Trucker given ticket for no snow chains?

I've been wrong before and can admit it, if I was an owner op or ran a dedicated set of equipment I would do more research the install.

How much did the chains cost you, and did you install them or have it done professionally?

 

This is how we chain up in the Alberta oilpatch.

I'll find another one that shows the actual chaining up procedures.


[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yQlJDXfQYA&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PL5F9DA52C3681AC99[/ame]

 

Here you go, check the clock, it doesn't take Mike very long to chain up. He's hauling oilwell casing to a drilling rig.


http://www.youtube.com/user/Royalhighlander#p/u/8/PUQkUsg7bJU

 

Nonsense. Only two singles are required to be link chains. The rest may be cable.

California's max is now all four outside drives plus two outside trailer tires.

Oregon does not have a set season in which you must carry chains. Their statute states chains must be carried any time you are likely to encounter weather requiring their use. Kind of vague.

My chains have a home: the rack on the side of my truck. I can't think of any good reason to remove them and put them back every year. Four months without carrying 180 pounds on the passenger side of my truck isn't going to make that big a difference on either my payload or my fuel economy. I consider it balast since I'm 145 pounds and my 30 pound dog likes to sleep on my pillows...on the driver side of the truck. Evens the ride out.

If required, I am not afraid to put them on the tires. I have all the tools and bungees necessary to do it. I have not yet had to chain up. I'm not looking forward to it. But, if that eventuality arises, I will sigh, put on my gloves and get to work. Since I carry my chains neatly stacked on my racks, it won't be a big deal. However, I've seen how some folks like to keep their chains in a wadded up mess or never remove them from the bags to straighten them out. They're the ones cussing on the side of the hill while I'm on my way past.

Colorado, California, Oregon and Washington require you to carry chains during certain times of year. I don't know about any other states.

Nevada will have the signs flashing, but will not ticket you for not putting the chains on. However, if you get stuck, it gets expensive quickly. I believe the same applies to Idaho.

 

No offense taken, Lonewolf4ad.

The On Spots chains cost me $1600 installed 5 years ago.

This may sound expensive until you consider the hours I have saved over the years by being able to just flip a switch instead of all of the time required to chain up and down again. I have had runs wher it was REQUIRED to chain up as many as 4 times in one day. It also avoids the dangerous game of hanging your butt out and daring someone to run over you while you wrestle with the iron. Of course, I SOOOOO miss the opportunity to get out of the truck and play around in blizzard conditions while hanging iron!

I also have the advantage that if I am coming up on a patch of ice that others won't hang iron for, I just slow down to 25, engage the front drive and flip the switch. It's nice being able to chain for those slick sections.

When you run the light loads I do, you learn a whole different style of driving, and you look for any and every edge you can get for dealing with the weather. Been doing these light loads for 9.5 years - WAY over 1 million miles doing it......spun out the one time, and jack knifed once because a 4 wheeler was where he shouldn't have been. It was him or the ditch. It was his lucky day.

Went over Wolf Creek Pass today....36 degrees and spritzing snow. Winter will soon be here.

 

how do they apply when chains are required for the outside drives? still have to get out and do a little chaining, or are the chains actually long enough to go under the duals?

 

I don't know.

 

I think id rather deal with east coast traffic than that chain business

 

You're a 'bedder. You deal with chains all the time anyway.

 

haha, thats a different ballgame