Chains up front

Currently I have a lifted 2nd gen with 33x12.5 tires on it. Unfortunately there's not enough room between my tire and suspension to fit full size chains on my tires up front. It might be ok with cables but those are weak for off-road. My question is do the stock 3rd gen trucks fit regular chains up front? Post any pics if you have them. Thanks for the info...

 

Manual says absolutely not. I'm running 265/75r16 with stock suspension and even cables were way too close for comfort.

Maybe with better offset wheels but for now I just run cables in the back.

 

No! not up front, only in the rear. after my lift I'm switching to 255/85R16 and might be able to run them up front then.

 

^ Exactly.

 

Ya that's just crazy to me they didn't leave enough room to run chains on the front tires. You can get through a ton of snow with chains in the front. They hardly help on the rear tires. When we are hunting and the roads get driven over so much they basically turn to ice the chains really help steer and stop. Has anyone broken the rules and tried it?

What about wheel spacers would that make it work?

 

Like I said, I tried on stock width tires and low profile cables from SCS and it was a definite no go for me. You may do better cutting down to a 255 or 245 width tire or a taller tire with a lot of offset and lift, but I haven't tried either.

Yes a bit of a bummer for lack of control.

 

Ya sounds like it's a no go then. I wonder if the Tundra allows for chains up front

Edit: looked up the Tundra manual and they are rear chains only

 

Land89 OP,
I am old schooled. Longs you use stock tires or one notch up is ok and use chain on front. Why.. here the deal. The chain on front will give you more control if start a slide. The chain on front will bite into the ice/ hard pack snow and steering control.
Put chain rear helps abit but best on front. Always follow what state laws applied if you in that state.

 

You clearly didn't read the OP or subsequent posts. Nobody is questioning whether chains are a benefit up front. The question was is there clearance up front to run them without damaging the truck, and the answer is no, at least with stock setup.

 

If you put chains on both ends you are going to break some thing. You think driving on pavement is bad in 4WD chains have a lot more traction than tires.

 

That's hogwash unless you're doing 4WD burnouts while rock climbing. The Tacoma drivetrain isn't made by Frito-Lay.

I run sometimes chains on all 4 wheels in my Sierra when plowing in bad storms, and that's with a 550 lbs plow on the front and 600 lbs of salt in the back. And I sometimes spin all 4 wheels AND catch bare pavement. Nothing has broken.

 

Oh yes i read it clearly. . And i said if you use stock tires and one size up is ok.

 

I've ran 4wd with all 4 chained up plenty of times in my old Silverado and nothing ever broke. But it was so awesome you could handle any snow condition. The conditions you use chains in don't permit enough traction to break anything IMO. Unless you are just HAMMERING on the truck slamming it back and forth in mud or something, but in hard packed snow and ice like I want them for no.

I just went out and checked my clearance again with my new 33" TOYO R/T after switching from TOYO M/T. Only about a finger width between tire and suspension.

 

Good for you I'll show your post to my friend who just blew the rear drive shaft out of his new Silverado plowing his camp road with chains on all 4's or my neighbor with his older Chevy who after breaking his 2nd front u joint decided to take the chains off the front.

 

They don't fit up front. There is not enough room.

 

Might be a reason for that.

 

I looked it up on napa parts catalog. Found that the front spacing is tight with the shocks and coils. But they do make special sizing that denoted "s" for certain kind of chain can be use for front only. For the rear standard chain can be use.. At least i did my homework.

 

I can't even get my pinky finger between that gap.

 

How would you describe oversteer