Chaining up: Socks vs Cables vs Chains

It is extremely rare but coming down a logging road with an excavator and miles from help or cell service you do not want to slide through a turn.

 

They certainly don't do well in slush conditions, or on black ice, but we regularly use them on compact snow and ice.

 

There's a difference between your standard, run of the mill ice and black ice. Nothing works on black ice, you either take your chances reeaall slow and easy, or stay off the road.

 

https://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/COMM/pages/winter_psa.aspx


Just a bit of reading for the black ice. From. Oregon DOT. They have a nice stretch of highway that makes them quite an expert.

 

Chains. If your afraid of the hard work of putting chains on, park it during the winter. Singles are no good to me except on my steer and drag chains.

 

Hello,

I have only posted a couple times here but I do have a strong opinions on chaining and winter driving. I currently drive here on the West Coast over a mountain pass 5 days a week so I have a good basis for my opinions, and I have now just over 18 years of driving experience to draw my opinions from.

For starters not all snow/winter driving conditions are equal..Especially out here. We have the Pacific Ocean dictating much of our weather, Olympic and Cascade Mountain Ranges, and sometimes Arctic air from Alaska and Canada. This means our weather/conditions can vary wildly from one night to the next. Snow conditions also can swing drastically from dry, wet/sloppy, normal/average, blowing, ice storms...and anything in between. If you are considering a move to the West Coast especially the Pacific Northwest area expect to chain. A preference to never chain isn't usually an option as more often than not chaining is required AND enforced. If you don't chain you will be stopped, cited $500 fine, then not released until your truck is legally chained up. Our chain laws are enforced for good reason as many drivers think they don't need to chain only to make up half way up the hill. After several vehicles/trucks spin out the State Patrol is forced to close the pass to clean up the mess of a few dumba** cowboy drivers delaying everyone a couple hours or more. GRRRR!

As a basic general rule you need to use what works best for the conditions. Cables are fine for flat gentle terrain. If your driving on flat gentle terrain traction devices probably are not needed anyways. But up a pass, for me pulling a set of 32' trailers...NO. Forget it. Chains are the choice usually. Socks work well for a variety of conditions but not all. They actually do hold up well as long as wheel spin is kept to an absolute minimum zero of course being optimal...There are multiple documented cases where socks have lasted 5 winter seasons, so they aren't for the careless or wreck less type of driver. I have used my AutoSocks up to 32 MPH though 20 is the company stated speed limit. Personally I think over 35 MPH is too fast for any traction device being used. If you need traction devices...required or not...YOU NEED TO SLOW DOWN!

I saw one post that socks only work on powder...Not true based on my experience. My experience is that socks work well pretty much on all conditions except black ice and loose snow or a road that isn't plowed and has snow more and a couple inches over ice...again this is from the perspective of pulling a set with a lot more rolling resistance. Others may have a different experience with a single trailer. So I don't discount that users opinion completely.

So for me the bottom line is conditions, ones experience with the equipment they are using, and the terrain they are driving on. I have had good experience with chains and socks. I favor the socks because they have a huge ROI factor. They are easy on, easy off...and they are effective when used properly. I use chains when I think conditions warrant their use, and even lately the 3 railer chains as we have had some treacherous winter driving conditions.

I hope you do well what ever you choose to pursue in your future and stay safe out there!

 

Are you thinking I-84, or another one? That 84 has been a mess the last couple days with the ice storm they just had.

 

Exactly! But I have thrown a set of singles on the drives when bobtailing if it's icy.
Chaining really isn't all that hard, it just takes a bit of time. It's not much fun in three inches of slush, but not that hard. Sometimes I have spent more time untangling new chains out of the bag than it takes to put them on.