Do you use REAL snow chains

[minimotos95]

I carry chains but for mud more than snow. In the Civic I had a pair of self tensioning link chains that only cost $15 brand new, better than nothing I figured.

If I wind up back in a van or pickup I will get and would recommend heavy duty chains designed for the abusive forestry and oilfield use. They are a bit heavier but a lot stronger than your typical pickup chains from the parts store.

 

[highdesertranger]

Rob I have never heard of chains damaging radial tires. do you have a link to support this? highdesertranger

 

[No Prob Rob]

Rob I have never heard of chains damaging radial tires. do you have a link to support this? highdesertranger

I managed a fleet of vehicles to include pickups, cars, and medium duty trucks to 65,000 lbs. nothing except my experience tells me to use cables on radial tires. We ruined several tires then made the switch.


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[highdesertranger]

interesting I searched this subject I can't find anything to support your claim. unless, the chains are incorrectly installed or people exceed the chain speed limit. chains speed limit is 30 mph max. most recommend 25 mph. even then they are talking body damage not tire damage. if you like cables run them. I will stick with my chains on my radial tires. highdesertranger

 

[MrNoodly]

I hate snow. So I avoid the hell out of it. That's why I live in a vehicle. I'm gone from places that get snow long before the season.

 

[Grizzly708]

Pro tip: you can score very cheap used chains at thrift shops and Pick'n'Pull-type junkyards. There's a specific thrift shop near me that always has a few pairs for less than $5.

Here in northern idaho if you stop at hi way chain up area you can find an old broken pair left by a trucker. I have made my own chains out of them for years.

 

[casca777]

I've only used chains, so can't comment on ease of cables. It takes 5 minutes to put on car chains in a hurry and 7.5 minutes taking my time. Having lived at 9,000 ft elevation for the last 12 years, I've had to throw chains 7 or 8 times a year. Although chaining a car and p.u. is easy I really hate chaining semis and school buses.

 

[Night_Sailor]

sign of hands on who uses real chains not the 1 year wonders?

I rarely use chains. I find them more trouble than they are worth. I would consider the spinning type automatic chains.  

I have used studded snow tires with enhanced 4x4.  By enhanced I mean upgraded limited slip differentials.  I'm presently considering putting a Detroit Tru Trac on my front diff. 

As a plow operator I sat chains are not worth the effort.   A full set of studded snows are much better.

 

[tripper]

I have actually used a real 20 foot length of chain when I was stuck at Saline Valley Hot Springs in the winter and had to get over the pass to Bishop, 2 to  5 feet of snow. I cut the chain into two 10' pieces with a hacksaw, wrapped them around the rear rim and bolted them together with nut and bolt. The dune buggy had cutting brakes and was so light it floated on top of the deep snow. No heater though and no working wipers, the snowstorm got really bad near the top of the west pass, and I lost all brakes on the way down the mountain pass as a huge hunk of ice ripped off a brake line ( a frozen over deep rut ). It worked perfectly. Here is a pic of me and my brother near that time 23 year ago, back when I was a free nomad.

 

[tripper]

Cool found a pic of me actually cutting the chain for my journey! 
[img=640x480] [/img]
I was poor but very happy at that time! 

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[img=640x480] [/img]

 

[WillowsWind]

Real Chains for all 4 wheels- studded tires arent worth it here.. snow lasts 3-4 days then dry again for a week.. studs just ruin already bad roads in these conditions.

 

[Grizzly708]

Growing up in North Dakota, never chained. In fact the ND peeps would probably laugh. 

Here in the mountains of north Idaho most people run studded tires and carry chains as well.  Take my driveway for example 20% uphill grade to get up the last 3/4 mile of the driveway.  There are some roads where legally you have to chain up.
On my suburban I find its much faster to keep a small floor jack in back and chain up with the wheel off the ground.

 

[UptownSport]

Said they're mandatory sometimes on I 70

 

[CautionToTheWind]

Here in the mountains of north Idaho most people run studded tires and carry chains as well.  Take my driveway for example 20% uphill grade to get up the last 3/4 mile of the driveway.  There are some roads where legally you have to chain up.
On my suburban I find its much faster to keep a small floor jack in back and chain up with the wheel off the ground.

My second sentence comment was tongue-and-cheek. With 28 years in transportation, I have the full view of road rules/expectations. Loveland Pass in the winter was a lot funnn...often had haz mat, so had to detour.

 

[UptownSport]

Across i-80 there were three separate trailer campers in median. Two were completely broken apart, and the third had it's pickup jackknifed against a guard rail.

I wonder if, in addition to your vehicle, you might consider installing a set on a trailer axle.
One had a truck next to it with a man throwing pieces in the dumper. Sad.

 

[highdesertranger]

yeah chains on a trailer is a very good idea. if you have brakes on your trailer some areas require them. highdesertranger