Tire Chains

[RJ]

I know 99% of us hate the idea of tire chains, and the majority of us don't carry them, but an interesting thought crossed my mind:

If you have chains on board for the coach, do you also have to carry a set for the car if you're flat towing?

I'm going to pose this question to a good friend of mine who's with CHP Air Ops to get an interpretation.

Good question, eh?

[Dave5Cs]

Nope only vehicles under their own power need chains.  They are for traction to move forward. My guess. Being I was a skier and chain monkey many years ago but never had to chain up a toad. Good question though.

[somewhereinusa]

Don't know about chains on a towed but, most states require chains on at least one trailer tire on a semi. You don't want that trailer passing you on the way down.

[luvrbus]

I believe that will vary from state to state I have seen truckers pulling double and triple trailers with chains on the jeep for steering in Idaho

[Paso One]

Good question, eh?

Hey RJ when did you start learning to speak Canadian Eh! 

[Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM]

Good question Russ.  I have almost always owned a 4WD vehicle (or FWD) so I don't bother with chains normally for driving around town or as a toad. I have never put on chains for normal driving but growing up in snow country I know my limits. I stay home when it gets that bad.  If you have to put chains on a 4WD then you shouldn't be going out. :-)  I stay home if the going gets that bad or have been known to drive the snowmobile downtown to get groceries if we got snowed in which has happened.  

My comment/question is, would having chains on the toad allow a bus to stop faster if you applied the brakes. I am guessing it should help some, but it would of course be hard to tell realistically without some actually testing.  Or is that what you were getting at?

[lostagain]

Looking at the laws for tire chains in BC, I don't see any requirement for chains on the trailer (or towed vehicle). I do see that the camper, or tow vehicle, is required to have "mountain/snow flake" or "M&S" tires on the drive axle. I could not figure out if regular tires would be legal if you carry chains. That is what I have done for over 40 years, both in commercial and recreational service, without any trouble. The police does reserve the right to turn any vehicle around if conditions warrant.

It is interesting to note that cable type chains are only legal if used on the inner dual, as long as the outer dual is fitted with regular steel chains. The reason being that cable chains do not prevent lateral slippage.

Every state and province has their own requirements. But I think having a set of chains in the baggage tank will get you through anywhere, both legally, and practically.

JC

[Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM]

JC, didn't know that about cable chains.  Glad to know as that is what I carry now but only for emergencies.  But I figure they are only about half as effective as real tire chains, but better than nothing.

[TomC]

When looking at regulations for trailer chains, keep in mind some refer to them as drag chains

[Dave5Cs]

RJ when you ask your friend about this, if he says we have to put them on the Toad also, then folks with 4x4 like us would have to chain up front two or back two or both?

And also would we be putting the axles at risk or the u joints because of tire size turning at different ratios as in someone putting different sized tires on a 4x4 front being larger or smaller than back tires which is a no-no. Wouldn't it be the same on some 4x4 that still even in neutral have the axles turning still while in Toad mode? Unless they could keep the chains in the exact same place on each tire which would not happen.
Dave5Cs

[luvrbus]

Don't you know the chains would beat a tow vehicle to death with the smaller tires trying to turn the same rpm as a 12r 22.5 bus tire   

[boxcarOkie]

Oh hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

I know they grow a lot of weed out there on the coast, perhaps it is that, and NOT water?

When was the last time you saw a trucker chain up a trailer to go over Donner or any other pass for that matter?

End of argument ... case closed.

Clifford, I tried both numbers (actually all three) and got voice mail.

BCO

[lostagain]

Boxcar, Clifford must be outside practicing chaining up, lol. Try him later.

JC