With the rain returning to Seattle these days, I'm noticing a lot of fishtailing due to an underweighted rear axle. This is my first pickup, but I know that it's not uncommon in lighter duty trucks with rear wheel drive. I've been compiling ideas for how to prevent this, but there isn't a very good permanent solution. Sandbags, heavier bumper, random crap in the bed, etc. These aren't bad ideas but they're also not ideal.

I'm thinking of building a removable wood frame between the two wheel wells in the bed where I can stack a few sandbags. This seems like the easiest solution, but it would look pretty bad.

So, what do you do to prevent fishtailing in your truck?

 

more skinny pedal

 

Gas pedal? I don't understand -- acceleration/torque + lack of traction = more fishtailing. Can you elaborate?

 

 

think you got that backwards

I have had 3/4" plywood frame with a 1" x14"x22" (about)piece of plate steel I have used for 20 or years in assorted trucks.
that piece of plate weighs 125lbs or more. a rubber matt or the top of it keeps it in place and out of site.
You don't loose the bed space like you do with sandbags.

also good tires helps

 

get better tires

 

fishtailing it the magic of a RWD vehicle. be thankful and just drift through the corners.

 

4WD high ....

 

Been driving on icy, snowy, wet roads for nearly 5 years now and never have a problem with fishtailing, even doing 80mph in the dead of winter, in my old single cab yota with nothing in the bed, 2wd or 4wd

learn to drive?

 

i know what you are talking about with the fishtailing. my issue years ago was making a left at and intersection from a stop slightly going uphill. All you will need is 70lb in the back and it will go away. now that i have 35's if never happens but the stock rear is just a little to light.

 

a buddy of mine who lived up in the northwest told me he used to go buy one of those thick-ass rubber mats for horse stalls and put it in the bed. they'll give you the weight you need and also protect your bed. my fiance's mom seasonally puts 4 bags of compost/potting soil in the bed of her truck and it works pretty well. then come spring you just put it on your garden

you think you fishtail now....put an auto-locker in there and then see how she fishtails!

 

things that may help

1) learn to drive
2) extra wieght in rear right over the axle
3) canopy for the bed

I have a high rise canopy thats about 250lbs or so and I always keep some basic tools and recovery gear as well as my fishing gear in back. As long as you learn how to keep the fishtailing in line... shouldn't be an issue, even in seattle.

 

In snowy states, a couple of big bags of plain-ol cat litter does wonders. For wet-but-not-snowy states, well, still not a bad idea.

We're getting so much rain here in TX lately that I'm wondering if I need to start on that ark.

 

Build a heavy flatbed

 

Hell I couldn't get my truck to fishtail even is I was drunk as a skunk coming down Immigration Canyon at 3am in the dead of winter in a blizzard!
Thats hypothetical, I don't drive drunk. Never have. You shouln't drive drunk either!

 

Thanks for the feedback everyone. Looking at the people that don't have a problem with fishtailing, they've got at least one of the following: 1) larger (and heavier) tires; 2) heavier bumper; 3) stuff in the bed; 4) a flatbed; 5) experience with RWD trucks and how to manage the drifting effect.

For me, I think the most important will be to get used to (or take advantage of) the fishtailing and learning how to drive. I plan on getting some 33s at some point, so that will help. In the meantime, I like the suggestion of the heavy mat, or the metal bar, or even the cat/dog food.

 

Rubbermaid container of sand........if you get snow you can use the sand for traction if you get stuck and if you like you can take it out of the bed to use the bed.............

 

I drive my LOCKED 2wd in the rain with an empty bed all the time without issues. Only fishtails when I want it to. Get new tires and slow down.

 

buy a corolla

 

x2... no problems here.