Okay --- 1st ice storm in Atlanta hit last night. I was almost fired because I was going to leave my wife all alone and stay at the plant and be here to work the next day.....(go figure...). I was told I am not allowed to stay here (and GIT the H____ out) BUT at the same time am EXPECTED to be here no-matter-what (earthquake / WWIII / whatever...) I ended up having to stay at a motel that costs more per night than I make in a day....

I need some excellent chains for Harrison (2WD) that will ensure me getting to work on top of snow and ice (under $400.00, please...).
Any ideas?

I assume I need chains on the front wheels also, to steer with too (what good is traction at the rear with no steering?..)

Help me save my job (and marriage)...

 

I used to live in southern Missouri, and I worked in a parts store. But I was born and raised in Iowa. One day there was an ice storm and only the boss and I showed up. He's from Minnesota. I drove eight miles on a sheet of ice with a '73 F250 and straight tread tires(no chains) while everyone else slid off the road, or stayed home. We sold a load of tire chains that we had to order, and of course by the time they got there, the ice was gone. (good thing for deposits)
The whole point of my lame story is that if you slow down, think ahead, and use common sense, you probably won't need chains. Brake BEFORE you turn a corner, and not during your turn. Throw some sandbags in your truck, or some gravel. You can use either of these under your tires if you get stuck. Throw a tow chain or strap in your truck. Carry some form of communication, CB, amateur radio(with the proper license), or a cell phone. And most importantly, give yourself a lot of extra time if you have to go out. Leaving an hour early will give you plenty of time to practice what I've outlined here. Go slow, go safely!

By the way, if you still want chains, contact the parts stores. You'll probably find that your limited to what brands they can order, and it won't matter what the general opinion is on the FTE boards.

 

Hi Jason; thanks for the feedback - we have more ice moving in on Monday so I'll try your tricks...

 

By the way Mark, I have a set of chains you can have. I think they fit 16" tires, but I've never tried them on. It'd cost more to ship them than they're worth. I also forgot to mention what a chain that comes loose can do to your brake cables and hoses when it wraps itself around your axle...:-(

 

Laptop, i think there are advance auto parts stores in ga. They have prety decent chains and are fairly cheap. Give them a call, be sure to know the size of your tires though (ex p225 70 r15) because the chains are fitted to the tire size. Drive carefull!

 

A-a-a-r-r-g-h!!...sounds painful!! If I couldn't stop for ice, I then wouldn't be able to stop because of zero hydraulic pressure.

I have to go down a mountain to get to the main drag - no amount of "being careful" will keep me on the road, as I've even slid into the ditch with a 4 wheel drive jeep. I am currently looking into some sort of "Z-bar" chains that look like they have a good amount of "digging" power and tensioners to go along with them - about $100 a pair....

I suspect with 2 pair (front and rear) I would be able to "inch" down the small inclines without sliding - once I get past this YEARLY bad area, then I could pull over and take them off and then get on the freeway.

 

Joetee10;

You're so right!! I'll check with them on the way home in Cartersville - they're right there on the git-on ramp to Rome...

 

Not a problem dude! If you cant find a good set you can always buy a set of skis!? At least youd save on gas. Har..Har..

 

My girlfriend's brother drives a logtruck here in the Pacific NW. They go through a set or two of chains a year so I just take an old set and cut them down to fit the 35's I run on my F-350. Better than any of those cheap chains you can buy and you can't beat the price... or lack of.

 

I am in northern Minnesota and have seen your southern ice storms. First, do not put chains on the front of a two-wheel drive vehicle, the chains will stop the tires from turning on the ice. Some weight over rear axle is easiest fix other than SLOW DOWN. We drive in this stuff a lot more than you do and I haven't seen a set of chains on the highway in many years, they are mostly for off-road use, 4 wheelers, tractors etc. Ice is slippery anywhere, it requires slower speed and allowing more time, if you can't do that you will definetly be part of the problem. Many insurance company studies and accident statistics show 4wd/anti-lok brake vehicles just as likely to have winter accident, think they can drive faster! As far as must get to work, YOU decide if your neck is worth the pay. Unless you are a rare case you probably only have minimum liability insurance on that old truck so when you have a one veh accident or are the cause of a multi-car by rear ending someone you won't get a dime for that truck you love anyhow. See if your employer cover you driving to and from work during inclement weather? Hate to go on&on but you people don't belong on the road till the ice has melted, stay home and watch the wrecks on the local news.

 

personally, i carry a set of ice chains from princess auto all winter and spring in my 2wd.. www.princessauto.com $90 canadian, and i've never used them.. lol but we have a set on our skid steer loader and they work great on ice..... as for chains on the front of 2wd's, most of the snowplows here run them on the front in really ice weather, thier only 2wd, and it's all the keeps them on the road... if you buy a good set with lots of x-chains, then you won't have trouble with the front tires not turning, if there's very few bars, then the bar rubber between the tires can slid along the ice just like you dont' have chains....

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 05-Dec-02 AT 05:54 PM (EST)]Get some sand bags for weight - make sure they have plastic liners - this way you can use the sand for traction if you get really stuck. I use a couple of bags of "Tube Sand".
Chains are OK but can do a lot of damage if they come loose. Keep this in mind. I saw some cable style ones last week - more transportable and light weight - don't know how good they are though.
One other point - chains are hard on your tires, rims & drive train.
Also - spend some cash on a decent set of winter tires for the rear - they are worth the extra expense. Put them on another set of rims for easy swapping in spring and fall.
And as a final thought - just take it easy and slow down and you can get there just fine.
BTW - I am Canadian!

Keep it Rubber Side Down!

 

What about studded tires....?

 

78f250 ---

Studded tires would be nice to have if I lived where it is snowy icy a lot of the time. I just chains for that "once or twice a year". I went ahead and ordered diamond chains from <www.tirechains.com> for just the rear axle.

Thanks for your input fellas - you taught me a lot....

 

>I have to go down a mountain to get to the main drag - no
>amount of "being careful" will keep me on the road, as I've
>even slid into the ditch with a 4 wheel drive jeep. I would be able to
>"inch" down the small inclines without sliding - once I get
>past this YEARLY bad area, then I could pull over and take
>them off and then get on the freeway.

So it sounds as if you have more problems with this road than anything else, right? Contact your county supervisor and complain about it.