Tire chains - Back or front tires?

[wy-tex]

We just had this situation going in to feed some horses. We had to chain up all 4, take traction control off, 2011 F250. If you get stuck with chains, a shovel will get you out. We made it through drifts I didn't think we would.Very seldom use only 2 chains only .

 

[buckykm1]

I always put mine on the front, on my 4 x 4 Silverado, that is where the weight is, and allows me to steer. if it is really bad, I will chain up all 4. but I have only had to do that once on a hunting trip.

Kevin

 

[shootbrownelk]

Seems to me that there are plenty of new trucks where the manufacturer states absolutely NO chains or it voids the warranty if damage occurs.

 

[tdub24]

I know they have special chains for these newer trucks, I think type S chains. I bought regular chains and put them on my 2009 Silverado and they appeared to clear everything. And for my .02, I always put chains on the front since that is where all the weight is. Pulling allows for easier steering, pushing would make the truck go in all different directions.....watched a man out of Eastern NV slide all over the place and almost hit us when trying to turn in to talk. Ya....he had the chains on the back (pushing).

 

[JimP]

A lot of the newer trucks are coming with the NO CHAINS warning on them, but it is also usually for a certain size of rim now that they have gone to a larger rim on quite a few models.

As for just putting them on the front, it is going to depend on your truck and the clearances that you have. On my 96 Ford F250 diesel you will tear off the front bumper or the chains if you put them onto the front before you either shim or cut the front bumper. There is barely enough room for the tire to clear with stock tires not to mention with chains on. The first year that I had this truck I chained up just the rears with a 600 lb ATV in the back and had no problems going where ever I wanted to go and steering was no problem with no chains on the front. But just remember that 600 lbs in the rear and a heavy diesel engine over the front end.

 

[MtnBuck]

What Jim said.

Also the front end is typically less stout so drive carefully if not putting the chains on the rear.

 

[Alpineman]

Just don't chain up the back on a front wheel drive

 

[Gr8bawana]

Just don't chain up the back on a front wheel drive

I have actually seen this happen back when cars first started being front wheel drive.

 

[Team Kabob]

Anyone put chains on when it gets muddy? Guess I need to find a set for my GMC 2500.
I had a set for my Tahoe, but only so the California Highway Patrol would let me head up into the mountains to ski Tahoe. They would check to make sure it wasn't a box of bolts. Haha


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Timberstalker]

Anyone put chains on when it gets muddy? Guess I need to find a set for my GMC 2500.
I had a set for my Tahoe, but only so the California Highway Patrol would let me head up into the mountains to ski Tahoe. They would check to make sure it wasn't a box of bolts. Haha


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I've put chains on in the mud way more often than in the snow.

 

[tim]

I had them on the back yesterday. my driveway was a sheet of ice, and I had to yard a trailer out of the snow. I got way stuck Friday night, but the wife pulled me out. Just make sure you bungie them up real tight, so you don't have issues. also, I realized I gave some of my employees some of my bungies, I only had enough to do 2 tires, not all 4 like I have chains for.

 

[JimP]

I have had to chain up in a motel parking lot just to get out of it back when I had a 2 wheel drive truck. It was down in Cedar City, Utah and it had snowed close to 3' overnight.

I bought my first 4x4 truck 2 days later. A 78 Ford F250 High Boy with a 360 in it.

 

[kidoggy]

I had them on the back yesterday. my driveway was a sheet of ice, and I had to yard a trailer out of the snow. I got way stuck Friday night, but the wife pulled me out. Just make sure you bungie them up real tight, so you don't have issues. also, I realized I gave some of my employees some of my bungies, I only had enough to do 2 tires, not all 4 like I have chains for.

bailing twine works good also

 

[mallardsx2]

I drive a heavy diesel. Its helpless....Until you put 4 chains on it...then it turns out to be quite a power house.

Also, If I only had two chains they would certainly go to the front where all of the weight is at.