How to properly put on snow chains

In Minnesota, we also chain up the trailer tires, eminently for safety. LOL!

 

We all do, they are called the "drag chains". 20 minutes chains on---17 minutes chains off...if done correctly!

Ask those of us who run Donner, Ashland, Snoqualmie, Cabbage, and Vail on a regular basis!

 

I noticed a few minor mistakes, nothing major, the biggest is the fact that you are not always going to be on level ground when throwing iron. So pay attention to the slope, if you are facing uphill when installing, you will be backing onto the chains, and if downhill moving forward onto the chains. Plan for this with allowing space whichever direction you need to move. Also if you will be backing onto the chains after draping them, think about the other guy who is in front of you chaining, leave him some room to work, don't jam his space by moving in to close.

When draping, whichever direction you will be moving, tuck the cross links against the tire at the point of contact to the ground, IMHO this driver left too much air from the cross links and the ground. Also he did not show how to clean the overhanging extra that will be coming up the opposite side of the tire. This extra needs to be square and straight so it rides up the tire in place.

He did not show how to connect the chains once they have been rolled on..inside first as tight as possible, then the outside, snug enough to allow the turning of the cam to complete the snug. All cams don't have to be turned, 3 out of 4 is enough, if you can't turn the fourth, you have a tight chain.

Terms: Cam, not binder; cross links, rails, slip connector (inside of chain) Dogs (that is what the "sharp ends" he referred to are called) and the "tool" he mentioned is called a Key. Each bag of chains will include (should include) two keys, keep them safe, they are really a must have.

When I am a tightening my cams, as I approach the tire to hook and adjust, I place my Key inside the wheel, and the same when I am dropping the chains, use the Key, put it in the wheel. You drop that thing in the snow and slush, dark and cold, you will have a hard time finding it again. Get into the habit of placing the Key in the wheel everytime, and problems won't happen (hopefully)

He didn't show how to untwist a chain, how to pick up chains after use to put back on the truck for the next use, done correctly you wont twist the chains and application will be much easier.....Ah hell maybe Iwill make a complete video myself!

 

A wise man once told me... Use your chains to get out of trouble, not into it..

 

They said the same about 4 wheel drive...two wheel to get stuck..4 wheel to get out!

Something else he forgot, can't put chains on if tires are spinning, need to be able to roll onto them, so apply before you are stuck!

 

My neighbor recommends that you practice putting them on and removing them when of is warm. He says it was no fun learning on the snow!

 

Yep, absolutely right...every student I trained, (per my requirements) chained the units at least 3 times. I can remember on one occasion, at the Phoenix terminal, (August, nice and warm you know) I started with my student and ended up with 7 students from other trainers that said they would not put chains on so the students had no way to experience it except for videos.

Boy was everybody dripping with sweat, just watching! ROFL

 

You'll notice that when he picked up the chain he grabbed it by the nearest side chain. Much easier to reach over the whole thing and grab it by the rail that would be on the inside of the tire. And you can put them on when the tires are spinning, its just more of a pain. Thats why I never cut the excess slack off my chains. If you can hook both sidechains together on their ends then you can spin them through gently, but you'll have to roll on them for a hundred feet or so and tighten repeatedly to get them on tight enough afterwards. And catch the slack with an s hook on one of the tarp straps and hook the same s hook to the sidechain. I always tie back the slack on the inside with nylon wire ties. And don't run singles on a drive axle unless you have triples (or duals) on the other. If you start spinning, you'll dig out under the outside tires and the inside tires with no chain will be sitting on snow and ice and you might be goin backwards down the hill, or at least stuck anyway.