Tire Chains

[1976gmc20]

Is that some sort of ancient technology that has been forgotten in the mists of time ???

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x250sUg9RAg

I love watching these guys (and the girl, Lizzy!) but some of these recovery videos are getting more and more painful.

Back when I was still contract cutting, I would tow my camper trailer around in snow like that with my old 2wd pickup with tire chains!

Of course it was a four speed manual and not an automatic

[72c20customcamper]

I still use them when its deep enough .

[1976gmc20]

Not sure if my big set fits on the new pickup yet. I need to try them sometime. I had to leave several links dangling outside and inside on the 245/75r16 so they should have extra length to reach around 265/70r17 (maybe?).

I just can't figure out a recovery outfit not carrying some tire chains when going up in the mountains in the middle of a snow storm

I've got a smaller set that was for the old K10 but they also would fit on our Jeep, except we've never needed them for that yet. They were on the Suburban once when we had an ice storm and couldn't even stand up in the driveway. And the old 2wd Suburban when I got a tractor on a trailer out of an unplowed field of snow.

I used to go all sorts of places with the 76 2wd GMC and tire chains, including logging on Grand Mesa way up into late fall with several feet of snow and -20F temperature. I even rescued other guys when their pickups got stuck

[weq92f]

Originally Posted by 1976gmc20

Is that some sort of ancient technology that has been forgotten in the mists of time ???

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x250sUg9RAg

I love watching these guys (and the girl, Lizzy!) but some of these recovery videos are getting more and more painful.

Back when I was still contract cutting, I would tow my camper trailer around in snow like that with my old 2wd pickup with tire chains!

Of course it was a four speed manual and not an automatic

Exactly what I was thinking when I watched this today...as soon as the tow rig couldn't really cope with the snow any longer, why not chains? Instead they did all that!

-klb

[1976gmc20]

Originally Posted by weq92f

Exactly what I was thinking when I watched this today...as soon as the tow rig couldn't really cope with the snow any longer, why not chains? Instead they did all that!

-klb

I've found the time to put on the chains is before you need them.

Like about the first time they were discussing turning back and Rudy was saying that there was ice under the snow

If you're on a nice hard snowpack then it's easy to slide under and hook the back side chain (well, it was when I was younger!). The real log truck drivers would chain up/off every load going up/down. They could go almost anywhere with the weight of the empty trailers loaded up on the back.

I would just chain up Sunday evening or very early Monday morning going to work, stay in the camper all week, and take them off Friday afternoon coming home. It was about a three hour drive one way on that job.

[Stocker]

I still have a set of good heavy chains with ice bars that I bought sometime back in the Seventies.
Over the years I have resized them a few times to fit different vehicles.
Always carry them but hope I never need to use 'em!

[57taskforce]

Yep I use them every winter and sometimes during the summer too. We have a policy at work where If you get stuck in the mud or snow without chains on, your foreman has the right to fire you if he feels it appropriate.

I always chain up anytime I think I may need it, if you get buried then try to put them on there’s a good chance it may be too late.

[1976gmc20]

Originally Posted by Stocker

I still have a set of good heavy chains with ice bars that I bought sometime back in the Seventies.
Over the years I have resized them a few times to fit different vehicles.
Always carry them but hope I never need to use 'em!

My big pickup set is heavier chain, about like what a medium duty might use. So it works well without the bars.

Dang, I can't remember what happened to the set of singles I had for my Truck (8.25-20). I must have left them in the truck when I traded off the whole outfit to get it moved from storage

Originally Posted by 57taskforce

Yep I use them every winter and sometimes during the summer too. We have a policy at work where If you get stuck in the mud or snow without chains on, your foreman has the right to fire you if he feels it appropriate.

I always chain up anytime I think I may need it, if you get buried then try to put them on there’s a good chance it may be too late.

Well, at least it's way messier to put them on after you're stuck

Couple years ago we had a fed-ex van slide off the road down by the mailboxes. A little bit more and it would have rolled. I got a real shovel from the barn and helped him dig out and get his chains on. Come to find out later, that was the second time he had been stuck without chains on that day. Another volunteer fireman that lives about ten miles away had helped him dig out and put chains on earlier that day. Then the stupid driver took the chains back off even though everything off the highway was snow packed.

