>
> 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. ;-)
>
Just wanted to say that water weighs 8 lbs per gallon, so you were pretty
close...
Bruce
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