This is a good tip. I heard guys do this for their pick ups.

Did you see your gas consumption go up ?
Thanks,

 

I never measured it, gas usage goes up a lot in the winter anyway because people drive slower so more idling, more idling warming the car up, car idles way higher until it hits operating temp, going into 4WD a lot heavier, etc.

I'm 100% sure it does increase it because you can't carry any amount of weight for free but it's probably not significant. Also the cost of the extra gas will be way less than the missed work and extra insurance premiums from getting into an accident or ending up in a ditch.

You also accelerate slower with the extra weight, not a ton slower but you notice a little difference, it's basically equivalent to having a larger passenger in the car, but you put the weight right over the back axles.


I've found the back end a little squirrelly in the outlander without the extra weight, particularly if you don't have relatively new and really good winter tires on it.
Another Outie driver gave me that tip and it's worked well for me, specially on really bad days.