tire chains

Has anyone had trouble using Tire chains on the front?

 

Absolutely. They will not work with standard offset wheels. If I had known it, I probably would have bought something else.

 

Not even the low profile chains? I was hoping that with my upcoming 2" front lift I would be able to get a thin set of chains on the front. I guess its the UCA that's in the way?

 

I don't know what the part is called, but when I put a cable chain on mine, I could not rotate the tire a full turn because the connector on the chain hit it.

 

Fender plastic or metal part between the tire and shocks?

 

Metal, on the inside at the top. Different offset wheels or spacers might make it work, but I would rather not change the load on the bearings.

 

I was irate when I discovered this in 2012. If you get wheels with 4.5" back space you can run chains, but it's tight. I have a set for the front, but have never run them. Just get good tires and don't be afraid to air down to around 15 psi. You really won't need front chains. I drive alot in fairly deep snow and do way better than most of the other trucks out there.

 

Not even a good mod out there to make chains work?
Chains just make a huge difference in mud and snow where I go hunting

 

I agree. I have used chains for getting into and out of some messy situations. If you've never aired down with good traction tires it's hard to believe how good the traction is. Chains just dig you down to the hard surface. If there's no hard surface within reach, chains don't help - well, they help get you more stuck. This is experience talking.

 

It's also case-specific bias talking. Most people looking for chains want chains even after having good tires and airing down. In my case I would like chains to get up hills in snow with an ice base (unmaintained FSR's) or very poor condition roads with ice covered surface. Airing down is great in some cases but its not better than chains. It's just different. If I'm driving in sand or bottomless mud I will air down and hope for the best. Part of a very remote highway I often drive in winter has a stretch called "the hill" and it is up to 16% grade, single lane, switchback style on the side of a mountain with no guard rails and an immediate drop of 200-800 feet. (Hwy 20 in BC between Hagensborg and Anahim Lake) If I am on sheer ice going downhill on that stretch of road or trudging uphill through deep snow with ice base on remote FSR's, I want chains.

That was a bit of a tirade. I want the option of front chains for extreme and remote winter driving which I very often see and I am of the mindset to be prepared rather than regret being unprepared. Airing down is awesome but not the best answer in some cases.

 

Scary FSRs are why I always have chains in the truck. 4 of them. I sold my offset wheels though. Haven't tried them on my 33s yet.

 

I was hoping my 235's would accommodate but from what I read they won't. The Thule K Summits are a solution but way way way over priced.

 

Which tires are recommended for slick clay mud if you can't use chains?

 

Mud tires.

 

Tried the Toyo MT on another truck, heavy tires. Most everything else I see are the nitto

 

Which chains have you tried? How'd it work or not work?

 

Almost needed chains in rotten spring snow last night. Maybe I should see if they fit the new tires . I thought I was going to need to get the winch out. A bit of creative maneuvering and some skinny pedal did the trick. Thank you yellow wire mod!!

Offset is the key to running chains up front - it can be done. You just don't want to bang up the UCA or spindle - or exterior of the truck if on larger tires.

 

That yellow wire mod's pretty slick, huh?

My 235's and some wheel spacers maybe....

 

Skinny tires pushed out should work.

 

Interesting. The SAE Class S clearance spec is 0.59 inches per side. Stock tires are 265, so with 235 you've narrowed by 30mm or exactly 1.18 inches. So in theory they should fit. Of course theory and practice often differ...