Tire chains for 1.5 miles of snowpacked road to get home

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Tire chains for 1.5 miles of snowpacked road to get home

December 13, 2013, 07:53:51 pm

A simple search offers the advice that no one uses tires chains on our FTs. They sit and wait for conditions to get better. I live on the side of a mountain at 8,000 ft in northern New Mexico. Now and probably for the next 3 months I need to go down and up 1.5 miles of snow packed road to get to blacktop. For years I have wondered about using chains to get back up the road. (Both my wife's car and my pickup are 4WD.) I understand that chains are strictly a traction device and will not help me stop on the way down. (Ditch, snow and brush may have to do this if things go wrong.) This road is not maintained by the county or anyone. In the warm months, I call this segment of any trip a "two beer" road as it is so rough. I drive the final 1.5 miles home at walking pace. (UPS refuses to deliver to our house.) Snow actually makes the roadway smoother. Anyway, I will be moving slowly. With chains I have wondered if I could extend our use of the motorhome for a few more months each year. All the words in the search (archives) seemed negative about tire chains. Why? Tight clearance? Advice for actual tire chain users would be appreciated. andy1

Re: Tire chains for 1.5 miles of snowpacked road to get home

Reply #1 – December 13, 2013, 08:10:21 pm

Lewis ; chains most likely to thick on the clearance part . But , you can get cable type that can be fitted up good and tight and close with none or very little sloop . Just an angle to get there . Brad Metzger

Re: Tire chains for 1.5 miles of snowpacked road to get home

Reply #2 – December 13, 2013, 08:33:01 pm

Last Jan when we bought our coach, I had to get it home to Ohio from Portland, OR. The only legal way out of the state was to carry chains or wait until Spring. I bought some chains, but they have never been out of the box and I hope I never need them. Ordered them from tirechain.com.

Rich

Re: Tire chains for 1.5 miles of snowpacked road to get home

Reply #3 – December 13, 2013, 08:55:38 pm

I have chains, and they have been used a few times.

Re: Tire chains for 1.5 miles of snowpacked road to get home

Reply #4 – December 13, 2013, 09:35:01 pm

There are automatic tire chains that can be mounted on the axle and that will deploy (and retract) with a switch from the driver's seat. They are mounted on virtually all school buses and many trucks in my area of Colorado (south of Denver) and work beautifully according to those I have talked to. The local dealer here (Davey Coach) in Sedalia, CO gave me an estimate on them and were quite sure they would work very well on my U240. I decided that warm weather was a better solution but you might call Davey and see what they have to say. My understanding is that the mount is custom made for your coach so they need to see it twice, once to measure and once to install.

Daveycoach.com
800-873-1856
Ask for Jeff Weatherford if he is still there. Very nice people and I have no relationship with them other than have done business with them on my coach and was very very satisfied.

PS If you come up here have Davey take you to lunch in Sedalia at Bud's. Good burgers and beef but to quote them: "No Fries, Damn it" and further "This isn't Burger King, you don't get it your way." I am sure you get the idea.

Re: Tire chains for 1.5 miles of snowpacked road to get home

Reply #5 – December 13, 2013, 09:36:33 pm

If you have an air hose and available air pressure supply, you can lower tire pressure to increase traction, drive slowly, then add pressure again.

Re: Tire chains for 1.5 miles of snowpacked road to get home

Reply #6 – December 13, 2013, 11:13:04 pm

Quote from: richb3125 – December 13, 2013, 08:33:01 pm

Last Jan when we bought our coach, I had to get it home to Ohio from Portland, OR. The only legal way out of the state was to carry chains or wait until Spring. I bought some chains, but they have never been out of the box and I hope I never need them. Ordered them from tirechain.com.

Rich

My old home state of OR is like that. There are sections of I-5 where carrying them is mandatory and every now and then, they will chek vehicles for chains (10/1 thru 4/1 if I recall correctly). Since I used to spend time there, I have a set in the rear storage bin, but plan on never using them. Bought them from Les Schwab Tires.

Re: Tire chains for 1.5 miles of snowpacked road to get home

Reply #7 – December 13, 2013, 11:17:11 pm

I wouldn't think that using cable type chains at the speed and distance you're talking about would not hurt anything unless the road is so ruff that the wheels bottom out and then the chains would scrap the top of the wheel wells. I asked James Triana about chains several years ago and he absolutely stated do not use them. But I have to think that is in reference to using them in the common way which is running up to 25 mph like one would in a car. I would keep my drivers window open so you can hear anything at first sign of trouble. Might also be a good idea to carry some sand or gravel just in case the chains don't grip enough.

Re: Tire chains for 1.5 miles of snowpacked road to get home

Reply #8 – December 14, 2013, 11:35:39 am

Trying to mount tire chains on the back of a Foretravel with the very limited clearance available is inviting disaster. Our tires occasionally rub on the top of the wheel well now. Imagine what the Fiberglas damage would be if even one section of chain was damaged or came loose even a little bit.

I would park and rent a car if necessary before rolling the dice with chains.

Pierce

Re: Tire chains for 1.5 miles of snowpacked road to get home

Reply #9 – December 14, 2013, 01:10:10 pm

I have a set of chains but never used them. In WA there is a law that chains have to be carried in RVs over 16k. I have driven on packed snow a few times with no issues but we watch the weather closely and don't travel when chains are even close to needed.

