2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Winter Chains - Advice Requested

[jkoehler]

Hello again...



We are planning on moving to snow country when I retire. Sometimes driving is restricted to vehicles with chains. OK - I know what chains are and how they work, what do I need to know when getting a set? We have a '99 3500 5x4x4.



Oh yeah - I'm still thinking about those 19. 5" wheels. What do you think?



Thanks in advance,

 

[HC]

Much of what you need to know can be found at www.tirechains.com

They have FAQ's, and much information on the various links. Good pricing and service, too.

Don't scrimp on costs - any money you might save won't seem like such a good deal after a link blows and the chain does several hundred dollars of damage around your wheel well.

I like the "V-bar" or "ice link" style chain. They cost more and ride rougher than heck, but, get the job done when you really need chains and they last longer.

Keep them tight with rubber bungie or spring tensioners - also available from the above link.



One advantage of the "near stock" wheels is the massive amounts of clearance we have for those who need to run chains. You'd be giving some of that up with the 19. 5" wheels. Someone else will have to comment on how much of an issue this really is; I'm only saying it's something to think about.

 

[lmills]

I can second the damage that can be done. I had a link fly apart on my chains one time. I had a short distance to run on fairly dry road between towns. The link flew apart and beat up my wheel opening and fender. Nowadays I don't use the chains unless absolutely needed. My bro-in-law had a chain either fly off or break and it took out his dually fender.

 

[illflem]

In over 40 years of living in the north I've only chained up twice. Both times were in California!

I don't even own a set of chains for my Dodges.

Most southerners have a misconception on chain requirements, the road can be 12" of compact snow and ice and there are no restrictions except in California.

4wd and siped tires will keep you going on any maintained road. Chains are usually only required on mountain passes during very heavy snowfall when you really shouldn't be driving anyways. Most times when chains are required by the state patrol 4wd with winter tires are exempt, siped counts as a winter tire in Montana.

Since you'll be retiring just plan your trips around the weather, most times chains are only required for a few hours right before the passes are shut down and then you'll be stuck anyways. Carry chains if it makes you feel good but plan on not using them, it's better to just stay put or turn around.

 

[Dkevdog]

For you guys running chains on the DRW's- do you chain only inside, only outside, or did you get the chains that go over both wheels??



Kev

 

[Turbo Terry]

You do not need chains. Only good tires and common sense when to stay home. You would most likely never use them. JMHO

 

[Seed Guy]

For Oregon the situation is almost always in even the worst weather Chains Required, TRACTION TIRES allowed on vehicles under 10,000 GVW. So if i were you i would either buy a set of studded tires, or get tires with the little snowflake on them that allow them to pass as traction tires. As far as 10,000 GVW i have convinced many an officer that my 2500 longbed and loaded fourplace snowmobile trailer are under 10,000 pounds

 

[grtescpa]

snow chains

Originally posted by Seed Guy

For Oregon the situation is almost always in even the worst weather Chains Required, TRACTION TIRES allowed on vehicles under 10,000 GVW. So if i were you i would either buy a set of studded tires, or get tires with the little snowflake on them that allow them to pass as traction tires. As far as 10,000 GVW i have convinced many an officer that my 2500 longbed and loaded fourplace snowmobile trailer are under 10,000 pounds

I own a place in snow country which I use for vacation. I have a set of spike chains which I put on all four wheels. They ran me about $275. 00. My tires are the stock size 245's. Since my place is a 1/2 mile off the road and not plowed the only way in is with the chains when the snow is 2 to 3 feet deep. The mountain road also has a tendancy to ice up. Chains are very useful in situations like that. It was so bad one year that you could not stand up with out holding on to the truck. For a final note, do not drive any faster than 15mph with chains or you are asking for trouble. To each his own when it comes to chains. If you need more info on how to put them on properly, contact me here in my private mailbox.

 

[lmills]

I have only ever needed chains for one snow fall around here. It was when we had a blizzard in 96. It dumped about 36" of snow over about a 24 hour period. The state could barely keep the main arteries open. All the towns were snowed in. I of course was the only one with a reliable 4X4, so guess who became the errand boy. I was stuck running people to work, picking up supplies and any thing in between. I ran the truck all day one day just taking care of other family members that couldn't get out.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

I have been using Cooper Discoverer LT 255-85-16 and run chains only twice, both times on hunting trips with mountain trails/badly banked dirt and deep or variable condition snow. Both times I chained only the front. There was enough room even with these oversized tires. I used a loop type bungee where one takes care of the whole chain. The first time I was pulling my trailer, second time on gnarly trail going over the mountain. Both times I chained up before getting into trouble so I can't say if it was really necessary. I just felt it was quite prudent to do so. I use the V bar type and recommend them as they will dig in a lot better than plain chains.

