Recommended Snow Chains

[papadop88]

Hey guys,

Anyone recommend some good snow chains for our runners in the event CHP requires me to put some on?

Never had to in the past but I'll be driving up to Tahoe in the middle of a dump alert and not sure if CHP will require me to put some on.

Also, should I get four or can I get away with just two in the rear?

Cheers!

 

[Saker]

Hey guys,

Anyone recommend some good snow chains for our runners in the event CHP requires me to put some on?

Never had to in the past but I'll be driving up to Tahoe in the middle of a dump alert and not sure if CHP will require me to put some on.

Also, should I get four or can I get away with just two in the rear?

Cheers!

any good recommendations for tire chains(mud use) that fit 33's?

 

[BearBio]

If it's that bad, I get out and build a fire!

BTW: If you put chains on 2 wheels while in 4WD, they should be on the FRONT! It's easier to pull a string than push it!

Of course, you could only put them on the left side! :jump:

 

[CutthroatSlam]

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Link works; posting from iPhone sucks. Glacier v-bar chains will not disappoint.

 

[CutthroatSlam]

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[CutthroatSlam]

If it's that bad, I get out and build a fire!

BTW: If you put chains on 2 wheels while in 4WD, they should be on the FRONT! It's easier to pull a string than push it!

Of course, you could only put them on the left side! :jump:

Problem is not as much power is distributed to the front wheels while in 4WD. It’s better to put chains on rear and run in 2nd. Best is chains on all 4 and 4WD, but I only see that need for snow plowing and no one plows with a 4Runner.

 

[jp.vegas]

If it's that bad, I get out and build a fire!

BTW: If you put chains on 2 wheels while in 4WD, they should be on the FRONT! It's easier to pull a string than push it!

Of course, you could only put them on the left side! :jump:

Check your owners manual. Chains are not recommended for the front wheels. Rear wheels only.

 

[mrblah]

putting chains in your front will probably destroy all the delicate sensors and somewhat important stuff like brake lines that we sometimes need.

OP, you have ko2's..so get some cheap chains to leave in your car. CHP will check your tires, and ask you if you have chains, and wave you through.

 

[BearBio]

Check your owners manual. Chains are not recommended for the front wheels. Rear wheels only.

Sory=my answer was based on personal experience on an older (1985) SR5 P/U.

 

[Jetboy]

Problem is not as much power is distributed to the front wheels while in 4WD. It’s better to put chains on rear and run in 2nd. Best is chains on all 4 and 4WD, but I only see that need for snow plowing and no one plows with a 4Runner.

I have a plow for my 4Runner. I just plowed my street this week with about a foot of new snow.

But I don't use chains. It depends on where you are and how much ice you get probably. I owned a commercial snow plow company in Montana for a number of years. I never put chains on any of my plow vehicles either. Snow tires work well enough we never needed chains except on equipment like the tractors that have hard rubber for agricultural use.

4runner certainly isn't what I'd choose for a commercial plow rig. Heavy and short wheel base are big positives. But the front steering isn't really up to the task of hanging 500lbs off the front and beating on it. I think you'd be replacing steering racks every season. And rear visibility sucks. I only do my 100 feet of driveway a few times a year and when we get a big dump of a foot of snow I'll go plow all my neighbors who hand shovel or use ATVs that can't manage the deeper snow because my 2yr old loves to go plowing. Haha.

I think the traditional recommendation of front chains was for trucks with most of the weight up front and having them on the steering axle. Probably makes sense, especially on something like a diesel truck that might have 60-70% weight forward. On a roughly 50/50 SUV, going on the rear tires is probably about the same performance. I do think you could get away with low profile cables up front, but it'll be close on the bumper and fender clearance even if the brake and abs lines aren't a problem.

 

[papadop88]

any good recommendations for tire chains(mud use) that fit 33's?

Cheers brother, thank you. Ya I read the manual for our 4Runners and they recommend ONLY in the rear. Makes sense too because I can imagine chains breaking would wreck the front control arms, etc. In instances like this, I'll take the engineers' words on it.

 

[papadop88]

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Link works; posting from iPhone sucks. Glacier v-bar chains will not disappoint.

Thank you!

 

[papadop88]

putting chains in your front will probably destroy all the delicate sensors and somewhat important stuff like brake lines that we sometimes need.

OP, you have ko2's..so get some cheap chains to leave in your car. CHP will check your tires, and ask you if you have chains, and wave you through.

Cheers man! That's what I was thinking too. That's what they've always done but a buddy of mine scared me saying with all the snow being dumped and not enough snow plow operators..because CA vax mandates ya know...they may not be able to clear the roads quickly enough or at all.

