Jump to content

Thoughts on Emergency Traction Straps

AE1M

Recommended Posts

diyer2 Senior Enthusiast

diyer2

Posted
Posted

I would pass.

Good tires first.

Set of chains second. 

:)

AE1M Enthusiast

AE1M

Posted
  • Author
Posted

For some reason,  the owners manual says no chains  for my tires.

 

“If the vehicle has dual wheel s or 265/65R18,P265/65R18,P275/55R20,LT265/70R17,LT265/70R18,LT265/60R20,LT275/65R18,P285/50R20,285/45R22,orP285/45R22 size tires, do not use tire chains. They can damage the vehicle because there is not enough clearance. “

 

I am talking for emergency stuck in ditch etc only, quick use then off.

 

Bob

14GMCZ71 Enthusiast

14GMCZ71

Posted
Posted

What tires on on your truck now?  I purchased a set of GY DuraTrac tires at 20,000 miles in my OEM size - P275/55R20 - Got rid of the GY SRAs.

 

These DuraTracs really go in the snow.  Might also keep some weight in the back - maybe 200lbs. sand.

 

Look for tire rated Severe Snow Service -- Triple Mountain Peak.  Also - are studded tires allowed in your area?  Might be an option.

aseibel Senior Enthusiast

aseibel

Posted
Posted

You can't drive on the road with chains, but just to get out of a ditch, go for it.

 

My winter kit includes sand bags, shovel and tow strap. Sand bags add weight on the rear end, and you can cut one open and pour it out for traction if you get stuck. I've never thought about getting anything to strap on the tire. If I couldn't dig myself out, I'd wave down another truck and have my strap all hooked up and ready.

 

If that doesn't get me out, that little rubber strap-on block ain't gonna do it either. The worst situation would be if you skid into a ditch with packed snow and the truck "sleds" up onto the pile, like high centering. Nothing you do to the wheels will get you out of that, you need a tow. I did that once in HS in a car. I spent an hour shoveling snow around it just to make it able for my dad to pull it out.

DEV1ST8R Enthusiast

DEV1ST8R

Posted
Posted
51 minutes ago, AE1M said:

For some reason,  the owners manual says no chains  for my tires.

 

“If the vehicle has dual wheel s or 265/65R18,P265/65R18,P275/55R20,LT265/70R17,LT265/70R18,LT265/60R20,LT275/65R18,P285/50R20,285/45R22,orP285/45R22 size tires, do not use tire chains. They can damage the vehicle because there is not enough clearance. “

 

I am talking for emergency stuck in ditch etc only, quick use then off.

 

Bob

Is there really an issue with tire chain/cable use with these trucks? Or is it more of GM passing the liability off? Obviously if a chain or cable breaks it could wreak havoc, but if it's used properly I don't see why there would be an issue...

 

I'm of the opinion of not needing them, but unfortunately my state requires all vehicles (AWD and 4WD included) to have chains and use them when advised.

L86 All Terrain Senior Enthusiast

L86 All Terrain

Posted
Posted

You can't put on a set of chains very easily if you are already stuck. You put them on BEFORE you get into trouble. I have pulled out countless Transport trucks with all their chains hanging on the hangers...

 

Those things would work ok to get you moving. We have done similar method with a stick and ratchet straps in a pinch. Best method is a friend with another 4x4 and a tow strap, but these could get you out of trouble if you are alone with no cell service. Not something I would purchase personally but a good idea overall. 

aseibel Senior Enthusiast

aseibel

Posted
Posted
18 minutes ago, DEV1ST8R said:

Is there really an issue with tire chain/cable use with these trucks? Or is it more of GM passing the liability off? Obviously if a chain or cable breaks it could wreak havoc, but if it's used properly I don't see why there would be an issue...

I think the only problem is with clearance inside the wheelwell. You don't want to be going 50 mph and have a chain with some slack wreck your brakes or steering components. If you were using a smaller/ narrower tire for winter, then your chains would have more clearance?

diyer2 Senior Enthusiast

diyer2

Posted
Posted
10 minutes ago, L86 All Terrain said:

You can't put on a set of chains very easily if you are already stuck. You put them on BEFORE you get into trouble. I have pulled out countless Transport trucks with all their chains hanging on the hangers...

 

Those things would work ok to get you moving. We have done similar method with a stick and ratchet straps in a pinch. Best method is a friend with another 4x4 and a tow strap, but these could get you out of trouble if you are alone with no cell service. Not something I would purchase personally but a good idea overall. 

Agree

Chain up if you are going to possibly get stuck.

Good tires and some bed weight have gotten me through some rough conditions.

You also have to drive right to avoid getting into a bad situation.

Gas pedal use to prevent wheel spin and tacking another run at things to prevent wheel spin.

 

:)

RAYS B4U Enthusiast

RAYS B4U

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, AE1M said:

For some reason,  the owners manual says no chains  for my tires.

 

“If the vehicle has dual wheel s or 265/65R18,P265/65R18,P275/55R20,LT265/70R17,LT265/70R18,LT265/60R20,LT275/65R18,P285/50R20,285/45R22,orP285/45R22 size tires, do not use tire chains. They can damage the vehicle because there is not enough clearance. “

 

I am talking for emergency stuck in ditch etc only, quick use then off.

 

Bob

Mine says something similar for my 2019. Unfortunately our state law says you have to carry chains when traveling over the passes...whether they are required at the time or not, and if they check you and you don't have any it's a pretty big ticket. I've been looking for "alternative traction devices".

AE1M Enthusiast

AE1M

Posted
  • Author
Posted
16 minutes ago, diyer2 said:

Agree

Chain up if you are going to possibly get stuck.

Good tires and some bed weight have gotten me through some rough conditions.

You also have to drive right to avoid getting into a bad situation.

