Tire Chains

snorydermb · November 20, 2007

I was thinking of picking up some z trac tire cables for my HD reason for this is that some places that we go snowmobileing the roads leading in are logging roads and barely maintained and its usually a good 20 miles on these roads, just wanted to see if trailering with chains is bad for the truck or tires.

ws6_guy · November 20, 2007

i think chains only belong on tractors.. i'd never get anything like that on mine. good tires is all i need

dewfpo · November 20, 2007

i think chains only belong on tractors.. i'd never get anything like that on mine. good tires is all i need

If the snow is really deep, then the only way youre going to get in and out is with chains. It will not hurt your vehicle as long as they are not loose and slapping you wheelwells and as long as you don't drive them too long on hard pavement.

DEWFPO

cbxeric · November 20, 2007

Start snowmobiling a little sooner.

Nytemare · November 21, 2007

My only advice is check them every 1-2miles, make sure you keep them tight.

But deep snow does not warrant chains...they wont help in the least...chains are for ice.

99silverado1500 · November 21, 2007

Chains will help in deep snow as they give sidewall traction and bite down better when you pack it down from driving. I love chains, and as long as your not doing burnouts with them on in the roads they wont do anything to your tires as long as they are snug.

Q101ATFD · November 21, 2007

It can't hurt to run the cables. Chains work best in deep snow, and cables work best for packed snow and ice. My FD runs chains on the large apparatus, and the same z trac cables on the ambulances and lighter vehicles. I haven't had any problems with the cables - just don't go any faster than about 40 mph with them on, and if you notice a link or crossmember break then stop and fix it ASAP. However, cables are much nicer to the fenders than chains when they break.

I considered getting a set of cables for my truck a few years ago, but figured my truck's front two tires are getting more traction than 4 wheels of an average car in the snow when in 4WD.

The only downside to running cables would be that if you're going way off-road, I would worry about a crossmember getting caught on a root or rock and breaking if the tires are spinning a lot. To answer your question, trailering on pavement is fine with cables, but combine the tongue weight and 4WD and you should have more than enough traction off-road if you take your time and enjoy the ride.

snorydermb · November 21, 2007

I should have been a little clearer on the roads we travel to get to the cabins they are roads for logging trucks coming out of canada and maine it is not off road driving they are just poorly maintained during the winter they are mostly hard packed snow and ice.My other question would be towing my 26ft snowmobile trailer with chains is it to much weight for the rear chains and will it damage tires

cbxeric · November 21, 2007

Some points to consider.

- Weight will not be an issue. Abuse is what breaks chains. Follow the manufacturers directions.

- chains will not damage tires. But broken chains will damage body work, check often.

- If your trailer has brakes, chain it up too.

- chain up both axles on a 4x4

- G-80's are the weakest link when towing in a low traction environment, I think that chains would just magnify this. Go easy on the throttle so that if the locker engages there will be as little stress on it as possible.

bersh · November 22, 2007

But deep snow does not warrant chains...they wont help in the least...chains are for ice.

Sorry, but I totally disagree. Two years ago while camping out in the bush during firearms deer season in the U.P. of Michigan, we got 25" of wet, heavy snow. There were trucks stuck everywhere, and the ONLY vehicles moving back in the woods were the trucks that had chains. My buddy had his 2001 2500HD out there with brand new tires, and he was getting stuck every 15 feet. My other buddy had his 96 2500 with chains, and he was driving through everything and pushing through drifts that were going over the top of his hood. He ended up running home and getting his plow and plowing everyone out, and he made almost $1k plowing out sites and pulling guys out of trouble in two days.

I wasn't a believer in chains in deep snow until I saw that.

bersh · November 26, 2007

But deep snow does not warrant chains...they wont help in the least...chains are for ice.

Sorry, but I totally disagree. Two years ago while camping out in the bush during firearms deer season in the U.P. of Michigan, we got 25" of wet, heavy snow. There were trucks stuck everywhere, and the ONLY vehicles moving back in the woods were the trucks that had chains. My buddy had his 2001 2500HD out there with brand new tires, and he was getting stuck every 15 feet. My other buddy had his 96 2500 with chains, and he was driving through everything and pushing through drifts that were going over the top of his hood. He ended up running home and getting his plow and plowing everyone out, and he made almost $1k plowing out sites and pulling guys out of trouble in two days.

I wasn't a believer in chains in deep snow until I saw that.

Here is a picture to give you an idea of the snow.

dewfpo · November 26, 2007

But deep snow does not warrant chains...they wont help in the least...chains are for ice.

Sorry, but I totally disagree. Two years ago while camping out in the bush during firearms deer season in the U.P. of Michigan, we got 25" of wet, heavy snow. There were trucks stuck everywhere, and the ONLY vehicles moving back in the woods were the trucks that had chains. My buddy had his 2001 2500HD out there with brand new tires, and he was getting stuck every 15 feet. My other buddy had his 96 2500 with chains, and he was driving through everything and pushing through drifts that were going over the top of his hood. He ended up running home and getting his plow and plowing everyone out, and he made almost $1k plowing out sites and pulling guys out of trouble in two days.

I wasn't a believer in chains in deep snow until I saw that.

Here is a picture to give you an idea of the snow.

I could tell by the picture that, that is wet heavy snow.

DEWFPO

cvandegna · November 27, 2007

But deep snow does not warrant chains...they wont help in the least...chains are for ice.

Sorry, but I totally disagree. Two years ago while camping out in the bush during firearms deer season in the U.P. of Michigan, we got 25" of wet, heavy snow. There were trucks stuck everywhere, and the ONLY vehicles moving back in the woods were the trucks that had chains. My buddy had his 2001 2500HD out there with brand new tires, and he was getting stuck every 15 feet. My other buddy had his 96 2500 with chains, and he was driving through everything and pushing through drifts that were going over the top of his hood. He ended up running home and getting his plow and plowing everyone out, and he made almost $1k plowing out sites and pulling guys out of trouble in two days.

I wasn't a believer in chains in deep snow until I saw that.

I grew up in the northeast - and have to agree with Nytemare that chains don't do much for deep snow. Packed snow maybe, ice definitely. The best results I have experienced in unmaintained snow is mud terrain tires. Specifically I have had really good results with ProComp MTs on unmaintained roads in Oklahoma. I run up there every time it snows and winch people out of ditches - usually making several truck payments in $ in a couple of snows. Get some cheap steel wheels and throw some MTs on them - and if you really wanna get crazy you can stud them (if legal in your state) - the ProComps have the holes molded in them so all ya gotta do is have em inserted.

With the MTs you also won't have to worry about clearance issues or towing. You need big voids to clear the snow out of the tires. Just my opinion.

cbxeric · November 28, 2007

I've never been stuck with chains on. There is no way a tire of any kind gives better traction then the same tire with chains.

Info on chains.

cvandegna · November 28, 2007

I've never been stuck with chains on. There is no way a tire of any kind gives better traction then the same tire with chains.

Info on chains.

Everybody has different experiences - i'm just saying in deep snow a mud terrain tread throws snow out, giving sufficient traction without any clearance, maintenance or speed limitations. In those conditions. Chains have their place - and my experience it is in icy conditions where the chains can bite in better than a tire can. I cannot keep stopping to chain up and off, and deal with a 40mph speed limitation when sections of road are clear.

I bet deer love the sound tire chains make trampling through the forest though. I hear they're actually attracted to it...