Chaining up

First question: you get a mixed bag with that. Some guys are so fast at chaining up, they don't bother putting on rain gear. Some drivers might do 90% of their driving in dry climates and don't carry that gear with them. They don't need it until they do...

Second question: if the chains fall off, you don't put them on correctly. You have to put them on, then drive a little bit, then stop to tighten them. Some people drive to the end of the chain up area, some people drive a mile or two. You could also just roll back and forth right there if you have the space.

 

Lots of guys go their entire career and never have to chain. It just depends what you're doing.

I've done it twice in 3 years. I don't know about others but my truck has extras. So if I lose a chain, I could just throw another one on.

I don't know what's going on with the lack of protective gear. Personally I like to stay dry and warm as much as possible.

One time I saw a guy get out in a blizzard with only low top shoes, sweats, and a sweater and proceeded to try and throw chains. It was one of those rookie carriers. Some folks just don't think far enough ahead.

 

Guys driving too fast can throws chains off the truck too.

 

If I were to gear up in rain gear before I chain and then remove and stow that gear after it would nearly double the amount of time I spend in chain areas.... Its faster to just change out of wet pants after I've chained... If I even get wet enough to warrant the change.

Chains can and do break... I'm not walking half a mile or more back on a slick road to retrieve one that broke and come off.

 

Have had to chain on about every western pass over the years.
I usually wear a pair of rain pants that are safety orange with reflective stripes, what ever jacket is on the seat. Wear the pants to keep from getting run over.

 

I don't bother with rain gear as the coat, and two pair of gloves, will dry out in the cab with the windows cracked well enough to get the job done. They are faster to remove so I won't need a coat for that. It seems to work ok.

Yeah, lots of chains fall off. I think it's mainly because they are put on too loose. Some of them could be worn out, and it doesn't take too long for them to wear out when they make you chain up 10 or so miles before you run into snow. Truckee isn't so bad, but I-70 in Colorado can be a pain in that regard. Running them on dry pavement eats them up quick, especially if you run over 25-28mph. Break a few cross links and they tend to get loose and come off too easily. Although, they should be loose enough that you can hear them flailing against the truck/trailer before that happens.... Ooff! Even then there isn't much you can do as there isn't a place to pull over and fix them for a while in most cases.

It can happen, but I think most of the chains lying on the road are from improper application.

LOL. Yep. We are both thinking the same thing on that one. Sometimes it's better to just pretend you didn't see it...

 

Good chains don't normally break. Those cheap offshore ones I wouldn't trust to put on a lawnmower.

 

Use to throw triples on the front axle in northern Ontario bush in 20 mins. -30C. No wet gear needed.

 

Too dang cold for wet!

Canadian Humor.