Automatic chains for snow

When I was with my trainer in April 2011, we ran into an O/O at the T/A in North Bend. He said he had to go over Snoqualmie and back everyday and had 'em on his rig. My trainer, a 41yr driver, pretty much called him a liar. So the guy took us to the lot and showed us. Needless to say, my trainer(god rest his soul), had to eat crow.

 

I met a Gordon O/O at the Idaho scale on I 90 a few years back who had them on his tractor. He really liked them and I think that for most of the snow conditions that we have in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana they would work well. In fact better than well in some conditions as you can engage them from the cab. I've been toying with the idea of converting my truck to being a Montana runner and if I did that I would spend the cash for auto chains.

 

Anyone have a link for these?

 

they've used auto chains for probably 20 + yrs on fire trucks and ambulances in some parts of the country with much sucess. I know ost of the food service companies and beverage companies have them on their trucks around here. One of our competitors has them on most of his tractors, only time they say it's a problem is really deep snow, but I know most of them also carry one set of chains as a just in case as well.

 

The way I understand they work is they adjust to the speed u are going so if ur doing 25 they will move with the tire. If ur not moving they will not move. So its great on school buses which they are on. Also on fire trucks n ambulances. But I don't see them on semis any time soon..

 

I'm fairly proficient in English, but haven't a clue what you were trying to say! Last I checked, the same rules of physics apply to all vehicles.

They have a wheel which contacts the tire and throws the chain under the tire. If the tires moving, the chain gets thrown under, even if the truck is not moving. The reason they don't work as well when you're stuck, is that a regular chain will grab the edge of the hole you're in, spreading the traction across multiple cross chains. These work well under the tire on a hard surface, but aren't setup to be efficient in that 'stuck' type of situation.

 

Y would you need auto chains? If you have to chain your tires then you shouldnt be driving. Use you head. Is it really worth it in the long run?

 

A student. From Dallas. Go live in the mountains for a winter and see if you can figure it out. Come man, use your brain. In some places if we shut down every time the roads got nasty, people would starve every winter.

 

So let me get this straight. What your saying is #### the weather and drive no matter what? And if I cause an crash or get in one then it's ok? I would think the company you drive for would rather you park their truck and not crash it. But I guess I'm wrong. Guess some ppl don't care about cst score or other ppls lives for that matter. But hey what do I know being from Texas.