Posted: 11/24/2011 7:49:10 PM EDT
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There was a good thread here last year on tire chains. My archive search-fu is weak, apparently. If someone has that bookmarked, would you mind posting a link? I live in SE IN, and we generally don't need those things around here. However, I've got quite a bit of travel to do for work this year. Because I so hate airports, I'll be driving my F250. I'll be going over the mountains to NC & SC (might swing by and say "hey" Rustee), and up to St. Paul, MN and to Boston. Do you view these as a critical item to have for any of these trips? I've been to these areas several times, but never in Dec-Feb when the weather can get bad. I'd rather not spend the $ if I don't need to, but I'd prefer to have them vs. getting stuck for a few days if that's the alternative. Thoughts/experiences? Thanks, -Slice |
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Slice, when on a snowy trip I kind of think of the capability of chains similar to an aircraft equipped for known icing. Something you don't want to get into and primarily used to get you out.
Different than if you are in your AO and need to go to town or work and have some backup in case you get stuck, etc. Your mission is traveling distances for work and you have the opportunity for long range planning WRT the weather. First I think having chains if you are going into snowy/icy wx condx is desirable so you should get some and make sure they fit before you need to use them. Chains or cable chains for less hazarous condx or maybe both. The next thing you need is a subscription to an up to the moment weather service like Weathertap... [~$8/month, and excellent, I use it for the very same thing as you're talking abt and it is very valuable to me. Just like sat downlinked realtime wx to the cockpit, wouldn't consider flying long distances w/out it anymore] ...and use that to strategically plan your route and trip timing. Plus something like a Verizon internet wireless modem hooked to your netbook in the truck to access Weathertap [a product of TradeAPlane, etc]. When we travel the same areas you're talking abt it's proved valuable getting far more info than the more ordinary wx servicies like the WxChan [constant ads, and radio and TV news]. With a downlinked wx service you have Nexrad, the new predictive wx animated sequence for your area, I've been watching it for awhile and it's pretty accurate, forecasts, aviation forecasts, IR and visible sat images and a ton of other info within seconds on your cell or laptop. [I prefer the laptop for better and easier viewing and you can leave it on your seat and glance at things developing from time to time. And it a tax writeoff for you! 
As an example, we were going from EVV into IL on I-70 and pulling the trailer and snow was moving in [we didn't have chains] and we could see pretty much exactly where the snowfall ended while we were driving in it. It was very late, no traffic and we decided to carefully push on and it ended right before Mt Vernon where we got to and rested. [I just bought a set for the truck we'll use for this winter's traveling on ebay, we always carry one or two sets for the front and rear for our regular vehicle this time of years and already used one set in the fronta week or two ago] On other trips we elected to drop one interstate south to avoid wx and then reroute the trip rather than holing up in some parking lot waiting for roads to be cleared. We use it quite a bit and it actually is fun and makes the trip go faster. Around here we use it all the time for wx planning and to know when to get out of the mtns so we don't get trapped. I probably use it several times a day and more if somethings up. Well worth the $ to me. Simply put it's a suvival tool as important sometimes as any of them. The inexpensive sub allows you to get the sevice on your cell or any PC. Anyhow that's what I'd suggest and I'd be glad to go into more detail if this seems to fit your mission. |
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Quoted: Yep!Anyhow that's what I'd suggest and I'd be glad to go into more detail if this seems to fit your mission. My droid can double as a "modem", and I use it all the time on the road. Please share what you know. I'm far from a road-warrior, especially in the winter months... Thanks, -Slice |
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Quoted:
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Yep!
Anyhow that's what I'd suggest and I'd be glad to go into more detail if this seems to fit your mission. My droid can double as a "modem", and I use it all the time on the road. Please share what you know. I'm far from a road-warrior, especially in the winter months... Thanks, -Slice Slice, I pretty much edited and summed it up above, what else would you like to know? Expy/standing by... 
PS, Google weathertap.com, I've been a subscriber for abt 10 years, maybe longer! Got a Droid too, how do you use it as a modem? I use one of the USB modules plugged into a Cradlepoint router that are all located in the trailer and serves the vehicle wirelessly. You can also plug in a Vonage VOIP adapter into the cradlepoint and then plug in a cordless phone and use the handset in front to save minutes on the cell. |
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Looks like WeatherTap has a free 14-day trial. Think I'll do that and learn, and hit you up for advice. Thanks! Any advice on where to get a good quality set of chains that won't break the bank? And, what to look for as far as what makes a quality set vs. junk? Thanks again, -Slice |
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Quoted: I've got a Droid too, how do you use it as a modem? I use one of the USB modules plugged into a Cradlepoint router that are all located in the trailer and serves the vehicle wirelessly. Mine has a feature to act like a 3G/WiFi access point. I just enable this (needs external power when you do it), setup the SSID and WPA2 password/PSK, then connect my laptop to that SSID. Works like a champ so long as I'm in VZW territory. |
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Quoted:
Looks like WeatherTap has a free 14-day trial. Think I'll do that and learn, and hit you up for advice. Thanks! Any advice on where to get a good quality set of chains that won't break the bank? And, what to look for as far as what makes a quality set vs. junk? Thanks again, -Slice Peerless comes to mind. I called around and got info and prices and then went to ebay, plugged in some model numbers and cross-referenced them on the net and found a set for 1/3 the price on ebay of the place that I've bought chains from here before. Haven't tried them yet and have just changed the rear tires and have the vehicle up on jacks so I will in the next few days. |
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I've got a Droid too, how do you use it as a modem? I use one of the USB modules plugged into a Cradlepoint router that are all located in the trailer and serves the vehicle wirelessly. Mine has a feature to act like a 3G/WiFi access point. I just enable this (needs external power when you do it), setup the SSID and WPA2 password/PSK, then connect my laptop to that SSID. Works like a champ so long as I'm in VZW territory. Will try to figger all that out. I do know having traveled the areas you're talking abt [except the far NE that I'd prefer to not go to for possibily obvious reasons] that Verizon has about the best coverage of any of the carriers along most travel routes. Have a deployable sat internet system we built w/ the trailer and haven't had to use it for a couple yrs but still pay the subscription to retain as a backup. Mobil internet that my SO can read me stuff when I can talk her into it is wonderful! |
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Searching about making your specific phone model a hotspot will work. I tether my droid to my laptop and a search on tethering will tell you all about that. I pay us cellular a small amount of money each month on top of the normal bill so I can tether the phone. It is my only internet access. If you use a usb cord to connect the phone to the laptop the laptop will charge up the phone as well. |
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I view chains as a must have for me, not necessarily for snow but for ice. Of course this changes when the snows get deep. Some roads here in WV you will be required to have chains if it's snow covered, WV Turnpike comes to mind and Interstate 64 in the rural places.