Putting them on and actualy driving with them would be scary. Not much room back there.

Craig

Re: Tire chains for 1.5 miles of snowpacked road to get home

Reply #10 – December 14, 2013, 01:19:51 pm

I do not think there is room for chains. Cables might fit in the rears but not chains. If I was going to get a bus conversion, that was one of the reasons to be able to go four seasons and in snow if I get caught in it. I have been caught once and the FT did a fine job. I usually try to run ahead of it or sit and wait it out though. I understand that would be hard to do getting to your house. What about a truck dropping cinders and small rocks, that might give you the tractions without the chains.

Re: Tire chains for 1.5 miles of snowpacked road to get home

Reply #11 – December 14, 2013, 05:54:46 pm

In April, 2001 having just been discharged from the Navy after a call up out of retirement (Desert Storm ) Phyllis and I rented a car and to cross the Mountain via Donner Pass headed to Reno , it was required to install chains . While driving there I noticed many big trucks with cable type chains .Not only on the drive axles but also on the steering axle . Busses , same thing . On some stretch's the the surface was bare and I noticed a big difference of noise . That is what got me to looking in the first place . On top of the mountain we pulled into a restaurant where a big rig was parking as well . I spoke to him about the cables on all his tires . He said the way to do it was make them real tight when you put them on . They were so tight that I could not put my finger between cable and tire . If the time comes for me to have to deal with this kind of travel , it will be cables for my coach . Brad Metzger

Re: Tire chains for 1.5 miles of snowpacked road to get home

Reply #12 – December 14, 2013, 06:15:37 pm

Addenda to my earlier about automatic tire chains. The chains go UNDER the wheels and never any place else so no clearance issues if the chain mechanism will fit, and on mine they said it would. Totally eliminates (a) putting them on, (b) taking them off, and (c) having any clearance issues within the wheel well.

Re: Tire chains for 1.5 miles of snowpacked road to get home

Reply #13 – December 14, 2013, 07:53:50 pm

Google School Bus Chains. You will get the Onspot video on how they work, then watch the part 2 of the new generation chain system

Here is a more detailed note on how they work and any PM requirements
Onspot - The Automatic Tire Chain
and how they work
The chains you see under school buses are part of a system call Onspot and are used for traction control activated with the push of a button

In our area, all new school buses come with this setup, they are removed, stored and given to the local fire departments etc. If a slight chance of snow, school is canceled.
Dave M

Re: Tire chains for 1.5 miles of snowpacked road to get home

Reply #14 – December 14, 2013, 08:38:26 pm

Sometime back FT had a new unit $$$ with the auto chains. I wasn't interested so didn't follow what happened to the coach.

Re: Tire chains for 1.5 miles of snowpacked road to get home

Reply #15 – December 15, 2013, 01:59:57 am

Hi, does my ORED GV have way more clearance than the U's..? There s loads of clearance for the heavy chains. The former owner had also used chains as he also lived in a snowy place. That said, you certainly don't drive with heavy duty chains on like a car would with cables...

Re: Tire chains for 1.5 miles of snowpacked road to get home

Reply #16 – December 15, 2013, 02:02:51 am

Those On Spot chains are very interesting...

Re: Tire chains for 1.5 miles of snowpacked road to get home

Reply #17 – December 15, 2013, 07:46:52 am

I watched that video several times . I like the mechanical application of the on spot chain system . There has been some good thinking to make that come about .Now , to apply to a late model Foretravel ? Those flailing chains have to have some space to stop flailing .They do spin a bit when lifted . Maybe if you go real slow that would take care of it . I can see loads of space on trucks and any thing on a raised rail build frame . Under my coach , it looks pretty close . Don't know just how much room is required . Not going to buy them , but my interest is up to where I want to know more .My plan is to not be any where near where any chains might be needed . Brad Metzger

Re: Tire chains for 1.5 miles of snowpacked road to get home

Reply #18 – December 15, 2013, 09:09:04 am

FWIW, I went to Colorado last year and there as I understand it are "chain laws" in effect sometimes on the passes/mountain areas. Whilst on way there there were no chain laws in effect. However, it was snowing and there was a requirement for chains while I was there (but thankfully not while I was arriving or departing). So, I went and got some to make sure that I was legal. There was a storm coming in so we left a bit early. Having said all that, I understand you need to have flares and chains for your FT (to be legal). I bought some with no real intention of using. So..., if you happen to be going to an area that is possible that you would be affected, let me know, you can borrow my chains. I don't think I will be going there anytime again soon. These would keep you legal. I think I like warmer weather in the winter. These are the traditional chain and frankly would not use but would consider staying put unless in a life threatening position. I might consider the sweedish chains or the tight belt type if I were inclined to do the chain thing. Certainly both make more sense to me.

Re: Tire chains for 1.5 miles of snowpacked road to get home

Reply #19 – December 15, 2013, 01:16:35 pm

Quote from: Brad Metzger – December 15, 2013, 07:46:52 am

Under my coach , it looks pretty close . Don't know just how much room is required . Not going to buy them , but my interest is up to where I want to know more .My plan is to not be any where near where any chains might be needed . Brad Metzger

DW drives a 40' schoolbus with those automatic chains installed. Her bus has storage bins just like a motorhome and there seems to be enough room to handle the deployment/retraction phase. She really likes them, by the way.

Craig

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