Snow/Sandbag Frunk update.

[BeeStang]

Howdy folks- A little update from this thread about my interest in adding weight over the tires to improve turning in loose snow (we got over 150 inches this year ). The BeeStang handles great in the snow while going straight, but without an engine directly over the front wheels, it didn't always cooperate when turning in deep powder.

So rather than switch out the brand new all seasons that came with it in October, I debated if adding weight in the Frunk might help. Well, I did add a sandbag and some other snow stuff, and I'd say it did help! We've had 4-5 big snowfalls since then, and I'd say I noticed an improvement-- specifically, the turn into our driveway did not slide off course as it had before in fresh powder.

Ironically, that lower cut-out in the bin is the EXACT size to fit a 60 lb sandbag. One commenter expressed concerns about the bin's plastic cracking under too much weight-- a good point-- so I kept the total weight under 100lbs. I'm very tempted to do two sandbags next winter, perhaps with some reinforcement of the plastic bin... but by then, I'll also have a set of winter tires.

Spring is finally here, so the sandbag comes out so we can fit the goalie's stinky lacrosse bag in there. ??

Sponsored

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

Howdy folks- A little update from this thread about my interest in adding weight over the tires to improve turning in loose snow (we got over 150 inches this year ). The BeeStang handles great in the snow while going straight, but without an engine directly over the front wheels, it didn't always cooperate when turning in deep powder.

Our total snowfall this season was 163 inches (so far). We don't have the steep hill you described in your previous post, so never even needed to bother with finding better traction than the all-seasons that came with the car. When we need new tires, we might consider a new set of wheels as well so we can do our usual of having one set of winter and one set of not-winter wheels and tires. If that doesn't work, I'll throw a sandbag in the frunk.

 

[Mach-Lee]

Is your car RWD or AWD?

And yes, I would have concerns about sand bags fatigue cracking the frunk tub plastic over time.

 

[kennethjk]

Is your car RWD or AWD?

And yes, I would have concerns about sand bags fatigue cracking the frunk tub plastic over time.

I have concerns about taking the bag out of the car, like breaking my back ?

 

[Guy]

I live in Quebec, plenty of snow here, never felt the need to add sandbags, the car weights 5000 lbs!

 

[Murse-In-Airy]

I drove a dealer loaner for quite a while this winter. With stock tires I could see the sandbag being helpful. Both my Mach-E have snow tires (Goodyear winter commander for her and Blizzaks for me) and are very well behaved on fresh snow, or packed powder.

 

[Vulnox]

I am surprised that the sandbags would have a positive impact. They are one of those things that people insist on but physics typically sets straight. Any weight you add has to have its direction of travel changed by the forces applied by turning. So if you add 60 lbs to the frunk, you have to get that 60 lbs moving in a straight line, then when going to turn the 60 lbs wants to keep traveling forward and you are telling it to turn with you, so it would require more traction to do that turn. Adding weight can improve traction, for sure, so it may at least not make things any worse, but rarely will it make it much better.

If you are doing a dead stop and going forward, weight over the tires can help. But if your concern is turning, I wouldn't add more weight that you also have to convince to turn with you.

I put sandbags in the bed of my F-150s for a couple years, but all it did was make the stopping distance longer. If I had a 2WD truck, sand bags would be ideal as getting started is the concern. But every ounce of weight you add has to be stopped or turned, which offsets the benefit you got from adding it in most cases. If the problem you had with your MME was getting up a hill period, like wheels were just spinning, then adding weight over them would likely help.

The best thing you can do is get a set of winter tires. They don't mean throwing out the all-seasons, if anything it extends the life of the all seasons because for 4-5 months you don't use them. We bought a set of winter tires for my wife's Focus Electric, and that thing despite being FWD and also having no weight over the front axle, could go head to head with my F-150 in 4WD OEM A/Ts and probably beat it in a 100 foot acceleration run in moderate snow conditions. Snow tires are incredible. The truck would win in really deep stuff because the Focus would be dragging its belly more, but that's not solved by tires or sandbags.

 

[BeeStang]

Is your car RWD or AWD?

And yes, I would have concerns about sand bags fatigue cracking the frunk tub plastic over time.

AWD Premium Long Range. As I've said, the weight distribution is nice going straight in snow. But Iv'e had trouble turning in powder, esp uphill at slow speeds. The added weight definitely helped.

I'll have to watch some videos where people have removed the tub and see what's underneath it. I suppose if anyone has seen a picture, send it my way please!

 

[BeeStang]

If you are doing a dead stop and going forward, weight over the tires can help. But if your concern is turning, I wouldn't add more weight that you also have to convince to turn with you.

Slow speed traction is indeed the issue where I needed it and it definitely helped. Prior to the sandbag, we got stuck when my wife parked at the in-laws in some deep snow, and it was uphill to pull out. Several times I was going 5-10 mph downhill turn into my driveway, and it wouldn't turn. After putting in the sandbag, I made the turn every time.

 

[ChasingCoral]

AWD Premium Long Range. As I've said, the weight distribution is nice going straight in snow. But Iv'e had trouble turning in powder, esp uphill at slow speeds. The added weight definitely helped.

I'll have to watch some videos where people have removed the tub and see what's underneath it. I suppose if anyone has seen a picture, send it my way please!

 

[bruceski88]

Howdy folks- A little update from this thread about my interest in adding weight over the tires to improve turning in loose snow (we got over 150 inches this year ). The BeeStang handles great in the snow while going straight, but without an engine directly over the front wheels, it didn't always cooperate when turning in deep powder.

So rather than switch out the brand new all seasons that came with it in October, I debated if adding weight in the Frunk might help. Well, I did add a sandbag and some other snow stuff, and I'd say it did help! We've had 4-5 big snowfalls since then, and I'd say I noticed an improvement-- specifically, the turn into our driveway did not slide off course as it had before in fresh powder.

Ironically, that lower cut-out in the bin is the EXACT size to fit a 60 lb sandbag. One commenter expressed concerns about the bin's plastic cracking under too much weight-- a good point-- so I kept the total weight under 100lbs. I'm very tempted to do two sandbags next winter, perhaps with some reinforcement of the plastic bin... but by then, I'll also have a set of winter tires.

Spring is finally here, so the sandbag comes out so we can fit the goalie's stinky lacrosse bag in there. ??

150” is nothing. We are at 750” on Donner Summit, 2 10 day periods exceeding that. I have a Honda CRV too, and both cars required all condition tires with the mountain symbol to adequately handle the deep snow. Until I switched to X-climate tires the honda outperformed the Mach-e. Its all in the tires for a car this heavy

 

[BeeStang]

Wow! I expected at least a little bit of support under there... just some hoses? yikes.

 

[BeeStang]

I have concerns about taking the bag out of the car, like breaking my back ?

I've got 4 daughters so it goes back onto the bunker I've made around my man cave.

Sponsored