Traction - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

highway312 · 09-12-2007, 05:37 PM

I have a 2005 Tacoma 4 cyl 2WD. Anyone have any suggestions on how much weight I should put in the bed for traction this winter? I will most likely be using bags of sand. I heard these trucks are light in the rear end. I live in Ohio if that matters. Thx.

zmtnbik · 09-12-2007, 05:57 PM

I carry around 180#, in my Access Cab 4x4 w/4.0l, and it seemed to do alright, I think I'll be adding another 60 #'s as I've heard many suggestions for 240 total.

You may also want to invest in some snow specific tires, that will help out a lot!

Jeddak · 09-12-2007, 06:05 PM

I am buying 6 50# buckets of kitty litter at Costco, 5 for the truck, 1 for the house. As my cats use up the litter, I'll refill buckets with water, let it freeze, and put them back in the truck, I should have about 250# of weight there, at any given time. Second the snow tire recommendation. I found used steel rims for $40 a piece, and I'll put studded winter tires on them---we get a lot of black ice.

***mhadden*** · 09-12-2007, 07:13 PM

WHen I had my 4x4 Taco, I didn't carry weight...that's what 4x4 is for

But in your case, I'd cary around 150lbs of sand. Be careful, though, it won't take much to make the ass sag.

Splicer · 09-12-2007, 07:27 PM

Like mhadden, I use 4wd instead of extra weight...

I have heard of guys using from 200# up to 300#. Might want to increase your tire pressure...

I would put the weight towards the front of the bed -- your truck will handle better, which could be crucial on a slick surface. And if you brake hard, it won't come flying forward and slam into the front of the bed.

As zmtnbik said, good tires (all four, not just the rears) can make a world of difference.

Billzebub · 09-12-2007, 07:37 PM

I have an '05 4x4 DC SB SR5 with lsd (not locking diff) and it gets around pretty good in 2wd in the snow with no added weight - probably because it is a double cab so there is more weight around the middle of the vehicle . Maybe 4 sandbags in front of the rear axle would help a 2wd without lsd or 4x4.

EDIT:

I have the shitty OEM Dunlop Grandtrek AT20 tires.

thehype31 · 09-12-2007, 08:13 PM

Last winter in upstate NY with my 2wd, I had 240 pounds back there of sand and it was just about right. I would just go with the weight... you don't really get enough snow in Ohio to justify snow tires, IMO.

GTCOMA · 09-12-2007, 10:22 PM

i put this in my bed last winter when weather got nasty. I'm in Ohio too.
It is the Shurtrax mid sized traction bladder

highway312 · 09-13-2007, 02:35 PM

Thanks for the reply's. Looks like I will start at about 150 and see how that goes. Our snowfall has not been very much in recent winters.

amp2oo1 · 09-13-2007, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mhadden

WHen I had my 4x4 Taco, I didn't carry weight...that's what 4x4 is for

But in your case, I'd cary around 150lbs of sand. Be careful, though, it won't take much to make the ass sag.

+1 I dont carry any weight at all, and I leave it in 2wd most of the winter. Tires can make a world of difference

Big_R · 11-20-2007, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mhadden

WHen I had my 4x4 Taco, I didn't carry weight...that's what 4x4 is for

But in your case, I'd cary around 150lbs of sand. Be careful, though, it won't take much to make the ass sag.

Ran across this post of yours in a search. My Tacoma is the 4x4 Off-Road TRD Package #2 but I DO NOT have 'VSC' or 'TRAC' options.

Anyway, since I have the 4HI......can I leave the truck in 4HI when I come to a stop and then take off in 4HI? I'm concerned with the lack of VSC or TRAC running in 2HI my ass end is gonna be all over. Your thoughts?

Jeddak · 11-20-2007, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big_R

Ran across this post of yours in a search. My Tacoma is the 4x4 Off-Road TRD Package #2 but I DO NOT have 'VSC' or 'TRAC' options.

Anyway, since I have the 4HI......can I leave the truck in 4HI when I come to a stop and then take off in 4HI? I'm concerned with the lack of VSC or TRAC running in 2HI my ass end is gonna be all over. Your thoughts?

I am not mhadden, but...... you can use 4Hi to take off, just do not run 4Hi on the dry pavement.
My truck does not have this whizz-bang stuff either, but it works just fine. I have weight in the back, studded winter tires all around, and, if I am in 2Hi, I put tranny in the 4th gear when I get going, to prevent rear wheels slipping.

Big_R · 11-20-2007, 12:57 PM

Sweet. Thanks Jeddak. I see you are in Alaska so you must know your shit when it comes to snow and driving these things.

I was worried there for a little bit since one of the big reasons I bought this truck was more peace-of-mind in the winter months.

***mhadden*** · 11-20-2007, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big_R

Ran across this post of yours in a search. My Tacoma is the 4x4 Off-Road TRD Package #2 but I DO NOT have 'VSC' or 'TRAC' options.

Anyway, since I have the 4HI......can I leave the truck in 4HI when I come to a stop and then take off in 4HI? I'm concerned with the lack of VSC or TRAC running in 2HI my ass end is gonna be all over. Your thoughts?

As Jeddak said, you can leave it in 4HI, just don't use it on dry pavement. If its intermittent snow on the road (like out here in the country), then leave it in, but if you are making turns on a dry road, I'd plop it out, make my turn, then plop it back in. I left my truck in 2HI most of the time, though, even when there was a little bit of snow on the road. You just have to push the throttle a little more slowly

When in doubt, though, use the 4HI (that's what its there for

). And if you ever get stuck, I can come bail you out

Big_R · 11-20-2007, 02:04 PM

Thanks mhadden. I'm sure that Tundra would have no problem pulling me out. You gotta get it back from the Mrs. though. Funny because I dont think I could MAKE my fiance drive my truck without me in the cab with her. She's got an 06 RAV4 though.....actually the reason I went with a Toyota this time around. The RAV seems to be made well.