Snow Chains

[Iron Boots]

My question is why do you think you need snow chains? I have been driving is snow for 15 years some of it with one and two wheel drive cars and have never needed snow chains?

I understand that through some of the passes out west you are required them or heavy snow rated tires in order to travel, but I would think with a Disco all you would need would be the snow tires....

But that is just me.

Welcome to Winter Romp in Unity ME

To be honest though, only a few of all of the attendees ran them. We were in a '97 disco on MTR's and did just fine. The guys on AT's really benefited from them though.

RJ

 

[Doug W]

Making me homesick, IronBoots!! I used to live on Lowry Road in Searsmont, had a 1966 109 back then. Loved driving it in the deep, light powder. Great farm truck, too. Skippered the Watson's Anjacaa out of Camden Harbor -- maybe you saw the 109 around back then, along the south side of the harbor most days, even in winter -- early 1980s? Ayeah.

I do miss it so....

Doug W
Brentwood, CA

 

[GregH]

Go with RUD or Pewag chains. Ottinger also makes some very heavy chains for serious ice.

 

[traveltoad]

I would guess that LR does not want chains on the front wheels for liability reasons. If one comes off it could damage part of the steering gear or jam is such a way as to prevent the wheels from turning. There is also always the chance of body damage when a chain comes off.

Before you head out on to the trail with chains you must do a test fit, especially on the front wheels. Check the clearance at full lock and full flex at the same time. Some people run lighter chains on the front if there's not much room.

 

[traveltoad]

Making me homesick, IronBoots!! I used to live on Lowry Road in Searsmont, had a 1966 109 back then. Loved driving it in the deep, light powder. Great farm truck, too. Skippered the Watson's Anjacaa out of Camden Harbor -- maybe you saw the 109 around back then, along the south side of the harbor most days, even in winter -- early 1980s? Ayeah.

I do miss it so....

Doug W
Brentwood, CA

I didn't know you were from Maine Doug, I used to live in Rockland.

 

[Iron Boots]

Making me homesick, IronBoots!! I used to live on Lowry Road in Searsmont, had a 1966 109 back then. Loved driving it in the deep, light powder. Great farm truck, too. Skippered the Watson's Anjacaa out of Camden Harbor -- maybe you saw the 109 around back then, along the south side of the harbor most days, even in winter -- early 1980s? Ayeah.

I do miss it so....

Doug W
Brentwood, CA

Hi Doug!

I live in York Harbor, but went to school in Unity...graduated with my BS in Conservation Law Enforcement in '97 so I wasn't in the area in the 80's...I love it there though. Camden is great.

The Winter Rover Romp is held every year by Bruce Fowler, right in Unity. Good Stuff!

RJ

 

[ducati]

Which begs the question, "Why?"
"Because we said so" isn't good enough for me.

It is a simple thing, if you've driven RWD sports cars with one set of snows you know why.

With snows on only the front, you have steering control and usually good braking. A 4wd will have decent acceleration. But the problem is when you turn--the front wheels will have traction, and the backs will try to follow but lose traction. Instant spin.

With snows on only the rear, the rear tires will propel you all day, and you might not be able to steer well (usually big understeer will result), but you won't go into snap oversteer in the middle of a turn.

Offroad, well, that's probably different. Onroad, only on the rear, or all 4.

As for chains on the road, out here in OH (and MI) my snowflake-in-mountain-rated BFG ATs are fine for anything I've come across. But I'd like chains if I ran Teton Pass from Victor to Jackson...

 

[Doug W]

Aaron,

I'm not from Maine, just lived there a few years. Miss it dearly. I keep a picture on my wall of the 109 parked in a snow storm in front of the Fraternity Village General Store. Right about now the deer lists are up in the store, I'll bet, with points and weights and who shot what!

Randy Banis, aka Last Chance Rand, Mr. Death Valley hisself, is from Watertown I believe. You two are the only true Mainers I know out here!

See you on the trails -- come do the mini NVTR December 11th. GUARANTEED SNOW in the high mountians. Lock and load.

Doug W.

 

[koby]

Ok... I didn't want to steer the truck anyway.

Aaron, when it comes to advice coming from Bill Burke and the Crossover King, my money's on Bill Burke's advice.

Take it for what it's worth.

 

[Ray Wallace]

If you're not going to put chains on all 4 wheels, don't bother putting them on any wheels. If you want control and traction and steering, chain up on all four. Ray

 

[Doug W]

Chained up

 

[Christopher]

I've never had to actually put them on, and can usually slide by saying, "they're in back." Not last time tho... the CHP actually wanted to see them.

They do seem to be looking more often to see if you actually have your chains with you. Well actually, to see if you have A Box That Looks Like It Has Chains In It...

I second the recommendation to use the diamond-pattern type of chains. Better traction, more stable, and easier to install.

 

[nickb857]

Thanks everyone for all of their help and their suggestions. I broke my computer last week somehow so i havent been able to get back to this sooner. Thanks I will look into those Rud chains some more.
Thank You

 

[DiscoII]

Hi,

I have a Disco II and I have 265/75R16 BFG AT and soon to add a 2" OME lift.

What is the best way to do a fit test at full flex and lock, to ensure everything is clear?

I have read the manual and it does state no chains on the front but I see a picture of a Disco II with them on the front.

Has anyone had problems running chains on all 4 wheels of a Disco II?

 

[Red90]

So do you guys giving advice actually have experience????

Well, anyway, around here we wheel all year round. The trails are ice and snow for 6 months. If you are fitting 2 chains, they MUST go on the rear. When you decend steep slopes, the rear wheels have little weight on them and love to skid on snow and make the truck swap ends. If you fit to the front only, you WILL lose control of the truck on the first steep downhill. When fitted to the rear, the truck is stable. It also makes climbing hills possible.

In addition, I would be carefull with fitting front chains to a Rover unless you have some serious axle upgrades. They give amazing traction and the stock front axle does not need any help in breaking.

 

[craig]

I believe the advice that was given was to put them on the front EXCEPT when you are going down a hill. This is because the front tires are used to both propel and steer the vehicle. Because the RUD chains are farily easy to use, it is *somewhat* reasonable to swap them from front to rear if a steep hill is encountered. The consensus however seems to be that chains should be put on all four wheels. I don't think anyone is saying that you should go down a steep hill with chains on the front tires... that obviously causes the rear to swing around.

--Craig