Another tire chain post

[jmsdad]

I picked up this pair of chains off craigslist a few years ago for $10. PO lived in Lake Tahoe and ran them on a 3rd gen Toyota 4Runner with the same size tires. Chains were forgotten and left in the garage til this afternoon. I have a 2nd rifle CO elk/mule deer trip coming up next month and decided to fit them to the truck. I bought new tires (Goodyear Wrangler Duratracs 265/75R16) a few weeks ago.

Can't seem to get the chains onto the tires. Looks like I need a few more links. Red zip tie used to hold chain on. Don't know if the chains are longer than shown and the PO cut the extra links off or not, but digging further and looking at the manufacturer website, the part # of the chains match and points to the correct chain.

These chains still have tons of life left and I don't want to spend more $$ for another set of chains. Maybe buy a couple of appropriate size threaded quick links to extend the chains and run them as is?

Outside

Inside link

Part # on bag and connector and website

 

[Farmerlentz]

That's how I was taught to make my chains longer if necessary. I'll use the quick link and a small piece of chain to get the length I need

 

[Baddog]

I’d use a length of Cain and a pressed together link. Make it a link or two longer than you think you need because in the snow and mud you’ll need it. Get some real chain bungees as well

 

[rayporter]

i would add a couple links, too. heck if necessary i would add a cross chain over the tread.

people that run chains a lot rebuild them all the time.

 

[MTPipeliner]

yep, just add to them. I don’t have a factory set of chains for any of my vehicles, mine are all mismatched to be honest I was well into my last 20s before I even realized that not all chains were rusted and either cut down from semi trucks or added to from smaller tires. The first time I helped a buddy put on a brand new set of chains I was amazed that they were all the same size and went on so easy.

You can either use the quick link or the kind where the link isn’t fully welded and you hammer it together after hooking the other links in.

 

[Travis Hobbs]

Make sure you buy quality quick-links if you go that route! Many are made for extremely light duty applications.

I prefer anchor shackles over quick-links.

I’ve picked way to many chains out of axles and repaired a pile of broken brake lines.

 

[NMframed]

Add to them and make sure and get some good chain tighteners/bungees to keep the slack out of them. Most of your problems and chains breaking and coming apart is from them fitting to loosely and beating on fender wells. I run heavy duty chains regularly in the winter time to get around in the mud in the oil field and always keep heavy duty quick links and short lengths of extra chain with me for any repairs.

 

[Trans Yank]

Yes, what he said. I have always cut down semi-truck chains for my pickup. Several years ago, I worked for State Highway department we added to and cut down all the time for different vehicles.