I'm seeking advice on snow chains. In the catalogs, I see regular chains, Z chains, cable chains, etc. What're the pros and cons of each?

I'll probably use chains 2-4 times a year.

Thanks in advance for your input.

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Promises Do Come True: 2000 F-150 XLT 4.6L V8 auto, supercab, oxford white/dark graphite, 3.55 LS, std bed, prem CD, class III towing, sliding rear window. ADDED: Westin step bars, Fumoto oil valve, Ford bugshield, Vent Visors, Penda Hide-A-Hooks, Rhino bed liner, SnugTop HiLiner cap, Lee Anderson carpet kit (sweet!), Kleen Wheel brake dust shields, Yakima TerraGate 2 hitch bike rack, rubber duckie antenna, Ford wheel locks, dark gray Dash Mat, stoopid fuel magnets, Lund wiper cowl, EGR fender flares, Ford cabin air filtration, custom curtains for the bed, custom cupholder inserts, custom sunglass insert for the garage door opener compartmenet. SOON: K&N FIPK, Flowmaster Delta 40 or 50, and of course, a SuperChip.

 

What?!

No response? I can't believe all the F-150 owners on this site never put chains on their trucks! Anybody?

 

Thanks, Road Runner. I just need chains for that last 10-20 miles into the Sierra ski resorts when I take my boy snow-boarding. I do it too, but I call it snow-board-falling.

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Promises Do Come True: 2000 F-150 XLT 4.6L V8 auto, supercab, oxford white/dark graphite, 3.55 LS, std bed, prem CD, class III towing, sliding rear window. ADDED: SuperChip! Westin step bars, Fumoto oil valve, Ford bugshield, Vent Visors, Penda Hide-A-Hooks, Rhino bed liner, SnugTop HiLiner cap, Lee Anderson carpet kit (sweet!), Kleen Wheel brake dust shields, Yakima TerraGate 2 hitch bike rack, rubber duckie antenna, Ford wheel locks, dark gray Dash Mat, stoopid fuel magnets, Lund wiper cowl, EGR fender flares, Ford cabin air filtration, custom curtains for the bed, custom cupholder inserts, custom sunglass insert for the garage door opener compartment. SOON: K&N FIPK, Flowmaster or Ravin exhaust.

 

I had the opportunity to use chains heavily one snow storm years and years ago -- when I was driving wreckers for AAA in DetRiot.

Any heavy usage (and this Was heavy) results in chain breakage. Guaranteed.

Be sure to have some emergency links (were called Monkey Links back then) -- which are best described as the figure-8 twisted open so that you can hook the chain together -- which then gets hammered flat by riding on the road.

Get the best quality that you can find, since when they break, they'll do a LOT of damage to something.

Sidewalls don't like the abrasion.

I'd like to try the cable-thru-the-rim style -- since it looks to me like they would hold up to whack-whack-whack a bit better than chains -- however hooking up chains can be fairly easy -- and I'm not famaliar with the cable type.



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Y2K™ Jim - N8JG@Hotmail.com

Toreador Red, Keyless XLT SC SB 5.4L E4x4 4wDisc/ABS, 3.73LS, Skid, HD 7700# Towing, LT-245's on Chrome, Tube-Steps, Captain's, 6CD, Tonneau, named: "Nick"

 

Christopher - I have not run with chains - for 50 years, or so, - can't give advice -EXCEPT - I haul a 5th whl. - south every year & most, if not all mountanous states require that you have them - so I carry a set. Say I had to put them on once - thru a storm over the S.Oregon, N. Calif. "hills" - I picked up a set of cable chains - to fit my size tires. I guess they would be a stop gap situation - I would not try to run any distance, at any speed with them. My guess would be - if you need them 2 to 4 times a year I would go for good ones.
Hope that helps you.

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98 F150 S/C 4.6 2wd 50yr. Anniv. edition Vermillion/Silver,HD Tow Pkg, Boards, Vents, Lund Bug Chaser, LaBra Tonneau cover, DIY "breezer" Tailgate, 5th whl hitch, Tool box, 16" OEM Mag's,- Bosch +4's BEEP,BEEP roadrunner floor mats.
Mobil 1 /Ford Oil filter/ K&N / air box mod.
In looks & go - Chevy - like a rock.




[This message has been edited by roadrunner (edited 10-25-2000).]

 

I have only used the "real" chains on my truck, but my family used some of the z-chains on the family SUV (not a ford) last year in Mammoth, and they worked fairly well as I can remember.

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*1999 2WD XLT 4.2L 4R70W Auto
*3.31 8.8" Rear End
*3" Bullseye Lift Spindles
*275/70/16 Dunlop Radial Rover A/T's
*Custom Magnaflow Catback
*Airaid Intake
*Clear Corners
*Billet Grill
*Alpine 5-Channel Amp
*4 Pioneer 6815 Speakers
*1 Rockford Fosgate Punch 12" Subwoofer
http://www.geocities.com/cr1f150/mytruck.html

 

Thanks for the tips, guys, I'll look into the Z-chain things. And if I do get regular chains, I'll be sure to carry extra links!