DIY Tire chains

“Unless” you have deep snow, or mud....cables are generally more practical for most of us. Cables are lighter and easier to put on. You can also drive faster than with chains. On a hard surface, the cables are much smoother...with less, bounce, shock , hammering (whatever you want to call it), transmitted to the vehicle. They work great on ice.....which is what most rv’ers will encounter with winter travel. As we do some off-roading, particularly in fall (mud or deep snow), during hunting season....we carry both!

If you are towing a trailer... it is equally to or more important to cable or chain the trailer than the tow vehicle. In a fast stop.... the “unchained/uncabled ” Trailer will likely pass the “chained/cabled” tow vehicle. It’s more about control than traction!

I’ve modified or repaired a few chains in my life. if I were starting with nothing....I would buy, rather than build.

Build my own link chains? No thanks. Although many years ago I did custom adjust some link chains to clear the struts on my small FWD car I would take skiing. Worked excellent.

The rope trick etc is fine in a jam. However I just carry the same chains I bought a decade ago just in case. Been on a few times but I generally try to avoid them.

Tvov wrote:

JaxDad wrote:
Seriously. LOL.


Clicky-clicky.

Well, I am fascinated by that. Now I want to go out and try that on my truck.

I learned this many years ago living up in the snow country, it also works in mud, if you need extra traction tie a knot in the middle of the tread, keep in mind that this will get you out of a jam, it will not work on speeds above 15mph.

JaxDad wrote:
Seriously. LOL.


Clicky-clicky.

Well, I am fascinated by that. Now I want to go out and try that on my truck.

Seriously. LOL.


Clicky-clicky.

agesilaus wrote:
Well being from Florida my excuse for being tire chain ignorant is well established. Heh, I vaguely recall having a set when I spent a winter in Idaho, but don't recall using them more than once. It was cold as Nifelheim but with almost no snow.

No excuses or apologies required friend, it’s all about learning and sharing knowledge.

In your case in particular, it’s amazing how fast sand can turns tire treads into slicks, but a length of rope spiraled around the tire and through the holes in the rim will quickly turn those slicks into paddle tires.

The same goes for snow, even just 4 loops of rope tied around a tire through holes in the rims will make a HUGE difference in traction.

Buy the time you spent money on a bolt cutter, chains, bungees, and the time/labor of making these it appears $100 for a real set of snow chains is a bargain.

JaxDad wrote:
....
If you want cheap DIY chains just take a length of 1” rope and wind it through the rim and around the tire, at least if it contacts the bodywork you won’t be in such trouble.

Holy mackerel, I never thought of that! That obviously depends on your rim design if it would work.

Well being from Florida my excuse for being tire chain ignorant is well established. Heh, I vaguely recall having a set when I spent a winter in Idaho, but don't recall using them more than once. It was cold as Nifelheim but with almost no snow.