|
|
Regular
Posts: 60
Location: Alberta Canada | I just finished driving eight hours yesterday to pick up my new Sundowner 2 horse bumper pull trailer. We have had some really nasty weather lately... Freezing rain and then snow. I weighed my 1999 F250 rear wheel drive down with four tires in the back. I must have passed a dozen cars upside down in the ditch along the way! Every time I passed another one I gulped and slowed down another 10 km(speed limit was 110km but the fools who tried to do that were the ones upside down in the ditch!). When I finally arrived at the trailer dealership and got my trailer hooked up the tech said I should find something else to weigh down the truck as the police could very conceivably pull me over and give me a ticket for loose tires being an insecure load. I had enough to worry about on the long drive home so I put the tires in my tack room. So my question is what could I use to give the truck weight without it being an insecure load? Perhaps a load of gravel in the back but would that still count as an insecure load? I have the top of the line winter titres on the truck and that helps immensely but I think I still need some weight?
Edited by Horselovergirl 2013-12-15 1:43 PM
|
|
| |
|
 Expert
Posts: 2453
 
Location: Northern Utah | Anything that doesn't move around. It should stay put when you go around curves and not move side to side or front to back as you brake or accelerate.A load of gravel or sand could get wet and freeze in your bed. Then be very hard to remove if you needed to haul something in the bed. If you need some weight in the empty truck, I suggest a few bags of sand or water softner salt. They are bagged so you can remove them if needed.When the trailer is hooked up. You probably have 400-600lbs of extra weight transferred to you truck through the trailer hitch. So that is probably more weight than a few tires or bags of sand would add.Best advice is to be smart and do as you did, Slow down when you encounter ice or snow. |
|
| |
|
Regular
Posts: 60
Location: Alberta Canada | Thanks Painted Horse. If I am just hauling the trailer I won't bother with anything extra. The funny thing about my trek yesterday is that almost half of the vehicles upside down or stuck in the ditch were 4 x 4 trucks! That's what really makes me believe that slowing down and driving for the road conditions does wonders. My RWD truck didn't slide around at all, however I didn't' go over 80kmh either. It took me twice as long to get home but it was worth it to arrive in one piece! |
|
| |
|
 Elite Veteran
Posts: 662
Location: Vanzant, Missouri | My F250 is light in the back end, I had some concrete blocks that were solid. I would line them up over the axel between the rails for my GN/5th wheel hitch. Never had a problem with them moving.
The 4x4's that were in the ditches probably though Oh I have a 4x4 I can go anywhere.. But not true. They get stuck too...lol |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 5870
Location: western PA | 4X4's can go well during snow and ice conditions, but they can't turn or stop any better than other vehicles. Some drivers become "invincible" behind the wheel, completely disregarding the weather conditions. As was stated, sand bags or any heavy bag that can be broken open and its contents used as an anti skid material to get you unstuck, also works well as ballast. When I was young, my Da used to get bags of crushed clam shells, which he always kept in the trunk during winter months. At least one was commonly opened and used during the winter season. Make sure the bags are constructed of a water resistant material, and won't be weakened by the weather. If they are also weather proof, the interior products won't become saturated and freeze solid, making its contents useless when you need them the most. |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 3853
Location: Vermont | SLOW DOWN in crummy weather...SPEED KILLS...or at least ruins your day... |
|
| |
|
Regular
Posts: 60
Location: Alberta Canada | I saw someConcrete sidewalk blocks at homeDepot so willCheck that out. Thank you! |
|
| |
|
Regular
Posts: 60
Location: Alberta Canada | Thank you Gard! The weather resistant bags are a very good idea so that if need be I can use the contents. Thank you! |
|
| |
|
Regular
Posts: 60
Location: Alberta Canada | Paul, you are so very right! I was seemingly the only one who slowed down as everyone else sailed by me. I put my four ways on and drove 80kmh instead of the posted 110kmh and at times I even went 70! The really big semis were going even faster than 110 I am sure because when they passed me my while rig shook. I tell my kids that you only get to die once and there are enough things out there that can kill you even if you are careful. Speeding on bad roads does indeed kill and it is such a waste of human life when that happens. Cheers! |
|
| |
|
Elite Veteran
Posts: 785
Location: Tenn/Ala. | Funny Aside- the things that are different as you vary in geography. Here in southern Tenn., when it snows enough to need extra weight in the back of the truck for traction, I have several times dropped a front end loader bucket of snow in the bed of the truck. In 2 days when the snow on the ground is gone (because it never lasts more than that), the extra weight is quickly disappearing also- with no unloading required. Magic! Does cause a problem with a GN trailer however...! |
|
| |
|
Elite Veteran
Posts: 785
Location: Tenn/Ala. | And congrats on the new Sundowner. I trust you'll enjoy it many fine years! |
|
| |
|
Regular
Posts: 60
Location: Alberta Canada | Lol how I wish our snow only lasted a couple of days! Here in Central Alberta, Canada the snow often arrives in October and is rarely gone before April. Very long and cold winters up here! I hadn't thought of something as simple as snow in the back of the truck! How simple is that? I am willing to sacrifice the space in the bed of the truck for safer winter driving! |
|
| |
|
Regular
Posts: 60
Location: Alberta Canada | Thank you! I am pretty excited about the Sundowner trailer! With the front walk through ramp and escape door on the other side I willNever again have to worry about getting trapped in the front of the trailer with a panicking horse. |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 3853
Location: Vermont | Originally written by Horselovergirl on 2013-12-16 8:55 AM
Paul, you are so very right! I was seemingly the only one who slowed down as everyone else sailed by me. I put my four ways on and drove 80kmh instead of the posted 110kmh and at times I even went 70! The really big semis were going even faster than 110 I am sure because when they passed me my while rig shook. I tell my kids that you only get to die once and there are enough things out there that can kill you even if you are careful. Speeding on bad roads does indeed kill and it is such a waste of human life when that happens. Cheers!
If you have to carry a weight in the bed...these work... http://www.autoanything.com/hitch-bed-accessories/20A50576A1.aspx and then supplement with a couple of sand tubes...which you can use for supplemental traction if necessary...
|
|
| |
|
Regular
Posts: 67
Location: Alberta | Just remember, whatever is not properly tied down can decide to join you when you have one of those extra, extra quick stops. |
|
| |
|
Regular
Posts: 60
Location: Alberta Canada | You are right about that! My Dad worked highway patrol for many years and one of his many stories was about a guy who died after rolling his truck. What killed him was a tow chain he had in the cab of his truck. During the roll the chain wrapped around the guys neck and strangled him. |
|
| |
Weighing down a rear wheel drive truck for winter driving what is a secure load?
