Tire chain question

wisconsinfarmer · Dec 18, 2013

So I'm in a friendly debate with another fellow, and it's simply this. If the box of my truck is next to empty so I have little to no weight in it, and I only have 1 pair of tire chains do I put them on the front or back?

What do you folks think? or what have you experienced?

The conditions are bad enough that you can't get around without them on your truck.

grizzly · Dec 18, 2013

Conventional wisdom is to put them on your front. If you are going to be descending a hill, don't do that or your front will stop and your back-end will whip around.

I usually put them on the back and fill the bed with snow to add weight. I've never had an issue turning without chains on my fronts, but some trucks are different.

Be careful with chaining the front end and clearance on some models of trucks.

Grizzly

Tristate, any post you make will be
unabashedly ignored.

tailgunner · Dec 18, 2013

If I do just one it's the front .

hank4elk · Dec 19, 2013

Read the owners manual,some vehicles are rear only,some front,or both.
I keep 1 set of heavy chains in my Tacoma at all times. They go on the back on mine. Good MS tires get me thru most anything. Extra wt. in back in winter.

BeanMan · Dec 19, 2013

I'd put some weight in the back first...

hntnnut · Jan 11, 2014

If its a 2x4 then put them on the rear If its a 4x4 then put them on the front, no need to over think it.

Richard

mtmuley · Jan 12, 2014

On the front, no matter what, everytime. mtmuley

Phantom Hunter · Jan 12, 2014

So how do you fellows with trucks whose owners manual says no chains on front get it done without damaging front end parts? My old ford I could chain up both. My chevy says no chains on front. Have not been in deep snow in chevy yet but I know it's gonna happen someday.

bucklover · Jan 12, 2014

I put 2 inch spacers inside all 4 wheels, and added a 2 inch lift to my 2006 Tacoma. Chains work just fine now, and they are about as heavy duty a chain as they make.

mntman · Jul 4, 2014

>So how do you fellows with
>trucks whose owners manual says
>no chains on front get
>it done without damaging
>front end parts? My
>old ford I could chain
>up both. My chevy
>says no chains on front.
> Have not been in
>deep snow in chevy yet
>but I know it's gonna
>happen someday.

I put them on and tested them/checked clearance in driveway on my Tundra. Owners manual says not to do it but they work. I also use a ratchet strap to tighten them though vs a bungee cord. It ensures they stay super tight.
If you use spacers, careful cause when you add that distance you often times then run into issues rubbing on your fenders during sharp turns. Don't need much clearance in there.

Mntman

"Hunting is where you prove yourself"

Let me guess, you drive a 1 ton with oak trees for smoke stacks, 12" lift kit and 40" tires to pull a single place lawn mower trailer?

m48goat · Jul 4, 2014

always chained the front. Thats how everyone else I know does it too. I have also chained all 4 in some nasty snow/mud

Goat

jims · Jul 5, 2014

Similar to m48goat I always put them on the front and in bad situations put them on both. I often bring a 4 wheeler along so I don't tear up my truck and don't need to chain up!