Best Snow Chains for 2014 TRD

Looking for Tacoma Owners with actual experience with what is/are the best snow/ice chains for a 2014 4X4 TRD. Also what's this in the Tacoma Owners Manual NOT to install snow chains on the front wheels? Will this void the warranty or what?

 

I use SSC chains. They are easy enough to put on.
You want the chains on the drive wheels. I haven't seen chains on all 4 wheels, but then again, i currently live in SoCal and I don't see a lot of snow. Big Bear is it and I rarely need chains (all terrain tires don't require chains at Big Bear normally).

 

depends on what you want to do

you want to go offroad and in the mountains you need serious chains


you want chains to go through 'chain only paved mountain passes' there are lots of other choices


what is your goal with chains ?

as for the front end, obviously if you screw up and the chains wrap around something
or break your brakes or front end components that is not covered. you have to be
smart with the front wheels not busting off or rolling a chain and destroying the working bits.

there is very limited clearance up front when you add fat chains,
which is not exactly evident until you flex the suspension, max the steering, or hit a chuckhole...
then, kaBOOM something hits, chain slide off, wraps around your brake lines and CV, done.

so chains on front must be done right can't be cheesy can't be sloppy install

 

^^ definitely other choices to consider when buying chains. I have the chains for pavement driving only. Occasionally I'll hit a dirt road but the traction is a little easier to get on dirt than pavement with the chance of ice forming.

 

Rud Grip 4x4

 

i used to run chains on the front of my chevy and run in 4x4 and DAMN that thing would go anywhere.... but realistically i never needed to run chains with good tires and 4x4.


That stated OP. I just picked up a set of these (some Security Chain Company VBAR cam chains). FYI these are ones to fit a 265/75R16

http://www.ebay.com/itm/401011968235?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

and a pair of these

http://www.ebay.com/itm/221879155434?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

 

I run whatever NAPA sold me with the V-bars. Been running that style for over a decade on multiple vehicles. If the conditions are bad enough to really need chains, I don't want the sissy "highway" chains.

On my old Nissan I ran 4 chains winter wheeling in the mountains quite a bit. Occasionally need to put all 4 on the Dodge Cummins 1 ton when getting the horse trailer in and out of sketchy shit. I've only put chains on the Taco a couple times in 3 years - rarely have needed them, even driving the same spots where I've run 4 on the other trucks. I was originally going to do backspaced wheels on really skinny tires (235/85/16) so I could put 4 on the taco without chewing up the UCAs, but changed my plan. This truck goes places without chains that my others wouldn't go with all 4 chained up. No joke.

 

Discussed this issue with local Toyota dealer and they DID NOT realize the Tacoma Owners Manual said not to install chains on front wheels. Got under vehicle and examined the area around the front wheels and immediately noticed the small clearance of about the width of my finger between the tire and what appears to be the front suspension "strut?" or whatever it is. Bottom line - if a stick or etc ever became lodged in that small space then according to Murphy's law - Disaster! I live in a mountain development with privately maintained roads and have only one single lane paved road that goes up and down the mountain, the rest are gravel roads. The Tacoma in 4 wheel low gets around the gravel roads with packed snow and ice just fine; however, going down the single lane paved road with packed snow/ice is down right treacherous. I had hoped having chains on all 4 wheels would give me the additional traction to safely get down the mountain, but with chains only on the back tires, then steering may become rather problematic in curves. BTW - we don't have any guard rails either

 

i'm wondering about this as well. its less the fact that i think i'll need chains, and more for if i go somewhere and get told i cant go further unless i have them. no experience with this type of thing, how does it normally work?

 

I use

$60 SCC Chain 0155505 Auto-Trac Tire Traction Chain - Set of 2

http://www.amazon.ca/Security-Chain-Company-0155505-Auto-Trac/dp/B0091RCINU/ref=sr_1_11?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1447127981&sr=1-1
I have never been stuck

 

It varies by state but I have only seen "4x4 or chains" requirements. I personally don't use chains to get somewhere though. Only to get back out.

 

SAE Class S chains only require 0.59" of clearance. Do we have that much clearance at the control arm? My big worry is tearing up the ABS.

 

From my research thus far, I have decided to forgo installing snow chains or even cables to the front wheels, including those chains that meet Class S requirements. The clearance between the tire and control arm is just too small for me to take the risk of not only severely damaging my Tacoma but even worse becoming stranded on an ice covered steep mountain road with a broken chain and damage to my ABS. Now Thule and another manufacturer do provide high end "Premium" chains that clamp directly onto the tire tread that would appear to alleviate the clearance problem, but with price tags of $500 per pair for a total $1,000 for all 4 wheels, I can forget that. I am seriously looking at a pair of Glacier snow chains with aggressive raised bars on the links to install on my back wheels. I have had people also suggest Rud, Peerless and some others. I also realize some folks have installed snow chains on their Tacoma's front wheels and have had success, but I have to deal with occasional wood debris and such on the road and I can just see a piece of wood coming up and lodging between the tire and control arm and snap goes the chain! In my past, I have previous experience in driving 4 wheel drive vehicles in rugged, muddy terrain, in fact, sometimes even following behind a bulldozer actually plowing to make a road. This and my experience in the Army taught me that "Murphy's Law" is always to be considered.

 

I've had a pair of Z-Chains for many years, and only used them once (in WI). Bought them per the advice of many Police/EMS folks that use them on their vehicles.

Here you go: http://www.peerlesschain.com/brands/traction/traction-product-choices/super-z-lt/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5s4NzA_R6gg