fedexhatch
Seasoned Expediter
for a van which is the best chains to buy for winter? thanks!
which chains to buy?
- Thread starter fedexhatch
- Start date
chefdennis
Veteran Expediter
I am with enemy, If i hav to use chains, I am not moving from that point till I don't need them...
I don't own any chains..well except the 12 ft chain with a big tow truck hook on the end of it for pulling pallets....
I don't own any chains..well except the 12 ft chain with a big tow truck hook on the end of it for pulling pallets....
If ya get chains, and you need to use them, you have to get outside in the cold and then lay down in the snow and slush to put them on. No thanks. I'll pass. Besides, the only time you're gonna need 'em is when you are someplace like the Rockies or the Cascades during a snowstorm. And even then, give it a bit and they'll get the roads cleared for ya.
ebsprintin
Veteran Expediter
I ordered mine online, but the shop isn't there anymore. I like regular, old fashioned heavy chains with cross links. I used cable chains long enough to not like them.
I've been in the middle of a pile up and the chains were what allowed me to get past the couple hundred yards of glazed pavement that caused the pile up, so I like having them on board. Besides, some states (in the west) require chains in the vehicle during winter months regardless of the weather. I only carry chains for my drive tires, since the sprinter manual says to not put them on the steers.
eb
I've been in the middle of a pile up and the chains were what allowed me to get past the couple hundred yards of glazed pavement that caused the pile up, so I like having them on board. Besides, some states (in the west) require chains in the vehicle during winter months regardless of the weather. I only carry chains for my drive tires, since the sprinter manual says to not put them on the steers.
eb
If your going to get chains a good set of "Spreaders" will be as important as the chains.
They say NOT to put chains on steers? Strange, I was always taught from day one to chain all tires. Kinda hard to steer if your front end is sliding all over the place. Are chains required on vans? I know they might be required to have them on to travel on certain roads at certain times but are they required to be on the van at all times like on straight trucks or T/T?
No. The states that require you to carry chains during certain months only apply to trucks.
There are times, obviously, during certain road conditions, that you've got to have them on, or at least carry them, in order to proceed. But if you don't have them, or unless you have snow tires and/or 4-wheel drive, you'll just get turned back, but they won't ticket you in a car or van for not actually carrying them like they will in a truck.
Chain Law!
Chains always go over your drive wheel to give you maximum traction as you steer. So if you have a rear wheel drive, put them in the back. Opposite for front wheel drive. If you have 4 wheel drive, put them in the front.
If you have a rear wheel drive and put the chains on the front, you have no traction to move, or to get moving, which can result in the vehicle fish tailing or sliding to the side. If you slide to the side and get stuck off the shoulder of the road, aren't you glad you've got the chains up front instead of on the rear now? Now, steer yourself right out of there. Whoops. Shouldda put the chains on the rear. Being able to steer with traction is great, but it doesn't do ya much good if you can't move in the first place.
Gee Turtle, I always chain all 4 wheels when I use chains, both on my two wheel drive when I had one and on my 4 wheel drive now. All the rear wheel traction in the world will do you NO good if you turn your steer wheels left and you go straight, into the abyss.
You must have missed this in my last post. Glad to see that I am NOT the only one to miss things once is a while!!
"They say NOT to put chains on steers? Strange, I was always taught from day one to chain all tires. Kinda hard to steer if your front end is sliding all over the place. Are chains required on vans? I know they might be required to have them on to travel on certain roads at certain times but are they required to be on the van at all times like on straight trucks or T/T?"
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I didn't miss it at all. Chaining up all 4 tires is unnecessary, as only chaining the drives is sufficient. But if you want to chain all your tires, more power to ya.
"All the rear wheel traction in the world will do you NO good if you turn your steer wheels left and you go straight, into the abyss."
Well, yeah, if you decide not to use the brakes, which having the chains on the rear tires will allow to work.
"All the rear wheel traction in the world will do you NO good if you turn your steer wheels left and you go straight, into the abyss."
Well, yeah, if you decide not to use the brakes, which having the chains on the rear tires will allow to work.
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ebsprintin
Veteran Expediter
I know I've seen signs saying that all vehicles have to carry chains during certain dates, so maybe the signs are outdated. Regardless, I'll have my chains on board in October.
Wikipedia says that chains only go on the drive tires, so it has to be true. I always pictured it as the snow mobile concept.
eb
Wikipedia says that chains only go on the drive tires, so it has to be true. I always pictured it as the snow mobile concept.
eb
Well, next time I go ice fishing and drive out 3 or 4 miles out on the lake remind me that I don't know what I am doing. Funny, never had a problem in the 40 odd years I have been doing it. Dumb luck I suppose. Better yet, you just stay on the bank, don't like taken rookies out there.
Go polish your shell, things are movin too fast for you!!
I have chained up with on my pickup trucks and cars since I was 16. Both of my grandfathers and my dad taught me to chain all wheels. Worked so far. Of course that is only first hand experience and it is already 5 years since the last time I chained. Much must have changed since then.
The Soviets did not use chains on their road mobile missiles. They often used "ice roads" to further "hide" there winter movements. Of course they did not venture out onto the ice until it was sticky.
SS-25 RT-2PM Topol Sickle RS-12M intercontinental ballistic missile Russian Army Russia data sheet d - Army Recognition - Army Recognition
SS-25 RT-2PM Topol Sickle RS-12M intercontinental ballistic missile Russian Army Russia data sheet d - Army Recognition - Army Recognition
If Wikipedia is correct and a person should Chain drive wheels only, there are a ton of cars with front wheel drive. I have never had them on the front and would think as in most highways driving your on and off the ice. It would be a interesting drive when the front tires hit the asphalt & your trying to make a turn.
Sometimes conditions and signage require chains on all wheels to proceed, but most of the time it does not. I've been elk hunting where all four wheels needed to be chained. But that's an extreme condition, not likely to be often encountered on highways and other roads by expediters very often. Mercedes, the maker of my vehicle, explicitly states that chains go on the rear wheels only. If you want to chain all 4 tires up for a few inches on the pavement, chain 'em up, I don't care.
