Ok, I have to admit, but I've never had the need to chain up my truck before.
Spending the second winter in the interior of BC is shaping up to be great!
Last winter was very mild with not much snow.
We are getting last years this week I think. Truck has been running great in about 10" of snow so far with more on its way.
The problem I fear, is that we are expecting -25 Deg. Celceus. and most of its gonna turn to ice.
I think I'm gonna need to use those chains I've been carrying around for the last 3 years.
Problem is, with chains (not cables), do you chain up the front in 4 wheel drive or do you chain up the back. I know, 4 chains would be better, but at $150.00 a set, I only went with the 1 set.
Can anyone tell me which I should do? What will be better?

Thanks in advance.

 

Im curious, where are you driving around Kelowna that you need chains??

Ive only seen chains used in the outback of the Alberta oilpatch....

 

I'm not sure where you are, but if you know Kelowna, its changed alot in the past few years. Driving is great if you don't get all the "city folk" with all Seasons stuck infront of you on a hill.
I'm not saying I need them yet, but if I do to get up a badly iced incline, what do you recommend?

 

I've been living in snow and ice land for a long time and the only times I've had to chain up were in California just because the Highway Patrol wouldn't let you by without them. As long as you use roads that are somewhat maintained you won't have any problem especially if you put 500 pounds of well secured weight in the bed.

If I ever had to use chains much I'd buy some of these>
http://www.insta-chain.com/

 

Man, those are wild.....I have never seen anything like that....and I hope I'm never anywhere where I would need those!

 

PK
I run from Surrey up to Sun Peaks on the Coke almost every weekend in the winter months for a ski the past 5 years, and have never needed chains.
And have seen some pretty bad weather condtions.
Only 1 set of chains I would use them on the rear

 

We are using those insta chains on some of our fire rescue trucks down here,
They work slick, they drop down and spin under the front of the rear wheels, as you drive the one on the right spins clockwise and the one on the left spins counterclockwise. We keep them up when the main roads are clear and then when we enter a side street or anywhere we need traction we drop them down.

 

chain the front. in snow front does the digging, in ice you need steering.
Clark

 

That's right. I love chaining up, you know it's nasty then!

 

PK im 1300 km north west of you in BC and all im using is real good studded snow tires, they are also syped (spelling) handle great on ice and in snow of differant depths, havent needed chains yet in 2 winters with my 06 2 wheel drive, and ive been over Duffie Lake road to Squamish pulling a trailer of about 4000 lbs, and i woud trade you locations anytime, hahahaha specially spring fall and winter.

 

Id recommend studded tires if its really that bad...not sure if they are legal in BC though

FWIW, Ive driven a number of miles in the Alberta oil patch (Im talking bush) and never had to resort to chains...



Just read your signature now - no 4X4??

 

Im in Kamloops 2 hrs away and we have more hills, if I need chains here might as well just park as you are not going to get around those "people", we have lots here too, could actually send more over your way. I have driven in Kelowna lately and it is getting bad, whats with that horrid bridge anyway!!!! I would get a bigger bumper and push!!!

 

I drove for 20+ years in the snowy NE, so I'd think you'd need a cow-catcher before chains with all the no-drivin' idiots on the road, but I agree that the front steering & driving wheels should be first up for chains!

 

Go take a peek under the first DOT snowplow/sander truck you see, they ALL have automatic chains on them , as well as all our fire trucks. AFAIK ambulances do not have them.

 

I'm kinda out in the stix so I don't get to see much in the way of MTO (our version of DOT) trucks.....I can tell ya that the township trucks don't have anything like that (all 2 of them!)....when the going gets tough, the road graders (they don't use chains) come out and make short work of even the biggest drifts in these parts and they just leave trucks to the sanding.

I think if I was somewhere where I needed chains, I would rather just be on a sled!