Tire Chains

Ugly Dog

FNG
Joined
Jan 2, 2023
Messages
18
Has a dodge with big tires and I got a couple sets of semi chains cheap off Craigslist and cut them down to fit my oversized tires. They did not fit my newer Chevy Silverado as they don’t have much clearance especially up front had to go to cable chains there.
Always carry a bunch of good quality bungee straps to keep them tight.
 

ahlgringo

WKR
Joined
Mar 27, 2014
Messages
1,031
I am also surprised to hear so much trouble with cams. I wouldn’t have another set without em.

My truck has 40’s and I regularly chain up all 4.

Built a jig out of diamond plate and 2x6’s in a ladder configuration. Put chain on jig- drive on, install chain. I lock my cams with a set of tiny D-ring shackles, never had one come undone.
Don’t use any of those spider bungees, despise them- they are good for a year before the rubber is rotten and they fall apart.

Just my experience


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NRA4LIFE

WKR
Joined
Nov 20, 2016
Messages
1,638
Location
washington
Not a cam chain lover. The one and only time I used them, one of the cams came open and I ruptured a brake line. 1100 miles from home in the middle of nowhere Montana.
 

hunterjmj

WKR
Joined
Feb 3, 2019
Messages
1,306
Location
Montana
I don't like cams either. Had gas to the floor this year getting out of some deep snow and drifts and I had to retighten several times. Looking into a no cam chain for next year. Luckily, the only thing I tore out was a wheel speed sensor.
 
Joined
Nov 16, 2017
Messages
8,699
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Central Oregon
Once open a time I got my chains really tite on my old truck. Now granted, I did do quite a bit of ass hauling. But the chains actually rubbed about 50% of the way thru the sidewall rubber. It was superficial.
But none the less seemed a bit much.
 
OP
treillw

treillw

WKR
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Mar 31, 2017
Messages
2,036
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MT
So if you don't have cams, how do you tighten the chains?
 
OP
treillw

treillw

WKR
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Mar 31, 2017
Messages
2,036
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MT
Cams, a handful of zipties, and wire cutters seems to be a good compromise.
 
Joined
Sep 13, 2016
Messages
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Location
Idaho
So if you don't have cams, how do you tighten the chains?
You just have to get them as tight as you can when you hook them together. Using bungees will pull all of the excess slack out of them after you drive a short distance. Then you can readjust if necessary to get the chains tighter. I get the inside rail as tight as it will go initially and usually don’t mess with it when I go to adjust. The bungees will pull the slack to the outside rail.
 
Joined
Jan 17, 2017
Messages
575
Location
sw mt
So you guys that have had trouble with the cams, was after lots of wheels spin? I dont think I have ever used them that way, or in the mud. My one experience with lots of wheel speed and chains resulted in a chain coming off of a rear tire and barely missing a friends head......never found the chain......young and dumb. Chain never touched the truck, had been rocking back and forth to get unstuck, with friends pushing and as soon as forward movement started going, must have gotten a little throttle happy.
 
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