Chaining up your 4X4

[WAcoyotehunter]

Chains provide some amaxing traction!  I almost always just chain the fronts.  I keep some for the rear, but can count on one hand how many times I've needed them.

[jeepasaurusrex]

We had all 4 chained up one year while elk hunting the Manastash. One of the cross chains broke on the outside where it joins the side chain. The cross chain wrapped around the exhaust pipe of the Jeep and proceeded to rip the tail pipe and muffler off. We had to hack saw it all out. That was one loud ride into Ellensburg to get a new muffler. 

[whacker1]

We had all 4 chained up one year while elk hunting the Manastash. One of the cross chains broke on the outside where it joins the side chain. The cross chain wrapped around the exhaust pipe of the Jeep and proceeded to rip the tail pipe and muffler off. We had to hack saw it all out. That was one loud ride into Ellensburg to get a new muffler. 

Bad stuff can and will happen when chains are used.  They are metal and wear down and break, so reinspect often.  Or just know that you run the risk of breaking a chain at some point.  Chains will also take you places you shouldn't probably be, so park cautiously when in deep snow or in icy conditions.  Best to pointing down hill in your intended direction when parking should conditions worsen when you are away from the vehicle.

[ICEMAN]

I was told that there were people at the top of the hill telling the idiots not to go down and that many people continued down the hill.  I have watched it half a dozen times.  I can't not watch it.  It reminds me of my days in Pullman, watching all the ill prepared drivers from all over the country think they are perfectly capable of driving in the snow.

No kidding... I was in Gannon Hall with a commanding view of the morons on Stadium way.... Girly friends windows faced it too from Mcallister Hall.... Lots of fun watching the cars and students wiping out....

[whacker1]

I was told that there were people at the top of the hill telling the idiots not to go down and that many people continued down the hill.  I have watched it half a dozen times.  I can't not watch it.  It reminds me of my days in Pullman, watching all the ill prepared drivers from all over the country think they are perfectly capable of driving in the snow.

No kidding... I was in Gannon Hall with a commanding view of the morons on Stadium way.... Girly friends windows faced it too from Mcallister Hall.... Lots of fun watching the cars and students wiping out....

I was on the 10th floor of Stevenson North facing the stop light at Stadium way and the Moscow Pullman Highway.  I sat there for 3 hours one day watching small collision after small collision.  I couldn't look away.  absolutely mesmerized by the mayhem

[FC]

I'm wondering if some of you guys are crazy or just lucky! No tire store will only put snow tires on the front of ANY car or truck, it is flat dangerous to do so as it makes the car much more likely to spin out. Chains would be just that much worse, the only saving grace I can see for most guys here is that they are in 4wd when doing this. Chain the back or all 4, chaining a fwd car up front only can be an exciting experience going down hills.

[Special T]

I'm not from california there for i have the ability to drive in the snow AND rain!  FC you are correct but you wont be going 50mph down the road  like you would with 2 snow tires on the front....

[boneaddict]

They used to stud 2 tires for MANY years.   Part of that was business.   Make it mandatory to do 4 and you automatically sell twice as many tires and have twice as many mount and balances.

[Wazukie]

This is an interesting thread. Bone is right, I can remember getting snow tires on and if it was RWD, they went on the back and if it was FWD they went o the rear.  My brother in-law Ice races in Alaska, every Saturday night they drill holes in the ice to flood the lake so they will have a smooth surface the next morning.  Guess which tires they stud?  Yep, the front, why? because it gives them the ability to steer while they race around the ice.  If I only have two chains and Im in the pick-up, they go on the front, but like I said before, I've never needed chains when driving in the snow.  My brother in-law says they are only for those who dont know how to drive.

[woodswalker]

I always just do the front tires. Never really needed to chain up all 4s. If I need to do all 4 I wont even go. 

Unless you are IN there when it DUMPS...and all 4 is required to get OUT.

I just chain up all 4 if its needed...keeps things from sliding about.

[FC]

They used to stud 2 tires for MANY years.   Part of that was business.   Make it mandatory to do 4 and you automatically sell twice as many tires and have twice as many mount and balances.

I'm aware of this and thought the same at one point but the truth of it is that independent studies have shown what I said to be true and tire stores get tired of being sued after a while.

As for me not going 50 mph? That is where people get into the most danger with snow tires on the front only, turning or stopping is where they lose the ass-end of their car. I take my time in the snow and leave myself as much room as I can.

Racing on ice...Are we really comparing that to a street application?!?!?! I am betting it's a circle or oval track to where they are drifting the rear of the car...right? That type of driving is completely different than street driving in the snow and ice.

[MikeWalking]

X2

[Craig]

Ok here is a stupid question. For the people that air down, Do you have a onboard compressor to air back up? Or do you just wait tell you get to a gas station to get air?

[Wazukie]

Still an interesting thread. Another question for you all, do you chain up in the deep snow or just on the compacted snow and Ice?  In my experience chaining up in the snow just got you deeper into trouble.

Ok here is a stupid question. For the people that air down, Do you have a onboard compressor to air back up? Or do you just wait tell you get to a gas station to get air?

I have on-board air, but before I built the system I would just wait till I gas to a gas station or home

[FC]

Ok here is a stupid question. For the people that air down, Do you have a onboard compressor to air back up? Or do you just wait tell you get to a gas station to get air?

I wait till I get to a gas station or home to air them back up, I have a friend who converted his AC pump to an on demand air compressor for wheelin'. Pretty slick setup but you had to manually add ester oil on a frequent basis.