Tire Chains On 4X4

[HSpiering]

The owners manual on my 06 4X4 said to put the tire chains on the rear. I would assume tire chains would do better on the front for pulling not pushing. I have two sets of chains (for all four). But to use one set what is best front or rear?

 

[jtnm]

I like running my chains on the front most of the time. Helps with steering & like you said pull you thru. We spend 2 to 3 months in the mud during the last part of the winter. Sometimes all four are needed. Never had any front end problems. Just be careful on full turn. I've seen guys tear up axles & gears gunning it at full turn.

 

[rjohnson916]

Why do you need them? I had my CTD in a blizzard 6+ inches of snow/ ice on the road. My 285 BFG All Terrain T/A KO tires tracks right through the white stuff without and issue. I find that in some cases while driving through snow, just 2wd will suffice un less I have to stop and start on a hill.



-Ryan

 

[RJOL]

My truck would be that last vehicle I'd use to drive over ice and snow. Most of us have the stock all season mud and snow tires on our trucks and, while they help, they are not that good. Our trucks are inherently front heavy and the rear has a tendency to get real squirrely unless it is loaded down with cargo other kinds of weight (lots of weight).



Every year, when the snow starts here in Washington, the local TV stations do the "first accidents on the pass" stories and just about every year its four wheel drive trucks in the ditch...

 

[HSpiering]

Sometimes The law requires chains. I have been in deep snow and blizzards just in 4 weel drive. But if you travel some passes you may need them or get a ticket.

 

[JStrasser]

The owners manual on my 06 4X4 said to put the tire chains on the rear. I would assume tire chains would do better on the front for pulling not pushing. I have two sets of chains (for all four). But to use one set what is best front or rear?

First of all, pickups really need weight in the bed for winter. I use 10- 60# sand bags- you do have limited slip in the rear, right?

Second, using chains on the front would be good since you can "aim" your traction. But having to stop rapidly could cause the back end to have a mind of its own.



In my own experience, deep snow doesn't need chains unless it is really deep. Chains are really needed when there is snow on the ground then it rains and freezes hard on top. We have had that more than once each of the last few winters.

I have truck chains (3/8" thick) for all 4 wheels and a 3/4 ton 4x4 pickup is a tank with these on. Got them from these guys: Tire Chains Good source.



John

 

[RJOL]

Sometimes The law requires chains. I have been in deep snow and blizzards just in 4 weel drive. But if you travel some passes you may need them or get a ticket.

In Washington, they will post on the pass reader boards when chains are required. Sometimes they say "for all vehicles - except all wheel drive. " Sometimes they say "all vehicles. " If you are caught beyond the chain up signs without chains, and they are required for your vehicle, the fine is up to $500.

 

[RJOL]

First of all, pickups really need weight in the bed for winter. I use 10- 60# sand bags- you do have limited slip in the rear, right?

Second, using chains on the front would be good since you can "aim" your traction. But having to stop rapidly could cause the back end to have a mind of its own.



In my own experience, deep snow doesn't need chains unless it is really deep. Chains are really needed when there is snow on the ground then it rains and freezes hard on top. We have had that more than once each of the last few winters. John

I agree with John... It's not the deep new snow that is the problem, it's the melted and refrozen junk that is the problem.



I have one of these to add weight in the winter time:



http://www.shurtrax.com/index.asp



I use to use the sand bag trick but it is a lot of work and storage mess (off season) to use them. Now, if I have to use my truck in the slippery mess, I fill this water bladder and leave it in for the winter. This won't work if you need to use your bed for a hitch, or cargo (it will let you stack some things on top of it, but it is weight limited) all winter, but it works if you just want to get around.



If I did a lot of winter pass travel in my truck (which I don't), I'd have chains for all wheels. If I had just one set, I'd make sure there was weight in the back, and use the chains on the rear wheels. JMHO...

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

I've used chains twice when things were grim, on my 97. Once in Colorado towing the trailer on an icy, snowy dirt road with reverse camber. Another time in deep snow on a powerline "two track" at something like 9000 ft elevation. Both times I put them on the front. I also drove very slowly, and recommend it highly if things are so bad that you decide to use chains.

 

[HSpiering]

JStrasser

where did you get a water bladder? I figure 75 gal would be about 500 lbs.

 

[HSpiering]

Oh ya forgot to say... ... ... ... ... .

I have BFG off road tires but last night on the news from MT Hood there was a dodge truck. Looked to be 4x4 was getting a 400+ ticker for not having chains.

 

[mgoncalves]

If you only have one set, chain up the front. I prefer all four if I have to get out and put them on anyways.







Why do you need them? I had my CTD in a blizzard 6+ inches of snow/ ice on the road. My 285 BFG All Terrain T/A KO tires tracks right through the white stuff without and issue. I find that in some cases while driving through snow, just 2wd will suffice un less I have to stop and start on a hill.





Six inches huh! That must have been pretty crazy :-laf :-laf

I have found that anything over two feet, you have to be chained up, there's just no way around it.

 

[staarma]

If you only have one set, chain up the front. I prefer all four if I have to get out and put them on anyways.

Six inches huh! That must have been pretty crazy :-laf :-laf

I have found that anything over two feet, you have to be chained up, there's just no way around it.

Ditto. I do the same thing up here. If you need chains at all then you need all four by the time we're done. :-laf

 

[Prairie Dog]

"Six inches huh! That must have been pretty crazy :-laf :-laf"



Hey dont laugh, in Seattle the first three flakes that hit the ground will result in a 5 car pile-up and cause people to abandon their cars in the middle of the road!

 

[TimG]

I recently moved to Montana from Louisiana, so I have not had any prior experience with tire chains. I do know there are different types of chains. What would be the best for my truck, see my signature?

 

[HSpiering]

I like Laclede for new. Spendy though. Had an old Bronco and ny last truck I got what ever I could cheep in the width that worked and then added chain and bars to make it fit the tire. I was always changing tire size.

 

[WTBurke]

Chains?



I have never seen a 4x4 chained up. Here, we go wheeling in the high mountains in 4 to 8 feet of snow and everyone airs down. They 'tip-toe' on top of the packed snow and no one spins their tires because it just digs holes.



Oh wait a minute... I did see a guy with chains once... yeah, he was up to his doors in snow and couldn't get out of his truck except by window. Now... . once all the other 'wheelers' cut his chains off with bolt cutters and 'aired' him down we pulled him out of his rut... he was happy as a clam having learned 'how' it's done. Wheeling in deep snow is an art form.



Chains... you must be kidding... right?



William

 

[MAshley]

Snow in the back woods... . snow on the interstate ... ... . and icy-snow on the interstate are all different animals, and therefore need different methods of going and stopping. If you only have 2 the safest is in the rear but if you have a brain, front is really nice.

truck only I would go front over the rear. pulling a trailer, i would use the rear first, and some on the trailer if I could.



Remember A skiding tire will allways lead if given enough time... ... .



skidding = to much power from the engine, and or not enough traction when stopping.

 

[Nate]

I used to run chains on my Jeep when off roading in the winter. Some of the trails would flood and ice over. You could barely walk on it, but the Jeep did fine with the chains.



As for the placement, I have put them on the front, on the back and even one on the front and one on the back and really it didn't make a whole lot of difference.



When I was in Alaska, we would just chain up the back tires on our trucks.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

The best chains have cross-bars on the links that go across the tread. LaClede is one brand I have used.