Tire chains !!!!!!

[sikwhiskey]

How many of you pack tire chains with you? Saved my butt many times. People seem to think big, fat, aggressive tires go more places?????
Nope! Tall skinnies with chains in snow or mud wins every time.
Pics of the Duck lake road north of Browning, Montana feb 14th. We happened to get trapped in between snow drifts on the Hwy, and luckly I carried chains, went off road and made it to Carway in one piece. Towed 1 other 03 chev 1/2 ton with me, in a 03 Tacoma.
Won't leave home with out them?http://i741.photobucket.com/albums/xx60/sikwhiskey/IMG_1878.jpg
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[Roughneck71]

Yep chains have saved me many of time......for working pulling our chipper through fields and ditches to get to the work..08 gmc diesiel 1ton and chains,not many places we cant go.except unexpected wet holes:scared: lol
Darrell

[sheephunter]

Never leave home without them but just found out that they don't quite fit my new tires...lol

Good thing Vanessa is handy with a shovel.

Note to self, extend chains to fit new tires!

[WayneChristie]

I carry them now!

[deanmc]

I miss my old ford with lots of wheel clearance. You could put chains on the front and back. It would go anywhere in the winter. Big pipe bumpers and no plastic to wreck. It was fun.:thinking-006:

[kodiakken]

Always carry a set with me. They do what they are suppose to do.
They may not be the fastest trip to town but you should get to town.

Ken.

[howlin]

always liked them,need some for 30 x15 now(cant find any)

[BallCoeff.435]

With big rubber and chains on all 4 wheels, I've been able to push through snow to the tops of the tires in 4 low. Probably not too good for the truck, but having seen that would calm my nerves if I was ever actually forced into that situation.

Not sure about big tires & chains vs narrow tires & chains anymore. If narrow was so great then snow sleds would have a track 6 inches wide and weigh 1000 pounds.

[deanmc]

With big rubber and chains on all 4 wheels, I've been able to push through snow to the tops of the tires in 4 low. Probably not too good for the truck, but having seen that would calm my nerves if I was ever actually forced into that situation.

Not sure about big tires & chains vs narrow tires & chains anymore. If narrow was so great then snow sleds would have a track 6 inches wide and weigh 1000 pounds.

Lol you want a sled to sit on top of the snow and that is exactly what the wide tires try to do.I want my pickup to have some firm footing preferably as close to the earth as possible.

[deanmc]

BTW they use wide tires on most vehicles because they dont wander nearly as much on the highway. That is best for 90 % of drivers.

[Cattle Dog]

Yup: carry my chains in the toolbox at all times.

But these gmc's have very poor room for clearance from fenders, old dodge was better.

Quite a few rural people prefer narrow and tall tires because the wider fatter tires will dangerously "ski" on gravel, especially on frosty gravel.

And some of the lumberjacks north of crowsnest pass use a rare "very skinny" tire in order to get grip on the logging trails. A few years ago during hunting season i started out on a trail following one of these skinny tire fresh tracks in the axle-deep snow, but after one mile i chickened out.

[deanmc]

Yup: carry my chains in the toolbox at all times.

But these gmc's have very poor room for clearance from fenders, old dodge was better.

Quite a few rural people prefer narrow and tall tires because the wider fatter tires will dangerously "ski" on gravel, especially on frosty gravel.

And some of the lumberjacks north of crowsnest pass use a rare "very skinny" tire in order to get grip on the logging trails. A few years ago during hunting season i started out on a trail following one of these skinny tire fresh tracks in the axle-deep snow, but after one mile i chickened out.

Are you refering to The Toyo "Pizza cutters"? I have worn out many sets of those.

