Snow chain advice for an ignoramus please

[brained]

No such thing here.
If I'm going to buy then I need to select and import the stuff myself.

I wondered if that might be the case, so I included the links above.
Pewag didn't have a direct link just a pdf of products. They do supply all of the snow plow and heavy equipment chains for several counties around here and the guys using them are very happy.

I'd look for a Pewag distributer operating nearest you and order the Glacier V-Bar
Truck Chains, maybe save on some shipping that way.

 

[grntrdtaco]

i have a set of heavy duty Vbar chains and a set of RUD chains.

go with the RUD's, better lateral traction and about 1000X easier to put on. +you can put them on after you get stuck.

rud chainsl

they are also very low profile and could possibly fit on newer IFS trucks that generally dont allow chains on the front wheels

t

 

[sargeek]

Please post your vehicle, tire size, and tread.

 

[Spikepretorius]

Mitsubishi L200 TDi
32x 11.5x 15
Maxxis Bighorn MT's

 

[sargeek]

I would buy as much tire chain as you can afford. They come in all shapes and styles.

Cable Chains - Are cheap, but not really useful on a 4x4 with aggressive tires.
Ladder Chains - are effective and economical. "V-bar" chains provide the best traction, but they might not be available for your tire size, and you will end up with truck chains that have a larger cross tread chain.
Diamond Chains - Are supposed to be the best. Easy to put on and provide great traction, but they are expensive.

Since you do not use chains that often, then I would get a set of ladder chains. Now 1 pair or 2. Again, get what you can afford, and what your truck can run. My Tacoma can only run chains on the rear due to clearence problems with the front brakes. My Jeep can run chains on all 4 tires.

Once you get the chains practice putting them on when its warm and dry. It makes it much easier when you have to them on when its cold and dark. Make sure that get them on tight, and check them after 10 min. of driving and retighten if necessary. Then check them on a regular basis.

 

[brained]

Mitsubishi L200 TDi
32x 11.5x 15
Maxxis Bighorn MT's

Drifting off topic here but I've had to chain up a lot less since putting on a set of those Maxxis Bighorn's

 

[78Bronco]

You should be able to phone a tire store in a state, like Colorado, and tell them that you need a good set of heavy duty v-bar chains for ice, snow and muddy back roads for your size of tires. They will know what you need.

No offence but the Thule Chains offered up ealier are little chains made by a roof rack manufacturer.

These are chains...v-bars. You can add additional cross bars, and/or alter the pattern by adding in new sections with connecting links.

 

[Spikepretorius]

Cool. Thanks for the info guys.

@ Brained: yes usually the Maxis work, but I suppose I became blase about snow because I've always managed. This recent episode of mine was a wake up call to remind me that I'm not so flippin good after all
Truth be told though, AFTER the episode when I was back down the mountain, I found out that the local farmer knew we were unlikely to make it.

 

[brained]

Cool. Thanks for the info guys.

@ Brained: yes usually the Maxis work, but I suppose I became blase about snow because I've always managed. This recent episode of mine was a wake up call to remind me that I'm not so flippin good after all
Truth be told though, AFTER the episode when I was back down the mountain, I found out that the local farmer knew we were unlikely to make it.

It's the ice under the snow that these tires aren't so good with. I didn't get mine siped and am thinking maybe I should have. It felt a little silly to spend days driving around in the mountains only to have to chain up when I hit the highway (to be fair it was a bad ice storm and it was hard to stand up the road was so slick).

 

[beast1210]

I really liked my Flex trax when I had my 33's but I have to get new straps before this winter to use my 35's.

http://www.flextrax.com/