Seeing all the snow over on the east coast got me to wondering. Do EBs need snow chains? We don't get snow here in Miss. often, or even ice, which is more common than snow, but we had a good snow back in Feb. this year. I drove Ol' Blue & didn't have any probs. Back in the early '80s I had a mid '70s Chevy 4WD pick-up & what few times we had snow or an ice storm, that thing just didn't care, just put it in 4WD & it'd just keep going. That's kinda how I feel my EB would do, but it's a lot lighter than the Chevy truck. So, what do you icy folks say? Chains or no? If it did have chains, I bet it'd be one bad dude!
Tire Chains?
- Thread starter famvburg
- Start date
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Seabronc
New member
Tire chains are only good for surfaces that remain snow covered or during a storm the prevents keeping the roads clear. Most states won't let you use them on any other surface because of the damage they do to bear roads. Besides that they will shake your teeth out on a bare surface and if a link brakes the chain will beat the crap out of the inside of your wheel well. On macadam or concrete surfaces they can reduce the gripping ability of your tires. In over 50 years of driving, I have only needed them for road conditions like the ones mentioned above a couple of times. If I were traveling in areas like the Rockies and through the winter passes I'd definitely have a set with me, but Mississippi? Don't think so. I have survived most of my life in the North East without needing them. 4x4, Yes. However, that is more of a personal choice and for you to make. For areas like Mississippi may be you might want a set of tire cables for that real rare ice covered road situation, (similar to chains in function, but not so rough on the vehicle).
Good luck,
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Good luck,
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From the mid '80s to late '90s, I had a '72 Datsun pick-up. 4 speed standard 2 wheel drive. I went thru 2 ice storms, an inch or more accumulation here, one in '89, one in '96. I had a tool box in the bed & would put a plastic 55 gal drum in the bed against the box, right over the rear axle & fill it up (over 400 lbs. of water) & with no chains at all, only mud/snow tires, could & would go anywhere, even keeping up with & sometimes passing, some 4WDs. On my aforementioned Chevy, I had a big ol' cow catcher bumper & winch on front & I feel like that helped a lot with the front end traction & I have a pretty hefty front bumper w/ winch on Ol' Blue. When we had the snow with a little ice in Feb., with all 4s pulling, it never missed a lick, but would get a little slippery with just the rears pulling. I do remember back in the early '70s there were some 'kids' who had an old Ford Falcon at the hunting camp where my dad hunted & they had snow chains (mud chains?) on it & let me tell you, they could go just about everywhere our Bronco went! Once, we got the Bronco high centered & they plowed, literally, right around us. We did get unstuck on our own, tho. /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />
/emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />Personal choice and where you need to go, we use cables not chains on our EB when needed. They easy to put on and remove. Around here you could drive without them many times but we have so many accidents and people just freaking out on hills that you have to manuver aroud them and with the cables it can help get you going again. hey it gives me a little edge sometimes so i use them.
bigbluebronc
New member
Only chained up twice so far, once when I lost front wheel drive in 92 blazer full size out on the trails in the snow. Other time same rig twice iced roads with 12 in powder on top made it down the hill well slipped and slided down and could not get back up. I lived in the san berdu mountains at the time and the residential roads are strait up and strait down with quick 60 degree corners and switch backs. They are fine in the summer but can be fun in the winter, I used to help the weekenders get too there houses in the snow even with 4 wheel(well 2 wheel one front on back) they could not make it around the corner we had but a little tug with a strap and they were happy too see there weekend houses and cabins in the snow as long as they did not park in my spot that I had too keep digging out all winter long. I had no problem gettin them up the hill.
MUZZALL
New member
I'd worry less about chains and more about the drivers around you. If you take it slow, leave lots of room in front of you and break very slowly you should be fine.
