It looks like it may be snowing thru Shasta when I make my trip up there next week. Since the new trailer (http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=443323) is such a beast I was wondering if I should be chains for the trailer. I have chains for the superduty but have never towed a load like this thru snow. :eek: Anyone have experience with this?

I have most everything else taken care of, new hitch, new WD hitch, new parking brakes, alignment, new guages on the way, straight pipe exhaust :D , and a bunch of other stuff to ensure the truck is ready. I just want to make sure I can control this beast if things get nasty.

Any advice is appreciated. :D

I've got several 38' enclosed car haulers that I do chain up whenever I chain up the rig that's towing it. Just figure it's better to be safe than sorry...and if the tow rig needs them, the trailer probably does as well

I have first-hand experience how much fun towing in the snow is... if you think you'll hit anything more than a dusting, get the chains. It should help keep the trailer from wanting to slide sideways and jackknife like mine did. Crunching the side of your bed in on a '05 truck sucks :mad:

Get the chains, for ALL axles, tow rig and trailer.

Yeah, a bitch to put on... but after experiencing a few trailer-low traction-thought I was gonna die events. I'm sold on chaining up in low traction situations.

In my case, it was a slimey ass mud trail with a steep downhill and a 4,000lb trailer (army trailer with a lot of rock) behind a 5,000lb jeep and no trailer brakes.

Thanks guys. I kinda figured those were the answers I would get. I just wanted clarification. With a 10K+ trailer thats 24' long and 13'+ tall I would rather be safe than sorry. I'm already nervous enough about this thing. This will be the largest trailer I have towed behind this or any vehicle, especially the tallest. That height gives it a LOT of leverage. :eek:

Just one more thing I gotta buy. :D

IIRC, if the road conditions require the tow vehicle to chain-up, all trailer axles with brakes, must be chained also.

IIRC, if the road conditions require the tow vehicle to chain-up, all trailer axles with brakes, must be chained also.


That would be all three axles on my trailer. :D

Check the caltrans website, I think they list the chain requirements.
Travis..

IIRC, if the road conditions require the tow vehicle to chain-up, all trailer axles with brakes, must be chained also.

Must be the joke of the day!

Most times, my trailers(2) have 6 axles and my loaded weight is 105,000 lbs.

Just one axle needs chains, most times the last axle but you can staggered back to front (1-side-back axel, 1-side-front axle) when you have 2 or more axle group (talking about the trailer).

CA Chain Requirments (pdf) (http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/roadinfo/ChainRequire04.pdf)

Ore Chain Requirments (http://www.tripcheck.com/Pages/RCMap.asp?mainNav=RoadConditions&staticNav=MinChainReqs)

WA Chain Requirments (http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/commercialvehicle/diagram.htm) WA requires less chains then CA, Just 1 chain on the back trailer axle.

Mark

Must be the joke of the day!

Most times, my trailers(2) have 6 axles and my loaded weight is 105,000 lbs.

Just one axle needs chains, most times the last axle but you can staggered back to front (1-side-back axel, 1-side-front axle) when you have 2 or more axle group (talking about the trailer).

CA Chain Requirments (pdf) (http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/roadinfo/ChainRequire04.pdf)

Ore Chain Requirments (http://www.tripcheck.com/Pages/RCMap.asp?mainNav=RoadConditions&staticNav=MinChainReqs)

WA Chain Requirments (http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/commercialvehicle/diagram.htm) WA requires less chains then CA, Just 1 chain on the back trailer axle.

Mark



Sweet good info, thanks. :D

CA Chain Requirments (pdf) (http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/roadinfo/ChainRequire04.pdf)
Mark
This is exactly the page I was talking about.
Travis..

I'm glad I clicked on this thread. I always assumed that since I have a four wheel drive tow rig that I would only need to chain the trailer. WRONG. Guess I'll have to plan on chaining the truck too.

It's not clear from that PDF if I would have to chain all four of my rear wheels on the dually, or if I could get away with two if it was in four wheel drive. I could also chain the front axle for that matter.

I've had the truck in the snow alot this year, but not with a trailer. I expect I'll be doing it more next year though.

I'm glad I clicked on this thread. I always assumed that since I have a four wheel drive tow rig that I would only need to chain the trailer. WRONG. Guess I'll have to plan on chaining the truck too.

It's not clear from that PDF if I would have to chain all four of my rear wheels on the dually, or if I could get away with two if it was in four wheel drive. I could also chain the front axle for that matter.

I've had the truck in the snow alot this year, but not with a trailer. I expect I'll be doing it more next year though.

I would chain the front axle as a last resort and need to get out of trouble.
For highway travel, it will shake a lot and give you the no control feeling.
If you go this route, get cables for the front.

For your dually, get dual (trucker jargon, 3 railers) chains. This is a chain that fits over both tires. You can make your own from a set of singles if you can't find them pre-made for light trucks. Just be sure to size it to new tires.

Mark

I'm glad I clicked on this thread. I always assumed that since I have a four wheel drive tow rig that I would only need to chain the trailer. WRONG. Guess I'll have to plan on chaining the truck too.

It's not clear from that PDF if I would have to chain all four of my rear wheels on the dually, or if I could get away with two if it was in four wheel drive. I could also chain the front axle for that matter.

I've had the truck in the snow alot this year, but not with a trailer. I expect I'll be doing it more next year though.

I've gotten away with just chaining the outside rears on a dually and chaining 1 brake axle on the trailer. But at other times I've chained all 4 wheels on a jeep to get in and out of our cabin above Soda Springs.