The Fellowship of PNW Tacomas | PDX Area Wheeling

True story!

 

It's a little late now, but should I get some heavy duty v bar chains with traditional tightening tool? I'm still pretty new to chains, but I wanna get some to carry with me. I chained up a dual rear tire 26 ft box truck a few times. It saved my ass once because I was stuck lol. I'm only planning to get chains for the rear of the Taco. Front just doesn't have enough clearance to make me feel good about it.

 

For off roading or for getting around town when it’s bad?

 

I would imagine I'd end up using them on road more than off. Off road I would only use them in icy situations. Otherwise they would probably just dig down... be better without them and stay aired down. So I guess I'm asking about what chains yall use on road for ice, but not the wimpy cables like I have now.

 

Personally I would say it’s not a bad idea to at least be prepared but I have never needed chains on any of my Toyota pick ups..... I also believe it’s about the driver to and what risk you’re willing to take

 

Chains can be an awesome addition off roading.
But yeah, the Vbar chains are nice. Get the bungee cords and keep a back up set around. Those things are more than sufficient for getting home if the tires just aren’t cutting it.

 

Just looked at the prices for v bar chains that fit a 33... yikes.

 

I don't think the V bar version of the traditional chains is necessary for Tacomas and for the kind of ice/snow we have around here.

Before I found a set of Alpine Sport chains at my local Goodwill for my 1ton Ford with 285s, I was using the traditional chains (without V bars). They are rusty, heavy, noisy and a bitch to install, but work absolutely great.

Now that I have the cleaner, lighter, quicker to install and equally functional Alpine Sport (Laclede) chains for it, I am most likely going to have the old link chains up for sale at some point.

 

If your looking just for something to have in case; you can pick up a set at Les Schwabs. The V Chains are awesome. But as said below, they are probably more than needed for just running around town.

Good point.

 

Last I knew if you buy chains at Les Schwab and don't use them you can return them at the end of the season. Particularly nice if you are planning on changing tire size in the future.

Edit just checked, still true.

 

You have to wait till April 1st though to return them

 

This is true. Bought some for $99 at the les schwab on Barbur in Portland. Then went up to 285's and traded them for the right size in Missoula. Even though the chains for the 285's were $120, they just swapped them without charging me.

 

That for all four? That's cheap.

 

No, just a pair. Toyota does not recommend running chains in the front as they can damage the abs and brake lines. I have never run chains on my truck. Only have them for mt passes and nat. parks that require you to carry them. A good set of rated snow tires is all you need for 99% of applications.

 

Would not think it's a good idea to drive on only two chains. However you are right

 

My garage has been my office since I started my new gig in November but my little space heater just can’t keep up today.

figured it was a good excuse to try out my diesel heater I just finished putting together this week for my wedge camper.

 

It has become one of those liability issues. Trucks used to run the rear chained up only for years. 25 years ago you could run studs on 2 tires too.
The best thing is to stay home if it’s too bad. Use chains when needed.
Of course, that’s just my opinion. Lol

 

I honestly was thinking about if one of these could heat a small 500ish sqft house

 

you probably could with one appropriately spec’d. Mine is just the baby 2kw sized for my camper so I have it and my electric space heater on in the garage right now. These things like to run full blast (less soot buildup) so it’s better to have a small heater running on high than a large one on low.

they make 8kw units that would probably be better suited to the larger space. People heat some pretty large RVs with them so I can’t see why not.

 

With 33s, you wouldn't have the room to run chains up front anyways. You would rub like crazy on the fender well, and cab mount.

My view and experience with tire chains is to always have functional chains for whatever rig I am planning to drive where possible shitty conditions would require them. I fit them at home on a nice warm day to make damn sure they fit well before I actually ever need to use them. I will happily drive on fresh snow, packed snow and slushy snow in just 4wd. Once the snow is packed and polished, I bust out the chains. If the ground is just ice, I'm staying parked as long as it takes for the roads to thaw.

I actually grew up in Washougal (the doorway into the Columbia Gorge) and we got ALOT of ice each year. I did some really stupid stuff as a beginning driver in a 2wd slammed mini truck back then, but I learned how to actually drive on pure black ice in that truck.
Don't like it, but I can do it.

My biggest issue with driving anywhere around the PDX metro and surrounding cities in wintery weather, is the lack of driving skills of the others around me. Many people f'n scare me how they have zero regards to the road conditions and continue to drive like it's a nice dry summer day.