Two years ago when we had the 22" snow the city here banned all driving until they could get the roads cleared unless you had chains. There was car wrecks coming in and out of town due to it requiring mountain access both ways. I have a feeling a lot of other small towns done the same. Wasn't that they were not equipped to handle the snow, it's just they got too much too fast and the roads started to get slick during rush hour the prior evening with wrecks up and down the road, road crews couldn't clear roads due to the wrecks or abandoned vehicles. I used the Peerless chains, actual chain links, not cable and tubes. Make sure you put them on before it gets too bad. Always do it right the first time and prevent yourself some headaches from stopping every two miles to adjust or to go looking for a lost set. Use "spiders" to take up any slack. Buy chains to fit your tires, excess can cause fender damage and you don't want to tie off the excess with wire (like coat hanger wire). That's my two cents and good luck out on the road. |
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The $150 spent on the chains is a great insurance plan. Had a pass going to yakama wa one year with a 1/2 ton and a 13K 5th wheel in tow got near the pass and the snow was carzy, chained up and walked right thru. Would have never made it. used those chains for logging the targee many a time and never got stuck, 2 wheel drive/wsplit rims, course the big block helped. heavy half, loved that truck about 6-7 mpg on propane. You'll want about 700 lbs in the back that will get you a long way. Seen some chain the front tires. do it on my plow jeep much better control stearing. It'll keep you on the road. You can traverse 2' of powder if you can see where the road is. get the spring tensioners you can cruise35- 45 no problem also get spare cross bars you'll have them break. |
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Quoted: Thanks, guys. Yeah, back to steel vs. silicon. Can you recommend a site to buy them from? What features do I need/not need? What are these spring tensioners and cross-bars? I was planning on getting 4 vs. 2, is there any downside to that? Thanks, -Slice http://www.tirechain.com/TRUCK-SUV-CHAINS.HTM Others have shown this link. |
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Thanks, guys. Yeah, back to steel vs. silicon. Can you recommend a site to buy them from? What features do I need/not need? What are these spring tensioners and cross-bars? I was planning on getting 4 vs. 2, is there any downside to that? Thanks, -Slice http://www.tirechain.com/TRUCK-SUV-CHAINS.HTM Others have shown this link. Shipping can be high, esp for larger sizes (LOL, try tracor chains!) I see them from time to time at flea markets, craigslist,etc but usually older sets, in L78-15 size. |
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Quoted:
Thanks, guys. Yeah, back to steel vs. silicon. Can you recommend a site to buy them from? What features do I need/not need? What are these spring tensioners and cross-bars? I was planning on getting 4 vs. 2, is there any downside to that? Thanks, -Slice cross bars tensioners I would guess you'd have a hard time getting stuck with 4 chain's |
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Slice, we just mounted some new chains on some 20 inch rim tires to check them before a trip.
These chains are called Alpine Sport and have a so-called 'diamond' pattern. They're made by Laclede, AFAIK, a decent brand. The set weighs about 15 to 20 pounds and are packed in a soft bag for easy storage. The advantage of these is they are easy to mount on the side of the rd and are done so much different than the conventional chains I've always used. Also, the cross bars [cross links] aren't nearly as substantial as conventional chains, -that said they are claimed to be for SUVs and light trucks. When I tried to mount them I thought they were too small at first but I didn't read the instructions carefully enough and they fit fine when you install them their 'special' way. [They come with a handy large plastic folded sheet that has pix and detailed instructions to install] This kind of chain would be used to get you where you're going or get you out of trouble but I wouldn't consider them for any sort of hard usage like plowing snow, etc. For our use they are going to be fine I think. What size tires are you running? I think the link the previous poster provided shows them and if you go to ebay you can likely save big bucks. |
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They're LT285/75R16's, either mix of 8 and 10-ply rated I think. Thanks for the links and tips all, got some surfing and reading to do. The truck is pretty heavy as it's a diesel, but I won't be hauling a load or trailer on these trips, or under 1K lbs anyway. Thanks, -Slice |