Ever Use Automatic Tire Chains? Wow!

[Cannon_George]

This post will probably get moved to a different forum but I wanted to share with TC friends first. I had never heard nor seen these until today - but what an interesting idea! Automatic Tire Chains And yes, they make models specific to heavy duty (3/4 and 1 ton) trucks.

I don't do enough winter driving to justify them; but wouldn't it be great to flip a switch while driving and instantly have chains working for you, without having to leave the cab? You need an on-board air system to make it work.

[the_tc_life]

I will say this...the customer service has always been great with them. Like I mentioned...I deal with them often in my line of work.

[Cannon_George]

Yep, James' is right; even 3'+ drifts are quite possible on the 33 but if it gets that deep I simply pull off on a shoulder and rest for a while. (Around here, snow melts.) James' probably knows a lot more about winter driving than me.

[fuelhauler]

One of the tanker haulers in our area have some trucks with them. But hauling 105,500 lbs of truck two trailers & 11,000 gals of fuel they are only good in light snowing conditions or to get a driver to a safe pull off to throw a full set of chains. They are only on the tractor & do nothing for stopping power for a drag chain on the trailers. Might be ok on a light rig like a p/u with tc. I have seen them on some of the school buses & emergency vehicles also.

[Bedlam]

They also make a set driven off a roller running on the tire. It is a mechanical lever that engages/disengages the roller.

[James_]

Cannon George wrote:
Thanks Trackrig, tc life, and Pigman. The set I saw today was installed on a 3/4 ton pickup, (without camper), and while I suppose I'm not surprised they are available for commercial heavy duty trucks I've never seen anything like this for truck campers. And yes, we don't have measurable snow in Ojai so I'm a newbie in all things snow related other than my limited experience.

I don't know George, Hwy 33 can get a little snow every once in awhile! 😉

[MORSNOW]

Those are on every school bus, garbage truck, etc that travel up by my place here in Alaska. They work great! They are powered/positioned by the air system, but electric ones are also available for non-air vehicles. I run studded Goodyear UltraGrip Ice tires on my truck.

[pronstar]

Innovative product, never seen that before.
Thanks for posting!

[jmckelvy]

Never seen or heard of them before. That is really cool.

[Cannon_George]

Thanks Trackrig, tc life, and Pigman. The set I saw today was installed on a 3/4 ton pickup, (without camper), and while I suppose I'm not surprised they are available for commercial heavy duty trucks I've never seen anything like this for truck campers. And yes, we don't have measurable snow in Ojai so I'm a newbie in all things snow related other than my limited experience.

[pigman1]

Take a trip around Fairbanks and other snowy areas in the winter and you'll see all manner of vehicles sporting automatic chains. From watching vehicles with them installed, I'd definitely try them if I lived in snow country. We saw them on a 2 week trip to Alaska to watch the Iditerod.

[the_tc_life]

I deal with on spot all the time for my school bus customers. they have been around for a long time and work well. I have not looked into making them work on a pick up truck application though and have no feedback on that.

[Trackrig]

Maybe not in Ojai, CA but in a lot of the states that get snow, look under most of the school buses, abulances, fire trucks, etc and you'll see them hanging under the rear axle.

Bill