Tire chains? January 14, 2018, 12:40:56 pm Living in southern California means almost never driving in snow. Further, our last two rigs were heavy campers on 4x4 trucks with aggressive tires, so when we did get a little snow, chains weren't necessary. As a result, I'm ignorant about tire chains and the Lazy Daze.Larry suggested safety chains for the rear axle of the Lazy Daze.What is the best practice if driving snow can't be avoided: chains on the outer rear tires or two sets for both. If so, how does one put the chains on the inner tire?Harold
Re: Tire chains? Reply #1 – January 14, 2018, 01:03:01 pm For years we carried chains. However the traction of 3-season duallies with 70% of the vehicle weight there is tremendous. We have plowed out of 12"+ of snow without chains with no issues. Once we topped a pass through 6" of snow where cars were strewn all over the road and we had to wend our way among them. We had a train of cars behind us following our track.Steve 2 Likes
Re: Tire chains? Reply #2 – January 14, 2018, 02:09:08 pm I've driven my previous little C, a Toyota-based Dolphin, and the LD over the Grapevine, Tehachapi, and Siskiyou, eastbound Tioga (snow and 8% grades are not a good combination) and in a few other places in snow without chains; I hated every scary nanosecond of it, particularly when the wipers loaded up with heavy, wet, falling snow, a line of 18-wheelers was following me down the Grapevine ( ), and/or the rear end of the rig would slip sideways. Every instance of 'snow driving' was unexpected, i.e., there was no snow forecast; I detest the white stuff, and I sure wouldn't have chosen to drive at the time if there had been an indication that it was going to snow. I think these Z6 chains are the ones that Larry recommends for the LD, and, AFAIK, only the outside dual is chained:Amazon.com: Security Chain Company SZ429 Super Z6 Cable Tire Chain for...This video seems to provide the how-to of installing the chains; the caveat of pre-snow 'driveway installation practice' definitely applies.How To Put Cable Chains On A Class C MotorhomeYou may not need chains, but some areas with checkpoints may require that you carry them!Driving in very heavy 'gully washer' rain can be bad enough, but driving in tule fog or snow/sleet/ice is an experience that I don't want to repeat. YMMV. 1 Likes As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
Re: Tire chains? Reply #3 – January 14, 2018, 03:03:13 pm Harold, The discussion of chains has been mentioned previously on LDO. The jist of things is “Don’t” drive in the snow. Just pull over to the side of the road and join me and Larry for a hot cup of coffee until the storm blows through. Did I mention there will be fresh donuts? Z Chain Cables are a quick and easy for those times when you just absolutely want to get crazy. https://youtu.be/SdROEAdoekE I have two sets. One set for the outside dually’s and a second set for the front tires for that really “Wild And Crazy” ice covered road that wants to throw you off the side of the road. Think I’ll just pull over. Did I mention the hot coffee and donuts?I bought my set of Super Z’s at Pep Boys on my way to Yosemite two seasons ago. I practiced installing them in the parking lot and it is pretty easy and advisable. Best to practice before you need to do the job in adverse conditions. I think it was either Andy or BobMoore14 who mentioned to carry some flattened cardboard boxes in the rig for roadside emergencies like chain installation. I do. I also carry an Orange Hazard Vest for such emergencies. I’d rather drink coffee.By the way, I avoided the snow going up to Yosemite that year by taking the 140 out of Merced and stayed below the snow line. It’s actually a very picturesque drive and now my road of choice to the valley.So yeah, get your Z’s but avoid putting them on. Larry and I will keep a light burning and cup of joe waiting for you. And, oh yeah, that donut you’ve been wanting for so long.Kent 3 Likes
Re: Tire chains? Reply #4 – January 14, 2018, 04:45:43 pm Quote from: Blueox25 - January 14, 2018, 12:40:56 pmWhat is the best practice if driving snow can't be avoided: chains on the outer rear tires or two sets for both. If so, how does one put the chains on the inner tire?HaroldWe have driven both our LD (1983 and 2003) in snow many times and have been happy how well the dual rear tires perform, without cables or chains.8000+lbs, over the rear wheels, and eight driven tire edges sure helps.For those time when the road is very icy or when the Highway Patrol requires chains, we will use the Super Z6 cables.Amazon.com: Security Chain Company SZ429 Super Z6 Cable Tire Chain for...The rear wheel housing on most or all LDs is too restricted to run tall chains. There is enough room for cables.Put the cables on the outside rear wheels. If it is so icy that the front wheels need cables too, we will park and wait the weather out. A good reason to alway keep your LD well stocked in winter weather, including water, food and propane.To make installing the cables easier, make two ramps out of Lynx blocks and place one in front of each inner rear tire.. Then drive up on the blocks, lifting the outer tires off the ground. This makes the installation of the cables much faster (less time in the snow getting cold and wet).The rear tire covers will probably hit the cables so leave the covers loose, with the knobs screwed back on so they prevent the covers from getting close to the tires. At low speeds, the loose covers do not cause problems other than flopping around a little. Some folks will tape them up or down, using duct tape.My best advice is to do a trial run install of the cables, at home, and learn the ins and outs of connecting them in a low stress environment. It's a lot more pleasant to to go through this stage of the learning curve at home, on a nice warm day, plus you get to verify that you have the right size cables and associated gear. I carry cardboard and a tarp, year round,, useful for the actual thing, not liking to get anymore cold and wet then necessary.85 degrees on the patio, patiently waiting for snow.Larry 2 Likes As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
Re: Tire chains? Reply #5 – January 14, 2018, 05:01:38 pm I carry cardboard and a tarp, year round.---I still carry a couple of tarps, but I like the Track Mat from Bedrug.com instead of cardboard because it's tough, provides a softer surface, doesn't absorb water, spilled stuff cleans off pretty easily, and it folds into a 2'X2' square that stores easily in the compartment. It's available from a few sources, including Amazon.TrackMat Work Mats by BedRug | BedrugNote: I have not used this in the snow - and have NO plans to do so - but it would work great!
