Chains required!

[varmint]

Our 500' downhill stone lane is still covered with snow and ice- it's as clear as a plow could get it. When we left this morning, about half way down I noticed my neighbor's RAV 4 blocking the lane- right front wheel in the ditch to the right side, hopelessly stuck in the snowbank. I was sliding badly in my Subaru, but was able to slowly back up the lane. I got out the tractor, and with the rear chains giving me traction on the ice, I was able to slip past him, hook up a tow strap, and drag him back on the lane. Without chains, it would have been impossible to even get past him. Normally, I don't need them, but when you do, you do!

 

[davesl708]

Always pays to have a tractor handy.

 

[GolfAddict]

*singing* And like a good neighbor, varmint is there...

Way to go! :thumbsup:

 

[vtsnowedin]

:laughing::laughing:

 

[varmint]

Well, GolfAddict, to be honest he was blocking the lane. He had to go! Now today, I was out in the blowing snow, plowing and trying to keep ahead of it. Tomorrow we are hoping for an oil delivery, and it could be touchy. I hate it when they slide off the lane and get mad at me. You'd think an oil truck would be heavy and unstoppable, but that doesn't seem to be the case.

 

[vtsnowedin]

Well, GolfAddict, to be honest he was blocking the lane. He had to go! Now today, I was out in the blowing snow, plowing and trying to keep ahead of it. Tomorrow we are hoping for an oil delivery, and it could be touchy. I hate it when they slide off the lane and get mad at me. You'd think an oil truck would be heavy and unstoppable, but that doesn't seem to be the case.

Up here we expect oil and propane delivery trucks to be both heavy and sport at least the automatic chains if not the regular old fashioned chains that have to be put on by the driver when needed. Sadly many do not and many unnecessary fuel spills occur when they go off the road and overturn. Seems drivers and dispatchers can't be trained to deliver loads to the top of the mountain locations on good days between storms.

 

[SPYDERLK]

Up here we expect oil and propane delivery trucks to be both heavy and sport at least the automatic chains if not the regular old fashioned chains that have to be put on by the driver when needed. Sadly many do not and many unnecessary fuel spills occur when they go off the road and overturn. Seems drivers and dispatchers can't be trained to deliver loads to the top of the mountain locations on good days between storms.

Automatic chains? Pls elaborate.

 

[CalG]

motor driven. often hydraulic

They just hang just forward and inside the tire until energized, then the sections of chain "fan out" with the rotation, and are caught between the tire and road surface.

All the school busses have them. Search the web. I bet there are pictures.

 

[vtsnowedin]

Automatic chains? Pls elaborate.

Here is a link to a video. Sounds like from the UK but there are many in use in New England. Fuel trucks and school buses and some municipal emergency vehicles have them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPd3O5_SJEs

 

[SPYDERLK]

Thanks!
,,,Pretty nice for road and consolidated pack conditions. I think Iv even seen those on buses, but not in actual use.

 

[skyhook]

Thanks for the video, never heard of them before.

 

[BAP]

These are the ones used the most in the US. Most fire trucks, school buses, ambulances, oil and propane trucks, and many highway trucks have them now here in New England. They are driven by a little wheel that gets pushed against the truck tire by an air cylinder when activated. They work pretty good although not quite as well as actual tire chains but can get you out of bad situations and are activated on the fly by a switch in the cab.
Onspot of North America

 

[Bradbilt]

Chains are an amazing thing. If you want to see off road capable put 4 chains on a 4wd pickup

 

[k0ua]

OK. I have seen "everything" now.:laughing: Somehow I had never seen or heard of "automatic tire chains" The things you learn on TBN!

 

[vtsnowedin]

Chains are an amazing thing. If you want to see off road capable put 4 chains on a 4wd pickup

Once you watched a skidder work you you'll keep your pickup on the road.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILdWjKXxnWg

 

[silvertramp]

Chains are an amazing thing. If you want to see off road capable put 4 chains on a 4wd pickup

My '84 chevy is chained on all four corners. It will really push some snow. My driveways are hilly, unpaved, and tend to ice up. The truck won't wash out when backing across an angle.