FredH
Platinum Member
How do Truckers out west put chains on ?
Well first off , you try to avoid the situation if at all possible
.
BUT , that is not always an option
.
Here is what I do .
Lay out 4 chains . 1 on each side in front of the primary ( front ) drive axle ( outside tire ) , and 1 each side on front trailer axle ( 53' dry van ) . The part of the chain with the hook (inside) and buckle ( outside) will be towards the front , so the links that will hook into them will be right in front of the tire . Straighten chain out so about 3 cross chains are in front of the tire . Pull forward about a foot and then pull chains back over the top of tires . As mentioned ALWAYS hook inside first , this helps in several ways . First and foremost , it keeps the chain on the tire . Truck chains have Cam-locks , ( usually 4 on the outside ) , which help take up slack on the outside of chain so the inside is critical . Next I put another chain behind second drive axle just opposite of what i did for the front drive axle , ( Buckle and hook towards the back of truck ) . Drive back a foot and pull chains over the back of tire towards the front , repeating the above process .
I have seen the spring tensioners , but I use a rubber spider bungee . Looks similar to spring tensioner just it is rubber with 6 legs .
As I mentioned , Truck chains have cam locks on the outside so when you get the chain tight , then you start turning each cam lock , things get tight real quick . The spider bungee takes up any slack that may develope , ( breaking a cross chain from running on bare pavement for 80 miles per California Highway Patrol and CalTrans regulations the other Day
) so the chain remains tight without slapping . Actually broke 10 cross chains on the 6 chains I had on that day , just finished repairing them .
Ag chains may be different in that they do not have cam locks , which may be something that I would consider adding if I needed to chain my New Holland although that is very rare ( like Never ) . We do get snow here , but most of the property is downhill , so plowing the driveway is a piece of cake . Let gravity take me down 1 side then back up the plowed area and let gravity take me down the other side .
Fred H.
Well first off , you try to avoid the situation if at all possible
BUT , that is not always an option
Here is what I do .
Lay out 4 chains . 1 on each side in front of the primary ( front ) drive axle ( outside tire ) , and 1 each side on front trailer axle ( 53' dry van ) . The part of the chain with the hook (inside) and buckle ( outside) will be towards the front , so the links that will hook into them will be right in front of the tire . Straighten chain out so about 3 cross chains are in front of the tire . Pull forward about a foot and then pull chains back over the top of tires . As mentioned ALWAYS hook inside first , this helps in several ways . First and foremost , it keeps the chain on the tire . Truck chains have Cam-locks , ( usually 4 on the outside ) , which help take up slack on the outside of chain so the inside is critical . Next I put another chain behind second drive axle just opposite of what i did for the front drive axle , ( Buckle and hook towards the back of truck ) . Drive back a foot and pull chains over the back of tire towards the front , repeating the above process .
I have seen the spring tensioners , but I use a rubber spider bungee . Looks similar to spring tensioner just it is rubber with 6 legs .
As I mentioned , Truck chains have cam locks on the outside so when you get the chain tight , then you start turning each cam lock , things get tight real quick . The spider bungee takes up any slack that may develope , ( breaking a cross chain from running on bare pavement for 80 miles per California Highway Patrol and CalTrans regulations the other Day
Ag chains may be different in that they do not have cam locks , which may be something that I would consider adding if I needed to chain my New Holland although that is very rare ( like Never ) . We do get snow here , but most of the property is downhill , so plowing the driveway is a piece of cake . Let gravity take me down 1 side then back up the plowed area and let gravity take me down the other side .
Fred H.