Snow chains......tips on use.

[Meanman]

So now that winter is just around the corner snow won't be far behind. I was cruising the site and noticed in the parts for sale section some snow chains for sale and thought I'd throw in my .02 on there use.

For those new to 4x4 vehicles and for some who aren't......I learned in the military, being posted to Winnipeg, that when using snow chains on a 4 wheel drive vehicle it is more advantageous to chain the front wheels instead of the rear.
When chaining just the rear you can get forward and rearward traction but what about steering? With a 4 wheel drive and chaining the front not only will you gain the traction for mobility when locked in but you'll also gain breaking and steering ability which are sadly overlooked by many. 4x4 can often give a false sense of ultimate traction but you quickly learn that steering and breaking are far more important than momentum. Ultimately chaining all 4 wheels can make you neer unstoppable in 4 wheel drive but what a pain in the a$$ that is.

Again this is just my two cents worth learned from many years of ice and snow driving.

[Adam]

Thanks for the tip. I've always just chained my rear wheel, out of habit. I'll give the front wheels a shot next time.

[Erebus]

Stick to the rear wheels. From the 4x4abc.com website (http://www.4x4abc.com/jeep101/chains.html):
• Snow chains mounted on front axle with 4WD/AWD - good acceleration, good steering, good braking. However, since the rear wheels have no lateral guidance, the rear end might come around - fast. Not good. Feather your brakes. Go slow.
• Snow chains mounted on rear axle with 4WD/AWD - good acceleration, lousy steering (no lateral guidance), marginal braking (remember, 80% of brake force is created at front wheels and without chains that ain't happening). No fishtailing. Best compromise for 4WD with only one pair of chains. Go slow.

So sayeth the gods of 4x4

[Meanman]

So fishtailing is more dangerous than having no steering and or braking ability? NOT likely. Do what you wish but from personal experience as I stated in the military having been posted to Winnipeg and spending time in the Arctic and also Iceland Chaining the fronts was far more advantageous than the rear as far as maintaining control.
Again, this is just a tip that had learned and it has served me well. Try chaining your rear then try driving down a steep incline (ski hill) with corners (switchbacks) during a snow or sleet storm and see how many corners you make. Now try the same thing with your fronts chained.

[DelicaFreaka]

So fishtailing is more dangerous than having no steering and or braking ability? NOT likely. Do what you wish but from personal experience as I stated in the military having been posted to Winnipeg and spending time in the Arctic and also Iceland Chaining the fronts was far more advantageous than the rear as far as maintaining control.
Again, this is just a tip that had learned and it has served me well. Try chaining your rear then try driving down a steep incline (ski hill) with corners (switchbacks) during a snow or sleet storm and see how many corners you make. Now try the same thing with your fronts chained.

^^^^ I totally agree. Chaining all 4 is the ultimate but a bit of a hassle. "I'd rather have a hassle than end up at the bottom of a 150 foot trestle". I'm a poet and din't even know it...................................Kirk out.

[Profister]

Fishtailing is more dangerous than lousy steering. Going downhill on the icy road with chains on the front wheels of the 4WD Isuzu Trooper I hit the snowy shoulder and stopped looking in the opposite direction because the car spun 180 degrees no matter how hard I tried to keep it straight. Moving the chains to the rear wheels made the difference; I managed to go down all the way. That was the last time I put chains on the front wheels