Gas pedal use to prevent wheel spin and tacking another run at things to prevent wheel spin.

 

:)

My question is a result of getting stuck alone in a ditch (1 ft of fresh snow hid the danger) at a driveway of a hunting cabin I'd never been to before.  So, it's just an emergency issue.  I have good tires etc, but sometimes good tires, 4L, and all the work you can do alone in the woods sometimes isnt enough.

 

Bob

 

Mikebtte Enthusiast

Mikebtte

Posted
Posted

When I was living in Wyoming I would always run chains with good luck. As I was working at a semi truck shop I saw a surprising amount of trucks running snow socks. I never tried them, but a lot of truck drivers live by them. May be worth a go in your case.

 

Second the quality tires. Never ran chains on the other car due to quality tires.

 

https://autosock.us/

aseibel Senior Enthusiast

aseibel

Posted
Posted

The OP isn't looking for a traction device to drive though an icy mountain pass. He wants to be able to get out of a ditch if he's stuck alone. For the low cost and ability to put them on after you are buried, I don't think those emergency straps are a bad idea.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.

  • Forum Statistics

    250.4k
    Total Topics
    2.7m
    Total Posts

  • Member Statistics

    342,842
    Total Members
    8,960
    Most Online
    CaptainDad
    Newest Member
    CaptainDad
    Joined

  • Who's Online   4 Members, 0 Anonymous, 394 Guests (See full list)

  • Latest Articles

  • Posts

    • asilverblazer
      Slate Electric Truck

      By asilverblazer · Posted

      I like the idea.  I would pick diesel if I had a choice. I need pictures though.
    • newdude
      Help purchasing a touch screen digitizer

      By newdude · Posted

      I've installed cheap eBay new aftermarket digitizers before.  They work.  Did a bunch of Cadillac CUE (aka Cadillac's MyLink) for someone years ago.  They all worked fine after the repair.    That number 22740886, that is a component part # for GM.  You can use it to search, but its not something that's obtainable at the dealer level.     So pretty much any of these will work - 2015 Colorado Digitizer for sale | eBay
    • asilverblazer
      give me some tips to make my truck look better

      By asilverblazer · Posted

      Black bumper and the later years Z-71 style color matched grille.
    • fondupot
      Exhaust heat while towing!

      By fondupot · Posted

      You can install tailpipes that direct the exhaust sideways vs the OEM one that goes straight back. There are several on the market, do you own research. HOWEVER, you need to make sure the Venturi vents are still intact, otherwise it will throw a engine code. There is a sensor somewhere that detects back pressure on the exhaust. And if it doesn't collect the correct metrics, it will throw the truck into limp mode. 
    • Atlas
      Wow I'm in a pickle. (Broke down truck) and a story.

      By Atlas · Posted

      "Teardown" is complete. Head surfaces are clean and ready, new intake is prepped and ready. Coolant drained and water pump is removed, radiator is removed, new hoses and pump are ready.   The replacement intake is also from a '95 (with I think 260k, the odometer said). Noticeably less pitting where it covers the rear coolant passages. I'm not sure if that's a tribute to more frequent use, more frequent coolant changes/upkeep, or if the intake was machined at some point. But it appears I found a good one.   My coolant hoses were original, and the lower hose still retained the factory spring inside. It's not really rusty, but it's got deposits all over it. Unsure if I should re-install it (will thoroughly clean it first). Someone said hose technology has gotten better since 1995 (has it?) and I don't need the spring. I think modern EPDM is what made those hoses last from 1995-2026, so it's a question of how much suction can the water pump really pull, and will it collapse the hose without a spring?   I'm stopped and waiting for parts, however.   When I first brought the truck home, the fan was intermittently hitting the radiator shroud. I could see someone had monkeyed with the shroud (put a bunch of cardboard as a spacer between the upper/lower shroud halves. Someone said the motor mounts have likely failed and the engine has sagged. I wasn't sure I believed that. The engine is really solid in its mounts: To remove the old intake I *just* nearly permanently welded to the heads with freshly cured RTV and gasket snot two weeks ago, I literally had to use the arms on my lift and a chain with a bolt attached to the intake to pull it loose. It almost picked the front of the truck off the ground before ....scuuuuuuuuuuup.... I could actually hear the gaskets tearing and it broke loose and the whole truck settled back down. Motor barely moved.   SO, those parts I'm waiting on... The lower radiator mounts/bushings had completely failed. The radiator needs to be insulated from the rad support, and the bushings help the rad stand at the correct height. The plastic "baffle" was also destroyed at some point. Someone had attached the shroud to it incorrectly, overlapping a joint that should have been underlapped, creating another suspect issue potentially causing things to hit the fan. Broken tabs, side is busted off, and it's perma-formed/bent where it was jimmied incorrectly.   The baffle? Unobtainum. Long since discontinued from GM, of course. Aftermarket/capa/chinese? Also unobtanium. In GM's infinite wisdom, it appears there are at least two different variations whether the Blazer is 2 or 4 door, and I can't yet tell if they shared the same part with the S-pickups. Plan B, if I can't find a viable used one, will be to create a bracket to re-assemble the critical joint I need to seal a gap with the shroud. But that will bug me, it won't be...perfect.   The water pump bolts appear to have been installed with...plumber's putty. I guess, sure, if it works...? I've found a few "backyard fixes" like that. Someone's been here before....   If I can't find someone to jam bamboo under my fingernails to fill my free time this week I think I'll install the driver's power window motor and replace the rear door speaker that's inop. I've got a genuine GM "9.5" ohm working replacement. Why GM used a non-standard resistance....nevermind. Of course they did, you can get more sound from a cheap factory amp that way.   And the saga goes on...

  • GM-Trucks.com Clubs

  • Popular Contributors

×
×
  • Create New...