Driving With Chains

1st ... learn how to put on chains before you get in the snow... you will be in love with yourself when the time comes and you don't have a choice.

2nd... learn how to put them on correctly ... get them on as tight as you can ( believe me ... I bet a lot of cam tools through the years .... tight... and straps ... lot's of straps ... if your company has bungee cords laying around start your collection... you can never have enough straps... some truck stops sell them in a package price.

3rd...carry enough chains... some states require all drive tires chained up plus 2 trailer tires... this could be a total of 4 doubles and 2 singles.

4th... make absolutely sure they are the right size... that's why you should put them on when at the yard ... not in a chain up area in the snow and cold only to find out they don't fit... well I was told they were the right ones at the yard. ( my wife tells me I never listen)

5th... now your chained up ... ready for the first big hill climb of the season ... you can feel the excitement ... right? take a big deep breath and calm down ... start out nice and slow. a) remember for every action performed has a reaction... simply put ... when driving with chains your multiply your actions by 10. b) absolutely no abrupt/sudden starts... start out slow ... don't dump the clutch... easy on the pedal .. if you don't have a clutch ... well easy on the pedal. c) easy shifts quick but smooth ... all your actions with the steering wheel, clutch, accelerator, brakes need to be as light and smooth as possible. d) last point here and I can't stress this enough... once you get started ... up the hill...do not stop (unless you are about to hit something. if you stop you are done... and will possibly need to towed up the hill.

I just want to say that with experience you will get more confidence.

I learned that a lot of mountain grades can actually be climbed without chains (and you may see some drivers doing this) but if a chain law is up, this is a warning... if you wreck without chains in a chain law situation ... the price for this could cost you your career or even your life.

Be safe

Some good info. I heard some states out west already require you to have chains on board this time of year for the season.

that is correct...several states require you to have chains in your truck ready for use from sept. 1st to the end of april or even may...

Some good info. I heard some states out west already require you to have chains on board this time of year for the season.

My new truck I got assigned today, they already have chains in them. I have never had to use chains before. But I'll keep these tips in mind and practice putting them on at times.

The advice I received about chains is, if you need to put chains on, park.

The advice I received about chains is, if you need to put chains on, park.

I should add to that post. Having to use chains and know how to use chains are different. Definitely learn how to use them, just don't use them. LOL

The advice I received about chains is, if you need to put chains on, park.

I heard the same thing countless times now.

The advice I received about chains is, if you need to put chains on, park.

I drove for 15 years and never once put on a set of chains. Keep in mind, also, that I'm from the Buffalo, NY area which is one of the heaviest snow belt regions in the country. So I know how to drive in snow as well as anyone, and that's exactly why I never put chains on. To me it wasn't worth the risk.

You have the entire rest of your life to make money. You don't need to push yourself to the ultimate extreme in order to get over a mountain in a snowstorm. It's not about whether or not you can do it. It's about whether or not you should do it. There's a risk/reward ratio that has to make sense before you attempt something.

If chains are required you should park it. Chances are good that in a matter of hours the weather will clear, the roads will clear, and you'll be able to cruise on through much more safely. In the meantime grab a steak dinner, a nice hot shower, and a good night's sleep.

Once I become a driver, safety is going to be my 1st piroaty I like the park it idea. However I can see some of my 34 hour resets being spent practicing with the chains.

Brett is 100% correct! If you have to chain up you really need to just get safely off the highway. By the time you get the truck completely and correctly chained you will be cold, wet and dirty when you could have been in a safe area, dry and warm and not fighting the weather or other drivers that do not have a clue as what they are doing.