Chain up question

[brholt]

More winter driving questions 🙂

If you are in 4x4 and still want to use a pair of chains for better control, where do you put them on a dually? The Washington state winter driving site is no help here.

[Buzzcut1]

wnjj wrote:

Bedlam wrote:
On ice, I would rather chain the front wheels (which is not reflected in my second link). On the rest, I would chain the heaviest drive axle (DOT assumes these vehicles are RWD in the second link).

I would always choose rear over front, especially on ice. Having the rear pass you on deceleration or cornering is far worse than less responsive steering.

^^This

We always chained up the rear of fire engines for just that reason

[wnjj]

Bedlam wrote:
On ice, I would rather chain the front wheels (which is not reflected in my second link). On the rest, I would chain the heaviest drive axle (DOT assumes these vehicles are RWD in the second link).

I would always choose rear over front, especially on ice. Having the rear pass you on deceleration or cornering is far worse than less responsive steering.

[Bedlam]

You're lucky. I see must carry chains if you're over 10K lbs notices. But when I have been on the northern passes (mostly 20 and 2), they require 10K lb vehicles to chain up even with AWD when conditions worsen.

With the TC I am over 11K lbs, but my GVWR is 9800 lbs. By the sticker I should not have to chain up, by the actual I should. I carry chains for the truck and trailer November through March, but rarely hit the passes during this time with trailer in tow since that would guarantee I would have to chain up in bad weather.

[WyoTraveler]

Different states have different rules. 4X4 sometime totally exempt if your tires have M&S on them. That is why almost all tire manufacturers put M&S on their tires now.

I carry bus tire chains for outside dual of my MH but none for my Jeep.

[Glacier_D]

BEDLAM wrote:
If you are over 10K lbs GVWR, you must chain up in WA even if you have 4wd.

Not necassarly so. Depends on what the posted sign says. Often at White Pass I see "chains required on vehicles over 10,000 Lbs except AWD" or something written like that.

[Glacier_D]

The way I understand the requirements is that if you are required to use chains then the rear outside dually tires are to be chained. If you want to do the front or inner dualls that's ok, just have to have the outside dualls done also.

[discovery4us]

If I am going to stay in 4X4 than the front in 2WD I have always done the outside dual only because it is easier.

Pulling through snow is the key. I have seen front wheel drive cars make it as far or farther than 4X4's pn snowy roads.

[Bedlam]

If you are over 10K lbs GVWR, you must chain up in WA even if you have 4wd when restrictions are in place. On ice, I would rather chain the front wheels (which is not reflected in my second link). On the rest, I would chain the heaviest drive axle (DOT assumes these vehicles are RWD in the second link). With a DRW setup there is no advantage to chaining up only the inside tire, so make life easier on yourself and chain the outside wheel. All the tires on both sides of the axle must be chained if you have more than four axles on the road (this is important for those that also tow FW's or BP's with triple axles).

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/commercialvehicle/chain_req.htm

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/NR/rdonlyres/1BE3F4CB-6C4D-48DC-B954-F70CAC5EAA7D/0/ChainRequirements.pdf

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=204-24-050

[Glacier_D]

If you are 4x4 or AWD chains are not always required. Depends on what the posted sign says for the given conditions. There are times that chains may be required on all vehicles regardless of 4x4 or AWD. Chains are required to be carried in the vehicle for Washington State mountain passes from Nov 1st till April 1st.

Hope that helps.

[brholt]

Glacier D wrote:
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/NR/rdonlyres/1BE3F4CB-6C4D-48DC-B954-F70CAC5EAA7D/0/ChainRequirements.pdfhttp://www.wsdot.wa.gov/NR/rdonlyres/1BE3F4CB-6C4D-48DC-B954-F70CAC5EAA7D/0/ChainRequirements.pdf

Thanks,

I saw that but the two axel vehicles in the chart are not 4x4.

[brholt]

rooney77 wrote:
Are you asking whether you put them on the inner tires or the outer tires? Or front vs rear?

Really between front and outer rear. On one hand with the camper there is far more weight on the rear tires. Putting them on the rear would help prevent the rear from "swinging out" as well as giving you better "push." On the other hand putting them on the front would give you better steering control as well as some "pull."

I really would prefer to avoid them entirely but in Washington State all vehicles over 10,000 lb's are required to put on chains whether or not they are four wheel drive.

[Glacier_D]

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/NR/rdonlyres/1BE3F4CB-6C4D-48DC-B954-F70CAC5EAA7D/0/ChainRequirements.pdf

[Glacier_D]

Outside tire on the rear duallies. I"ll look for the site on the WSDOT web site. I know the requirements are posted there.

[old_guy]

I was raised to use chains on a 4 X 4 front tires and use the 4 X 4 feature. let the front wheels pull you through the snow. if it's that bad, I would pull over and sit it out in the camper and wait for the plows to clear the road. I was just reading on the Oregon web site and they state have traction tires or carry chains. BUT if you have a 4 X 4 you must have true traction tires, not just highway tread.

[Francesca_Knowl]

Four wheel drive vehicles aren't required to use chains in ordinary circumstances, but MUST carry a set for at least one set of wheels. Position not specified, as you already found out. link to WAC

My brother the dually owner carries a set for the front two- says the steering boost is what's needed. Plus it's easier to put the fronts on!

There are special chains for the rear wheels of a dually.