Quick question: sandbags behind cab or over rear wheels?

[bweslowski]

I'm surprised I haven't seen this yet, but tube sand is made for adding weight in your truck bed. I have 2 - 70 lb bags over each wheel in the back of my 2020 4x2 Ranger. It's fine for getting around in Maryland during the winter. https://www.lowes.com/pd/Sakrete-70-lb-Tube-Sand/3067709

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[ArchitectThom]

If you want to really maximize the effectiveness, put them behind the rear wheels near the tailgate. That gets you the best moment (weight*length) effectiveness on the rear axle. #math
Obviously the truly most effective spot would be hanging off the back 10ft or so, that way all the weight is on the rear wheels. ?

Wouldn't hanging the bags 10 ft. off the back of the tailgate make your rear wheels a fulcrum and essentially remove weight from your front wheels? This would reduce their grip on the road and make them less effective in 4WD, yes?

 

[Deleted member 1634]

Wouldn't hanging the bags 10 ft. off the back of the tailgate make your rear wheels a fulcrum and essentially remove weight from your front wheels? This would reduce their grip on the road and make them less effective in 4WD, yes?

Eventually that would happen, yeah. My 10ft was just a number out of the air, it'd have to be much further, but whatever.
But if you have all 6000+lbs of vehicle and added weight sitting on the rear wheels, you probably won't need 4WD. haha So yeah, if you're only objective is to put more weight on the rear wheels for added traction to them, then that would be the way to do it. It's obviously not practical or safe or a good idea or anything like that. But it would put all the weight on the rear wheels. haha

 

[pbethel]

Not an engineer but weight not between the axles will not improve handling. Unless you like hanging the rear end out.

 

[12Bravo20]

For those of us that have the 5 foot bed, putting sand bags directly over the rear axle isn't much different that up against the front of the bed. Either way will work.

 

[got3fords]

Fifth wheels are mounted directly over the rear axle for a reason. Best traction and weight distribution.

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