CHAINING...are you ready?

So you rely on a farmer to get you out of EVERY time you get stuck. At someone else's mercy. To each their own, I guess ...

 

No, actually I've never been stuck. It is a policy set by the oil companies who own the leases we are working. No chains allowed, and they pay for all road repairs so it's their responsibility if they aren't maintained well enough for us to travel. They pay for the tractor.

I agree, it's strange going into a situation without the "right tool for the job", but that's just what is required to work this area. I choose to look at it as a benefit. I carry an ipad with movies on it and will sit back and watch movies while waiting for a tractor, paid well by the hour, when I get stuck. Because in this terrain it's just a matter of time no matter how good you are.

 

pulled out all the chains in the box this weekend for an inventory and inspection.

Complete set of 3-bar chains.

2 complete sets and one side of a single chain for a total of 5 singles.

Inspection shows that they look good with no real damage to them. They have been used from the amount of mud that was in the box with the chains. Pulled out a full shovel full in the side box for them.

It would be nice to have chain racks on the trailer somewhere to hang them. Would like to free up the side box to put chains/straps for a flat bed in there.

 

Nice to have a good selection to work with. I've been in situations where I would have liked to chain one of my steers (off highway) and only had triples to work with. Getting the truck moving is important but it's nice to have some say in where it goes too!

You will definitely want to get some racks installed or its going to be an unpleasant job every time you need to use them. Kudos to you for not being lazy and waiting till you actually need them to dig them out and find out what shape they're in.

 

I am thinking some 8" X 1/2" u-bolts would make a good start and then going with a 1"X 2" tube with modified angle iron clamps to the cross members on the trailer would make for removable hangers.

I'll get pictures of it once it's all put together.


When I was clearing out the cab book from the previous company, they had a nice detail in there about chain laws and such. Along with an APU 430 weight exemption letter as well.

 

Chains, it is still the summer. But if we need chains we do not go through the passes.

 

it has already snowed on a couple of the highest peaks and passes a week or so back

 

Here I am chaining up in the real world just before going from hygrade road into a lease .These are trygg heavy triples . I prefer the heavy ones as they last longer and less prone to breaking apart.. While you are at it take a look at my other videos on you tube. I have 150 or so mostly oil patch related