Not really,
The pivot point should be assumed to be the rear axle. Putting weight rear
of the rear axle causes the front to lift slightly reducing steering
efficiency on slippery surfaces while increasing rear end weight
(traction?). In the winter, I put 450 lbs of play sand in bags and lay
them flat from the rear axle forward. Putting the weight between the front
and rear axles will weigh down the front and rear keeping the front-to-rear
weight ratio more even for proper handling and better traction. Keeping
the sand bags from sliding around is done by nailing a box together using
2x4's that fit in a square behind the wheel wells to the tailgate all the
way out to the sides of the bed. Inside the box, one 2x4 down the middle,
lengthwise to the bed, will give the box enough strength so as not to
collapse under the pressure of a hard start when traction is good. I've
used this method for going on three winters now and it's never failed me.
I have been able to go just about anywhere. Remember, if you add weight,
and it rains and then freezes or snows and freezes, you will weigh
considerably more. If I remember right, water weighs about 11 lbs per
gallon. My first winter I did this I had 500 lbs of sand in the bed.
Well, we had a snow storm, then it rained, then it froze. When all was
said and done, I went to a weigh station to check the weight ( I have a
class A license and are required to do this, even with a pick up, though
they don't generally enforce it.) while going to a friends house. The
truck now had over 800 lbs in the bed. A 300 lb ice cube encased the sand.
Oh, the sand was already wet when I weighed it the first time. Anyway,
handling sucked since it was so heavy. Took quite a while to chip all the
ice out behind the rear axle. Moral? Get a cover. ;-)
>
>Well, the weights are secure so I don't have to worry about #1. But the
>reason I have the weight in the very back is to get maximum efficiency
from
>the weight. Using the basic physic of levers I thought that I would need
>less weight if it was behind the axle. If I put all the weight in the
>front it wouldn't help as much. Right?
>
>Andy
>=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
-=-=
> Andy Callahan University of Kentucky quasideedle@uky.campus.mci.net
> http://sac.uky.edu/~accall0/truckpics.html
>
> '97, black/mist gray, 4x2, Sport, club cab, 3.55 SG, 5-speed, Tire &
> Handling Package, all the little goodies
> Mods: Firestone Firehawk SS10 275/60/15's, GT Classic steel tonneau
> cover, "Super Sucker" FIPK by Air Meldrum, CC bed mat
>=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
-=-=
>
>
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