Snow chain question

So I'm finally escaping the mid-west and returning to Nevada - HELL F$#CKING YES. To that, I put chains on in driveway for a little refresher training. (Thompson 275/75/17 tire; QG2228 chain.) I noticed my chains are slightly long and I'm wondering what the best tactic is for dealing with the extra; I don't want free body work...) 1.) Cut it off? 2.) Secure with bailing wire? 3.) Secure with a heavy duty zip tie. What say you chain users out there?

 

I'm not a chain user, but knowing the characteristics of tires and rotating stuff. Securing with bailing wire or zip ties is at best temporary.

Cut it off, then no chance for the tie down to break and have flinging chain doing custom body work.....or worse.

 

I don't use chains, however have sold many sets when I owned my auto parts stores and installing tensioners is the answer.

 

Tensioners ARE being used already which was never in question. The question what to do with the 2-3" extra on the free end - cut it off or secure it.

 

Are you talking about the extra links on the ends of the chains on the inner side of the tire that are used to catch the hook before you apply tension? If that's the case, you can just cut them off. That's assuming you never plan on using your chains for another tire size. If you're talking about extra links anywhere else, it probably means your chains are simply too big for your tires.

 

Thanks. My first thought was 'too big' also because there seems to be an extra link or two on the outboard side as well. 100% these ARE the correct chains per the QG size chart however. Not having chained-up in years, I may have failed to remove as much slack as possible on the inboard side as a first step. (It's all coming back to me now.) If the published chain size is in fact too big, it's by a slight amount - bringing us back to the bolt cutters...

 

(30+ years of chains here) ... As others have said ... On the inside, cut off whatever extra links you don't need.
(Extra hint.. just so you know how tight a fit you can get ... Pull one tire off and mount the chains on them where everything is easy to install. That way you'll know you have everything spread out evenly .. Everything pulled tight ... And you'll know exactly how much you can trim off to get a nice snug fit..)
You especially want no inside links flapping around as there's the possibility it could catch and tear up the brake line going to that wheel (Don't ask me how I know..)...
More extra hint: As others said.. Tensioners. Must have. Don't bother with those crappy little ones that are like a big rubber-band with the dinky little hooks on them. Those are garbage. Go to the hardware store and get some of those nice heavy-duty black rubber bungee straps. For a 17" rim, you'll probably need 14" straps. I've gotten 12" ones on 16" rims with 30x10.5 tires, but it was a real struggle getting them on.
Anyway, I put 4 straps on per wheel, so you have a nice 8-point connection point keeping the chains nice and tight. And plan on buying new straps every winter... Cheap insurance. The last thing you want is yer chains coming un-glued at any point, cuz it's always in the worst place and time possible. (Don't ask me how I know .. LOL!)

(Oh, BTW ... Congrats on the move. my bro-in-law and his wife just moved there from CA. Their income just went up 10% ... No state income tax ..)

 

Thanks. The answer from seasoned experience. I can guess how these things were learned believe me. Get the procedure dialed in before you need it - that being my reason for asking. Appreciate you taking the time elaborate BMH. GOOD COPY.

 

My secret for really tight chains is air down the tires put the chains on then inflate the tires.

The downside you need to air down the tires to get them off which was never a problem for me.

 

Years ago I was transporting a women in labor in my medic unit during a bad snowstorm and our old style chain's links kept breaking. We used oxygen tubing to fix a link each time one broke. The tubing actually held the chains together for us through the storm.

 

Definitely cut off the excess. I leave one extra link on (not enough to do any damage) for the difference in tire brands of the same size, and also because sometimes it’s just harder to get the chains on then other times because of how the tires roll onto them. Also always check/re-tighten after a mile or so.

 

My chain use has a little different twist.
The worse thing is trying to put chains on in a storm.
Wet ,sloppy. Crawling around behind trying to set up tensioners.
My solution.
When it’s nice and warm out I put my chains on another tire and rim set.
Deflate the tire, install the chains nice and even. Cut off the excess and then blow
The tires up.. throw them in the back when a storm is coming or might need it.
For my case it was more efficient.
Not everyone’s solution but I knew those chains were perfectly installed and didn’t have to worry.
They can do a lot of damage if they get away..
Just my experience doing it both ways.
Next year I’m doing the same thing for my tractor.

 

That's a good idea! Hadn't ever thought of that... I've always done the 'Pull the wheel - install chains where it's super easy to install and make tight - remount tire' ... I'll keep the 'deflate tire' method in mind next time I have to do this.
My saving grace is I have a dedicated plow truck, that is used for nothing else, so my back thanks me I don't have to mess with chains very often..

 

'The Chain Gods' were with you that day! ... I'm sure you were driving along just waiting to hear the 'Whap! Whap! Whap!' at any second..

 

Didn’t have to wait long.

 

Your method stands out to me as the truly right answer to this. I've totally contemplated getting a dedicated set of chain wheels - just haven't done it yet. Thanks for confirming my theory. My only issue is where to carry the things when I'm loaded with other gear; probably a roof basket.

 

It has its advantages. And your figuring out some disadvantages.
I carried a regular floor jack. I believe this is critical for safety and speed.
Not digging around and getting factory stuff out.
A 4 way lug wrench,1x12x12 wood pads. A couple of Extra lug nuts.
I don’t know what you do with your truck or the things you carry. If your going to be
Off road or on tar. Jack choice is yours.

Practice.
Practice
Practice
May sound silly to some but a procedure will make things go even faster.

Lots of times a big storm time frame was after I got to work.
So I would go in a little early, drive in the shop and swap them out. Like 10 min.
Didn’t want to do it after I got out. Lol.
I was 25 miles from home.
Have fun.
Happy Chaining...

 

I have done the chains on wheel set up a few times with the Celica the extra wheels were in the Trunk.

Floor jack was my choice

 

Very true ... As you said before, there is nothing worse that having to put chains on ... In a storm ... And usually off on the side of the road where it's never level and you have big-rigs roaring by you. Been there done that.
I also like the idea of the extra floor jack. I've got one of those 'mini' floor jacks (Nothing I would ever use in the shop unless I was desperate for something) I think I got from Harbor Freight years back. It's small, comes in a plastic case that isn't all that big, but works. I got that for my full size van as it's 100x easier to use than the crappy factory scissors jack that came with it.
I think I'll invest on another one and just keep it in the back of the cab (AC here, nobody is ever sitting back there, so who cares..)
Also thinking about the extra tires on crappy steel nothing rims with the chains already mounted. Although as noted, it takes up room in the bed .. But also gives you some weight (Although not much, but..) in the back and makes life more easy if you need to change in a bad situation.
(Another note to OP)
If concern for 'room' in the bed is a factor... Another thing that helps a LOT that I do is getting weight in the back, and I use bags of 'tube sand' ... (Bought at the local ACE Hardware store for about $5.00 per bag) ... They're just the right size to fit in the rear corners of the bed .. stack on top of each other, so you're using very little room in the bed. I've got 6 bags in mine right now (3 in each corner) so you got +- 300 lbs in the rear. It doesn't sound like much, but helps a lot ..