Winter wheeling - chains, cables, nothing, a sled?

[arnie_mueller]

In our JL user manual, it says we're not supposed to put chains on our JLs. It doesn't say why.

Anyone have snow wheeling recommendations? I've never used chains in my life. Having something might be better than nothing at all but I'm not sure how to put them on (I'm sure I could figure it out) or why the manufacturer says they shouldn't be put on.

Do you use chains or cables when you wheel in the snow? Do you find you get better performance? Is there anything I should consider before doing so?

Never been stuck where we haven't been able to recover the vehicle on the same trip. I'm thinking this extra insurance might be worth the spend, not convinced though.

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[Ratbert]

I haven't put chains on something in a few decades. Do you have a winch and / or traction boards?

 

[JEEP4U]

Or

 

[AcesandEights]

Depending on your tire size, chains can come into contact with suspension, brake or steering components, especially if they break.

What I have found is chains don't help in most off road scenarios. Just my experience, but most of the time, off road, you're spinning the tires, you're doing see-sawing with the tires, you're hitting things at slightly higher revs, or the chains aren't a help due to the type of snow you're in. They work best in a specific type of snow, something that compacts and provides some "bite" to the chains, so they can get traction. Nine times out of ten, that's not what I'm in off road.

So, for me, I find chains don't help much (off road) and if they break they beat the sh*t out of your rig.

ETA: yes, I've used chains, on road and off.

 

[RetPara]

In some parts of the western states chains are required, not sure how that applies to Jeeps though. In Michigan we drive our 2dr & 4dr with out chains in snow all the time. In fact we don't even bother plowing the drive way.

 

[LostNotStuck-Yet]

Chains are great tools for many difficult snow wheeling situations BUT …
- They have to fit properly.
- They have to be secure.
- You have to change the way you drive.
- You may lose the ability to turn to the stops without tearing things up.
They can do a lot of damage to your vehicle if everything isn’t right.
They’ll get you through some tough conditions but you better be sure you know how to use them on your specific rig.

There are almost always better options on developed roads.

Here’s an example of conditions that are well suited for chaining up:
https://m.youtube.com/results?search_query=trailmater+elk

 

[dmaxw]

In Oregon I've used chains on everything I've owned except my Jeep. Here, when chains are 'required', they exempt non-commercial vehicles under 10k lbs with winter rated (snowflake mountain) tires. I regularly drive Santiam Pass to get to the Bend area, and in winter it can get pretty bad. Blizzard, 25deg, power snow on glazed ice, near white-out conditions... 4xH with KO2's, slow speeds no problem. Drive for the conditions. We do have situations where it will be declared that All vehicles must use chains, but those are obvious as they post the road under a 'Conditional Road Closure - ALL vehicles MUST use chains'. When you get to those conditions, just ask yourself WHY you need to make the trip. I've lived here all my 59 years except Army days, and I've yet to hit that moment when there was just no way to wait a day or so for conditions to improve, which they always do. Now I'll admit to doing some supremely stupid careless things when conditions were just fine, but when the roads get that bad, just stay home.

 

[Bayrat]

Chains are appropriate for certain situations. You are the best judge based upon where you are wheeling. I would not start with them, but if all else fails, chains sometimes make the difference between go and not go. I have run chains in the winter on various vehicles, including several Jeeps used for plowing.

 

[MileHighTJ]

If you carry anything with you, carry a winch. But for winter wheeling I also carry a set of these, based on the recommendation of someone who does 4x4 rescue/recovery year round.

https://tirechainsonline.com/part-no-3831cv-l/

I have not had to use them, but apparently my friend who does recovery has used them with success. When I've gotten stuck in snow, it was always facing uphill and I was able to back out of it and try a new line, or just turn around. I think if you want to wheel in the snow, just be smart and use common sense. It's very easy to get stuck in snow, mostly because you can't see the sides of the trail, and you might drive off into a ditch and become high centered. Also being in the front range area, I'm sure you've seen those videos of people sliding down long hills that were pure ice. If you approach anything down hill that looks sketchy, dont do it.

But anyway, carrying a set of those chains makes me feel a bit better when i'm out winter wheeling, even if i've never had to use them.

 

[Husky Man]

If you carry anything with you, carry a winch. But for winter wheeling I also carry a set of these, based on the recommendation of someone who does 4x4 rescue/recovery year round.

https://tirechainsonline.com/part-no-3831cv-l/

I have not had to use them, but apparently my friend who does recovery has used them with success. When I've gotten stuck in snow, it was always facing uphill and I was able to back out of it and try a new line, or just turn around. I think if you want to wheel in the snow, just be smart and use common sense. It's very easy to get stuck in snow, mostly because you can't see the sides of the trail, and you might drive off into a ditch and become high centered. Also being in the front range area, I'm sure you've seen those videos of people sliding down long hills that were pure ice. If you approach anything down hill that looks sketchy, dont do it.

