Currently debating tire chains for my Chevy Tahoe and 6.5 x 14 Ice Castle. Most will say “might as well have them” but will I really need tire chains with this small of a wheelhouse? I had a 6.5 x 8 Ice Castle previously and never needed chains with my old V6 SUV.
I don’t plan on riding out any storms as some did on Red Lake last weekend. I usually stick to the main plowed roads and setup just off them.
Take this all with a grain of salt since I only have a home modified pop up camper as a permanent house, AND I’ve never had a set of chains, but I’ll say if you 1.) didn’t have a problem before and 2.) if you mostly stick to plowed roads, I don’t think you’ll need them. If you didn’t have a problem with your rig before I don’t think your new one will be any worse if you aren’t trying to regularly blaze a new path through slush and a foot of snow.
I’ve never put chains on a PU only my ATV. I do it in a heated garage and it can be a challenge at times. I couldn’t imagine trying to put a set on a vehicle outside in the winter.
We put chains on our work trucks out side in the winter when needed. It’s a pain in the butt but amazing what you can go through with them. Putting them on a trailer would be counter productive though, it would just create more resistance. You lay them out on the ground or ice as straight as possible and just drive on them so your tires just go over one end then you pull and push and swear till you get them around the tire and clamp them on. A couple of bungy cords for tension and your good to go.
I have a set of chains and they are areal difference maker. My brother has the tire cables that are real easy to put on. We put them on the front tires helps with steering and most of the weight on a truck is on the front. These were a real life saver in the mud of montana. If you put them on all four your truck can really push some snow and keep going. Make sure you have stretch straps to keep them tight.
Mike
I got mine at fleet farm 10 years ago. Having them on the rear i can go through more in 2wd than i can in 4wd with out chains. I could not imagine the possibilities if i chained all 4.
I can have my rear chained up in 15 to 20 min. Faster if im not alone.
I would strongly reccomend fitting them b4 you need them and only leave 2 or 3 extra links.
Also, i have found laying them on and driving over tjem to be the worst way to put on as you then need to lift the chain hp over the tire and past all the lugs. I reccomend draping the chains over tire then bungie the ends together and drive 1 foot forward, this way gravity does most of your tension work by draping.
Some simple homemade spring pullers help with the chain cam buckles and heavy duty bungies on the outside keep them tight.
Like anything, you dont need them till you do…
proper planning prevents poor performance.
I got mine at fleet farm 10 years ago. Having them on the rear i can go through more in 2wd than i can in 4wd with out chains. I could not imagine the possibilities if i chained all 4.
I can have my rear chained up in 15 to 20 min. Faster if im not alone.
I would strongly reccomend fitting them b4 you need them and only leave 2 or 3 extra links.
Also, i have found laying them on and driving over tjem to be the worst way to put on as you then need to lift the chain hp over the tire and past all the lugs. I reccomend draping the chains over tire then bungie the ends together and drive 1 foot forward, this way gravity does most of your tension work by draping.
Some simple homemade spring pullers help with the chain cam buckles and heavy duty bungies on the outside keep them tight.
Like anything, you dont need them till you do…
proper planning prevents poor performance.
That’s does sound like a better way, old habits are to change though, I bet the next time I use them I’ll still do it the hard way. 
Chains 100% with any wheelhouse. I can pull a light 6.5×12 with a 3/4 ton without chains. But i will not make it over 8″ of snow. Once you lose momentum your shoveling. With chains you can go thru as high as your ground clearance will allow.
Don’t follow me…I have tire chains.
I have a set of chains and they are areal difference maker. My brother has the tire cables that are real easy to put on. We put them on the front tires helps with steering and most of the weight on a truck is on the front. These were a real life saver in the mud of montana. If you put them on all four your truck can really push some snow and keep going. Make sure you have stretch straps to keep them tight.
Mike
Sorry for resurrecting an old thread, but do you know what tire cables your brother has? Would like to pick up a set for the gumbo up here. Wondering how well they do in snow/ice also? Thanks
Chains 100% with any wheelhouse. I can pull a light 6.5×12 with a 3/4 ton without chains. But i will not make it over 8″ of snow. Once you lose momentum your shoveling. With chains you can go thru as high as your ground clearance will allow.
Agreed.
If we didn’t have chains in the truck this day, we would have been buried 3 miles past the last people we seen. But we threw on the chains and just kept trucking another 2 miles. Slayed fish on lotw with out a person in sight
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If you are only driving plowed roads and set up just in designated spots off of them, it’s probably overkill and a waste of your time and energy. If that’s the extent of “off-roading” you do and your vehicle won’t do it in 4wd, you should be tire shopping.
Tires only do so much on ice. Last year on a steep landing leaving the lake it was glare ice. Tried multiple times getting up the landing with no luck. I ended up putting my chains on and crawled out no problem. Everybody that has a wheelhouse should carry chains with them IMO. You never know what your going to run into. They saved my a$$ that day.
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