Snow Chains

yes4567890

 

So 2 unopened bags plus 2 unopened cable bags should be legal basically

 

So which are better, and easier to work with? Cable or link chains? Since I run strictly in the east, I've never actually had to chain up...seriously.

 

Great advice, spend the time to untangle your chains, inspect them for cracked or broken links, if your running "V" bars get rid of them when they get 50% worn they have lost their edge by then! I keep my chains handy the odd time I do need to run them on bush roads in the summer when the mud gets really bad. I run singles for the most part and triples when it looks really ugly and this year I'm going experience chaining up super singles, a nice treat, way easier than installing triples on or off.
My best chain advice: put them on before you get in a position that you absolutely can't go anywhere, worried about losing time (we all are) you'll be losing all kinds of time spun out and waiting for a tow, better chained up traveling at slow speeds than not going anywhere.

 

Already took all mine off the truck when I was home last to make sure I didnt lose any .

Lose any you say ?

Yea , like maybe someone else needed one .

All good and the only thing I need to get is tighters . I dont know what in the hell happened to mine


Oh well , good reminder !!!!!!!!

( oh, and I only use mine for the first purposes anyway , to pull hot girls out of a ditch... )

 

I just throw this out...When I threw Iron I didn't use 1 single on a driver. 3 railers only. If you're going to spin out and raise hate and discontent do it right.

 

Cables are easier to work with, but offer less traction and are not always treated as equivalent to chains. Colorado and California limit their use in the worst conditions.

If you have 2 bags of each you should be OK though. These days California closes the road before you need 8 chains and Colorado is OK with chained outer drivers and cable inners...

 

The only roads in Colorado that Cables are permitted is I-70, all others require regular link chains, while this is not officially posted anywhere, CDOT and CSP have been known to tell drivers on US 40, US 160, US 50 and US550 to find a different way around if they only have cables. That said, 90% of the "chains" found laying on I-70 after the chain law is lifted, are cables. Along with a large assortment of "spider" bungees. Colorado does not require a trailer axle to be chained, nor do they require a steer tire to be chained (contrary to what some people like to tell SWIFT and Chicago Russian drivers). However, if you are running US 550 and the chain law is up, chaining a trailer tire might be a good idea, as a precaution.

I personally carry 6 singles and 14 individual bungee cords, along with 3 T-handles. I inspect my chains twice a year, early Sept and January, if I break one while it's in use, I get it repaired or replaced ASAP. Our two sleepers and the 4 day cabs that have chain hangers, carry their chains all year (they work great in the mud).

As the OP mentioned, while it's still warm and dry, pull your chains, inspect them for breaks and fit. If you've never installed them, learn to do it now, 2 am on the side of US- or I- (insert number here) in a snow storm is not the correct time to practice.

Oh, and if you work for a MEGA (SWIFT AND WERNER SPECIFICALLY) that will not give you chains to carry, and you are not independently wealthy enough to sit, but rather expect you to use a "chain bank", spend your own money and buy some chains to carry. Two winters ago, the EB chain bank in Grand Junction ran out, chains were required on 70 for 4 straight days, I saw Werner drivers that sat for 4 days at Gay Johnson's waiting for chains to arrive from Denver. Werner would not authorize them to buy chains (the truck stop had a full pallet of them), and none of them were smart enough to buy them on their own. One trainer/trainee team (female) were afraid Werner would fire her if she bought her own. I asked her how late her load was, she said it was already a day late. I asked how much meal money she had left, between trainer and trainee, they had a combined $20.00, the chain bank wouldn't be restocked until the next day. I hope they didn't resort to cannibalism.

 

Striker makes a.good point. When i first started it was with covenant. They would not buy chains but if you did not have them they would not dispatch you in areas where chains may be required.

i bought my own chains in order to get the better runs. They did however try to get me to give them to another driver one time in order to finish a run when chain law was up. Since they did not want to pay me the $320 for them i refused.

now that i have been driving for 12 years i have learned to eliminate companies from consideration if they dont provide these types of items.

a company that is too cheap to provide chains is not a company one should consider driving for. I am certain there are several more areas that these companies cut corners on as well.

 

I also bought my own chains while working for Covenant. I stayed busy all winter while others complained about miles -- worth the cost imo. I carry the same set now as an o/o.

Covenant has a zero-tolerance policy for driving on ice, which is when you really need chains on a highway (probably why they won't buy them). I sure drove through lots of "heavily compacted snow" that winter.