Which axle to place tire chains on.

[sjseng]

I have a 3 axle Weekend Warrior Toyhauler. Which axle do I place tire chains on for in the snow. I know that on my truck I place them on the front axle so I still have steering, but am not sure were to place them on the trailer.

Thanks for any help.

[sjseng]

I have a 3 axle Weekend Warrior Toyhauler. Which axle do I place tire chains on for in the snow. I know that on my truck I place them on the front axle so I still have steering, but am not sure were to place them on the trailer.

Thanks for any help.

[ncason]

Sorry, I do not have a clue. We avoid driving in the snow. Northeast NC closes down at the first flake. A real disaster here is 3" of the white stuff.

[Hitchhiker]

I don't think it would matter. If it's that slippery to warrant the use of chains, it'll be lateral stability on the trailer you're after. The two times I got caught on mountains in snow with the trailer (no chains) my biggest two concerns were to keep the truck firmly planted to the road and to keep the trailer from sliding sideways on banked, downhill curves.

I avoid towing in snow and ice like I'd avoid the plague....it'll lead to nothing but problems. But, I'm in mountains and I presume you're in flat land.

[Fulltimer]

Unless your truck is 4X4 putting chains on the front will get you nowhere.

[sjseng]

Sorry, guess I should have put that also. Yes my truck is 4x4. That is why I put the chains on front. I grew up in Tahoe and am used to driving in the snow, but never towed or payed attention to people that have while towing in the snow. Actually, can't remember the last time I have used chains.

I don't necessarily plan on going in the snow, but just in case I need to go over the pass after a snow, I wanted to be educated so I don't jack-knife and kill myself, family, or others.

Thanks for everyones help.

[Paul Heuvelhorst]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by sjseng:
I have a 3 axle Weekend Warrior Toyhauler. Which axle do I place tire chains on for in the snow. I know that on my truck I place them on the front axle so I still have steering, but am not sure were to place them on the trailer.

Thanks for any help. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Sjeng,
I'm glad you clarified you have a 4x4. I was about to ask you the same thing.

When you put chains on your trailer, they are referred to as "drag chains" only because when you apply the brakes, they will lock up and you will be "dragging" the trailer to a stop. The chains should be put on any axle that has brakes on it (do not put them on a "tag axle" without brakes).

Which axle can be determined by which one is the easiest to access in a snowstorm.

Be sure you try installing them at home in dry conditions, so you know what to expect when you are out on the highway.

We are formerly from the Bay Area (26 years) and now retired to our mountian retreat.

[CD]

Sjeng,
I am sure some will disagree but even with 4X4 I wouldn't put chains on front only unless you will be going uphill only. You want your chains on the back of a vehicle. That's why tire shops won't put studs on front only on either front wheel or 4X4. You want the traction on the back for braking. If you just have it on the front that's when the back can come around (W/trailer it's called jacknife).

[mcgillagorilla]

hi, i agree with the above poster, i always chain up the back axle of a 4 wheel drive unless i need to chain up both axles to get up a hill. i would always chain up the back axle of the trailer for breaking and stability and stopping that is why truckers call them drag chains. hope this helps.

[The Big Kid]

Not to stir the pot too much, but,

ON my 4x4, I put fronts on first. Thats where the weight of the engine is. On the back, its soo light that it might tend to spin and start to chatter(IE - back end jumps up and down). Then I would take my next set and put them on the back.(yes I carried 4 before I got the dually - that reminds me, need new chains)

When chaining a trailer (education on BC logging trucks), I was always taught to do a set on the forward tires of the trailer. That way they don't side as much and slick the road up. Made sense at the time. I think in the RV application, either would work, so which ever is easiest to do I would reckon.

[Randy the sly old fox]

Probably just as important is what are the legal requirements for the state you will be traveling in. Some might require drag chains on all braking axles - which would most likely be all three of yours. Here in OR if you have a 4wd you must either have traction tires or chains on all wheels. As far as TTs are concerened, I think they fall into a grey area where chains are not necessarly required but I bet a State Trooper would consider them like any other trailer.

[John Harrelson]

To maybe clear up what I see could be a little confusing to non-commercial truck drivers.

First off,
if you only have ONE set of chains,
(thats 2 chains only) and you encounter heavy weather...

When it comes to ICY ROADS it does not matter if your tow vehicle is 2wd or 4wd..

always place one chain on the RIGHT REAR wheel and one chain on the LEFT FRONT wheel..

If you have two sets (4 each) of chains, place chains on all 4 wheels..

As for the trailer.. like some folks have already said.. the chains on a trailer are called "DRAG CHAINS"

Drag chains should always be put on the "REAR- MOST" WHEELS THAT HAVE BRAKING POWER.

Very important.... if you only have one drag chain... it must always be put on the LEFT rear-most wheel...

the reason is because you want the trailer to pull toward the center of the road away from the "Ditch" side of the road when brakes are applied.

best wishes,

[Glenn and Kathy]

When it comes to ICY ROADS it does not matter if your tow vehicle is 2wd or 4wd..

always place one chain on the RIGHT REAR wheel and one chain on the LEFT FRONT wheel..

John I think you forgot to mention that this only applies to vehicles with locking a differential. If you did that with a standard diff you wouldn't get far.

[Jumbo Jet]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Glenn and Kathy:
When it comes to ICY ROADS it does not matter if your tow vehicle is 2wd or 4wd..

always place one chain on the RIGHT REAR wheel and one chain on the LEFT FRONT wheel..

John I think you forgot to mention that this only applies to vehicles with locking a differential. If you did that with a standard diff you wouldn't get far. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

My exact comment. I tried that once when I was 16 on a 1964 Dodge D150 with open differential. Didn't get very far!