Mack Anthem No Lockers

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by 2Tap, Jan 29, 2023.

  1. 2Tap

    2Tap Medium Load Member

    381
    754
    Jul 19, 2022
    Southern Wisconsin
    0
    New driver here and i can certainly put the manual versus automatic debate to rest now personally. I wish i had a manual!

    Some Semi Autos in "manual" mode still want to change gears on you and once your rpm's take that hit any forward momentum you had going up a snowy/icy farmers driveway in chains is gone.

    I have one driveway in particular that is a complete pain in the arse. About a mile of winding snow/ice, across a 1 lane bridge and up two significant grades. I would love to change the farm in the route and wait to back up it with some weight in the tank but being such a long driveway would take forever.

    Chain both drive axles? I'm only chaining the rear axle currently and with not enough effect.
     
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. AModelCat

    AModelCat Road Train Member

    27,627
    144,557
    Jul 7, 2015
    Canuckistan
    0
    So chain both?
     
    2Tap Thanks this.
  4. Long FLD

    Long FLD Road Train Member

    9,502
    36,966
    Mar 4, 2015
    0
    Chaining two tires or four? I’ve only ever chained the rear axle when I needed to chain but I always put 3 railers on.

    As far as the transmission, they can probable program it differently to hold it in gear no matter what. Some of the economy tunes will shift if the rpm’s get too high. My Paccar trans will hold it in gear no matter the rpm but mine has a balance program which is a mix between performance and economy. I would think the M drive trans in your truck could also be changed.
     
    D.Tibbitt, Magoo1968 and 2Tap Thank this.
  5. 2Tap

    2Tap Medium Load Member

    381
    754
    Jul 19, 2022
    Southern Wisconsin
    0
    Yes, only chaining the outside, two tires on the rear most drive. I wasn't supplied with four sets of chains but am kind of reluctant to spend more time chaining UNLESS it's notably better. Only the experience i'm reaching out to here and appreciate could answer that!

    Other "new" guys (8-10 year company dry van/on pavement drivers) weren't chaining and paid the price with a hefty wrecker bill. I was fortunate to be training with the owners son and they are milk men through and through. When he asked what i thought i eagerly said no way i would try it with no chains. He tried it forward and slid about 125 feet backwards down the grade but his experience kept the tractor/trailer straight. We tried it with chains unsuccessfully and then waited for a load of chips.

    I read the worthless manual waiting to be offloaded and didn't see much valuable info on slippery driving.

    I will definitely look into those m drive options now, thank you!

    Google didn't help me much, what is a railer?
     
  6. AModelCat

    AModelCat Road Train Member

    27,627
    144,557
    Jul 7, 2015
    Canuckistan
    0
    Triples - real chains. Cover both duals rather than the outside tire only. Double the traction and only slightly longer to install than a single.
     
    D.Tibbitt, 2Tap and Long FLD Thank this.
  7. Magoo1968

    Magoo1968 Road Train Member

    1,870
    4,921
    Mar 18, 2021
    St Malo mb
    0
    Singles on rear axle is basically barefoot. Triples will get you moving
     
    2Tap and Long FLD Thank this.
  8. Long FLD

    Long FLD Road Train Member

    9,502
    36,966
    Mar 4, 2015
    0
    Sorry I should’ve explained more. The chains you have are generally called singles as they are for one tire. “Three railers” is a term for chains that cover a set of duals. The have the inner, center, and outer rails of chain that the cross links are hooked to.

    They are heavier to handle but the big advantage to them is that you will have a lot more traction if it’s needed.
     
    2Tap and Magoo1968 Thank this.
  9. Magoo1968

    Magoo1968 Road Train Member

    1,870
    4,921
    Mar 18, 2021
    St Malo mb
    0
    For those unsure about chains . When using singles the chains only have traction when both tires are level if inner tire tire is on solid ground and outer tire with chain is floating because it dug up snow or mud it’s not doing anything. With triples both tires dug and hook up.
     
    W923 Thanks this.
  10. W923

    W923 Heavy Load Member

    973
    2,928
    Feb 28, 2022
    0
    Read the post before mine carefully.
    I bet that farm road is crowned and your outside tires aren’t seeing much weight.
    If so try putting them on the inside or get 3 rail chains as others have suggested
     
    2Tap and Magoo1968 Thank this.
  11. kylefitzy

    kylefitzy Road Train Member

    3,964
    16,358
    Aug 12, 2007
    Kansas city,Mo
    0
    The only place I run into chain issues in the PNW. I’m supplied with 6 singles, I’ve thought about converting one set to triples and just throwing those on the rear axle.

    You’ve never run into issues with the states that want a single on each outside drive?
     
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.