cable chains for tires

manfred · #1 12/10/14, 03:41 PM

I've never had cables before (or chains). I am driving a 4wd ford ranger.
I have 2 cables. I've recently heard to put them both on one side of the truck. Also heard put them on both front wheels.
What do you think?

jwal10 · #2 12/10/14, 04:34 PM

IF, the snow is deep I run them on the front, I could push snow with the front bumper. Helps with steering and stopping and with the front weight better traction than on the rear. I would never run them on one side, all the braking would be on one side, even more so if you have antilock brakes.

Never heard the one side thing, unless you have a locking rear the other side would just spin....James

unregistered353870 · #3 12/10/14, 05:58 PM

I would put them on the front. But I'd also get two more.

big rockpile · #4 12/10/14, 06:06 PM

My wife if driving 4WD never uses Chains but I think if she did it would be on all 4 tires.

big rockpile

manygoatsnmore · #5 12/10/14, 06:19 PM

Depends on if you have front or rear wheel drive or 4wd. Put them on the driving wheels. Never heard of putting them on just one side. 4wd - use 2 sets of chains and put 'em on all four tires. If you only have one set of chains and you're using 4wd, put them on the front, where you have the engine weight to help.

driftwood · #6 12/10/14, 07:52 PM

only reason i would put them on just one side..would be ,if i was already in a ditch......
a friend told me that his company would fire him...if just put chains on front.....that being said,,i have run chains on just front wheels many times...
with really good tires,,, i mostly use on ice......or really deep snow....
pays to practice putting them on when dry and warm......i have never used cables......i think the usps company vehicles use cables here abouts.

rambler · #7 12/10/14, 08:00 PM

Anyone ever see these auto style in person?

I can't think of a reason to ever put chains or cable on one side.

Paul

vicker · #8 12/10/14, 08:28 PM

I had a 4x4 Ranger and lived way out. I always just put them in the rear, if the snow or ice was bad. I had about five miles to get out to a sometimes good road, and ten to get to the highway.

As said, practice putting them on in the dry and daylight. I thought nothing of putting them in the first five miles, taking them off at the highway, and then putting them back on to get up to where I worked, or where I lived.

After putting them on, drive a couple hundred yards, stop and tighten them and you are good. I only have experience with chains, and I like them. I wouldn't switch. Get the heavy ones, with the cam tighteners.

manfred · #9 12/10/14, 08:35 PM

This is my first winter with the 4x4 ranger,I've had a all wheel drive honda crv and a z71 chevy. I dont think the ranger is going to be up to the task.

unregistered353870 · #10 12/10/14, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rambler

Anyone ever see these auto style in person?

I've driven fire trucks with a different brand...can't remember what it was called, but they worked well most of the time. I've seen them on school buses too.

unregistered353870 · #11 12/10/14, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by manfred

This is my first winter with the 4x4 ranger,I've had a all wheel drive honda crv and a z71 chevy. I dont think the ranger is going to be up to the task.

You'd be surprised. Rangers will do a lot if you drive them right...and throw some weight in the back.

manfred · #12 12/10/14, 08:50 PM

A friend advised me to put a couple of bags of cement over the rear wheels and let them get wet with rain and harden. then throw them out come spring. About $7.

Rustaholic · #13 12/10/14, 08:51 PM

Chains are not allowed here any longer.
No studding the tires either.
I still have been known to use them if the road is all pure ice and the temps go cold.
Years ago I had a stretched out F-150 that was 22' 2" long and weighed in at 6,000 pounds empty. Yes we had beefed up the suspension for the extra weight and yes I carried chains for all four wheels. Even without power to the front wheels just to keep the truck pointing up a steep hill of pure ice I had to have chains on the front. With the extended steel bed there was a lot of weight in the back of that truck and a set of good chains with the ice gripping bars I had to tow a loaded pickup up a long very steep hill of pure ice. That Ford 390 and the 4 barrel carburetor just made it look easy.
Chains do their best work on the driving wheels.
If that is the front wheels then I would also chain the rear wheels.
Otherwise when you hit the brakes with chains only on the front wheels the rear wheels will want to pass the front wheels.

Rustaholic · #14 12/10/14, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by manfred

A friend advised me to put a couple of bags of cement over the rear wheels and let them get wet with rain and harden. then throw them out come spring. About $7.

Sand bags are cheaper and if you do get stuck you can use the sand.
I have a lot of sand here and bags are like fifteen cents in town. I put a plastic bag inside the sand bag so the dry sand will stay dry and will not be frozen if I need it.
I keep the sand in buckets in the basement so it stays dry.

FarmboyBill · #15 12/10/14, 10:38 PM

DO NOT drive with chains on, on the pavement. Ital break out the cross bars which will rip out the inside/outside of the fender.

jwal10 · #16 12/10/14, 10:51 PM

Many new rigs have to have cables as the clearance is too little for chains. Especially front drive rigs. IF you drive on bare pavement with chains you need to drive slow. One winter working for the city we hauled fuel for a pump for 2 weeks when the power was out. About 4 miles were bare and 10 miles deep snow and/or ice. We never took them off....James

vicker · #17 12/10/14, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by manfred

This is my first winter with the 4x4 ranger,I've had a all wheel drive honda crv and a z71 chevy. I dont think the ranger is going to be up to the task.

I've a feeling that you'll be just fine with cables or chains. My experience was living off grid in the mountains. I always wanted to get chains for all four wheels, but that was only for the fun of it. Before I had the 94 4x4 I had a 98 2x4. I was never late for work.

manfred · #18 12/11/14, 05:09 AM

I live 15 miles from a small town. I get ice 1/2 inch on the road here when the town stays dry. Last year was rough.

coolrunnin · #19 12/12/14, 03:08 PM

Look up auto socks them things are really great. i will never " chain up" again...

http://www.autosock.com/en/

rambler · #20 12/12/14, 03:42 PM

You know how often first impressions are wrong, but those auto socks look like the most worst thing you could put on for deep snow, a smooth surface like that? Spin baby spin! Goes against everything a person learns on th farm in mud and snow.

Obviously I need to look at that closer to try to understand it.

Paul