Is it better to chain up the front wheel rather than the rear wheels on 4x4?



2001 F150 4x4 SuperCab Off Road XLT, 139” WB Style sides, 5.4L, 4R70W, 3.55LS, 6500 GVWR , (41,000 Miles)

 

Chain The Rear If You Have To Chain Up.

 

Chain the rear as Bshort said.
If you use cable-chains you can also use them on the front. But always the rear first.
One caveat: If you make sharp turns expect to throw a front chain. GO SLOW with front and rear cable chains! I've only done the fronts when the road ('the road': ya' right 4' of snow and ice!) is really icy.
Also, after you install your chains, drive at least a 1/4 mile or a bit more and retighten them.

 

IT is better for control to chain the fronts. It allows you to steer and pulling from the front is much more effective that pushing from the rear, hence the reason so many manufacturers have gone to front wheel drives.

 

Basecamp-

I hope to not seem contrary or inflammatory-
The physics of the vehicle require the least tractive segment to be more affected by velocity in reducing cohesion. In other words- your forward momentum, if suddenly slowed or changed drastically, causes your rear-end to pass your front end, which has more tractive forces adhering it to the surface. (with front chains only) The front tires are a pivot point with chains, given that the rear has no chains.
On a steep uphill climb- You win .
Down hill trudge? Bad plan.

I do agree with all of your statements about front wheel drive and pulling. On dry pavement.

I actually tested this in a huge ski area parking lot with packed snow scraped to ice by the grader.
(The lifts were closed for three hours: too much wind and snow) If I turned sharp with chains only on the front (I have two sets) or slammed the binders on, 360-fishtail-o-rama.
With chains only on the rear, it still happened a few times, but only with severe braking and turning, but much less often.
With all four tires chained I really had to work at it to fishtail with braking or turning. And that includes my ABS kicking in. I only threw chains twice during this experiment, one at a time, on the inside front tire (inside of the turn).

When we drive fire engines (~30,000 to -- ~57,000lbs) in icy or snowy roads we chain the rears and turn off the Jake brakes for these exact reasons.
As an aside: let me tell ya', watching the rear of the fire engine passing the cab at 35 mph in snow or ice is absolutely terrifying! Especially if you're not driving!
But, hey we all have our opinions and I respect yours, while maintaining mine!
Jeff

 

Didn't figure out what yall were discussing until the 3rd post. When it snows down here we just don't go anywhere until it melts.

 

Phreak,
I agree with under those type of conditions the chances are the rear may come around, but you will find that in most states, you can not legally buy studded tires for the rears only. There has been to many accidents caused by rear studded tires pushing the front tires in a straight line instead of allowing the car to turn. Also the rear tires have less braking pressure so it make it mush harder to stop, on some of the new vehicle 20% of the braking is done with the rears and 80% with the front. So if the chains are on the rear good luck on stopping. I am sure on fire trucks that is different, but not many of us drive fire trucks. Idaho requires all 4 tires be studded if rear wheel drive or if front wheel drive only the front two have to be studded. But like you say we all have our oppinions and I respect yours, while maintaining mine!