But anyway, carrying a set of those chains makes me feel a bit better when i'm out winter wheeling, even if i've never had to use them.

Those chains in your link are absolutely Nasty Mean. For all but the most extreme conditions, I wouldn’t get the Ice Bar version like shown. Your Friend doing off road Rescue/Recovery work can justify them, because he is not just trying to keep his own vehicle moving through a bad situation, he’s trying to recover someone Else In a Bad Situation, there all the traction he can get is a bonus.

I have had, and used Ice bar chains off road, and they do dig deeper, and have more surface for traction and in limited situations are the absolute choice.

For the average person that is likely to use chains on a road, especially thin Ice, regular chains are a much better choice. In shallow Ice or snow, the Ice bar profile will just beat them up, and wear them out much faster than standard chains, without any advantage

The other key feature of the chains that you linked, is the Cam Lock tighteners, those are absolutely the best way to go, bar none, Those are the style most commonly used in tractor trailer service, I have literally “Hung” those on trucks more than a Thousand ( no exaggeration) times, in the last 36 years.

A main thing to watch using cam locks, is that you don’t install them upside down, the clamp link that attaches the cross chain Must be laying with the flat-side against the sidewall of the tire, if upside down, the curled side will be against the sidewall, and can chew up the sidewall, and the cams being upside down won’t function properly, on the loose first couple cams, you can turn them by hand, but as you tighten the cams, you will need to use a cam handle to properly tighten them, and the chain will obstruct the proper function of the cam/handle

There are some pretty clever ways of attaching and adjusting chains, but in my long experience, the cam locks are undeniably the best, easiest to use and most reliable


Doug

 

[arnie_mueller]

I haven't put chains on something in a few decades. Do you have a winch and / or traction boards?

I have a winch, tree saver, 30' tow strap, 30' kinetic, several soft and hard shackles, collapsible shovel; no traction boards. I've never seen traction boards provide any help in a recovery.

I still need a snatch block or two and a winch line extension. We were up on a trail in WY and had three line extensions to get folks up a hill..... that I made up in my first attempt, being the third person to attempt.

 

[arnie_mueller]

Or

Seems cool, I'm looking for off road though. I wouldn't run studded tires off road. I assume the studs would break off and/or damage the tire.

 

[arnie_mueller]

If you carry anything with you, carry a winch. But for winter wheeling I also carry a set of these, based on the recommendation of someone who does 4x4 rescue/recovery year round.

https://tirechainsonline.com/part-no-3831cv-l/

I have not had to use them, but apparently my friend who does recovery has used them with success. When I've gotten stuck in snow, it was always facing uphill and I was able to back out of it and try a new line, or just turn around. I think if you want to wheel in the snow, just be smart and use common sense. It's very easy to get stuck in snow, mostly because you can't see the sides of the trail, and you might drive off into a ditch and become high centered. Also being in the front range area, I'm sure you've seen those videos of people sliding down long hills that were pure ice. If you approach anything down hill that looks sketchy, dont do it.

But anyway, carrying a set of those chains makes me feel a bit better when i'm out winter wheeling, even if i've never had to use them.

Denver! You want to come out snow wheeling with us? We typically go to the usual spot out by Nederland, Switzerland/Sugarloaf. There's a NoCo Jeep club on here, few of us chat there.

 

[Terrymo]

I have a winch, tree saver, 30' tow strap, 30' kinetic, several soft and hard shackles, collapsible shovel; no traction boards. I've never seen traction boards provide any help in a recovery.

I still need a snatch block or two and a winch line extension. We were up on a trail in WY and had three line extensions to get folks up a hill..... that I made up in my first attempt, being the third person to attempt.

Traction boards if you‘re solo In the sand. Otherwise no. One of my recovery gear purchases that I’m wondering if I just fell prey to the marketing. I don’t even carry them on the outside of the Jeep so not even good for mall cred.

 

[arnie_mueller]

I think I'll pick up a set for a couple hundred bucks and learn how to use them then keep them in the Jeep during winter. Sounds like as long as I'm not in full flex or full lock, I should be okay wheeling with them and driving on the road shouldn't be a problem if I ever needed them, so far, no need on pavement.

Thank you all for your insights!

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