GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

It is quite icy up here and they don't plow much or use salt like they do on the East coast (they use sand instead)Even with Kumho winter tires, and the AWD, I am still sliding a bit and fishtailing. I'm wondering if putting some sandbags or something similar in the back would help me at all? What are the negatives of doing this? How much weight should I use if I do this?Thanks!

You shouldn't have any problems with adding sandbags. We have 70lb sand tubes here that are made to put in the back of cars and truck for winter. I had used (2) 70lb. sand tubes (140lbs. total) my first winter with no problems or adverse effects to the suspension. I had great traction and I could still drift if I got on it hard it I wanted to. But no fishtailing during normal driving. I would start with one bag or tube, see how that works then add accordingly until the car performs as you need it to.

got a link to those tubes so I can get an idea what I'm looking for?I might have to actually use sandbags, since I'm fairly remote.

It was sand in a tube instead of bags. You'll have to use the bags. lol.I would put a tarp down first then wrap the sand bags in the tarp as best you can to prevent the sand from getting all over your car if one should break. Good Luck! Let us know how it works out for you.

First place to check would be some of your major home building stores. (Home Depot, Lowes, Menards....etc) If you head back to the building materials and ask for sand tubes, they should be able to help you out. (If they look at you like you are crazy, they probably don't stock them) A lot of the gas stations around MN stock sand tubes also in the winter time....not sure about where you are at. If you can not track down sand tubes, one solution would be to pick up a couple bags of softner salt. Throw it down on a tarp right over the rear axle......come spring if you have a water softner...instead of storing tubes...just toss the salt in the softner!