[howlin]

once you high center and the snows grabbing the undercarriage its game over, chains,wides ,skinnies ,doesnt matter ,your not moving(go go gadget copter):)

[denpacc]

Sikwhiskey,

I carry v-bar chains, tow straps, shovels, etc. too, but with regards to big fat, aggressive tires not being good I disagree. All Polar and Icelandic glacier trips are done on hugely lifted trucks running big, fat, aggressive tires. See for yourself. Unfortunately these trucks are not practical for me and most everybody around here. That's why I carry the above stuff for my almost stock truck. Check out the Top Gear vids on their Polar trip, amazing what tall, fat, aggressive tires can do without chains...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0okxnPNWpb0&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LsrKdR9AmM&feature=BF&playnext=1&list=QL&index=1

[Rockymtnx]

I have been carrying a set V-bar chains in my truck ever since BrownBear416 made me drive in the ditch on our January elk hunt. I though to myself never again and ordered a new set up as soon as we got home.

I ordered from these guys on a Tuesday afternoon, and had them by Thursday morning.
http://www.canadianchains.ca/

[Lefty]

Rocky I looked at that link and saw spider bungies. Are they any advantage over regular bungies for keeping the chains in place?

[deanmc]

Rocky I looked at that link and saw spider bungies. Are they any advantage over regular bungies for keeping the chains in place?

If you get chains with cam tighteners and size them to your tires you dont need bungee cords..:sHa_shakeshout:

[Hunter Trav]

If you get chains with cam tighteners and size them to your tires you dont need bungee cords..:sHa_shakeshout:

I have two sets of chains for my Toyota, and even with the cam locks, I still use bungees on them. I also carry short pieces of haywire to keep the loose ends from flinging around, just to be safe. If I know I'm going on a long run with the chains on, I will even wire the cams so they can't open up. Call me parinoid, but I've never had my chains come loose and wreck something on my truck...:D

[NaeKid]

always liked them,need some for 30 x15 now(cant find any)

I use Welded V-Bar chains from TireChain.com (http://www.tirechain.com/) and they carry just about every size that you can think of!

Oh ya, my Jeep always has tire-chains, tow-chains, tow-ropes and a winch ... I hate being temporarily immobilized ... :mad0030:

[howlin]

hey naekid thanks for the link .hows the shipping to calgary?

[NaeKid]

hey naekid thanks for the link .hows the shipping to calgary?

I have a PO box down in Washington that I had the chains delivered to - I didn't bother to ask about having them drop-shipped to my door.

[Lonnie]

going into mountains on logging roads with out tire chains just shows how little driving experience one has I carry set of good v bars for the back tires (rear drive) and one wore out v bar for a steering chain for front tire this is more for early spring when the roads have a lot of ice on them especially when coming back down the mountain.

[BlackHeart]

Without chains, ice fishing this year would be impossible or risky at best.

And as something I learnt....its much easier to put the chains on before getting stuck.....saves a lot of shoveling and laying in deep snow.

I current use only one set and can go most place on the lakes.

Will be picking up a set for the other axle and then lookout fishys.

Won't go icefishing without them anymore.

The Vbar type are great.

[deanmc]

I have two sets of chains for my Toyota, and even with the cam locks, I still use bungees on them. I also carry short pieces of haywire to keep the loose ends from flinging around, just to be safe. If I know I'm going on a long run with the chains on, I will even wire the cams so they can't open up. Call me parinoid, but I've never had my chains come loose and wreck something on my truck...:D

Good point. they can destroy a fender in an awful hurry.$1000.00 doesnt go far in a bodyshop nowadays.

[BigBuck$]

You guys are 100% right on the tall n skinny tires.

And now fort the laughter..... I have a 1928 Model A Ford that my Grandpa passed down to me. It has an inline 4 banger that puts out a whopping 40 hp or so yet that thing will crawl through 3 feet of snow without chains. Not my daily driver but it sure is fun to play with!

