Chaining up

[Scoe]

I don't believe it is risking your life to put on chains, why does everyone keep acting like it's worse than it is.

Under normal, standard conditions it just means getting out and getting cold and wet then driving very slowly and cautiously for the next 20 to 30 minutes then getting out and getting cold and wet again. Repeat as necessary.

[Ironturkey]

I hear ya scoe.

When you're sittin you aint makin no money, or gittin any closer to home.

I can see waitin when it's nothin but ice chains dont help much, but on pack snow is good traction, then when it gets below zero you dont need chains. When its below zero snow and ice get sticky it's like runnin on dry pavement.

When you've worked in the NW and you've had to hang iron 5 and 6 times a day more sometimes ifin loggin, it becomes part of the job and you dont think twice about doin it.

[littleman2]

like I said earlyer i have slung iron only a few times when it was required to get me over the hill. Just know how to do it is befor you need them is best. and like sco has stated its part of the job. we both worked for gti and we were expected to chain as needed.

[btinc]

It all depends, out west reno to sacramento no problem just get done and own about your business, now if your out in Wyoming you have ask yourself if they want chains maybe i will park, even then will get any better over the next for hours or even days. There are so many variables but once you learn its not a big deal. Chains are such a ego thing.

[Lady18wheels]

Could y'all tell me...
I've never done it (or seen it done) personally, but I'm gonna learn IF this new Take-Charge-I-Know-It-All-I-Don't-Sling-Iron-For-Nobody co-driver stays with me - I hope doesn't - but if he stays with me I'd like to be able to tell him "We're going to the cold country whether you like it or not because these little piddly east coast runs are breaking my income, and most importantly, my spirit, and I'm beginning to hate your guts :evil:

Oh my! I digress - it's minipaws and pms...

Anyway: There's no reason I couldn't do this myself, is there? It doesn't take a lot of physical strength, right? Then I could just tell him to stay seated and I'll take care of the chaining up...
AND
I've heard that when chains are required to be on the tires, there are people who'll do it for you for a fee. Is this true? About how much? And do they just hang around the chain up areas, kinda like lumpers hang around grocery warehouses?

Well L18 I have heard of people that do hang around chainup areas in colo. But they are not free. And yes hanging chains does take alittle strength. I always carried doubles and they arnt real light. I guess you could get the cable type ones but I dont know how good they are.

[littleman2]

best way to hang iron is to drop your trailer and place chains on the drives stay a way from cables they suck. then put your drag chain on your set. also At gordon there is always some one in the shop who will check to see if you know how to and teach you if you don't or not remember how. maybe your company has such a program.

One time my partner fastened chains on and also secured them with bungee cords, but they still snapped and caused $1,000.00 damage to his truck.

He has refused to chain since then.

[btinc]

Ms Sparkie, you guys can't run expedite like that. Its got to go unless the road is closed.

[Rob_0126]

Ok, so do most companies make you carry chains?

And how often do you get runs that require chains?

[btinc]

If your company runs out west Ca, Or, Wa you have to have chains, if you use them or not will be between the company and the company policy and yourself. Unless you run the bottom of the USA you will run across a snow storm at some time. Most of the other states are not picky about chains.

[littleman2]

if your not carring chains on your rig in wa right now its a major fine

[Lady18wheels]

At gordon there is always some one in the shop who will check to see if you know how to and teach you if you don't or not remember how. maybe your company has such a program.

You're probably right littleman. Salt Lake is the chain bank, I guess you could say, and ANYBODY there probably show me how to do it right - if I ever get back up there

BTW - I'm easing up on co-driver. Trying to be "kinder and gentler". Just thankful I could say this stuff here - not to his face. Ooo - that woulda been bad...

[Lady18wheels]

Update: Slim and I went from Salt Lake to Portland the other day. At Salt Lake, I'm standing on the catwalk and the little fuel attendant is handing bags of singles up to me. (Got a chain box against the sleeper) They are really heavy, but probably not as much when they're laid out.

Anyway, Slim knows how to do it, and says he'll chain up if it's necessary - just to get over, say, Donner. But he says there's so many places you might need to chain up in OR that he'd rather shut down if it's real bad. So nice to hear this kind of attitude - rather than "I ain't sling iron for nobody!"

[classicxl]

no chaining if its that bad wait till they plow and sand better to get the freight safely there than be in a ditch or drive 10mph for 30 miles

[Ironturkey]

If you put your chains on right you can go faster than 10mph.

Why sit and wait for a day two days three days for them to clear the road, when you can spend 15min hangin iron and 1 or 2 extra hours gittin over the pass.
The longer you sit the more money it costs you and the company.

[classicxl]

now i am not going to sit there two or three days by morning if things havent improved chains on off you go

[Ironturkey]

But why sit that long?

[classicxl]

Because that was company policy and they didnt push you to go. Now that I am a O/O i dont run the west that much so not really any big chain need anymore

[areyouvi3t]

how many tires you have to chain up? i suspect one on both sides, the drive and the front of the trailer tandems? am i right?