Time for chains again

I just leave them on, by the time I take them off and throw them on a pallet, trip over them 6 times, then finally trip over them one last time to grab the bob cat and move them somewhere, it’s time to put them back on the truck

 

If things go right this will be the first winter in a long time that I don't have to chain up. The trucks, except for a couple of water tenders, have been sold. The log loader won't be leaving the ranch. The road grader will be doing touch ups and pulling ditches on county roads. The dump truck will be down most of the winter for a new engine and general rebuild. I bought a set of chains for the Tundra and they're still in the bags where they should be.
There was a whole pallet of old chains in back of the shop. The rack for hanging good chains is right next to it but nobody wants them. The scrapper will pick them up tomorrow.

 

Say, excuse me, but are you the same "REO" that used to be a moderator? I know we've had our run ins, but I do think you are a great asset to the site.

 

I just started with this company Legend and since they travel mostly west I assume I'm going to have to chain up alot.

You guys have any Good YouTube videos I can watch to learn. I've watched several and I'm still confused on how.

 

It depends. Does Legend require you to chain or do they want you to shut down? A lot/most companies want you to park it.

 

Learn to put them on without moving the truck, like if you are already stuck and cant move. Ive had to chain up just to get out of a parking spot at a truck stop more than ive ever had to chain up on the road.

 

That’s absolutely a necessary skill, but it’s not the easiest way to put on chains.

Being the lazy sort, we spec cross lockers on the trucks. That and good tires has saved many chain escapades.

 

Your right its not the easiest way... But once you become proficient at it, it is the fastest way. And like I said... If your already stuck chains dont do ya any good if you cant get them on.

Case in point, I spun out on an off ramp that had 12" inches of snow because traffic was backed up clear onto the interstate. I couldnt backup, and I sure as hell couldn't go forward. Took 10 to 15 mins to throw a single chain on each side and I was moving again.

 

Going South isn't always a safe bet. Two winters ago, I-40 was closed from around Santa Rosa all the way to Kingman several times for days at a time. I found myself on I-10 headed to LA from Omaha, Lincoln or Aurora several times, due to I-70 being closed due to rockslides in Glenwood Canyon, or crashes all over it from the rookies that went anyway. I-80 being closed because part of it goes across Wyoming... and Wyoming was being its typical bad spot for an Interstate, and I-40... well...I covered that already. For a couple months, I would just not even look, and run I-35 to I-40, head South at Amarillo. Then run though Roswell and down to Alamogordo, over the pass to Las Cruces then just head West to LA. I wouldn't take enough extra time to worry about, and got paid for the extra miles.