 

[the_economist]

I have these for 275 KO2s and am in the Sierra snow all the time. They are amazing, super easy on and off: Peerless | Auto-Trac (R)

 

[papadop88]

I have these for 275 KO2s and am in the Sierra snow all the time. They are amazing, super easy on and off: Peerless | Auto-Trac (R)

I picked these exact ones as well. Been reading good things about them. Hopefully I don't have to use them.

 

[CutthroatSlam]

I have a plow for my 4Runner. I just plowed my street this week with about a foot of new snow.

But I don't use chains. It depends on where you are and how much ice you get probably. I owned a commercial snow plow company in Montana for a number of years. I never put chains on any of my plow vehicles either. Snow tires work well enough we never needed chains except on equipment like the tractors that have hard rubber for agricultural use.

4runner certainly isn't what I'd choose for a commercial plow rig. Heavy and short wheel base are big positives. But the front steering isn't really up to the task of hanging 500lbs off the front and beating on it. I think you'd be replacing steering racks every season. And rear visibility sucks. I only do my 100 feet of driveway a few times a year and when we get a big dump of a foot of snow I'll go plow all my neighbors who hand shovel or use ATVs that can't manage the deeper snow because my 2yr old loves to go plowing. Haha.

I think the traditional recommendation of front chains was for trucks with most of the weight up front and having them on the steering axle. Probably makes sense, especially on something like a diesel truck that might have 60-70% weight forward. On a roughly 50/50 SUV, going on the rear tires is probably about the same performance. I do think you could get away with low profile cables up front, but it'll be close on the bumper and fender clearance even if the brake and abs lines aren't a problem.

On this day it snowed at 34 F and the snow got quickly packed to where it was slick as ice. There were 5 cars spun out on the turn at the bottom of the hill (all our property on the far side) include a Highway Patrol Car. This bus tried to do a 3 point turn around up neighbor’s driveway at top of hill to avoid the mess and clipped the corner, putting rear axle in the ditch with ass end high centered on the road. I brought in the 4Runners bigger brother: 1999 Suburban K2500 4WD Diesel. I eventually got the bus out by pulling it forward up the driveway, then pulling the ass end sideways down the hill.

School bus rescue - YouTube

This is in unincorporated area of Stevensville, Montana in the Bitteroot Valley. Broke two cross chains on one set. Ordered a set of hardened chains to cover all 4 wheels and repaired this set.

 

[kaitlyn2004]

I have these for 275 KO2s and am in the Sierra snow all the time. They are amazing, super easy on and off: Peerless | Auto-Trac (R)

I picked up the auto-trac for my stock size 265s but "slightly beefier" falken wildpeak, and I couldn't get them to fit!

Very annoying. I love the idea of a self-tensioning system.

I wonder if there's a SMALL chance I somehow got the wrong chains (despite label) and maybe they can actually fit... blehhh

 

[ravens_wood]

I picked up the auto-trac for my stock size 265s but "slightly beefier" falken wildpeak, and I couldn't get them to fit!

Very annoying. I love the idea of a self-tensioning system.

I wonder if there's a SMALL chance I somehow got the wrong chains (despite label) and maybe they can actually fit... blehhh

I have Toyo A/T III in 265 and had a little trouble squeezing them on.

I found you have to pull the top tensioner out all the way (rather than just enough to hook on) to provide more slack to hook the bottom.

Then they'll self-tighten once you flip the tabs down.

 

[CutthroatSlam]

I have these for 275 KO2s and am in the Sierra snow all the time. They are amazing, super easy on and off: Peerless | Auto-Trac (R)

I can tell by just looking at these chains, they are not hardened. Also the connecting chain between diagonal cross chains is wasted space as it provides no traction. The red tightening ring chain appears to be plastic. I checked on the price and they sell them at Walmart for $94. Trust me, you get what you pay for. From a site that recommended OEM Oil and fluids only, OEM filters and Spark Plugs, then recommends this junk makes no sense. The OP asked for recommendations on a "good set of chains." These do not fit that description, but they are supposedly easy to install. These chains will work well when kept in the trunk.

 

[kaitlyn2004]

I can tell by just looking at these chains, they are not hardened. Also the connecting chain between diagonal cross chains is wasted space as it provides no traction. The red tightening ring chain appears to be plastic. I checked on the price and they sell them at Walmart for $94. Trust me, you get what you pay for. From a site that recommended OEM Oil and fluids only, OEM filters and Spark Plugs, then recommends this junk makes no sense. The OP asked for recommendations on a "good set of chains." These do not fit that description, but they are supposedly easy to install. These chains will work well when kept in the trunk.

So what do you recommend for chains that are easy to install?