In some snow-prone areas, it’s the law to carry tire chains — just in case. If you travel in the winter with your RV or tow vehicle do you carry tire chains?
Curious minds would like to know.
Stand by, the poll could take a moment to load.
And here’s a money-saving tip: If you live near a Les Schwab Tire Center, you can buy a set of tire chains for your light truck or passenger vehicle and if you end up not using them by the end of the winter season, you can return them for a full refund!
We avoid northern AZ in the winter. Camp in the south.
My owners manual on my 2014 Silvarado says not to use chains with the factory size tires that are on my pick-up. It’s 4 wheel drive, but we do our best to avoid snowy highway conditions.
My ford manual says that too. But I have chains anyway. I crawled under the rear of my truck to see just how much clearance there was between where my chains would reside and how close they would be to the brake line and electrical connection. Looks good. But, like you, I don’t plan to go anywhere serious in the snow. Chained up big rigs for almost 30 years – AND I’M DONE WITH THAT!
83% don’t… You clearly don’t live north of Colorado lol. Flatlanders!!
We are full time RVers. We carry chains for the toad. We might be parked somewhere snow free, but want to explore somewhere it might snow. We don’t go if chains are currently required, but do carry them for safety. Tahoe in winter can be beautiful.
I have a set of tire chains and a windshield brush/scraper hanging on the side of my barn/shop, here in Florida to remind me why I am down here and for inquisitive people to ask, “what are those?”.
When we hear about snow we run the other way immediately.
So never had to use chains. Mountains are for the summer.
OR & WA require chains be carried during certain months, no snow or ice required.
In over 35 years of boondocking, or what was known as off road camping, I’ve needed chains twice. Both times were summer rains that came into the hills or mountains and made the roads blessed with crossing drainage. Cheap insurance rather than possibly getting stuck in mud. As for winter travel and needing chains, that’s a mistake waiting to happen. 3x-travel-time is not vacation or boondocking. Just park for an extra day or two, or when it clears, head south. BUT, if you gotta travel regardless of the weather, it’s good to know you’ve got the chains just-in-case.
Don’t want to be anywhere near where we might need tire chains ever!
I drive a Class C 30′ and tow a car. I’ve got a rule: If it snows, don’t go. With duallies in the rear end, if you put chains on the outside tires, the inner tires aren’t supporting their share of the axle weight. That’s not to mention chains for the tow car. Whole thing too iffy for me. I’ll wait for a break in the weather.
I have driven in snow in June and July in BC so I carry them year round.
I live in the Southern California Mojave desert……chains? What are those?
We don’t travel during the winter months. 5th wheel has been winterized and we are snugged in our home.
if we’re stuck somewhere because of snow, we just sit it out until the roads are cleared. If we need to go somewhere, like for groceries, we tow a modified Jeep TJ with front & rear lockers and a winch. We might even use it for snow wheel’n if it’s deep enough.
Any one who watches the TV show “Highway thru Hell” could understand why tire chains are a necessity. I have travelled it quite a few times in the winter pulling my 5th heading south. Only once did I chain up all four wheels to go down a steep grade as it was snowing and icy. The other truckers at the chain up area told me I was the only smart one in the lot. Two trucks had lost it on the way down.
Decades ago I decided if I ever wanted to see snow and ice again I’d turn on the Weather Channel.
4 wheel drive has covered most of the snow cover roads. Haven’t put chains on in thirty years. Won’t drive the motor home in deep snow. Park and make a pot of coffee and wait.
As a former Truck Driver, I had to carry chains on the RIG for mountain travel in Colorado. Chains are required in Colorado from September through May! And these puppies were heavy, weighed about 90 pounds per chain. Also had to carry chains for at least one set of tires on the trailer too!
Fortunately, I never had to use them! Scary thought trying to chain up in Colorado during a Freezing Snow Storm!
I’m a former driver as well, Jeff. I can’t even count the number of times I had to chain in the winter running Donner Pass, and everywhere else I drove (based out of Reno). 20 years of that taught me one thing. Now that I’m retired my motto is, “If it’s snowing, I ain’t going”. But, I do carry a set of chains during the winter JUST IN CASE I get unexpectedly caught in bad weather. I’ll put them on to get to the next safe spot to park – and wait it out.
I keep my rig away from SNOW “s**t No One Wants”.
If I need chains I’m too far north!!
Amen