Got me some tire chains

We traveled from eastern Colorado to Sacramento over the past two days. I wanted to get some chains and remembered always seeing tire chains on the side where semis remove them. Went over Donner summit and stopped at the main unchain area. Took a little walk forward and vac and picked up 2 sets, one looks brand new. I also found a nice igloo cooler on the side of the road where it fell off a cargo carrier. Broken glass food containers inside with ice. No food no, odor and no damage. I will say a win. Now to find my oil leak.

Good find. yeah I see chains along side of the roads from time to time.
Make sure they fit the tire you want them on before deciding to use them when out on the highways.

Also keep some zip ties in case a cross section breaks. They can do some incredible damage to fenders and other parts.

I have a set of cables for the 86 F-250, probably only used them 1/2 dozen times last 8 years.
Here in Nevada, we are required to carry them during the winter months.


Goat

Nice score!

Good quality chains - with wear bars - are hard to find. I bought a great pair for 15" tires right off the shelf in Utah years ago and gave them away when I sold that truck. Watch for thin links (I've seen some that are 1/4 ") and poor quality steel.

Cool swag!

I have never seen Chains with the "V" Bars in the auto supply`s. Most are the lite duty chains. People that live in the SF Bay area, "Hey lets go up to Tahoe and check out the snow" etc.... well they need chains, don`t have them, get to chain control on HWY 80, get turned back and pick up a cheap pair of (over priced) chains that they use one time.
So they are good for that.
Funny watching them driving 50 mph with chains, think they are invincible.

I worked for Cal-Trans in Ca. for 37 years, and we had chains for the Plow Sander trucks, and even they didn`t have "V" Bars. But we did have bags of the replacement Cross Links.
Tires were the 10.00 x 20 and later trucks had the 11 x 22.5 tires.
The yard was built back in 1935, and in the pile of replacement chains, found a bag of new cross links for some tire size we didn`t have any more.

I made a set of "V" Bar chains for my 74 Toyota PU. Then never had to use them. Still have them some where out in the shop.

You haven`t lived till you have to chain up a Road Grader, those suckers are heavy, and even those had no "V" Bars.

I just keep my cables with the 86, easy to install for the most part. and seem to work.
Most people around here use Studded Tires.


Goat

I am on the fence about the V bars, they give excellent grip but they tear up everything I have them on my truck chains and they work extremely well. With no 4wd currently though they are mostly just my “oops I’m stuck get out of jail free card” you just lay them out in front of the tires and boom instant traction aid no install necessary.

My brother and I had to modify/rebuild chains for out dad when we were kids, like 8-13 years old. We have experience. When my daughter was going to school in Boston, she never chained up her truck. She would just lay them down to get over the slick spot and then put them back on the bed of her truck until next time.

these do have some broken links. I’ll try to find another chain or two so I have some spare links Although by the time I cut them down I may have enough spares left over.

I have a set of semi chains with v-bars. One pair for the front of my truck and between that hugely powerful diesel (read "heavy") and those chains I can go through anything. That, and the Warn 8274 on the front, means I don't quit

I seriously have a love affair with chains; 4-wheeler has them, truck has them, tractor has them... even got the wife a necklace once...

yeah, sometimes we need to chain up the front wheels.
When I worked for Cal-Trans (State agency) I was driving a plow truck around 2am on a windy Mt. road. Going up hill the rd curved to the left, and suddenly the front end went out from under me and now sideways in the road.
Backed up to straighten out and she went around and now pointing down hill.
Had Chains on the rear, load of sand and sander.

Finally went up the hill in reverse (had work lights on the rear) about 1/2 mile to a turn out and went back up to the yard.

EDIT:
This is a 2 lane MT. road in the Redwoods, Oaks, Madrone`s etc.... so dark can`t see your hand in front of your face. Good thing I had worked up there as many year as I did, knew the road pretty well so I could find that lil spot to back into to turn around.
Worked up there 29 yrs.


Goat

I thought the chains instead of “max tracks” move was my signature move! Didn’t realize others knew about I thought I was creative. I have already done that twice this week it’s a lifesaver.

We been getting snow just about the start of Fall or so it seems. 2", 3" off and on etc. even got 4".
Dec 31 we got 2ft dumped on us over night.

My driveway to the gravel road is 245ft, and no way my one wheel drive will push through it.
I think it was 2 days later the neighbors Wife voluntered her Husband and his tractor. Got one side of the circle Drive Way open.

Decided we need to head to town, but got stick trying to turn the truck around...OH Great.

Day before the storm decided to throw in the cables. But now are under 3ft of snow in the bed because the way the snow blew around etc...
so now Iam shoveling out the bed.
Dang things are froze so used the HF Heat gun to melt the ice so the adjuster would work.

They work, got us out the driveway and the muddy road to pavement. 6.5 miles to town was icy and even 395 through town when we got there. Snow plowed to the center 3 + ft high.

No way Iam taking these off even on dry pavement, and then have to get them back on to get to the house.

So today looked on Google and found a new set for 235/85/16 $106 delivered from Amazon, and American made. need a back up set for just in case.


Goat

I wanted a third set of chains to repair two sets. As we were going up Donner we got to the unchain area. I pulled over to unlock my hubs and right next to the truck were two chains. In now have three sets and can make two sets out of them.

You heading east or west on I-80?
Iam guessing heading back to Colorado.

Iam about 60 miles south of Reno, be cool to meet up with you and meet a OB member.

Goat

Old goat, next time we co to Ca I’ll try to meet up with ya.