Anybody have automatic snow chains?

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by SteveScott, Apr 17, 2018.

  1. SteveScott

    SteveScott Road Train Member

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    I had a job with a small outfit a couple years ago that ran me from California to Colorado, then down the New Mexico and home. Sometimes I also had to run up to Washington and Idaho. My truck and trailer had automatic snow chains and they are the greatest thing since sliced bread. I'm getting my own truck and trailer next month and seriously considering making the investment. Cost is around $15k but you can run lanes in heavy snow country in winter without worrying about stopping to chain and unchain. Just slow to 10 mph and push the button and you are chained up. It seems like they would pay for themselves by getting the higher paying loads in the winter months where other's would turn a load down.
     
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  3. RET423

    RET423 Medium Load Member

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    Make sure you get the muffler bearing upgrade as well, keeps the muffler spinning in all types of weather.
     
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  4. pmdriver

    pmdriver Road Train Member

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    Always carry real chains because that time you really need them they are going to fail, and did you notice the groove that they put into the sidewalls of your tires? They going to fail in time also. Thought they were great but when you really need them and they do not work sucks, plus they raise up when parked in a downhill dock so getting out can be tricky, just throw the real chains down where you park so you can get moving then go retrieve them.
     
  5. SteveScott

    SteveScott Road Train Member

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    Yeah I always carried regular chains just in case, but never needed them. I had one tire get damaged and our mechanic adjusted the chain wheel and fixed the problem. I run the I-5 now from California to Washington and there are about 10 chain up spots between here and there over mountain passes. If a storm blows in you can lose a full day just chaining up every hour or two on a 700 mile trip. I'm looking for an edge over my competition that will give me a better delivery guarantee than other carriers.
     
  6. REO6205

    REO6205 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    Automatic snow chains? Got pictures or maybe a link?
     
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  7. pmdriver

    pmdriver Road Train Member

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    What was great about them chains is getting past the chain stations when you not really needing them and raising them until you needed them, most of the time it was just patchy areas with wet pavement and really did not need them. They only put chain stations in a wide spot where many trucks can chain up not where they are really needed.
     
  8. SteveScott

    SteveScott Road Train Member

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    Here you go.

     
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  9. Txdriver77

    Txdriver77 Medium Load Member

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  10. Long FLD

    Long FLD Road Train Member

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    Is your operation weight sensitive? If you’re doing both drive axles and a trailer axle so you don’t have to chain at all that would be a fair amount of weight. And as with anything air operated sometimes they don’t work right in the cold.
     
  11. pmdriver

    pmdriver Road Train Member

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    In deep snow they just hit the wall of snow and do not get under the tire and all that hardware needed for them does weigh a bit.
     
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  12. Tug Toy

    Tug Toy Road Train Member

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    So dose a bag of chains in the side box.
     
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