im coming the the first winter with my ranger. ive got my two rear wheels as snow tires. i have 150 lbs of sand bags in my bed. but am going to pick up some tomorrow. was wondering how many pounds people put in their beds. im thinking of making it 350 pounds with 4 more bags.

 

150 pounds is plenty. anything over that is just wasteful IMO.
you just need to put them closer to the wheel wells for more traction.

 

^ Agreed. You should be good to go for acceleration but don't forget you still need to turn and stop. For the best control you should have snow tires on the front as well!

 

I think I used to use 280# in the bed. Had 4 70# sandbags.

 

First winter w my ranger too, coming from an AWD V8 explorer so there's been a learning curve.

I just started with 200 pounds, 4 bags. Fixing the bed sag w AAL, but I love the way it rides now and have confidence about how it will behave in the snow.

 

I had to wait a year into ownership with my truck. Since I got it in march. Now I am waiting to try out my duras and can't wait!

I didn't put any extra weight in the bed, I should have with those shitty goodyears that were on it. Take it slow, no need to rush. Give yourself some extra time to stop. You don't have to crawl but you don't have to speed either.

 

I've been looking at them saying I can't wait till they wear down and get something a bit beefier. Coming from a performance rear wheel drive car, anything with 4x4 will be much better. I had put weight in the trunk and it didn't really do anything to the V. I can't wait for it to snow to go for a ride.

 

i run 4 12 inch concrete blocks(at 50#each) and i have a topper on the back for an extra 60#, so 260 all together... i also have NEW snow tires(less than 1000 mi on them) on all four corners...

 

My steel rear bumper doubles as winter weight.

 

also when you get they first snow go to an empty parking lot and drive around there for a little to get a feel for how your truck will react under different driving inputs

 

i need to do the same... never have and i've made it through one winter so far... i think that this year will be rougher than the last because the area i live in now has a little more snow and almost all the roads have some incline... the inclines scare me...

 

That's what I came from, and yeah, after being used to the Exploder, I had to relearn the truck.

I have 300 lbs in mine. Some would say it's overkill, but I do a lot of highway mileage, and come snow time, I want that kind of force on the rear. I haven't notice a significant power or mileage difference, so I don't see a downside.

 

i have only 4 40lb water softener salt bags. and one of my old tire w/ rim.so 140lbs all together in my 2wd. going on ice is my only problem/fear really. i tore down the alleys with near 6in of snow the other day and busted through the plowed snow easily.

 

i never put anything in mine. coming from an 86 Camaro before the ranger..

 

ive actually been scoping out lots to do this in. havent done it since i was a teenager and im looking forward to doing it again. muwhahahaha
i do mostly all highway miles too. once winter is in full swing, theres plenty of grades and no shortage of snow in VT that i'll be putting the truck through its paces in. I was shocked, just in the rain, how different the Ranger feels vs our old trucks. i drove the exploder for 12 straight years i knew its behavior inside and out. I can already tell with the weight added in the bed the ranger feels much more balanced. im looking forward seeing how it does now.

 

This is also my first. with a 2wd

 

just friendly advice: weight the rear, get snow tires on, and practice driving it in a no- pressure situation...

 

Adding winter weight: Upstate NY-rural. Got a 1998 V6 2wd xlt king cab with a fiberglass cap so + ?#. Trunk Junk= 20-30#. Tried from 180 to 240# of sandbags over rear axel in frame to stay in place with and without the front snows. I've got 4 snows, now. Always feel like it's pretty crappy in snow. Seems to want to plow straight ahead when it loses traction. Been wondering if I've too much weight in it. Anyone else have sim problem?

 

I use 300lbs max. I have a AAL which eliminates any sag. It helps tons.

 

If you add sandbags or weight, try to place it directly over the rear axle or slightly forward. I've owned several 2wd Rangers and winter driving can sometimes be a challenge but if you take it easy and drive with some common sense you will get where you need to go. As the others have said, finding a mall parking lot or something and learning where the limits of the truck are (like where it will slide around on you and how long it takes to stop) is very helpful.

 

Having the weight as far back as possible is the most efficient way to move your c.g. back (which is the name of the game). I've got 4 70 lb bags against the tailgate, usually does pretty good for an open rear end.

 

$12 total or get some cali rake going on and do what i did in the second pic

 

I usually fill my bed with snow too. gotta love free weight.

 

Absolutely man, especially if you add some water to the mix. Some good SOLID free weight.

 

I've never added weight to the back of my truck for winter.. Never had a problem either. Although, my rear bumper weighs in at a pretty solid 60 lbs. My mid rise fiberglass cap adds about 140 lbs. when that is on and I have noticed a SLIGHT difference but nothing to concern me.