I've started carrying the long handled flat point shovel in the Jeep along with the GI folding shovel even just going over to the barn. You never know what or who you're going to run into.

I do want to get one of those Yankum ropes to carry in the 2500HD. I've got an old strap in there right now, and I bought a couple cheap ones for the 4Runner and the Jeep. Guy at the store said they're not that strong but I don't want to be pulling that hard with the 4R or XJ. My wood cutting pickup has one of my old (mini) wrappers in it: about 25' of 3/8" cable with about a six feet chain tail.

[Steeveedee]

The last time I used chains is when I was in Idaho in '75. The roads were all black sanded or salted, so it was OK until I stopped at my sister's house. I had come from Idaho Falls to Gooding, and when I parked the car off the street, the tires were just warm enough to melt into the snow, and I couldn't get traction. They knew I was coming to visit, but they were already at the bar. Jerry's Lounge and Café, if you've ever been to Gooding, Idaho. Since the streets were actually clear, I just threw the chains on the ground in front of the right rear tire and drove out, onto the pavement. Threw the chains in the trunk and went to the bar.

[1976gmc20]

Originally Posted by Steeveedee

The last time I used chains is when I was in Idaho in '75. The roads were all black sanded or salted, so it was OK until I stopped at my sister's house. I had come from Idaho Falls to Gooding, and when I parked the car off the street, the tires were just warm enough to melt into the snow, and I couldn't get traction. They knew I was coming to visit, but they were already at the bar. Jerry's Lounge and Café, if you've ever been to Gooding, Idaho. Since the streets were actually clear, I just threw the chains on the ground in front of the right rear tire and drove out, onto the pavement. Threw the chains in the trunk and went to the bar.

One winter evening 20+ yrs ago when we still lived in town, we went over to a get-together at somebody's house. There was another couple that had a pickup similar to mine, 73-80 3/4 ton 2wd only it was automatic. I dunno where the kids were but for some reason we drove the pickup over there instead of the Suburban. It was raining and snowing and freezing.

So we all go to leave and this other lady starts her pickup but as soon as she even lets off the brake the rear wheels start spinning. Seems like a bunch of us pushed it by hand and got it going away from the curb. Then we jump into my p/u with a 4 speed and I just drive away in the same conditions without any problem. Of course, you've got to know how to do it.

Years before that, I used to take the inside duals off my C50 in the winter and run single chains on the remaining 2 rear tires. We got around in quite a bit of snow even with nothing on the back but the swivel log bunk.

[Steeveedee]

Originally Posted by 1976gmc20

One winter evening 20+ yrs ago when we still lived in town, we went over to a get-together at somebody's house. There was another couple that had a pickup similar to mine, 73-80 3/4 ton 2wd only it was automatic. I dunno where the kids were but for some reason we drove the pickup over there instead of the Suburban. It was raining and snowing and freezing.

So we all go to leave and this other lady starts her pickup but as soon as she even lets off the brake the rear wheels start spinning. Seems like a bunch of us pushed it by hand and got it going away from the curb. Then we jump into my p/u with a 4 speed and I just drive away in the same conditions without any problem. Of course, you've got to know how to do it.

Years before that, I used to take the inside duals off my C50 in the winter and run single chains on the remaining 2 rear tires. We got around in quite a bit of snow even with nothing on the back but the swivel log bunk.

One just has to experience it. My dad drove through stupid high snow when he lived in Minneapolis. I haven't and hope I never will.

[1976gmc20]

Originally Posted by Steeveedee

One just has to experience it. My dad drove through stupid high snow when he lived in Minneapolis. I haven't and hope I never will.

Builds character

[Steeveedee]

Originally Posted by 1976gmc20

Builds character

Well, I'm a character, but maybe not what everyone wants to see.

[northerngmc]

Did they make Liquid Tire Chains for C10's?

[yuccales]

Originally Posted by northerngmc

Did they make Liquid Tire Chains for C10's?

Don't know about our trucks, but the Caprice video is cool! She is so relaxed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hsbZa8uWtw

[1976gmc20]

That might get her going again in town but not exactly the thing for hauling a heavy trailer up a snow packed mountain pass

[Low Elco]

I love watching their videos. Their Corvair is gonna be neat!