does anybody use chains on there car or truck tires on the ice?

[mikey1685]

i have a two wheel drive truck and im thinking of getting a set, just wondering how they have worked for anybody?

[croixflats]

They would work great. Some weight over the rear axle will help also. Its very common out west to see chains on trucks and cars. Very good investment for a 2 wheel drive.

You will go through alot more snow and when it comes to landings that are steep no worries.

[Bigslugger]

Just be careful not to mess up the transmission by putting them on.

Keep the speed down low and you should have no problem

[Big Buck Buster]

I had an old 1968 chev that was 2 wheel drive. I used chains on that, and it worked out very well. Just remember that if you get stuck with them not to spin your tires too much. They will dig right into the ice, then you have problems. The other thing to keep in mind, is that the chains sometimes break. It happened to me, and the wheel wells were not pretty after that. I didn't care because it was just a beater anyway. Giver nuts.

[catfishkid]

I used chains for many years on my two wheel drive after seeing what they could do while I was out in Idaho. I had a f150 2wd and I pulled lots of 4x4's off of the lake when there is a hard crust of snow. after you break through you just spin, but the chains bite in like you would believe. make sure you get the kind with the v bars on them.

[Nate McVey]

I use 2 sets of chains on my truck when I go to CO and in the UP when the snow gets deep. As long as they are tight (and by tight I mean it should hurt your hands as you tighten them) you should not have any problems. Be sure to buy the tighteners as well to make sure they are on there. You will see a HUGE improvement in traction and some added weight in the box. Good luck and let us know if it helps or not.

[mrfish1991]

i coulda used some chains the other day on a local lake...got my one wheel wonder stuck out on the lake and it took me a half hour to get her out...

i had to rip into one of the sand bags in the back and lay down some sand to get the traction i needed to get it on to a road

[vman11]

i bought some v-bar chains for my 4x4 F150 this winter just to pull my wheel house off of the lake because of slush - i wouldn't have gotten close to it let alone pull it off without them

[pikedreams]

I've got a pair that I rarely use, but

[pikedreams]

I've got a pair that I rarely use but I wouldn't give them up for nothing. They've gotten me out of some tight spots over the years. Especially late ice when it's getting slushy and soft oe when the ramp starts falling apart.

[deadeye]

I got a set from a old one wheel wonder chevy and they worked great. I never got stuck again with them on. Like said above you want to make sure they are tight and then let it rip. I keep them around just in case now. I got 4x4 now but even that has its limits. Its amazing how much more traction you get with the chains on, plus it sounds cool too.

[NEWTOTHIS]

HAS ANYONE TRIED THE LOWRANCE ICE MACHINE?

[wplatehunter]

I'm sure they work good, but they can not be used driving on the roads FYI.

[croixflats]

I kind of wondered about that. I wonder if there is a law against them in Minnesota for street and highway use. I also wonder what the speed rating are on them. Like I say they are used out west on the roads. Ive never gone over 20mph in them.

[Mainehazmt]

In the young and dumb era of my life and it was uncle sams truck Ive done over 60 with them on and even had em break at that speed not pretty!

[The_Duckslayer]

Used to "chain-up" Maggie all the time. She was like a tank then and there was nothing that stopped her! Maggie is my 1948 Plymouth Buisness Coupe Special Delux! Chains are still in the trunk and she is still in the garage! I don't have to drive her in the winter anymore though! Take care and N Joy the Hunt././Jimbo

[Sonicrunch]

I kind of wondered about that. I wonder if there is a law against them in Minnesota for street and highway use. I also wonder what the speed rating are on them. Like I say they are used out west on the roads. Ive never gone over 20mph in them.

There is most definitely a law against them. They law came around in the 70s. When bias ply tires were all that was available, people needed the chains. Radial tires (once available) provided enough traction to deem the use of chains too detrimental to the roads to allow their continued usage.

[icehousebob]

I ordered my Silverado with 2WD but got positraction, or whatever its called now. I put my chains with the welded on lugs on before getting onto bad lakes for ice fishing. It has walked through places where 4WD trucks were sticking. Great investment.

REMEMBER, put them on before getting into trouble.

[nels824]

vman11, Where did you pick yours up? Somewhere in Fargo?

With the snow on area lakes I think I'm going to need some to get my perm off the lake.

[deadeye]

We had some that we could put on in about 5 minutes at the landing so it was never a problem to put on/take off. I'm pretty sure the box said that you cant go over 20 and I never did. You cant use them on the road in minnesota, and I wouldnt want to go that slow so I never bothered to try it.

[Capt. Don*]

There is no law against chains unless it was enacted within the last month, you are thinking of studded snow tires, law pertains to the use of them.

I have chains for all four wheels, use them regularly. I'm rarely stuck, but if you want to use them some common sense is required. You will not magically enable your truck to drive through six foot deep snow drifts and so forth. If you do get stuck, don't spin the tires, they cut ice faster than the best of augers. Get out, shovel the axles clear and drive out.

[Sonicrunch]

There is no law against chains unless it was enacted within the last month, you are thinking of studded snow tires, law pertains to the use of them.

I disagree.

From the Minnesota statute 169.72

"© Except as provided in this section, no tire on a vehicle moved on a highway shall have on its periphery any block, stud, flange, cleat, or spike or any other protuberances of any material other than rubber which projects beyond the tread of the traction surface of the tire. It shall be permissible to use any of the following on highways: implements of husbandry with tires having protuberances which will not injure the highway, and tire chains of reasonable proportions upon any vehicle when required for safety because of snow, ice, or other conditions tending to cause a vehicle to skid."

https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/statutes/?id=169.72

FYI, Implements of husbandry is farm equipment being used for farm purposes.

[Flip37]

Sonicrunch,

Doesn't the last sentence in that section say you can use chains?

[Sonicrunch]

Sonicrunch,

Doesn't the last sentence in that section say you can use chains?

Only if it is a farm implement.

Or am I misreading this part to mean a vehicle other than farm equipment?

"and tire chains of reasonable proportions upon any vehicle when required for safety because of snow, ice, or other conditions tending to cause a vehicle to skid."

Good question. Now I'm wondering.

[Sonicrunch]

On second thought, I think you are right. I stand corrected.