Do I want junk in my trunk?

"JustJim" (JustJim) 01/06/2015 at 07:56 • Filed to: None

1

12

Yes I know. Im not very smart. I live in the midwest and I DD a MX-5...Even in winter.

Most people around here garage their RWD cars and have a big ass SUV for winter. Some of those Coal Rolling but hanger truck guys add crap in the bed of their trucks to improve traction.

I am smart enough to understand static Downforce, but here is my question.

Does it matter where I put it?

Do I want the junk in the trunk? Where it will ruin my 50/50 weight distribution? Or do I put it in the co-pilots seat to even it out and fly right?

AddMustard > JustJim 01/06/2015 at 08:01

1

You want it over the drive axle

I've never bothered with this, just point and shoot and hope you don't get stuck. Last winter a truck in front of me got stuck so the passenger got out and started bouncing around in the bed until it got some traction (on ice). Luckily it gave me a heads-up and I just ran the stop sign cause there's no way I'm getting out of ice in my car

Moves-Like-Senna > JustJim 01/06/2015 at 08:01

2

Junk in the trunk. You want to put weight over the rear axel if you'd like to see the best benefits. It's what the truck guys do (I used to off-road and winter drive a 2WD truck).

(sorry for the edits, I haven't had my coffee yet)

Flavien Vidal > JustJim 01/06/2015 at 08:02

2

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/living-with-a-…

;)

KirkyV > JustJim 01/06/2015 at 08:14

1

I think this makes you some kind of Jalop/Oppo royalty.

Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius > JustJim 01/06/2015 at 08:23

1

Winter tires, even cheap ones, are better than all-seasons for a spirited, lightweight car like a Miata in real weather.

And yes, you want junk in your trunk. Those tubes of sand had Home Depot/Ace are great for it. They are small and weight about 60-80# and in a bad sturdy enough they are unlikely to split.

JustJim > JustJim 01/06/2015 at 09:00

0

Thanks for the replies. I bought it with 3 inches of snow on the ground but the rest of that winter was mild. Last year was horrible, and today was our first real snow this year.

Indiana and Indianapolis can't handle any amount of snow. I'll pick IP something on the way home.

Mattbob > JustJim 01/06/2015 at 09:08

1

I would personally put very little or no weight to upset the distribution. Having a nice distribution helps when you inevitably to go sideways. I find it a lot more predictable and controllable.

Moves-Like-Senna > JustJim 01/06/2015 at 09:50

1

For the weight, I'd suggest salt/sand bags. If you ever get stuck you can pour them out below you for traction ;)

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > JustJim 01/06/2015 at 10:36

1

You do this with it:

(What i do every winter, Even with weight, new all seasons, and LSD Miatas are not winter cars)

JustJim > TheD0k_2many toys 2little time 01/06/2015 at 11:37

1

If I lived a bit farther North I would, but the number of days a year this is an issue doesn't make the exspese worth it to me.

gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee > JustJim 01/06/2015 at 19:04

1

It's kind of a play-it-by ear thing. Adding weight in the rear can increase traction a little, but it also decreases ground clearance. My first winter with my Comanche I experimented with adding weight (in the form of 40 lb bags of salt — cheapest/weight that I could find), adding them one at a time. I was up to five bags (200lbs) before I gave up. Here's a hastily drawn graph to explain why:

My second winter I didn't bother adding weight and it didn't matter.

Adding some mass over the drive axle will help a bit, and 200 lbs in a 2000lb Miata's trunk is likely a 20% increase in rear traction, but will shift weight distribution back to about 40/60 F/R. I also don't know what GVWR for the Miata is or if it would even ever be a good idea to put 200lbs in the trunk. Extra mass will also increase stopping distances. If you put it in the passenger seat, it will add about 10% rear traction without much change in weight distribution, but you loose your passenger seat. 200 lbs is a lot of most things that aren't really expensive. If you do add to the passenger seat, try adding some to the seat and some to the footwell. It'll save your upholstery some wear and tear, and won't obstruct vision so much.

I'm not saying don't add any weight at all, just add it slowly and experiment to see how it affects things.

JustJim > gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee 01/06/2015 at 19:28

1

Thanks. This is the most researched answer by far and sounds the most reasonable.