Towing in snow and ice

[RideSlow2004]

4X4 3500 SRW 6. 7 auto, QC long bed, pulling Jayco 31 BHS. (Quad rear bunk)



I don't plan on going out in really bad conditions, but if you are going over passes, or to ski areas, it happens.



So, several questions:



Truck chains front or rear axle, (I know, front solo)



Exhaust brake on or off.



With 2 axle trailer, chains on front or rear axle.



Scaled with 3/4 tank of fuel, 1/2 full water tank, and half full black and grey tanks:

frt - 4400

rr - 4580

trl - 7360

gcw - 16,340



And, the chains I have for the truck are link style, and the trailer chains are cable style.



I have pulled several different trailers in snow and ice, but never with a diesel, and never this much weight, so,



thots and ideas, please, and thanks.

 

[wcjp]

Exhaust brake OFF. The trailer will start doing bad things with ebrake on. Also, be sure to have manual brake override in easy reach on the brake controller. This is to activate trailer brakes while leaving service brakes offline. This will help the trailer get back on track behind the towrig. Time you trips for late morning when temps might be warmer.

 

[HBarlow]

The choice of chains will not be yours to make if chain laws are in effect on Snoqualmie Pass or other major highway passes.

Chains are required on the drive axle of your truck and on at least one axle of the trailer, normally the rear axle. Fines can be severe if you are caught tying up traffic on a snow/ice covered pass without chains.

In truth, if you can keep moving without chains state troopers will normally be so busy worrying about accidents and stranded motorists during a heavy snowstorm they probably won't have time to bother with you. I've made many trips across I-80, I-90, and I-94 including Snoqualmie when snow and ice were on the roads and never used chains. I managed to keep truck and trailer moving and in the roadway and troopers never paid any attention to me. It is not a good idea to ignore the chain laws though.

 

[jelag]

Here's the thing... . we have several trucks running in WA... and we have to chain by law if the signs are on... (commercial trucks)

I don't think we've put chains on in 2 or 3 years... . I tell my guys that if you can wait 2-4 hours, take a break and wait it out or plan your trip around the better weather.....

I hate chains, the damage done when they break, and messing with them on the side of the road where your more likely to be hit by some guy in an SUV while chaining...

Chain the back axle of the truck, the back axle of the trailer and make sure the brakes work on the trailer axle... we use the brake controller to keep the load in a straight line, drive at least 5-10 mph slower than the posted number and just take it easy... .

If you can find a set, change out the cable chains for links... .

 

[JMetzger]

What HBarlow & jelag said are right. When I go over RT 88 or 50 I chain the rear axle on the truck & the rear axle of the trailer & run in 4 wheel drive. I drive a lot slower then the speed limit. Remember you are pulling a lot of weight & you have to stop it. I only use link chains for both truck & trailer.

 

[MLee]

If your going to run the link chains, find the ones the big rigs use. They kind of form a "Y" going down the center of the tire. Through test that have been run with this type of chain, they last longer and can be run on dry pavement longer before coming apart, compared to the ones that cross the tire at a right angle.

 

[RideSlow2004]

Good info all, thanks, I got no prob chaining up when the signs are on, just wanted to know how best to configure.



And given the opportunity, will gladly sit somewhere safe until the roads are better!!

 

[AH64ID]

Interesting. . only 1 drag chain is required.

WSDOT - Minimum Chain Requirement Diagram

 

[Bob Cochran]

I don't have 4X so I find a place to park and wait it out.

When had a 4X got into way more trouble than 2X though!!!!