Snow chains questions

I'm test fitting my chains and there is some extra chain dangling after I tighten everything down. What should I do with that slack so it does not damage anything? I was thinking about zip tying it down?

 

C link or whatever they are called. They look like a c that has a long nut that completes the link.

 

I'd cut the excess slack... But that's just me...

 

Chains come long so the fit a wider range of tires. Like the tag that says these chains fit these 10 different tire sizes on the front of the box. You should get some bolt cutters and cut off the extra bit of chain. It's good that you test fit them before you were in the snow on the side of the road trying to figure out what to do. Just cut the end to the length needed. You DO NOT want to drive with it still on there unless you really don't like your fenders. Do not leave excess chain on there.

 

You see the guys at the chain up areas that install chains carrying around bolt cutters just for that reason.

 

Thank you guys for the quick responses. I definitely learned a lot with this practice and your guy's help.

 

I wasn't sure when to stop and check the chains for tightness. Luckily my fender flares were nice enough to let me know lol

 

Yup that Wackety Wack sounds says it all.

 

The chains did great! I was even able to come to a complete stop half way up an icy hill. I was able to keep going no problem. Thank you to everyone for the info.

 

One last question for those that are familiar with snow chains. Now that I have used and abused my snow chains for the first time... What do I have to do to them to make sure they wont rust out on me? Should I coat them with some oil, grease, or simply hose them down and air dry before putting them away? I want to get as many years of abuse out of them as possible.

 

Wash them, hang them, dry them, then lube them. I spray mine down with WD-40 but any oil or lube will work. Keep them in a cloth bag where they can breath. Don't wrap them up on a plastic bag.

Buy some extra rubber tensioner bands to keep on hand in case you snap one trying to stretch them to put them on or snap one out on the trail. I've also used 2 bands per wheel to keep my chains tight when spinning at those higher RPMs. Just be ready when one of those cross chains breaks at those high RPMs. Could fold in your rear quarter panel real quick. Keep an eye on those rubber bands that they don't dry rot over the years sitting in storage.

 

Thank you @MotoEd for the quick response. That is along the same lines of what I was thinking on how to store them. That is a good tip about having extra rubber tensioners in case they rip.

 

No problem. It sucks being in the middle of nowhere freezing your ass off with a broken tensioner. I had to use tie down straps and that sucks for tensioners.

 

After I had to chain up an 18 wheeler to get across Donner summit about 15 years years ago, I SWORE I would never use chains again. And, I didn't until I had to get some for my RAV4 a couple of years ago. I'm thinking of getting some for the Tacoma to have with me as a last ditch resort if things get really bad out here like they did last Winter. Was stuck out here on the mountain for 12 days before we could get out...

 

Donner Pass gets pretty bad in the winter when those big storms hot like the ones hitting now. I keep a set of chains under my back seat at all times for those crazy instances. They also work pretty good when your in that slicker than duck shit mud out in Wyoming or anywhere else. I'be been fully chained up, all 4 wheels and driving sideways across the prairie in Wyoming going 5 mph because of how slippery the clay mud is out there.

 

Yup. As we say, "it's slicker then Owl Shit!" Or maybe "That's slipperier then reconstituted goose grease!" (Don't ask me where those expressions came from!)

 

I use wire to secure the extra chain.

You might be able to secure it with the hook on the chain tightener.

 

If you live in an apartment just run them through the dish washer.

 

Some truckstops used to sell a center chain tensioner, which looked kinda like a spider. A metal ring with 5 or 6 short rubber cords with hooks on it used in the center of the wheel to keep the chains tight.

 

I noticed you had a pre-runner sport I have the same and was curious how it would do with chains in snow. Did you put them all four tires or just the two rear?