When to hang iron?

[DiTrani]

Well, I spent the entirety of Sat. night driving through N. Y and MA on I90 during the snow storm. I was returning from dropping off a race bike I sold and was pulling my small race trailer empty. It was no fun, and I couldn't find a motel with room.



I didn't have chains, but they are now on the way.



I've never used chains, so my question is, when you put them on and take them off? Conditions for about 400 miles ranged from 45 mph, tire tracks mostly down to the pavement, to 20 mph, no pavement to be seen. And of course it would go back and forth between these two extremes depending on if the plows had been there recently.



I assume that of course the chains are good when it's all snow and the the rear is breaking traction like mad, but is it ok to leave them on for many miles when you start seeing pavement?

 

[Dieselnerd]

I've used chains many times in the past on 2 wheel drive vehicles. It's been my experience that the chains wear quite rapidly on dry pavement. If you are going dry pavement to snow and back again you are probably better off leaving the chains on for safe driving. If you anticipate dry roads for 40-50 miles, I would stop and take them off. After you use them for a while you will see that they are not that hard to put on or take off although off is always easier than on.

 

[QRTRHRS]

Check this thread.

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=30201&pagenumber=2



Follow the post by Mr. C on these chains. They may be more suited to those kind of changing road conditions.



http://www.lacledechain.com/traction.html

 

[Briar Hopper]

forget chains

This would be nice for those who can afford it. It's an awesome accessory for any truck... .

www.mattracks.com

 

[jwgary]

Check these out. Insta-chain Of course we don't need anything like that down here, but I thought they were cool.

 

[Power Wagon]

"Real" chains are pretty spendy, and usually aren't needed on normal roads or highways. Unless you're going to buck deep snow and/or steep grades, cable chains are more than adequate. I've pushed snow in my D150 that was all the way up over front bumper with snow tires and cable chains on, and no weight or otherwise in the back. It was new, wet snow, and I was actually off-road in the woods driving around skid trails.



(The need for firewood makes you do odd stuff, ya know )



Cable chains can be tighted up just like the regular ones with the rubber bungee style tighteners, and if really snug and nice fitting don't slap much on the road, either. You can drive them on pavement at low speeds (35 or under) without much damage for a short distance.



They are also not nearly as heavy, and are usually pretty easy to put on, too. And if someone tells you to jack up the vehicle to put the chains on... Tell 'em southerners have no business in snow country

 

[illflem]

I lived most of my life in snow country and only chain up on paved roads when the state patrol won't let you pass without them. Stoping and getting going are the problem, once you're cruising there is little problem. Just carry some weight in the back, have your tires siped, slow down and you'll do fine. I'd much rather drive though snow than Los Angeles. Feels a lot safer to me.

 

[LSMITH]

The proper time to hang iron is when you are getting scared and need to turn around and go back!!!! If you really need chains with a 4x4 you should probably not be there, of course a 4x2 is another story all together. As illflem said the state troopers out west will on occaision force you to chain up or turn around, but I have never had need for chains on a road. This is all JMHO. I grew up in the San Juan mountains of Colorado and live now in Wisconsin, I have seen snow once or twice

 

[Alaskaskiff]

Only saw one time when I actually needed chains. About 6 years ago there was an ice storm in the Tri Cities/Columbia Gorge. Put Over an inch of ice on the roads and warmed to 33. There was standing water on the ice. Unbelievably slick. Had factory badyears on the truck. I was chained up from Ritzville down to Umatilla and over to Portland (250 miles). They were required, but it made sense that time. Saw over 30 cars in the ditch. when you stop and the truck slides sideways away from the road crown after a complete stop, you NEED chains.

 

[illflem]

Andy, think I got caught in the same storm. Late Jan or early Feb. I had to chain up in Troutdale outside Portland, by the time I got to Hood River I was so sick of it that I just holed up for two days. Lucked out and got the last room at a motel. Think it was the worst driving conditions I've ever encountered in my life.

 

[merryman]

One way to know chains needed

A few years ago, while heading into Elk camp a buddy was driving my 4 X 4 Dodge towing a trailer with six pack animals. It was a good graded road with about 50% packed snow and bare rock. We were doing fine in 4 wheel; then rounded a corner into a moderate up grade where it was hard packed icy snow.

Not only did we spin to a stop, we started sliding backwards ,and towards the down hill drop off--with service brake applied. I jumped out and started putting rocks under the wheels---got it stopped in about 20 feet.

We knew any rig comming down hill would not have a chance at stopping. We did a record job of getting chains on front wheels and got going again. Now in similiar circumstances, I put on the chains.



Vaughn

 

[Extreme1]

Originally posted by illflem

I'd much rather drive though snow than Los Angeles. Feels a lot safer to me.

AMEN!!



I used to ice race cars on a lake near here. We would get cheap radial snow tires and have them siped and run low air pressure (depending on conditions). You can always drop air pressure to gain traction on ice. Not much with a heavy load though.

 

[Happy Camper]

Merryman.

I have had similar experiences and my front seat show it. Last year on packed snow uphill came around a curve and lo and behold a pick and horse trailer jacked nifed. Had to stop and back wards it went. Let the cluch out and got enough traction to drop the wheel into a little diton the upper side and then PUT THE CHAINS ON. Spent the next hour and 1/2 getting the horse trailer and pu out so I could go up and rescue my brother and 89 year old mother. Don't care to repeat that.



PS This past week I have on two different occasions spotted 80+ elk from our living room. 3 bulls. Beautiful site even tho it is aprox 3/4 mile.

 

[Alaskaskiff]

Illflem,



I holed up in Umatilla myself for the night. Then in Redding, CA the next night. I was in that storm all the way down to the Bay Area. South of Portland it was just serious rain and wind up to 60. Same scenario... Last room available. Had to go back to work though. Normal 1 day trip took 3.

 

[illflem]

Andy, that was a horrible trip, I also had to chain up from Mt Shasta to Ashland, got a flat tire in Ashland from a piece of someone else's tire chain. Got to Grants Pass and I-5 was closed due to snow all the way to Roseburg, had to wait all day to get though. Then hard rain to Portland. The rain got under my camper floor and I didn't find out till I went to remove it at home with a temp of 10° that it had froze to the bed, ripped the floor partially off while jacking it off. All in all it was a very bum trip.

 

[Alaskaskiff]

Illflem.



The worst part was I had 500 miles on my truck when I started. Bought it in Sandpoint, Idaho. The trip cost me a broken windshield courtesy of an Idaho DOT sanding truck, both rear tires due to damage from chains (I only had my v-bars and they aren't so happy at 40), and the crap from all the 18 wheelers that was thrown on the truck chipped the paint horribly. I had special ordered the truck and it had been cold enough that the paint was still tacky. I was pissed. So... I saved 3% on sales tax, didn't end up with an EGR truck and paid over $2000 in damages by the end (had to paint whole truck). Won't ever forget that trip.