Towing on snowy roads

No snow!!! Had a great time.

rhagfo wrote:

Freeway Flyer 05 wrote:
Years ago, I hauled a 26' bumper pull TT with a 1500 4x4 Suburban up to the ski area every weekend. Never had to chain up or set a drag chain. Now, I am preparing to haul my bumper pull TH with my 4x4 diesel Dodge over 2 passes. Question is, on the truck, do I chain the front or rear axle while towing?

Which two passes?
Keep in mind that if chains are required, rear axle on the TV and one axle drag chained on the trailer.

Oregon and Washington chain laws are very similar.

Snoqualmie and Blewett.

rhagfo wrote:

I don't believe that "Most" truckers park when chains are required. I have seen way too much truck traffic when on snow covered roads to say "Most" are parked.
Drivers have schedules to meet, and even being paid by the mile, you don't make money sitting in a truck stop.
I have also put Iron on an 18 wheeler, other than the weight of the chains, actually easier than putting on my truck. Yes the Iron was for dual wheels.
Towing on snow just takes being aware, keeping a safe following distance and not over driving the conditions.
Heck tow a horse trailer from Butte to Spokane on snow covered roads no issues.

Not saying I never chained I owned my truck so there was no pay if I wasn't moving. If the trucks going the opposite direction said its clear once you hit the summit and I could run 10 miles or so with chains were good. Most of the trucks chaining were day cabs paid hourly and home nights. I did 11 western for years. But we are off topic, he's in an RV. Most RV's need off the road when snowing. Many of those pulling RV's can't drive them on a good day. BTY before I did the long haul I spent 25 years in a patrol unit in any weather. I have no idea how many millions of miles in 35+ years paid to drive, growing up in the Midwest driving to HS in the snow. Have I pulled the RV in the snow yes, but the snow was not expected. This is Wolf Creek pass October 2018. 4" on the ground when I hit the summit E/B. Locked in 4X4 pulling my 35 ft 5W and breaking traction just before the summit. Training & experience help.

Edd505 wrote:

snowpeke wrote:
I work on Donner summit in the winter and see RVs (but not many) going through chain control. Also most 18 wheelers do not park they chain up. As for your set up you can put good steel chains on the back wheels for better traction. Your trailer get a good set of cable chains. On Donner summit California 1-80 they won't let you through with our chains on truck and trailer. If was me I would wait out the storm!

The good majority park. If you have ever chained 4 drives and a drag chain on a trailer you know just how hard that is. That is ALL on duty time & subtracted from your driving day. Chained you might do 25-30 so being paid by the mile you also loose miles every hour. Big difference watching the trucks on Donner, Cabbage, Look out, 4th of July, Snoqualmie, or Stevens, than driving one. We won't go east they have little passes that way. I drove my own truck 10-13K a month, not a company rig and did very well. My advise to the new drivers coming into winter, drive slow enough that when you crash you can walk away from it. I was accident free and still am.

I don't believe that "Most" truckers park when chains are required. I have seen way too much truck traffic when on snow covered roads to say "Most" are parked.
Drivers have schedules to meet, and even being paid by the mile, you don't make money sitting in a truck stop.
I have also put Iron on an 18 wheeler, other than the weight of the chains, actually easier than putting on my truck. Yes the Iron was for dual wheels.
Towing on snow just takes being aware, keeping a safe following distance and not over driving the conditions.
Heck tow a horse trailer from Butte to Spokane on snow covered roads no issues.

Freeway Flyer 05 wrote:
Years ago, I hauled a 26' bumper pull TT with a 1500 4x4 Suburban up to the ski area every weekend. Never had to chain up or set a drag chain. Now, I am preparing to haul my bumper pull TH with my 4x4 diesel Dodge over 2 passes. Question is, on the truck, do I chain the front or rear axle while towing?

Which two passes?
Keep in mind that if chains are required, rear axle on the TV and one axle drag chained on the trailer.

Oregon and Washington chain laws are very similar.

Yea you may not see truckers parked because I speculate they know well in advance and don't even go there.
Parked well away.

snowpeke wrote:
I work on Donner summit in the winter and see RVs (but not many) going through chain control. Also most 18 wheelers do not park they chain up. As for your set up you can put good steel chains on the back wheels for better traction. Your trailer get a good set of cable chains. On Donner summit California 1-80 they won't let you through with our chains on truck and trailer. If was me I would wait out the storm!

The good majority park. If you have ever chained 4 drives and a drag chain on a trailer you know just how hard that is. That is ALL on duty time & subtracted from your driving day. Chained you might do 25-30 so being paid by the mile you also loose miles every hour. Big difference watching the trucks on Donner, Cabbage, Look out, 4th of July, Snoqualmie, or Stevens, than driving one. We won't go east they have little passes that way. I drove my own truck 10-13K a month, not a company rig and did very well. My advise to the new drivers coming into winter, drive slow enough that when you crash you can walk away from it. I was accident free and still am.

Freeway Flyer 05 wrote:
Good info, thanks all. I have a good set of steel link chains for the truck, they have been test fitted and work. Will be picking up a set of cables for the TH. I don't expect to have to use them, and if it gets bad, and I do chain up, I will be using my best judgement on whether to continue or find a safe place out of the way of the trajectory of those unlucky folks that think 4x4 will save them. I didn't mention, but I do have some experience in the snow, drove the ski bus for years, and we would chain that up at the first place available when required.

Personally would not bother with "cable" chains for the trailer. They are not durable at all. Don't need bar reinforced or anything special -just get real chains that fit properly. Install them/adjust them at least once in a low stress environment.

Bedlam wrote:
I have always used this WAC: https://apps.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=204-24-050

I have not found a RCW covering tire chain use (only studs). Do you have additional links?

Citations for these type of infractions reference RCW on the citation. WAC is the administrative code.

hint -traction devices not chains

a easy starting point is 47.36.250 but make sure you read all the "dispositions". Also, WSP under WAC has wide latitude to internally set rules policies and procedure to enforce RCW. Statements like this in an RCW means WSP has that latitude for the statue: "The Washington state patrol or the department may specify different recommendations or requirements for four wheel drive vehicles in gear."
https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=47.36.250

Remember that reading RCW and WAC is not simple. The starting point is always "an liberal interpretation" unless statue states otherwise.

Here is one link to law.
WAC for chains
WACs clarifies what is in RCWs.
RCW 46.37 would be the starting place. RCW 47.36.250