Re: Tire chains? Reply #6 – January 14, 2018, 05:39:56 pm Those track mats look nice, Joan!Also a good idea to carry a folding shovel as part of your winter gear for shoveling snow, mud, etc. This one even has a bottle opener for your favorite beverage while you are digging.Amazon.com : Military Folding Shovel - Multi Purpose Tool With Pick & Bottle...Waiting for our first snow of the season on Friday. Maybe I'll order one myself. As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
Re: Tire chains? Reply #7 – January 14, 2018, 09:14:12 pm To some extent, it depends on where you plan to drive in the snow. If you are within the state of CA, check the Highway Patrol website regarding chain requirements. There are three stages, if I remember correctly. Each stage requires more. Stage 3 is 4-wheel drive with chains on all four wheels. CA does require vehicles to carry chains in winter driving conditions. Not all states require it. While we live in northern Nevada, going north or south or west will take us on CA roads. We do NOT carry chains in the LD. If we need chains, we need to park it. Or, pull off for coffee and donuts with Larry and Kent. Many years ago we drove nearly 400 miles south in a Class A in snow. By the time we reached Bishop, CA there was so much snow piled up in the middle of the highway, we couldn't see from one side of the street to the other. We ended up spending the night at the Coso Junction rest area. Next morning, we had snow on the ground all the way into Pasadena. Never, never, never again! I want to see what I'm driving on. . . and it better not be white.Juli WMinden, NV 1 Likes
Re: Tire chains? Reply #8 – January 14, 2018, 09:24:03 pm On duallies I have always chained up only the outer tires. Next for me would be to chain the fronts. There is no feeling as bad as a complete lack of response to steering inputs. As you find traction at the rear and the front end is going in whatever direction it wants, you quickly begin adding up anticipated recovery and repair bills. Of course sometimes one has to bite the bullet- getting out of the mountains when snow hits is the wisest choice.
Re: Tire chains? Reply #9 – January 15, 2018, 12:05:33 pm A big Thank You to all of you for your suggestions and recommendations,It is re-assuring to know that the Lazy Daze duallies will pull through some snow without the chains if necessary. I will add Z cables for the outside duallies, practice putting them on in the barn to learn how to do it, and then store them as unused tonnage along with the spare tire, two jacks, bag of tools, 250ft.lb. torque wrench, extra water pump, etc. I'll intentionally avoid snow, although we have had to drive through it briefly and unexpectedly on previous trips. Kent, Julie, and Larry's suggestion to pull over and enjoy a cup of coffee, and maybe even a doughnut, is the strategy that I will most likely employ. As always, it is about risks and rewards.I appreciate all of your advice and suggestions. Kent, I am still looking forward to that coffee and doughnut meeting. Perhaps at Joshua Tree or Big Bear?Harold 2 Likes
Re: Tire chains? Reply #10 – January 16, 2018, 12:21:12 pm On a related note, for those who drive where roads might be salted, here are some techniques for getting the salt off before it can do damage:Salt Removal Techniques to Keep Your Car Clean 1 Likes
Re: Tire chains? Reply #11 – February 19, 2018, 09:39:24 pm So...I was just checking on my saved data and came across a California DOT page outlining chain requirements.Taking a good look at the page shows that Cal DOT would like us RV enthusiasts to place snow chains on the inside dually’s “if possible”. I wonder what they would consider “possible”? Cables would seem to be possible but earlier discussions on LDO speak of the outside dually’s being the honored recipient of the cables.Just curious. Here’s a screen shot of the Cal DOT page in question. Oh by the way Harold the coffee and donuts are on me...Big Bear is calling...don’t forget your chains. ☃️Kent
Re: Tire chains? Reply #12 – February 20, 2018, 12:43:12 am Not to forget in California, CHP wants chains on the towd as well. For a better view of the diagram, try this link:Link to Kent's Diagram 1 Likes
Re: Tire chains? Reply #13 – February 20, 2018, 11:06:06 am A resource that I've found helpful in the past is from the Oregon Department of Transportation. Lots of good tips on winter driving, as well as videos on chaining up, etc:http://www.oregon.gov/odot/pages/winter-driving.aspx 1 Likes
Re: Tire chains? Reply #14 – March 05, 2018, 09:16:27 am It seems tire chains/ cables are like winter clothes; you'll find good prices on them at the end of the season. I just purchased a set of Super Z-6 cables for the Outback for $35 from Amazon (using our Affiliate link, of course ). They normally list for $117. I will probably never use them but will have them to meet the California chain requirements.If you have been considering buying chains, now might be a good time!
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