chaining up tips and tricks

Yeah Reverse gear is much lower than 1st gear so it doesn't spin quite as easily.

I say this in a video about firemen chaining up a fire truck. The wood device is easy to make DIY and it allows you to roll up on it and chain the whole tire at once, instead of in 2 tries. But the ideas above about driving up off the ground is the biggest trick I know if you are only putting on single rail chains.

 

Yup - that's the best way to prepare.

 

Any tips for the three railers? I was gonna do a practice run while at home, but never had time.

@sirjeff 's method sounds like it should work good with them.

Though I don't know I'll need them. Seems like winter may not come.

 

I always reversed back when putting chains on. Less likely to spin. If running cables. Reversing is the only thing that works, going forward they wil just fall off the tire because they are so light.

 

When you hang them up hang them by the center rail. Lay them over the outside tire with the excess whichever direction you plan to roll to get over chain, then flip them over the inside tire. Roll forward or back so you can hook them up. Hook the center first, then the inside, then the outside. At least that’s how I always did it.

 

Chain dawg tool.
Save a chain up video to your phone (hard to access from youtube if you don't have cell signal).
Tensioner bungees.
Get a pair of ice fishing gloves (neoprene). They keep your hands warm and dry and chains are easier to handle.
snow pants (nothing worse than being wet and cold while chaining and afterwards).

 

I grew up in the snowbelt region around the great lakes, and I learned to drive in winter conditions. When I used to get to the Pacific northwest, I often tried to go through Oregon, where they leave it up to the driver as to whether you needed chains or not, and I never opted-in when there was a choice. HOWEVER, my truck always had 8 good drive tires with traction treads, NOT highway treads so popular with California drivers. and when Snoqualmie required chains, I only used a pair of singles on the drives, one on the driver's side trailer forward axle, and turned on the power-divider.