Sand Bags

[wilcodude1134]

Winter is in full swing here in Duluth. The past few weeks, the temps have been below 0 quite frequently and everything is frozen.
I have been driving my RAV for over two years now up here in Duluth and I had a great idea I had noticed the back end sliding around from time to time on snow and ice but mainly what I noticed was that the car felt like it was only front wheel drive. Part of that could be attributed to the 55% front, 45% rear power distribution but it is mainly due to the fact that all the weight is in front and there is almost nothing in the back. So to remedy that, this evening I went out and bought four 60 pound sandbags and threw them in the back. Just driving home from the hardware store, it felt like a world of difference. The back wheels had traction for the first time in the two years I've been driving it! Now, 240lbs might have been a bit much so I'll have to do some experimenting but so far, I like it. I definitely recommend sandbags to anyone in a snowy or icy environment; even if your RAV feels fine without them, it will feel so much better afterward.

[wilcodude1134]

Bump.

Since this post, I realized that four 60lbs bags were too much and just added unnecessary weight. Now I have only two back there for 120lbs total. I really like the results with that.

Does anybody else weigh down their back end?

[CPD]

Ok, now you got me thinking of the old CarTalk thing...

The idea was putting rock salt bags in the back of a pickup, and as winter would go along, and you would progressivly need less and less weight, you would be using the salt, and eventually, by the time spring rolled around have an empty bed, ready to go.

Then the one brother got the idea to do it with firewood... needless to say by the time he got to the bottom of the pile, there was some weird colors of fungus and stuff all over the wood.

Lol.

[hd72m]

Put a piece of old carpet over top of sand bags to help level it out so it is easier to load stuff from the store and you can use it for traction if needed.