Chaining up

[triggerslapper]

Any web videos out there that show how to chain up a tractor trailer for winter driving?

[Orangetxguy]

Probably not.

I used to make an extra $100 a night, running over Snoqualmie Pass....after chaining up my truck..while still had rain gear on..I would throw iron on for a couple of the non-chainers, for $50 a pop. Sometimes I would even snag $25 from the Ski Bunnies, that didn't know how to put on their cables.

Snow in WA is a very lucrative deal.

Chaining up isn't that bad. My first time was by myself and took me an hour to get the first one on. I went inside to warm up and came back out and walked in back to the guy putting his chains on and asked to watch. After that it took me 15 minutes to put the next one on. If you get the ones with the half moon things to tighten them they are much much easier to put on. Those you can just driver over all 4 of them at once then put them on. I'm sure if you ask, anyone would give you a hand.

[Scoe]

Chaining up isn't that bad. My first time was by myself and took me an hour to get the first one on. I went inside to warm up and came back out and walked in back to the guy putting his chains on and asked to watch. After that it took me 15 minutes to put the next one on. If you get the ones with the half moon things to tighten them they are much much easier to put on. Those you can just driver over all 4 of them at once then put them on. I'm sure if you ask, anyone would give you a hand.

Those half moon thingies, we call those a cam. The tool that goes into the cam to twist to tighten it is called a chain key or cam tightener.

[devildice]

Any web videos out there that show how to chain up a tractor trailer for winter driving?

Not a video, but here are a couple of links for installation and a diagram on how to chain up. Hope it helps.

http://www.tirechain.com/INSTALLATION_MENU.htm
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/commercialvehicle/diagram.htm

[Orangetxguy]

The thing I do not like about the washington State chain diagram, they have you putting the trailer drag chain on the passenger side of the axle. i for one always put it on the driver side. I did not, do not, want a chain dragging the trailer into the ditch.


Wait...I seldom if ever hung a drag chain for snow! The concept is...keep the trailer behind you, and under control. It was alway the "Flyers" slamming by me and my 30 miles per hour with the chains on..and them with all their broken links knocking their equipment to pieces! The only time I hung a drag chain was ICE, and if I hung one drag chain, I hung them all.

[Splitter]

Someone else also thought snow on WA. passes would be lucrative. Now there's a company that sits on both sides of the pass, and puts the chains on for you. When you get to the other side of the pass, there's someone there that will take them off for you.

[Crackaces]

Some suggestions:

1. Chain your truck on high and dry pavement. This will at least ensure that the correct chains are on your truck. First time I chained at my former company while in the parking lot .. my three railers would not fit around the tire and be able to link. This would be very very bad in real conditions.

2. Practice chaining while a trailer is hooked up. Do not get used to the idea that you can just unhook the trailer .. chain . and re-hook. If you are empty and the conditions are just right .. you will be unable to use this method. Having the confidence that you can get those chains in position with that little 4 inch clearance while dry .. will greatly help in ice/blowing snow.

BTW) A know of a newbie that unhooked the trailer in a chain up area just before Cabbage hill. There is a slight grade toward a ditch there. The trailer slid off the edge of the world while he was chaining the now bobtail tractor.

3. Personally I have a constraint that I will not chain to maneuver on flat ground. It is one thing to climb a pass and unchain. It is quite another in my opinion to chain in order to keep the truck on the road. This is a real sign to park it. I have chained to maneuver in parking lots .. I feel that is a different problem.

I check the chains after 100 feet, tighten and then again after 1 mile. If the chains loosen again you have done something wrong or the chains are the incorrect size whatever but something is very wrong. Continuing to drive until you throw the chains is a very bad idea. At a minimum they will wrap around the inner hub and be a bitch to take off .. doing real damage to your truck or somebody Else's truck is a real possibility too.

I like these rubber bungees that form a triangle. They seem to pull the chains toward the center more evenly than say three individual bungees. Just an opinion.

Have fun this winter ...

[Orangetxguy]

Someone else also thought snow on WA. passes would be lucrative. Now there's a company that sits on both sides of the pass, and puts the chains on for you. When you get to the other side of the pass, there's someone there that will take them off for you.

Well damn...guess there must be business enough to make it worth while.
I always did the extra $$ thing, because I could chain 2 axles in less than 20 minutes. Gave me another hour to earn them $$.


