How to Put Snow Chains on 18-Wheelers
Snow chains are metal chains that can be wrapped around the tires of a vehicle to provide extra grip when driving in snowy or icy conditions. Although they aren't legal in every jurisdiction, they are required on many roads - especially those that go through mountain passes. Inspection stations are set up to check every truck on these roads to make sure their chains are on. Since 18-wheelers don't place as much weight on their drive wheels as cars do, it is critical that those wheels get maximum traction. Chains are easy to attach and remove.
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Instructions
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Pull the 18-wheeler off the road into a parking area or rest stop. The area should be big enough to allow the truck to straighten out and move at least 10 feet forward and backwards.
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Lay down the snow chains behind the rear wheels of the trailer and both the front and rear drive wheels of the cab. If one side of the chains is marked indicating that it should face outwards, lay that side downwards on the ground.
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Check that there's nobody behind the truck, then climb into the cabin and start the engine. Back the truck up slowly until the wheels are centered on top of the snow chains you laid out on the ground. Stop the truck and shut off the engine.
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Pull up on the the ends of the snow chains to wrap them around each wheel; they will have clips on one end that grab the other end of the chain once they are pulled up around the wheel. Use these clips to secure the chains in place.
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Adjust the clips. They can be tightened to ensure that the chains don't slip and slide around the wheels or bang against the bottom of the truck. Different sets of chains have different adjustment systems, but they generally can be tightened by hand or by turning an adjustment screw with a wrench. The final fit should be snug, but not extremely tight. Ideally, fit the chains, then drive 1/4 of a mile before stopping and adjusting their tension.
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Tips & Warnings
Snow chains will last much longer if you drive carefully while using them. Avoid sudden acceleration, sharp turns or quick braking. Aside from preserving your chains, these are generally good winter driving practices.
Don't install chains on deflated tires then re-inflate them. Some truck drivers do this to avoid the need to back over their chains, but it damages the tires as the metal chains dig into the expanding rubber.
References
- Photo Credit snow road image by Aleksandr Ugorenkov from Fotolia.com
