ScottyBoost

Hey there ladies and gents,

was looking in the back of my truck today and thought id share something I've been doing for the past couple years. Ive always driven trucks and in the winter some weight in the back makes all the difference. Id always used sandbags before but hated them... slide everywhere, leak and make a mess of your bed, then finally would only be good for a year because the bag would deteriorate over summer. So I got the idea to just fill a rubbermaid roughneck with sand and brace with tie downs instead!

Simple and cheap! I use one 68L rubbermaid roughneck ( $8 ), a couple ratchet straps (if you're like me you have tons, $15-$20 if you don't), and sand rocks or anything heavy! Throw the lid on, cross brace with the straps over the axle and you're done! doesn't budge, doesn't leak, and can be used for years to come! also whats nice is if you get stuck just pop the lid, grab a scoop of whatevers in there and throw it on the ground. No need to break a bag of rocks or sand and make a mess.

Takes up less room and weighs more, with sand one 68L container weighs roughly 270 pounds full. Makes a huge difference and much easier to get stuff in the back than with bags. Just a note the pictures show two in there, thats overkill I only had it like that to bring one for the other truck we have. One does the trick nicely.

Anyways, simple little thing but I hope it helps a few people out. Especially ones that hate sandbags like me!

SultanGris

Gopd idea! Sandbags are such a mess. My solution is 4x4 though, lol!

troutspinner

I always just threw snow back there and it empties itself out.

Logan24

Pretty good for the cost minded person out there. I've been looking at the water bag that uses the strap points to anchor down to. It's solid, low profile, and adds 2-300 pounds in the back. Once it freezes you can be as hard as you want with it. I think it's pretty expensive tho.

ScottyBoost

Haha yeah me too, but with some weight in the back and now winter tires the truck is pretty unstoppable even in 2wd. 4x4 I was plowing through drifts that went a little past the grill like they weren't even there.

Here in Calgary it'd clear itself out every two weeks with the stupid chinooks! and this is a little more compact..

powerboatr

i was thinking of a self loading model
maybe borrow some ones mother in law

cool idea i have several of those totes

ScottyBoost

Yeah I had looked at those too but pricey and not really anymore beneficial, just load these up with water it'll freeze just the same!

MZEMS2

What the heck kind of sand bags are you guys using that are a mess? I refilled mine a few weeks ago and they are still in perfect condition. I grabbed 4 of em from the fire station, drove down to the river, and shoveled for 5 minutes. I used the same ones last year, and in the spring I dump em in the garden. Mine sit all the way in the rear corners, with a 2x4 running crossways in the box just behind the wheel wells.

celltech

^^^^^^ Yep I agree. I have never had a mess with the sand tubes either. In fact this thread reminded me to put them in being we just got a foot of snow.

SultanGris

Haven't used any in years but back when I did I was broke and couldn't afford a bed cover and the sun and weather destroys them fast and they break open and leak.