:wink: Love the Snow Bunnies!!!

[kips41]

Chaining up isn't that bad. My first time was by myself and took me an hour to get the first one on. I went inside to warm up and came back out and walked in back to the guy putting his chains on and asked to watch. After that it took me 15 minutes to put the next one on. If you get the ones with the half moon things to tighten them they are much much easier to put on. Those you can just driver over all 4 of them at once then put them on. I'm sure if you ask, anyone would give you a hand.

Those half moon thingies, we call those a cam. The tool that goes into the cam to twist to tighten it is called a chain key or cam tightener.

This is funny.

[Splitter]

If I remember correctly Orange, they were charging $25.00 per chain for mounting, and $10.00 on the other side to remove.

[Orangetxguy]

If I remember correctly Orange, they were charging $25.00 per chain for mounting, and $10.00 on the other side to remove.

Damn...I was working CHEAP !!!! I put on drive chains and a drag for $50..did cars and pickups for $25.






AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH !!!!!

[Splitter]

And, if you happened to venture up to the pass with no chains. They had a trailer full of different types for trucks, and cars that they would sell you.

[yoopr]

If I remember correctly Orange, they were charging $25.00 per chain for mounting, and $10.00 on the other side to remove.

yeah and in some areas there were pickup trucks who would slow you down and then you couldn't get going again and then they'd "Offer" to chain you up for xxx$

[mikey4069]

Does that really happen ?

[homer]

its alot easier to chain if you have rain gear and snow boots. chaining with a flashlight dont get it. need a good lantern. ive got one of those headlamps but have not had to chain since i got it.maybe not enough clearance. i always get as many links as i can and tighten the cams and move forward and loosen the cams and get a couple more links. you will see me laying in the snow with my rain gear getting the same amount of links on the inside. those cheap fifth wheel pulles work for reaching links beteween duals and behind the tires. i squeezed the two hooks together on my cheap puller in a vise

[Crackaces]

its alot easier to chain if you have rain gear and snow boots. chaining with a flashlight dont get it. need a good lantern. ive got one of those headlamps but have not had to chain since i got it.maybe not enough clearance. i always get as many links as i can and tighten the cams and move forward and loosen the cams and get a couple more links. you will see me laying in the snow with my rain gear getting the same amount of links on the inside. those cheap fifth wheel pulles work for reaching links beteween duals and behind the tires. i squeezed the two hooks together on my cheap puller in a vise

Great advice .. I bought a set of Carhart slickers just to chain. I bought them big enough to fit over my Carhart overalls. Rolling around in the snow will get your clothes wet .. it is absoutely misable .. then you just accept whatever chaining job .. usually ending up wiht chains breaking ..

I have a LED headlamp from Wal-Mart (9.99). I find it invaluble for chaining and for inspecting. Anything leaving my hands free is a good thing. Besides .. dropping the flashlight in the snow is a bummer ..

I am not sure if snow boots are as important as good waterproof boots. I have a set of Danner boots which I can wear all winter and they work pretty good keeping my feet dry while rolling around in the snow.

[eplurubus]

When I put chains on the front tires of a farm tractor, I'll just push the loader bucket down into the ground to pick the front tires off the ground, then drape the chains over the tire and secure them. I always figured I could do something similar with my OTR tractor by driving one pair of duals up onto a 4x4 and draping the chain over the tire that isn't on the 4x4. However, I see this working only for a single chain system; chains that go around both tires couldn't go on like this. I think. But I've never chained up my truck. So, maybe I'm completely wrong here.

[Crackaces]

When I put chains on the front tires of a farm tractor, I'll just push the loader bucket down into the ground to pick the front tires off the ground, then drape the chains over the tire and secure them. I always figured I could do something similar with my OTR tractor by driving one pair of duals up onto a 4x4 and draping the chain over the tire that isn't on the 4x4. However, I see this working only for a single chain system; chains that go around both tires couldn't go on like this. I think. But I've never chained up my truck. So, maybe I'm completely wrong here.

Rolling forward or backwards onto chains will work .. but not always. It is possible when empty and stopped not to have the traction to go forward or backwards. That is why practicing pulling the chains through is very helpful.

[vavega]

the state of utah has a video library and chaining is included. scroll down on that link to "hanging iron". the rental fees are steep if you're not a state resident, but i'd look into the cost of buying, that has to be better. call (801) 478-7878 for info.