Chainin' Up With Dave In AZ

Are cables a legal replacement for chains in all states?

 

We have to chain up to make it up/down the mountain in the winter. Get all the big ticket stuff done before snow flies Lol. The yard is only 5 min away tho. Brandy new set right there

 

No. For example, Colorado. You can use cables on one axle, as long as you have chains on the other.

Edit: looks like you can use strictly cables, as long as they are big enough.

 

Some states do not want cables on trailers but that is because one manufacture labeled their "Z" cables as not for trailers. DOT followed with none on trailers. If you use the ladder style on a trailer and the "Z" style on the tractor you should be OK. The "Z" cables have more cable on the highway all the time and slip less on drive wheels. Chaining or cabling trailer wheels is of little help other than braking and I still doubt it helps that much. The law requires it so I still will sling them when I have to. Again if you wait till it is to bad or beyond help, Chains or cables will slip.

In my Excursion driving in 4WD Low with chains on all 4 corners, I could not stay on the crown of the road in Missouri. The ice was almost 3 inches thick and nothing helped. Time, Patience, Feather pedal use and proper steering was all that got me home. The chains were just part of the solution. Snow driving is a challenge especially in a Semi. Empty is the worst thing you can do. Once in the New Mexico mountains I watched several dozen trucks all with chains on break loose after parking for 30 minutes because of an accident. There was little they could do as they still slid into all the stopped traffic. I had 4WD and chains and moved off the highway along the shoulder. One trooper threatened me with a citation until all the trucks came sliding down.

Do what your company advises. Use what they give you. Practice when it is sunny, warm, and dry. Then when it is time to sling the chains they are not tangled, iced up, or the wrong size. Bolt cutters at Harbor Freight range from $17-25. If you do not use them a lot they will pay for their storage during winters on the highway.

Now the shocker. Cables are more expensive. I just like them because I can sling two 3 railers, and 4 singles in less than 20 minutes without a fight.

 

Colorado does allow cables but they must be the right ones. With Super SIngles there are restrictions, but anyone driving that wide of a tire on snow or ice is crazy wild anyways.


Tandem Drive Axle Combinations Are required to use 4 tire chains; 4 autosocks; 4 tire cables 0.415” auto chains or sanders covering 4 drive tires. IF there are chains on the 2 outside tires of one of the drive axles, any type of tire cable may be used to cover the other 2 tires. Autosocks may also be used to cover the other 2 tires. Autosocks and tire cables CANNOT be used together. *Super single configurations require all drive tires to be covered.

 

I have never run cables, but run chains quite a bit. WV running a single axle 33k service truck. Between where I live and where some of these customers break their equipment out here, I use them quite a bit.

My question: has anyone ever run cables vs chains on a single axle? Are they as effective? I don't mind slinging chains, but after a 14 hr day on the top of a strip job, chaining up to get the last 3 miles to my house is just icing on the cake sometimes.

Thanks in advance.

 

Lol i know how that feels. Like on a Friday night you have to bring the truck home to work on it, don't feel like lugging the tools down to the yard and laying in the mud Lol. That last 1.2 miles is killer haha