Automatic Chains

Carry a set of real chains, they can fail. In real deep snow they will not be thrown under the wheels hitting the snow and stopping before needed. Backing into those docks that are downhill and turning off the vehicle raises the chains and then getting out can be fun so throw your chains on the ground where you parking so you can get moving again. And then sometimes they drop because you hit the switch not knowing and the sparks are scaring people, plus the wheel that rubs the tires will leave a groove in the sidewall of the tires which can fail. But otherwise if maintained properly and everything goes perfect they are great.

 

If you are planning to go into that kind of winter and expect to throw chain, its nice to have them and know how to use them. Even better to sit for a while in the truckstop and wait out the worst of it.

I don't do automatic chain, you might get away with having them locally where its really rare to have ice But they are not chain. Not the kind you will depend on if the mountain requires it.

I have a set of ice chains from austria for my vehicle at home but we only get those maybe once every two years or so. Hardly worth it. So they sit in the bag pretty and ready to go if needed. That and a bit of chain and bolts to pull people out when they get stuck in a flat parking lot.

 

I do not know if they are worth it or not, from what I have heard they are pretty spendy. I have copd too, and that would make them worth more, but I ran otr for several years and only chained once in the lower 48, good siped winter tires are worth more in my book. I ran the alcan year round for 3 years, and never chained, I did have to chain on the cassier once.

Now I run north and have to chain on a regular basis, and when running my log truck, some jobs it is an every load deal, but I have a swamper that goes with me and does the chaining for me.

All the school buses here have them, and they seem to work well on those, but none of the trucks run them here, so I am thinking they do not work so well, with the heavy rigs.

 

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Oops. Snoozed with my phone in my hand.

 

LOL

 

I bought a full set of the Auto Sox. You won’t find me out on a road that requires chains unless I’m “getting off the road”. I do go out west if the money is enough and you are required to have chains.

so I bought 3 sets ( 2 for truck 1 for trailer) they are in my truck and I’m legal. I used them once in Oregon. Super easy to use. Didn’t take 5 total min to instal and maybe a full 5 min to take off. They were nasty wet when I pulled them off so I just threw them in the tarp box and cleaned them up when I got home.

once again I don’t intentionally drive into something requiring chains. However I am legal and do have them if I need them. Way rosier and lighter than real chains. On a side note. I started using Adivar last year to help with my breathing problems. If I’m not cured I’m as close as I can be? They tried 3 or 4 other things before this.

Almost 100% again after thinking the end was near.