Thread: Mud/Snow Chains?

If a track is so bad you can't drive it, winch it rather than use chains or don't be there in the first place. Winching would be quicker and less track damage.

Originally Posted by rmp

If a track is so bad you can't drive it,

winch it rather than use chains or don't be there in the first place.

Winching would be quicker and less track damage.

ok if you have a winch and what happens if your on a track where there is no turning back and it has detriorated....to the point of no traction!

in saying that like i said earlier you shouldn't be going out with the intent of using them unless you are in the snow...

but i think as a get out of jail card, then maybe

Originally Posted by 1103.9TDI

Bargain Treads, healthy looking chains. I'll keep an eye out..........

........seeing as there's only two, would you fit then front or rear?.

From a lot of experience with "mud Chains" they must only be fitted to the front, if only 1 set.

The reason if on the front you can't lose steer on down hill slippery ground. If on the rear and the front breaks you can drive over the edge with too much grip pushing you off line from the rear.

Use only ladder, with square chain (prefered).

Originally Posted by waynep

Using chains for mud is generally frowned upon these days, because of the damage they do to the track.
Save them for the snow.

I have to disagree having "had to" use them many times when it poured down rain and been caught out in a sticky situation.

A controlled drive out with chains "on the front" allows you to not slide all over the road with wheels spinning "churning" up the track and doing damage, softly with chains will not damage track nearly as much as unchained if at all.

Those who indicated that they should be on the rear only have never used chains before over an extensive period, obviously. On two wheel drive they must be on the drive wheels for maximum control only if one set.

On a four wheel drive use one set on rear wheels at your peril, one chain per wheel is of course much better.

I hope this clear?

Originally Posted by Jojo

Nope, this applies to all vehicles with two axles and four wheels that all stretch down to the ground .

Having done a quick search, I found this site:
http://www.4x4abc.com/jeep101/chains.html




Although they state at braking is impaired when having the chains on the rear wheels this is much less of an issue as in mud or snow since

• the speed will be low anyway
• any braking will cause formation of a wedge in front of the wheel and thus facilitate stopping.

Let's state this again: for the sake of directional stability chains always have to go on back axle or, even better, on both!
Cheers

You would have to be kidding, have you actually used them in a bad situation, down red clay mountain side, I can assure you of total control on the front wheels on a four wheel drive.

Again I've used them many times & saved my bacon & others in the same manner to get out of hell.

AAAHHH chains this I know
Mud chains and snow chains are quite different, both in link size and pattern.
Snow chains, diamond pattern, small links are best, usually with some form of elastic wall fitting or give. Designed to accept some wheel spin and a bit of wheel speed.
Mud chains, Larger links. The chains are only laid over the tire tread. Good sets have 2 chains running around the circumference of the tire, on or very close to the shoulder of the tread, no elastic joints, and the tire should be inflated into the chains, limited wheel spin, slow speeds only, and they will wreck tires if driven on a hard bitumen road.
Every thing else is a compromise between the two ideal types.
No good set of chains can be fitted with out moving the vehicle.
Snow chains are always fitted to the driven wheels, regardless of if it is a front or rear wheel drive.
Mud chains are fitted to the rear wheels first, in all circumstances, preferably all 4 wheels. although i have fitted to the frount only often for decents
Mud chains, do not damage the ground much, but arguing this topic is pointless, best to observe mud chains being used correctly first.
Mud chains should be made up and fitted for each particular tire size and tread pattern.

I am more than happy to explain all this, if some one wishes to make up a set, its not that hard really, just a few simple rules and a bit of math’s.

Originally Posted by RoverOne

From a lot of experience with "mud Chains" they must only be fitted to the front, if only 1 set.

The reason if on the front you can't lose steer on down hill slippery ground. If on the rear and the front breaks you can drive over the edge with too much grip pushing you off line from the rear.

Use only ladder, with square chain (prefered).

Originally Posted by RoverOne

I have to disagree having "had to" use them many times when it poured down rain and been caught out in a sticky situation.

A controlled drive out with chains "on the front" allows you to not slide all over the road with wheels spinning "churning" up the track and doing damage, softly with chains will not damage track nearly as much as unchained if at all.

Those who indicated that they should be on the rear only have never used chains before over an extensive period, obviously. On two wheel drive they must be on the drive wheels for maximum control only if one set.

On a four wheel drive use one set on rear wheels at your peril, one chain per wheel is of course much better.

I hope this clear?

Originally Posted by RoverOne

You would have to be kidding, have you actually used them in a bad situation, down red clay mountain side, I can assure you of total control on the front wheels on a four wheel drive.

Again I've used them many times & saved my bacon & others in the same manner to get out of hell.

I agree 100%.....

I dont fully agree with the following on the part of they can be fitted on the rear of a 4wd as it isnt much help if you cant steer....


Current Victorian Regulations

Alpine Resorts (Management) Regulations 1998
S.R. No 46/1998

54. Use of wheel chains on vehicles

A person in charge of a vehicle who enters an alpine resort must at all times during the snow season, carry wheel chains suitable to be properly fitted to that vehicle.
An authorised officer may, at any time, for reasons of safety or for the control or protection of an alpine resort, direct a person in charge of a vehicle to ensure that wheel chains are properly fitted to the drive wheels of that vehicle or, in the case of a four wheel drive vehicle, to either the front or rear wheels of that vehicle.
A person in charge of a vehicle entering or in an alpine resort during the snow season must, when directed to do so by an authorised officer under sub-regulation (2), ensure that wheel chains are properly fitted to the vehicle in the manner directed by that officer.
Current NSW Regulations

Motorists are legally required to carry correct fitting snow chains in their vehicles when travelling in the “snow-ice” risk sections within the Kosciuszko National Park.

Excluded from this rule are all 4WD vehicles and All wheel drive vehicles, these vehicles do not have to carry chains.

The “snow-ice” risk sections are as follows:-

* Road beyond the National Park entrance toll gate on the Perisher/Smiggins Road.
* On the Alpine Way from Thredbo through to Khancoban.
* Past the National Park entrance toll gate on the road leading to Mt Selwyn.

Please Note-:
Chains are not legally required on the road between Jindabyne and the Ski Tube Station at Bullocks Flat on the Alpine Way.
At times in extreme weather, motorists may be required to fit chains on other sections of road in the Kosciuszko National Park due to snow and ice e.g. Snowy Mountains Hwy. However, you are not legally obliged to carry chains on these sections all of the time.
It is recommended that chains be carried in 2wd vehicles even where it is not mandatory as conditions can change quickly in the mountains.
For up to date road conditions you can phone 0264505600 Snowy Region Visitor Information Centre. Winter operating hours 8.00am to 5.30pm – 7 days a week.

Remember some vehicles can fit chains to only one set of wheels. I believe most Land Rovers can take 4 chains. That's probably why the regulations don't mandate an axle.