[Tabrnack]

Got my chains over at gregg distributors
These things have 1/2 inch teeth welded to every link..it's like riding a Tiger.
175$ / pair

[sikwhiskey]

Sikwhiskey,

I carry v-bar chains, tow straps, shovels, etc. too, but with regards to big fat, aggressive tires not being good I disagree. All Polar and Icelandic glacier trips are done on hugely lifted trucks running big, fat, aggressive tires. See for yourself. Unfortunately these trucks are not practical for me and most everybody around here. That's why I carry the above stuff for my almost stock truck. Check out the Top Gear vids on their Polar trip, amazing what tall, fat, aggressive tires can do without chains...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0okxnPNWpb0&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LsrKdR9AmM&feature=BF&playnext=1&list=QL&index=1
In those applications fat tires with low tire pressure is the way to go.
Try drivng down the hiway with said tires at 4 psi!!!!
Fat tires in packed, drifted snow, will get you stuck, float across the hard stuff, sink into a soft spot and you done!!! High centered!!! in the middle of a drift. Better to cut through and plow with your axles, back up and plow through somemore, with your tires in the dirt, than float and sink!!! I pulled the chev 1/2 ton with 35"x 12.5" tires 5 times through 18" drifted snow!. it would float and sink, float and sink, float and sink. Now the tacoma was lighter, I did not need chains untill I started pulling the other truck through the drifts, Get stuck, back up, pin it, push through. One hell of a ride. Met some good people.
Light truck with 265 pizza cutters and chains, Ive driven circles around 44" boggers with 500 hp heavy trucks in the mud or snow.

[sikwhiskey]

That truck that was burried in snow happened 1 hr before we arrived, and 1/2 hr before the road was closed. I stopped there to see if everyone was ok. Turned out no one was in the vehicle. Tried to turn around and 1 mile down the road was another drift of the same size.The wind was a breazzy 120km/hr, temp was -4, wind chill, -40-50, The farmer that owned the land seen us driving on his land and came to help on his Quad. Turned out that the guy in the chev that I pulled out was his neighbor from 20 miles of desolat land away. He asked me if I was from Canada, I said yep, and my "Guide", ie: guy i pulled out of the drift, said it was a short cut. LOL The land owner asked me if I like horses? I said of course???
He said good, never trust a man that doesn't like horses!!
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Sometimes you meet the best of people in the worst situations.

[Fisherpeak]

Yeah ,horses are good if you don`t over cook them.Rare,just like elk.

[ACKLEY ABE]

Sikwhiskey,

I carry v-bar chains, tow straps, shovels, etc. too, but with regards to big fat, aggressive tires not being good I disagree. All Polar and Icelandic glacier trips are done on hugely lifted trucks running big, fat, aggressive tires. See for yourself. Unfortunately these trucks are not practical for me and most everybody around here. That's why I carry the above stuff for my almost stock truck. Check out the Top Gear vids on their Polar trip, amazing what tall, fat, aggressive tires can do without chains...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0okxnPNWpb0&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LsrKdR9AmM&feature=BF&playnext=1&list=QL&index=1

Yeah but they had Gin and Tonic to help too. They took some flak over that. Best program on TV.

[denpacc]

In those applications fat tires with low tire pressure is the way to go.
Try drivng down the hiway with said tires at 4 psi!!!!
Fat tires in packed, drifted snow, will get you stuck, float across the hard stuff, sink into a soft spot and you done!!! High centered!!! in the middle of a drift. Better to cut through and plow with your axles, back up and plow through somemore, with your tires in the dirt, than float and sink!!! I pulled the chev 1/2 ton with 35"x 12.5" tires 5 times through 18" drifted snow!. it would float and sink, float and sink, float and sink. Now the tacoma was lighter, I did not need chains untill I started pulling the other truck through the drifts, Get stuck, back up, pin it, push through. One hell of a ride. Met some good people.
Light truck with 265 pizza cutters and chains, Ive driven circles around 44" boggers with 500 hp heavy trucks in the mud or snow.


I agree with you, just pointing out that fat, big tires aired down to 4 psi will get you very far in most snow conditions. Not sure if you watched the entire Top Gear program, but those guys drove for days in similar and much worse conditions than you drove. For practical applications in and around Alberta, there is no doubt that v-bar chains is the way to go. That is why I carry them.

Cheers