 

[tgbol]

Here in California if one snowflake hits the road the CHP makes you use chains. It is pretty ridiculous sometimes. I came up a road through 12 inches of snow with my Comanche (no chains)once and the CHP wanted to argue that there wasn't even a road there until I knocked the snow off of the sign. It seems that I came up at a chain control on the main road. Everybody is looking at 2 inches on the highway wondering why the needed chains.

 

[HC]

Do you really need chains? To me, that's just the "you don't really need 4WD" discussion repackaged. It's not about what you "need" as much as it is about what you "want".



Of course you can get by without. But is it worth $80 as insurance? To some, no, but to me, yes. In two years I haven't had to install them yet on this truck, but knowing I've got that "secret weapon" has been worth it. I know I WILL get home. And in the past on other 4WD's, I've used them to travel more safely through some pretty horrendous Southern ice storms (ice is ice; it doesn't really care what state it's in), to cruise places and see some stuff instead of just staying home, and to get up slippery, muddy hills when winching the required distance would have taken forever. Once in awhile, you can even be someone else's "hero" instead of just another "survivor" barely getting by or holed up and waiting for better weather.

 

[Seed Guy]

No its not a question about wheather or not you need chains it is a question of "Is that really the best option" I know that for myself i view chains as archaic and the scorge of man. For me if the time comes that chains are required i would rather just park and unload my snowmobiles and fly by the police with the middlefinger salute.

 

[HC]

Originally posted by Dkevdog

For you guys running chains on the DRW's- do you chain only inside, only outside, or did you get the chains that go over both wheels??Kev

Which Tires to Chain up

 

[HVAC]

Cables

If you need more then mud and snows, check into cables. You can run much faster then with chains. They are less massive then chains, less hassle. The cables have cylindrical rollers on them over the tread area. I believe they tend to wear much better then chains. It's the only way to go on a sports car.

 

[JTMcCracken]

All you folks saying "just stay home if it's too bad", what do you do for a living? A bunch of sissy computor geeks or what? I have to go reguardless of the weather, when the bumper is pushing enough snow to stop the truck, then I get to go inside, or wait for a plow. And in my type of curcumstances, chains are a lifesaver, you can tool on down the road with your siped, studded tires, but when it's real bad I will cruise on by, chained up. There is a reason Patton's 3rd Army rolled across Europe with chains on those stinking duece an a halfs, they couldn't stay home!

JTMcC.

 

[Ian]

Chains?

I bought a set of chains a couple of years ago for my '93 D250, (2WD). A few weeks later had to use them to get out of my drive way in 3" of snow.



Used them again this past summer while camping. Backed the 5th wheel into an area that I could not pull our of after rain without using the chains.



If it makes you feel better, go for it, but keep in mind that when you get bogged, you are well and truely stuck and could be some distance from help.



Bye the way, mine actually are cables. Have not tried them on the Y2K D2500 yet, just hope they will fit - insurance.

 

[illflem]

Anyone else notice that most of the folks in this thread that support chains live in the south?

 

[JTMcCracken]

I live in Arizona, I work all over the country and have done my share of work in true 30-40 degree below zero ambient temp. Don't assume that all folks work where they live, or even spend a lot of time where they live. my truck allways has enought rigging to pull people out of the ditch or field and I've never pulled out a truck with chains on, but countless with out. nobody will say what they do for a living, must be a bunch of old retired geezers camping at Wally's, watching it snow. By the way, I grew up in Williams Arizona, 8 miles from one ski area on Bill Williams mountain, and 30 miles from another one on the San Francisco Peaks, about 80+ inches per year, much more up the mountain. Happy New Year you old dudes ; ) JTMcC.

 

[JohnE]

<blockquote>illflem asked<em>&quot;Anyone else notice that most of the folks in this thread that support chains live in the south?&quot</em></blockquote><hr>

That's because the Seattle folks haven't added any replies. I've never seem or heard so many chained vehicles in my life as in Seattle.