Weight in or under the bed?

[62much]

This may seem like a dumb question, But it's not my first

Has anyone put some kind of a weight, lead, steel, large child, anything, in the bed or under the bed to lower the back down a little? I went to get a 1/2 yard of Bark Dust the other day, and the truck sure rode a lot smoother with a small load, stance looked better! I was thinking about welding, strapping something under the bed to add a little weight without it looking to bad, or I could just drive around with a load of rocks... but that just wouldn't look good, especially at cruise-ins. Anybody done anything like this?

[hotrodhomi]

I would change the springs or install airbags to soften your ride and get the stance you want.

[62much]

Airbags might be the ticket. Do they make aftermarket springs that are softer than OE? I know they make lowering springs.

[markeb01]

I didn't want to lower my truck, but I wanted a much softer ride so I was going to install a steel diamond plate floor over the aluminum version I already have. I figured after painting it nobody would really know the difference.

While waiting to do that I discovered the Jeep lowering springs, but again didn't want the truck lowered, so I picked up a pair of Jeep 2.5" lifting springs off eBay for about $65. The truck now rides just a tad lower than it did before, but rides like a Buick. I don't imagine it will haul much of a load, but I almost never carry heavy stuff in it anyway.

[62much]

Damn site keeps logging me out every 5 minutes, anyway... maybe a heavy sheet of metal and some sand bags might work, just need a few hundred pounds or so! Heck, maybe I'll just pay my 15 year old to ride in the back whenever I go somewhere. He weighs at least 120lbs. and ALWAYS NEEDS MONEY

[jonzcustomshop]

I put a couple hundred pounds of sand over the axle for winter... does look better, and rides a little nicer...

[TheDark1]

I had 2 peices of railroad track in mine for years. Each one weighed 88#. I did it mostly for traction, but I took them out when I put the fuel cell in the bed.

They were slightly narrower than the frame width. I cut notches in the ends and a hole in the middle about 1" in diameter with a torch. The notches fit in between the frame rails from side to side and then I ran a piece of all threaded rod through the holes and through the last two cross members. Double jam nuts on each side of steel and cross members and in 17 years they never moved or rattled. I couldn't say if it lowered it any since, at that time, the springs were shot, but it rode pretty good.--Jeff

[bubba327]

Only trouble with excess weight - it affects fuel mileage and acceleration.

[hotrodhomi]

Originally Posted by bubba327

Only trouble with excess weight - it affects fuel mileage and acceleration.

Don't forget stopping and turning

Why not move your fuel tank between the bed rails?

[lakeroadster]

Originally Posted by bubba327

Only trouble with excess weight - it affects fuel mileage and acceleration.

And if it isn't properly secured it becomes a projectile in an accident or during drastic manuevers.

Learned this one the hard way: I would use sandbags in the winter made from a burlap horse feed bag. I placed (1) behind each wheel tub in my S-15 pick-up and they stayed in place great. Then the moisture in the sand froze, and I had a boulder wrapped in a burlap feed bag! Was going around a sharp curve when the frozen bag broke loose from the bed liner.

I thought I had been hit by a mortar! Luckily the bed liner took the hit without any visible damage.

Just something to think about.

[bubba327]

Reminds me of an old horseshoer friend here in the valley who used to carry his shoeing anvil loose in the bed of his truck.
Well, one frosty morning he hit the brakes a little strong and stuck the horn of that anvil through the passenger side of the bench seat in the cab of his International pick-up.
An object in motion... tends to stay in motion...

[Malibob]

In my '51 Chev coupe I used a bunch of sand bags workked great too. Then one day I spilled a ton of oil and had to use it all. It was simple play sand and soaked it right up.

Maybe I should have told BP about that months ago.