsion bar front suspension.
Boards placed towards end of bed to insure sand bags don't impact cab in case of head-on wreck or whatever.
Question: bought four 70-pound bags of sand. That's 280 pounds of dead weight. Reminiscent of some folk's head I've met.
Don't want too much weight in the back yet want enough to maximize vehicle handling during acceleration, braking and cornering.
Interestingly, I can feel the difference in cornering even now with dry dusty roads. The truck corners a little "snappier" with the feel of having more control.
Any suggestions of what may be the optimum amount of weight to have in the back? Had 350 pounds last year but it was a rare very mild winter with little slippery stuff on the ground so did not have the opportunity to determine if that amount of weight was "optimus prime."
Without measureing equipment and repeated tests of the type I am likely not qualified to conduct I rely upon seat-of-the-pants subjective feeeeeeeeeling that is not all that useful.
Any suggestions as to the weight needed? From experience I believe that four bags is the minimum needed.
On wet roads with so-so tires the rear traction is marginal (yeah, I know, get better wet traction tires for non-winter use). Of course, did not have sand in the rear for non-winter driving. Just aware of the unique handling characteristics of the pick-em-up truck.
If anyone has real-world experience to add to that I have obtained y'all may help keep a crotchety old coot out of the ditch or from impacting innocent objects.
To save thee from excess typing, rest assured that I, the Mighty Obbop, am well-aware of winter driving skills, tips, tricks etc. Yah' shoulda' seen me jack-knife that rig on purpose and slide down the mountain pass sideways when it was ice- and snow covered. Wheeeeee!!!!!!!
Okay, will read thine comments and ascertain an optimal weight of sand to toss into the conveyance.
Happy T Day, herd.
ABS brakes. 4-wheel discs. 4,500 pound Chevy Silverado 4x4. Long bed. Auto tranny. 4.8 liter engine. Lots of snow and ice driving experience. Will be putting on 4 decent snow tires when the weather report tells of the first real snow to hit us. Truck is a 1/2-ton version but has the towing package that adds, I believe, either an extra leaf spring or thicker than non-towing version leaf springs. Torsion bar front suspension.
Boards placed towards end of bed to insure sand bags don't impact cab in case of head-on wreck or whatever.
Question: bought four 70-pound bags of sand. That's 280 pounds of dead weight. Reminiscent of some folk's head I've met.
Don't want too much weight in the back yet want enough to maximize vehicle handling during acceleration, braking and cornering.
Interestingly, I can feel the difference in cornering even now with dry dusty roads. The truck corners a little "snappier" with the feel of having more control.
Any suggestions of what may be the optimum amount of weight to have in the back? Had 350 pounds last year but it was a rare very mild winter with little slippery stuff on the ground so did not have the opportunity to determine if that amount of weight was "optimus prime."
Without measureing equipment and repeated tests of the type I am likely not qualified to conduct I rely upon seat-of-the-pants subjective feeeeeeeeeling that is not all that useful.
Any suggestions as to the weight needed? From experience I believe that four bags is the minimum needed.
On wet roads with so-so tires the rear traction is marginal (yeah, I know, get better wet traction tires for non-winter use). Of course, did not have sand in the rear for non-winter driving. Just aware of the unique handling characteristics of the pick-em-up truck.
If anyone has real-world experience to add to that I have obtained y'all may help keep a crotchety old coot out of the ditch or from impacting innocent objects.
To save thee from excess typing, rest assured that I, the Mighty Obbop, am well-aware of winter driving skills, tips, tricks etc. Yah' shoulda' seen me jack-knife that rig on purpose and slide down the mountain pass sideways when it was ice- and snow covered. Wheeeeee!!!!!!!
Okay, will read thine comments and ascertain an optimal weight of sand to toss into the conveyance.
Happy T Day, herd.