Snow Chains on the Front or Back?
12-09-2017, 12:01 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Snow Chains on the Front or Back?
I didn't want to derail the other snow chain threads going on right now. So, I thought I'd ask what seems to be a simple question.
In a 15-17 F150, with 4WD capability. If you had only set of snow chains with you, and you end up having to use them...
Would you install them on the front or rear wheels?
Most mountain passes (if not all) around where I live require even 4WD pickups and SUVs to carry snow chains during the snow season.
In a 15-17 F150, with 4WD capability. If you had only set of snow chains with you, and you end up having to use them...
Would you install them on the front or rear wheels?
Most mountain passes (if not all) around where I live require even 4WD pickups and SUVs to carry snow chains during the snow season.
12-09-2017, 05:36 AM
#2
Senior Member
Mountain roads are certainly different than the straight county roads here in Indiana. What we usually do if we only have 2 chains is put them both on the right side. And then drive (knowing the road and area well) with those two wheels off the pavement.
I think your conditions and the road would demand the configuration. Both up front with the rear diff locked to maintain steering and braking going up hill would make sense to me. Right front left rear and the diff locked would make sure you had one wheel with grip on the rear and one on the front to counter any yaw. Honestly though, if I were in an area like that and they required chains...... I'd be buying 2 more chains.
I think your conditions and the road would demand the configuration. Both up front with the rear diff locked to maintain steering and braking going up hill would make sense to me. Right front left rear and the diff locked would make sure you had one wheel with grip on the rear and one on the front to counter any yaw. Honestly though, if I were in an area like that and they required chains...... I'd be buying 2 more chains.
12-09-2017, 08:05 AM
#3
Front. Steering, traction and most of your braking is on the front.
That being said buy another set for the rear.
You'v made your truck almost into a fwd now and the rear will come around just like it.
That being said buy another set for the rear.
You'v made your truck almost into a fwd now and the rear will come around just like it.
12-09-2017, 08:43 AM
#4
No fart cans allowed
No matter which you indicate, someone who knows nothing about you will come along, ridicule your choice, and tell you they know better. Ignorant ****** that get their jollies needling people on the internet is what forums are all about. But I have permanently resolved that situation. 😀
I am in your situation in that I have one set of two chains that I carry when I am traveling where I might need chains. I fortunately have never needed them, either on the road or off. I have enough sense to get off the road or better yet, not get on the road when I shouldn't be there. I also have enough sense to stay within my driving capabilities off road, and more importantly to preassess conditions by walking them prior to going into a dicey looking section. My choice would be on the rear.
I am in your situation in that I have one set of two chains that I carry when I am traveling where I might need chains. I fortunately have never needed them, either on the road or off. I have enough sense to get off the road or better yet, not get on the road when I shouldn't be there. I also have enough sense to stay within my driving capabilities off road, and more importantly to preassess conditions by walking them prior to going into a dicey looking section. My choice would be on the rear.
Last edited by BadAV; 12-09-2017 at 08:48 AM.
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CeeDee (12-09-2017)
12-09-2017, 08:59 AM
#5
Lived here (Puget sound) most of my life. Never crossed my mind to put them up front on a non FWD vehicle.
I have seen them done, one on the front and rear. This is dangerous depending on the driveline setup and manufacturer requirements/recommendations. It could be fantastic and it could ruin the trans or axles or gearing ETC as one entire side is getting traction while the other is free spinning a lot.
My 2018 manual on page 394 says, and I quote... " • Do not install chains on the front tires as this may interfere with suspension components "
I have seen them done, one on the front and rear. This is dangerous depending on the driveline setup and manufacturer requirements/recommendations. It could be fantastic and it could ruin the trans or axles or gearing ETC as one entire side is getting traction while the other is free spinning a lot.
My 2018 manual on page 394 says, and I quote... " • Do not install chains on the front tires as this may interfere with suspension components "
Last edited by 5.0 Probie; 12-09-2017 at 09:03 AM.
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CeeDee (12-09-2017)
12-09-2017, 09:00 AM
#6
Senior Member
Rear.
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CeeDee (12-09-2017)
12-09-2017, 12:40 PM
#8
Senior Member
Thread Starter
You all make good points.
5.0 Probie
Same statement in my manual just on a different page; page 361 of mine:
* "Do not install chains on the front tires as this may interfere with suspension components."
This one sounds like safe common sense to me. Legal speak from Ford lawyers, perhaps, when writing the manual.
* "Do not exceed 30 mph (50 km/h) or less if recommended by the chain manufacturer while using snow chains."
Just having snow chains on the rear makes sense that it would give you good traction taking off, but not so good traction steering and stopping. Since most of the weight would be transferred forward when coming to a stop and the rear would essentially become lighter. Understeer or plowing could happen.
Having just snow chains on the front would give you better steering and braking but not so good traction from a stop. That's all with RWD. You turn 4WD on and a single set of chains, front or back, would reason to balance out some of these pros and cons, a bit. Right?
Then, does that throw a whole other kink into the mix when you have 4WD on with only a single set of chains on the front or rear, then when one chained wheel gets traction, even for a second, the others slip, does this bind up or cause stresses in the drive train that could lead to issues?
Is this why TheGeek does the chains on one side technique. What about when you have traction control in there too adding to the auto-correcting and compensating madness... more drive train stresses? AK49FordTruck from a different but similar thread turns his traction control off while driving in the snow. Which can make sense too.
Some of it sounds weird to me, like the chains installed on one side of the truck... but I'm hear to learn. So I keep an open mind.
5.0 Probie
Same statement in my manual just on a different page; page 361 of mine:
* "Do not install chains on the front tires as this may interfere with suspension components."
This one sounds like safe common sense to me. Legal speak from Ford lawyers, perhaps, when writing the manual.
* "Do not exceed 30 mph (50 km/h) or less if recommended by the chain manufacturer while using snow chains."
Just having snow chains on the rear makes sense that it would give you good traction taking off, but not so good traction steering and stopping. Since most of the weight would be transferred forward when coming to a stop and the rear would essentially become lighter. Understeer or plowing could happen.
Having just snow chains on the front would give you better steering and braking but not so good traction from a stop. That's all with RWD. You turn 4WD on and a single set of chains, front or back, would reason to balance out some of these pros and cons, a bit. Right?
Then, does that throw a whole other kink into the mix when you have 4WD on with only a single set of chains on the front or rear, then when one chained wheel gets traction, even for a second, the others slip, does this bind up or cause stresses in the drive train that could lead to issues?
Is this why TheGeek does the chains on one side technique. What about when you have traction control in there too adding to the auto-correcting and compensating madness... more drive train stresses? AK49FordTruck from a different but similar thread turns his traction control off while driving in the snow. Which can make sense too.
Some of it sounds weird to me, like the chains installed on one side of the truck... but I'm hear to learn. So I keep an open mind.
Last edited by CeeDee; 12-09-2017 at 02:14 PM.
12-09-2017, 02:12 PM
#9
Senior Member
If it's nasty enough to use chains, you'll be in 4WD. Given the limited clearance up front, I definitely wouldn't run real chains on the front unless you've also gone to a narrower (and maybe shorter) tire. My Xterra had the same rear-only requirement in the manual, and I had good results with cables in the back.
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CeeDee (12-09-2017)
