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Got a question for you knowledgeable folks..... Should chains go on the front or back of a 4wd
I've been putting mine on the front so I still have steering, if the back slides out its usually my fault for passing the right foot down to hard. got spares for the back if I really need them. Have been seeing lots of people with them on the back, sure it makes sense if it's rear wheel drive only. Talked with someone about it an they reckoned their user manual told them to put them on the back.
I always do the front too, seemed more logical. As you said the front is steering and on the front they brack up the ground for the back tyres
Depends on driving wheels I suppose. I've always put them on the front, as when I'm driving in those conditions I'm in 4wd and the front pulls and you have steering like you say.
But I recently found out with the wider tyres I've put on my Landcruiser I cant fit my icebreaker chains on the front any more - not enough clearance between upper control arm and inner tyre - so I had to put them on the back. I have a full set and up until my recent finding, run them in tough conditions on the Landcruiser - normally towing trailers around steep country , amazing where you can go.
Yep front for steering
Front to steer and brake(over if really needed).
You can have all the traction in the world on the back, but if you cannot point it in the right direction, no point.
Front. But carry some heavy shorts plastic ties to ensure no loose end links to catch your brake lines! Plastic ties are awesome to tie off all the loose links so less noisy
Interestingly my manual for my Subaru Outback advises that if only one set of chains is available they should go on the front wheels. There may be other reasons for this as well as Subaru dick electronically with how much drive is transferred to the back wheels.
It will depend on what sort of center diff - transfercase you have. The handbook for our Adventra says to put them on the back which is probably due to the 40/60 torque split. If you have the center diff locked you should be able to put them front or back
It should go on the uphill end. The reason for this is the wheels with chains have vastly more breaking so if you are doing down a steep muddy hill when chains on the front and you break then you will swap end real quick. All things being equal put them on the front so you have steering. The real answer is to have two sets on a 4wd
Traction control on my outback is amazing, went for a quick drive then tried doing the same with it off.... Sideways is fun! Was all without chainsQuote:
Originally Posted by zimmer
depends on the truck. My prado, std wheels, you can't put them on the front, as there isn't enough clearance around the brake lines. They have to go on the back.
My dads '02 outback has stability control (VDC they called it on that one), drives me nuts on gravel! Kills all the fun and if you turn it off it turns itself back on at about 60km/h and kills the fun again. Give it a wee slide through a corner and nerrrr it brakes whichever wheels it wants to slow you down and pull the car straight again.Quote:
Originally Posted by 223nut
Glad my Legacy GTB doesn't have it!
Can't put proper chains of the front of "Sheep Shagger" Hilux's not enough clearance for your fingers let alone chains....
Was one of the reasons I went for a 2 inch coil lift when I got the shocks redone.
Im going against the grain here .This advice was give to me When I was a member of a club ski field . When The snow was real fresh & Deep with big drifts ,put them on the back Wheels, you get way more drive .Give it heaps ! Heaps more clearance for big grunty chains on the back too . And yes steering was a bit dicey . If its icy & packed Id rather have them on the front .
Not much mud up here to play in, I have been looking!
Remember that after putting them on, stop and recheck them after say 200m! You'd be surprised how much they can move. Plus watch your speed. Despite the confidence in your improved traction, keep it slow. Stopping is still challenging at times.......
Yep, only problem is when in the snow it's the only chance I get of going sideways in the landcruiser being a non turbo all time 4wdQuote:
Originally Posted by SiB
Yes mines the same. But I'm discovering that road legal but low tread can be fun on wet grass verges
Getting into and out of trouble is worth remembering; if you've got into trouble with chains on front and rear of your 4WD, who is going to be silly enough to follow you to get you out???
After a couple of scary slides this winter, I'm now far more cautious I admit.
I learnt a practical lesson with chains last year. I managed to get my prado into a spot of bother on a steep and wet papa track. Chains were very helpful but they were a lot more useful after I put them on the wheels! Flailing around in the mud trying to fit chains was entertaining - got me home though and with a good lesson!Quote:
Originally Posted by Tussock
I think the trick is to put them on before you need them - to avoid getting into trouble entirely! :thumbsup:
Same goes for a winch, it tends to get up into more trouble than if you didn't have it!Quote:
Originally Posted by SiB
Just keep the momentum up, soon as you stop you will sinkQuote:
Originally Posted by Tussock
I've had beggar all to do with chains, or driving in the snow for that matter, however, what little experience I have had with chains has all been positive. This winter my brother and I went to go hunting and up the cocky's track we encountered snow. I could see where other people in their 2wd's had gotten to before having to turn back (I think the cocky himself was one of them) however, with good tires all round I had but one other weapon in my arsenal... enter 4wd!
Well beggar me, I was very 'unpleasantly' surprised at just how little further on that got us, only about two more meters before we too were out of the race. We were facing two more kay's walk, in the snow, just to get to where we needed to go... Suddenly, I remembered that I had the 4 ice breaker chains in the back well of the Hilux.
Like I say, having had little to no experience before with chains the first thing that struck me was how easy they were to fit! Front, back, left and right and we were off! Man, we were cutting through snow up to a foot deep in places (see photos 2 & 3) without even looking like getting stuck! I kept it in 4wd, mind (who knows, three or even two wheel drive may have sufficed, but I wasn't taking any chances) and what a game changer that was, it was just like driving in 2wd on a flat dry paddock!
Sure, 'arguably' only 2 chains may be better on the front, for steering purposes etc, who knows? But the moral of my story is, if you've got 4 chains, then stick 4 chains on. For the little extra time it takes, it's well worth the effort, then you've got no hassles!
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